D-Terminal

D Video connector
A D-Terminal jack.
Type Analogue video connector
Production history
Designer EIAJ (Electronic Industry Association of Japan)
Designed July 1999 (EIAJ RC-5237)
January 2000 (JEITA CP-4120)
Produced Late 1990s to present
Superseded S-Video
General specifications
Audio signal device-dependent
Video signal Analogue component video, 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
Pins 14 (6 video, 3 reserved, 2 detect, 3 data)
Data
Data signal Resolution and Aspect ratio information
Pinout
A female connector seen from the front.
Pin 1 Y luminance (0.7 V, 75 Ω)
Pin 2 Y GND Y ground
Pin 3 PB 0.35 V, 75 Ω
Pin 4 PB GND
Pin 5 PR 0.35 V, 75 Ω
Pin 6 PR GND
Pin 7 Reserve link 1
Pin 8 Data line 1 0 V = 525 lines
2.2 V = 750 lines
5 V = 1125 lines
Pin 9 Data line 2 0 V = 59.94i / 60i
5 V = 59.94p / 60p
Pin 10 Reserve link 2
Pin 11 Data line 3 0 V = 4:3
2.2 V = 4:3 letterbox
5 V = 16:9
Pin 12 Plug insert detect ground
Pin 13 Reserve link 3
Pin 14 Plug insert detect output 10 kΩ, input > 100 kΩ
Hooks GND Shield ground

D-Terminal (Japanese: D端子, Hepburn: D Tanshi; lit. D Connector) is a type of analog video connector found on Japanese consumer electronics, typically HDTV, DVD, Blu-ray, D-VHS and HD DVD devices. It was developed by the Electronic Industries Association of Japan (EIAJ) (EIAJ RC-5237 and JEITA CP-4120) for use in digital broadcasts.

The connector gets its name from the trapezoidal shape resembling a D, just like with the D-subminiature connector. It does not come from the word "digital".

Overview

The connector was standardised by the EIAJ under the RC-5237 specification in July 1999 as the "D Connector for Digital Broadcasting Component Video Signal(Y,Pb,Pr)connection". It began to see widespread use in the Japanese domestic market during the 2000s for use with digital broadcast and video output signals. However, despite this title, it only transmits analogue video signals.

Originally, YPBPR component video signals required three cables (with either RCA connectors for the consumer market or BNC connectors for the professional market). While this remained the standard in the rest of the world, in Japan, D-Terminal was created to be a single cable incorporating all these discrete signal lines. However, as with the previous component connection methods, D-Terminal does not carry audio and requires separate cables to transmit audio (often standard RCA cables). Since all YPBPR formats carry identical YPBPR component signals, a passive breakout cable can be used to connect a D-Terminal output to standard RCA or BNC connector inputs.

Additionally, the specification introduced identification signal lines that transmit the resolution (number of scan lines), scanning format (interlaced or progressive), and aspect ratio. The connector also includes dedicated pins for plug insertion detection.

The connector's 14 pins, arranged in two rows of seven, are allocated as follows:

Since the three identification signal lines (lines 1–3) use shield ground, effectively there are 15 connection points.

Specifications and compatibility

Resolution tiers

Two D4 tier D-Terminal video connectors. Both labelled "component video" and the first labelled for an ISDB digital tuner.

The EIAJ RC-5237 format specification divides D-Terminal capabilities into distinct tiers based on scan line count and scan type. Higher-numbered tiers are backward-compatible with all lower-numbered tiers. However, a source device is only required to output the highest tier specified. For example, if a D4 device is connected to a display that only supports D1, it will output no signal unless it explicitly supports lower-numbered tiers.

D-Terminal resolution tiers
TierFormatTotal linesActive resolutionScan typeDefinition
D1480i525i720 × 480InterlacedSD
D2480p525p720 × 480ProgressiveSD
D31080i1125i1920 × 1080InterlacedHD
D4720p750p1280 × 720ProgressiveHD
D51080p1125p1920 × 1080ProgressiveFull HD

Video game console compatibility

Several video game consoles released in Japan, including American Xbox consoles, support D-Terminal cables.

