NAB 2016: Leader Selects Semtech Technology for Next-Generation 12G UHD-SDI Interface
Leader Electronics (Booth C5109), a globally active producer of high-grade test and measurement solutions, has selected 12G UHD-SDI technology from Semtech, a supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, as core elements of its new LV5490SER06 option card for the Leader LV5490 UHDTV waveform monitor.
Leader’s LV5490SER06 is a 12G UHD-SDI interface option with eye-pattern monitoring and jitter measurement for the LV5490 UHDTV waveform monitor. The board includes Semtech’s GS12141 retiming equalizer and GS12181 retiming cable driver.
UHD-SDI is the only standardized broadcast UHDTV interface. The GS12141 retiming cable equalizer and GS12181 retiming cable driver, with advanced feature sets and class-leading performance, enable a commercial off-the-shelf interface solution for UHDTV equipment and infrastructure.
“UHDTV infrastructures will require advanced UHD-SDI test and measurement capabilities,” says Mike Mizusawa, manager, sales and marketing, Leader. “Semtech is a recognized leader in 12G UHD-SDI interface and gearbox products. The advanced feature sets and high performance of its GS12141 and GS12181 uniquely enable our UHDTV test and measurement portfolio.”
Says Don Shaver, director, video marketing, Signal Integrity Product Group, Semtech, “Sophisticated test and measurement solutions are required to address the critical performance requirements of broadcasters as facilities are updated with UHDTV-enabled UHD-SDI infrastructures. Leader’s LV5490 waveform monitor, when equipped with the LV5490SER06 12G UHD-SDI option card utilizing Semtech’s high-performance 12G UHD-SDI solutions, offers powerful and flexible UHD-SDI test and measurement solutions for UHDTV facilities.”
Semtech’s UHD-SDI products feature ultra-low power consumption and provide industry-leading performance at 12-Gbps rates. UHD-SDI is suited to UHDTV infrastructures, including routers, cameras, monitors, switchers, and more. UHD-SDI offers pristine image quality, is backwards-compatible with existing SDI systems, and is standardized by both the SMPTE and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), simplifying UHDTV infrastructure upgrades and reducing risk for broadcasters.
One of the most versatile test instruments currently available, the Leader LV5490 offers 4K-, UHD-, HD-, and SD-format broadcast-measurement features in a compact portable unit. The front panel incorporates a 1920×1080 9-in. LCD monitor with a wide viewing angle and high-quality colorimetry, allowing simultaneous analysis of up to four video channels. The instrument’s 4K capability is particularly useful to people working with latest-generation cameras, whether for digital cinematography or high-end broadcast applications.
Equipped with eight input connectors, the LV5490 accepts up to two 4K signals simultaneously. In 4K-video mode, it supports 3G-SDI dual-link or quad-link. Up to four 3G-SDI dual-link 4K video inputs or up to two 3G-SDI quad-link 4K video inputs can be selected for display or two sets of HD-SDI dual-link signals. In the SDI mode, up to four signals can be displayed simultaneously. The LV5490 is also equipped to handle video signals via two-sample interleave as well as square division. Two-sample interleave is the approved standard for 4K.
12G-SDI connectivity for the LV5490 is available via optional interface card equipped with four SD-SDI inputs. This supports 12G-SDI, 3G-SDI quad-link, 3G-SDI dual-link, and HD-SDI, each input handling a quarter of the 4,096 x 2,160-pixel 4K or 3,840 x 2,160 pixel UHD image. A reclocked 12G-SDI output is also provided.
The LV5490 can be operated in a wide selection of roles: waveform, vector, picture monitoring, SDI-signal status (which looks for cyclic-redundancy-check errors and embedded-audio errors), an event log, data dump, and four-channel timing display. Waveform, vector and picture can be viewed simultaneously on the LV5490 screen. Simultaneous display and overlay display of multiple SDI inputs is possible. Size and location of individual channel displays can be adjusted via USB mouse. The LV5490 can also be controlled remotely using standard KVM tools.
The integral CINELITE feature allows the user to measure luminance levels at different points in a scene (up to three points). CINEZONE uses false colors to indicate luminance levels in a scene and is particularly suited to green-screen chroma-key virtual-set alignment.