DIPOL Weekly Review - TV and SAT TV, CCTV, WLAN

Organic computers - a big step forward.

Researchers from the University of Iowa were able to convert magnetic data, stored on a magnetic foil, into optical form - light emitted by organic LEDs. It's a big step forward towards the creation of simple but low-cost flexible organic computers. Because of the potentially low cost of production and their flexibility, the plastic computers can make an ideal base for consumer electronic devices, especially those called wearable electronics. These may be in the form of sensors that can be stuck on everything and low power computers integrated with clothes and using Internet resources (Cloud computing), GPS functionality, cellular infrastructure etc. for providing a number of services currently available e.g. in smartphones.

An organic NAND flash memory

First organic processors have already been developed, the main problems are the storage and access of data and energy demand. The idea of the American scientists is to store data densely onto a thin magnetic film similar to a part of a hard drive platter. The problem with a high demand of energy when reading the data is solved by using the new method of conversion between magnetic and optical information. The organic LEDs do not need any additional electrical energy for the exciton recombination process in the organic semiconductor. The photons are emitted thanks to gradients in the remanent fringe fields of the few nanometer-thick magnetic film. The photons can be further transmitted via optical data bus. What is amazing - every bit of the stored data can be used by a system without additional energy consumption! This discovery may solve the problems of data storage and exchange in organic electronic systems.

Screens made of organic LEDs
- transparent, flexible, thin and light

CCTV system with Ultimode video converters.

An installation company had to deploy video surveillance system at a large facility consisting of two main buildings and a smaller auxiliary building with security room. They deployed the cameras in such a way to observe the key points of the property and the whole fence around it. The latter task is handled by PTZ cameras placed on poles.

They used 16 analog cameras, including 6 PTZ devices. Due to large distances between the camera groups and the security room, the best solution was to employ ULTIMODE video converters and optical links. The optical medium practically eliminates problems typical for copper networks - a risk of lightning damage, the presence of interference from potential differences and stray currents - and above all, enures stable parameters of video and control signals.

The architecture of the system - two nodes with media converters,
the further signal transmission is taking place over optical fibers

The buildings are connected via single-mode optical cables for outdoor use, each cable with 8 fibers. The cables with ready-made connectors have been buried into the ground and connected in the buildings. Each of the two main buildings has the node with media converter that concentrates the connections from the local camera group. Some cameras that monitor the area near the auxiliary building have been connected directly with the security room via copper coaxial cables.

The sets of L2821 fiber optic video converters ensure transmission of 8 video channels and 1 one-way RS-485 data channel (in opposite direction - from the video receiver to the video transmitter) via single optical fiber. The rest of the fibers in each cable is used for other services.

Safety of antenna systems - surge protector or galvanic isolator?

Signal TV-Sat Surge Protector R48602 protects TV/SAT devices against surges caused by lightning storms. A good practice is to use this type of protectors at the inputs of the first active devices in the system (directly after the antennas). These are usually terrestrial TV amplifiers, satellite amplifiers and multiswitches.

Everyone should know that the use of this type of elements in ungrounded systems is meaningless. The protection works on the principle that the built-in varistor directs the excessive charge to the ground. In the case of the Signal R48602, the DC breakdown voltage at 100 V/s is about 230 V.

In bigger installations, the differences of potentials between individual parts of the antenna/cable networks may cause overvoltages, surge and ground loop currents effecting in sparks and even light electric shocks to the people connecting the equipment. It may also be the reason of unexpected failures of the active pieces of the equipment like RF amplifiers or even TV receivers. The solution to the problems is the use of galvanic isolators Signal R48605. This element is equipped with capacitors responsible for cutting the DC and low frequency voltage components both in the signal and neutral (ground) paths. The result is the elimination of unwanted interference and the above-mentioned phenomena.

The Signal galvanic isolator eliminates the negative influence of potential differences between the grounds of different components of antenna systems on their reliability, comfort and safety of use, and the quality of received signals

New 900 TVL Sunell cameras.

One of the most popular types of cameras used in video surveillance systems are dome cameras. They are popular due to compact size and versatility of use. Sunell IRC13/40ATVD M10763 comes with a new line of dome/ceiling cameras, called Effectus. It has been equipped with Sony Exmor CMOS sensor with resolution of 1.3 MP and can generate video with horizontal resolution of 900 TVL in color mode.

The housings of dome Effectus cameras are easy and convenient to install and allow for hiding connection cables. The cameras can be mounted either on ceilings or walls, and their main parts with lenses may be rotated around any axis.

Mobile video surveillance.

Increasingly, public transport and special-purpose vehicles are equipped with digital video recorders. The DVRs often record not only the route (front and rear views), but also events inside and outside the vehicles. They allow for supervision of the passengers, detection of irregularities during operation, help to determine the guilty party after collisions.

Protect 104 and Protect 204 are modern mobile DVRs with four video channels. The M80104 model records data on two SD cards, each up to 128 GB, the M80204 device has interface for connecting a 2.5" HDD. Thanks to GPS modules, it is possible to record the route and speed. The information can be retrieved using the application supplied with the DVRs, with visualization on Google Maps. The software, in addition to generating the map of a journey, can play back the video recorded from the cameras, create charts of acceleration and find the moments of activation of alarm inputs. It is also possible to determine whether the driver complied with the applicable speed limits.

Alarm inputs can monitor any systems of the vehicle which provide electrical signals coming from the sensors and control devices, e.g. fuel filler opening, opening/closing doors, fastening seat belts, opening cargo space, pressing the brake pedal, switching on turn signal etc.
The DVRs are managed with the use of the included IR remote controls. The graphical menu is available via analog video output and can be displayed on a suitable video monitor.

UPS in a RACK cabinet - how to connect several devices?

Continuous power supply for video monitoring systems is a must. Most often, this task is performed by a UPS installed in a RACK cabinet, e.g. OR1000 N9705.

UPS power supplies usually have only 2 to 4 outputs, often in the IEC320C13 form used in computer systems. To connect several devices with typical DIN49441 AC plugs, it is necessary to use a suitable power strip, e.g. R9120234.

The N9705 UPS and R9120234 AC power strip allow for connecting multiple devices

TV in a large hotel complex. There were three main requirements for the designer: the SMATV system was to cover 5 buildings of the complex, the programming should include all terrestrial DVB-T broadcasts available in the area and 15 satellite channels, the televisions in the hotel rooms and other facilities should be able to receive the whole programming in the form of DVB-T channels, without a need for additional sat receivers... more

Diagram of the optical/copper SMATV system distributing the programming

WD1 resolution - further enhanced image quality