Vitesse simplifies system complexity for professional and consumer video

2011 NAB Show, CAMARILLO, USA: Vitesse Semiconductor Corp., a leading provider of advanced IC solutions, has introduced the industry’s first-in-class 3G broadcast video portfolio with integrated real-time diagnostics.

These products are the first of several new devices from Vitesse specifically targeted at the professional and consumer video markets. This highly integrated device family optimizes board space by up to 50 percent and delivers up to 40 percent power savings versus competitive solutions.

The family builds on Vitesse’s signal integrity expertise to deliver industry-first full diagnostics in video broadcast transceivers with HDVScope, the latest generation of Vitesse’s renowned VScope embedded waveform viewing technology.

Specifically tailored for broadcast video applications, HDVScope makes it possible to remotely monitor, troubleshoot, and adjust in real-time Society of Motion Picture Television Engineers (SMPTE) Serial Digital Interface (SDI) signals anywhere in a video system where these devices are used. The new offerings also extend and complement Vitesse’s high-performance crosspoint switch engines delivering complete system solutions and next-generation architectures to the video segment.

Included in the family are several industry-firsts for SDI devices: a multi-rate adaptive cable equalizer/re-clocker (VSC3401) and multi-rate video cable re-clocker/cable drivers (VSC3402, VSC3403, VSC3404).

The VSC3401 is the industry’s first-in-class multi-rate adaptive cable equalizer with integrated re-clocker. With the VSC3402 (single input) and VSC3403 (quad input), Vitesse is the first in the industry to integrate both re-clockers and cable line driver functions. The VSC3404 is a quad multi-rate video re-clocker and line driver. The devices are all compatible with the SMPTE SDI video rates of 3G-SDI (2.97 Gbps), HD-SDI (1.485 Gbps) and SD-SDI (270 Mbps).

“This portfolio represents Vitesse’s first products specifically tailored for this market and a radical new architecture for professional video applications,” said Juan Garza, product marketing manager at Vitesse. “The unprecedented integration, functionality, and real-time signal diagnostic capabilities specifically address the market need to balance high performance and reliability with lower system costs and lower power. This initiative is a natural extension to Vitesse’s long history in providing best-in-class signal integrity solutions.”

The VSC3401 and VSC3402 are available in a 4x4mm QFN 24-lead package, the VSC3403 comes in a 7x7mm 48-lead QFN package, and the VSC3404 is in a 10x10mm 72-pin QFN package. Samples for all devices are available immediately.