National Semiconductor intros broadcast industry's first configurable I/O with integrated return loss network

SANTA CLARA, USA: The industry's first configurable I/O chip for serial digital interface (SDI) broadcast video equipment from National Semiconductor Corp. simplifies design by providing manufacturers the flexibility to program their BNC interface connectors as either inputs (equalizer) or outputs (cable driver).

The PowerWise LMH0387 targets 3G/HD/SD video capture and editing cards that have a limited number of coax BNC connectors, as well as processing and distribution equipment that support a wide variety of I/O configurations.

Prior to the LMH0387's availability, SDI ports were fixed as inputs or outputs, requiring designers to build one card per I/O configuration. Equipment manufacturers had to bear the higher research and development and inventory holding costs of supporting multiple configurations.

By providing a flexible I/O BNC interface, the LMH0387 reduces the number of unique I/O configurations and associated costs. In addition, the universal BNC interface allows manufacturers to program their equipment I/O configurations post-delivery during studio installation.

For example, a compact router frame with 64 BNCs may be configured as a 32 by 32 matrix, a 1 to 63 distribution amplifier, or any other combination of inputs and outputs to meet the application's particular demand.

The LMH0387 is also the first solution to integrate the complex return loss network, to assure compliance to the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) 424M return loss specification.

The on-chip return loss network eliminates the time consuming and costly process of tweaking passive component values to achieve spec compliance. By integrating the network, the LMH0387 accelerates time-to-market, conserves board area, reduces bill of materials cost, and achieves greater than 5 dB of margin above the SMPTE specification.

Available now, the LMH0387 is supplied in a space-saving 48-pin chip-scale package and is priced at $12.95 each in 1,000-unit quantities.