Mindspeed brings input/output configurability and advanced signal-conditioning features to low-cost, low-power crosspoint devices

2011 NAB Show, NEWPORT BEACH, USA: Mindspeed Technologies Inc., a leading supplier of semiconductor solutions for network infrastructure applications, announced a compact, low-power crosspoint device for small- to medium-sized switching matrices that includes signal-conditioning and configurability capabilities. These capabilities previously were only available with suboptimal, higher-power and more expensive crosspoint switches and signal-conditioner devices.

“This is a major expansion of Mindspeed’s product portfolio, and fills a critical gap in industry solutions while extending our offering across a broader range of broadcast, industrial and medical segments,” said Ryan Latchman, executive director of strategic marketing with Mindspeed’s high-performance analog business unit. “We are bringing the highly differentiated features of our large crosspoints and signal conditioners to a new category of more feature-rich small- and medium-sized switching matrix solutions. And we can do this without adding a premium in either price or power consumption as compared to commodity switches with less capabilities.”

Mindspeed’s M21123 non-blocking switching solution incorporates the same industry-leading Amplif-Eye signal-conditioning technology used in the company’s larger crosspoints and signal conditioners, and features reconfigurable input/outputs (I/Os) that allow developers to customize a system’s matrix size for each application. Optimized for Serial Digital Interface (SDI) and other data frequencies up to 3.2Gbps, the M21123 crosspoint consumes only 70 milliwatts (mW) per channel, which is less than any other solution of its size.

Mindspeed’s M21123 crosspoint has been selected by customers including Studio Technologies, Inc., a Skokie, Illinois-based designer and manufacturer of high-performance video, audio, and fiber optic products. “Previously, we had to choose between very simple small switches that had no signal-conditioning capabilities and could only be used to create fixed-size switching matrices, or large crosspoint solutions that exceeded our size, power and cost targets,” said Gordon Kapes, president, Studio Technologies.

“With Mindspeed's M21123 crosspoint, we can now define the switch size and optimize our systems for very specific audio and video applications for broadcast, film-post and test.”

Mindspeed’s M21123 crosspoint features 18 reconfigurable I/Os and six fixed outputs, enabling the device to create 18x6, 12x12, 1x23 matrix sizes and any variation in between. This allows for great flexibility in allocating and routing signals in a broad range of applications. For instance, developers can now customize their designs for switches that require an even number of inputs and outputs, fan-out buffers that require more outputs than inputs and multiplexers/selectors that require more inputs than outputs.

The M21223 crosspoint uses Mindspeed’s Amplif-Eye signal-conditioning technology to reduce jitter associated with driving high-speed signals across backplanes and cables. Amplif-Eye technology maintains error-free, high-speed data transmission by compensating for signal insertion loss due to transmission through printed circuit board (PCB) traces. Amplif-Eye also enables Mindspeed’s crosspoints to be used as buffers on high-speed signal paths to mitigate or eliminate signal degradation due to transmission line effects by delivering signal equalization at both inputs and outputs. These capabilities are becoming increasingly important in a variety of digital video, medical imaging, machine vision and other system applications.

The M21123 crosspoint is designed for use in high-definition (HD) SDI digital video routing switchers and other production and presentation switchers, as well as routing switches supporting high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), digital visual interface (DVI) and DisplayPort. The crosspoints can also be used to reduce costs, simplify board designs, and enhance the flexibility of solutions used for Optical Transport Network (OTN), Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexer (DWDM) and other fiber-optic network switching, high-speed serial backplane routing, data storage networking, and backplane communications using 10 Gigabit Attachment Unit Interface (XAUI), Infiniband and Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) protocols.

The M21123 crosspoint is sampling now and will enter volume production in the third calendar quarter of 2011. It is packaged in a 12 mm x 12 mm quad flat no leads (QFN) package and is priced at $24 USD per unit in OEM volumes of 1000. Evaluation kits are available now.