Video game console D-Terminal compatibility
Console Model Formats Supported Notes Ref.
GameCube DOL-001 D1–2 D2 output is limited to supported games
PlayStation 2 All models D1–D3 Only SCPH-50000 and later models support D2 output for DVD-Video;
D2-3 output is limited to supported games
Xbox All models D1–D4 DVD-Video playback is restricted to D1 output;
D2-4 output is limited to supported games
Wii All models D1–2
PlayStation 3 All models D1–D5
Xbox 360 Launch
S		 D2–D5 Model E only supports composite and HDMI
Wii U All models D1–D2 (Wii spec)
D3–D5 (Unverified)
PlayStation Portable 2000
3000
Go		 D1–D2 At launch, PSP-2000 models could not output D1 and continued to require D2 output for PSP games;
PSP-3000 and Go models also support D1 output for PSP games

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 D Connector for Digital Broadcasting Component Video Signal(Y,Pb,Pr)connection デジタル放送映像信号用（Y, Pb, Pr）接続用D端子コネクタ (in Japanese). Electronic Industries Association of Japan. July 1999. Retrieved 28 October 2026.
  2. 1 2 Interface between Digital Tuner and Television Receiver using D-Connector デジタルチューナとテレビジョン受信機のD端子接続 (in Japanese). Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association. January 2000. Retrieved 28 October 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "No. 61: Toward Better Video -Learn More About Video Connectors-" 第61回 もっともっと美しく −映像端子を知ろう−. TDK Techno Magazine (in Japanese). TDK. January 2007. Archived from the original on 20 January 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2026.
  4. ↑ "Part 3: "Does That Television Have Expandability?"" 第3回「そのテレビに未来の拡張性はありますか？」 (in Japanese). ITmedia. 20 September 2006. Retrieved 28 October 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Pick the right cable to hook up your game console and improve your video quality!" ゲーム機の接続ケーブルを選んで画質アップ! (in Japanese). GAME Watch. 24 February 2005. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  6. ↑ "PlayStation 2 Users Guide SCPH-50000 MB/NH (NTSC-J)" PlayStation 2 取扱説明書 SCPH-50000 MB/NH (PDF) (in Japanese). Sony Computer Entertainment. p. 39. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  7. ↑ "SCEI releases new PlayStation 2 that supports progressive output" SCEI、プログレッシブ出力に対応した新型プレイステーション 2 (in Japanese). AV Watch. 14 April 2003. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  8. ↑ "PlayStation 2 Users Guide SCPH-90000 (NTSC-J)" PlayStation 2 ユーザーズガイド SCPH-90000 (PDF) (in Japanese). Sony Computer Entertainment. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  9. ↑ "Testing out DVD playback on the North American Xbox" 北米版XboxのDVD再生機能を検証 (in Japanese). AV Watch. 7 January 2002. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Detailed Breakdown on the Xbox's Graphics" Xboxのグラフィック機能を徹底チェック (in Japanese). GAME Watch. 1 February 2002. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 "How does screen change with the cables you plug in? Thoroughly testing out all video output on all the 3 new consoles" 接続端子とケーブルで画面はどう変わるのか? 新ハード3機種と出力画面を総当りチェック (in Japanese). GAME Watch. 18 December 2006. Archived from the original on 12 December 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  12. ↑ "PS3 User's Guide: Video Output Settings". Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on 29 April 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  13. ↑ "New Xbox 360 model releases on September 19, 2013 & campaign underway to celebrate" 新型Xbox 360が2013年9月19日より発売開始＆新型本体発売記念キャンペーンも開催 (in Japanese). Famitsu. 12 September 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  14. ↑ Wii U：本体仕様 (in Japanese). Nintendo. Archived from the original on 21 July 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  15. ↑ "Hands on with the new PSP-2000 and 1Seg functionality" 新型PSP「PSP-2000」とワンセグ機能に触れた (in Japanese). AV Watch. 9 August 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  16. ↑ "Checking out the PSP-3000 & PSP-2000 again with System Software v5.00" PSP-3000/PSP-2000をシステムソフトウェア 5.00で再チェックしてみる (in Japanese). GAME Watch. 17 October 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  17. ↑ "Just what can the better screen PSP do? Trying out the New PSP" 「美・画面PSP」の実力は? 新PSPを試す (in Japanese). AV Watch. 16 October 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  18. ↑ "PSP User's Guide: Component / D-Terminal Output". Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2026.