APRIL 6, 2009 -- Gennum Corp. (search Lightwave for Gennum) says it has introduced the world's first 3-Gbps SDI video optical receiver modules that can enable "zero penalty" pathological performance. Both the dual-channel and single-channel receivers will enable video broadcast equipment manufacturers to offer robust links on their video broadcast products, such as cameras, routers, and monitors, capable of transporting 3-Gbps SDI video across optical links. The modules will be demonstrated at the company's booth at the National Association of Broadcasters Show (Booth #SU9111) being held April 18-23, 2009, in Las Vegas, along with other 3-Gbps offerings from Gennum.
The desire to send high-definition SDI video across longer distances has prompted the need for devices capable of sending video across fiber-optic networks; however, the components within traditional optical receivers were not designed with the intent of transmitting SDI video. Unlike mainstream data communication protocols, SDI video can contain pathological data patterns that result in performance degradation.
The company says it has improved its receiver sensitivity by 5 dB with the new devices.
Says Alex Bond, senior product manager for Gennum, "Integrating the best of Gennum's video and optical component offerings, these new modules have been designed from the ground up for video transport. As a result, they deliver the performance and features required to allow 3-Gbps SDI optical transport to become pervasive throughout the video broadcast market."
The two new video optical devices are the GO2926 dual-channel and GO2916 single-channel receivers. The receivers implement patented transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs) and receive optical subassemblies (ROSAs) to enable receive sensitivity of -23 dBm at 3 Gbps for a PIN-based video optical receiver. Both modules are designed to receive optical serial digital signals and convert them to electrical serial digital signals as defined in SMPTE 297-2006. The modules support SD-SDI, HD-SDI, and 3G-SDI.
Pin-compatible with Gennum's first-generation GO2920 modules, the GO2926 and GO2916 are available in a pluggable hot-swappable industry-standard SFP package.
The GO2926 and GO2916 are expected to sample in May.
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