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

A miniature camera with lenses printed in 3D technology.

Researchers at the University of Stuttgart have developed a new method of producing wide angle images (70 degrees) with the use of a miniature camera. They came up with the idea to use four lenses with different angle of view to focus in a central area and get wider peripheral vision, with the help of dedicated software. The doublet lenses with different focal lengths have been made of plastic in 3D printing technology (femtosecond direct laser writing).

Comparison of the size of the image sensor with the microscopic lenses and 1-cent coin

In relation to the size of the image, the maximum number of pixels comes from the area of the sensor covered by the lens with the largest focal length; the numbers of pixels corresponding with the lenses with shorter focal lengths are proportionally lower. This reflects the natural process of viewing characteristic for animals, whose eyes treat various parts of the scene differently. The central part of the image has the best quality, and the farther from the center, the accuracy of the view becomes smaller, however allowing them to perceive essential elements of the environment (peripheral vision). This way of seeing allows animals both to focus on the main activity and notice the dangers around.

A visualization of the concept - the center of the picture features the highest resolution

The lens array is very small, it occupies an area of 300 square micrometers. The lenses have been printed with a 3D printer directly to the CMOS sensor. This production process eliminates the need for complicated installation and focusing procedures. The researchers, encouraged by the results of their experiment, will focus now on the implementation of tiny cameras with such microscopic lenses. The miniaturization makes it possible to use the cameras in all kinds of electronic equipment, such as miniature drones (the size of insects), medical equipment for exploring the interior of the body (endoscopes), or sensors of autonomous vehicles. The advantage of the new solution is also the method of creating images which requires a smaller number of pixels, so consuming less power and shortening the processing time compared to conventional cameras, but potentially preserving the same kind of functionality.

TP-LINK and DIPOL will train installers!

Due to the growing popularity of TP-LINK equipment and solutions, DIPOL and TP-LINK Polska decided to organize together a series of practical training courses for installers working in the field of networks for small and medium-sized businesses (SMB). Such courses, organized for the first time in Poland, will be the best opportunity to acquire practical knowledge of selection and configuration of wired and wireless network devices. The participants will have access to professional training stands provided by TP-LINK. The courses will be run by an engineer from DIPOL's Technical Department, with the support of the manufacturer's staff during practical exercises on the stands. All course participants will receive certificates signed by the two companies.

The courses, run in Polish, will take place in April and May in Gdansk, Poznan, Warsaw, Wroclaw, Sandomierz and Krakow.

Hotel TV system in DVB-C standard.

Headends distributing satellite channels after conversion to DVB-C QAM form are popular solutions used in hotels. Satellite channels can be a complement to terrestrial TV broadcasts or be the only or main source of programming in the system, especially in hotels attracting foreign visitors. The compact digital headend TERRA S2C16 S2C16 R81620 has been designed for hotels, motels, boarding houses etc., where the users should be able to receive a wide range of DVB-T and DVB-S/S2 channels with common televisions equipped with DVB-C tuners. All the signals in the form of DVB-C QAM multiplexes are distributed to outlets in rooms via coaxial cabling.

S2C16 R81620 headend allows for reception of digital DVB-S/S2 signals from two satellite positions (full band from one satellite and low band from the second satellite) and digital DVB-T channels on televisions equipped with DVB-C tuners

Terra TTQ-440 R81622 DVB-T to DVB-C transmodulator is used for reception of FTA DVB-T signals and retransmission of them in QAM format. The TTQ-440 R81622 panel can receive four FTA DVB-T/T2 multiplexes and convert them into four neighboring DVB-C multiplexes that can be received by common televisions equipped with DVB-C tuners.

The compact digital headend Terra S2C16 S2C16 R81620 is a 16-channel transmodulator with DVB-S/S2 (8PSK/QPSK) input and DVB-C (QAM) output. The device is designed for transmodulation of FTA channels. Each of the 16 transmodulators of the S2C16 R81620 headend receives signals from a whole satellite transponder (several to over ten TV channels) and forms the corresponding DVB-C multiplex. In total, the headend can distribute 16 DVB-C multiplexes that can be received by televisions equipped with DVB-C tuners.

This solution provides a very attractive way to build a wide range of TV programming (more than 100 channels) in hotels. European satellites have a rich offer of free-to-air channels in English, German, French, Italian and Russian, including information, entertainment, and sports broadcasts.

Switches for special applications.

ULTIPOWER industrial switches are capable of reliable operation in harsh environmental conditions like increased dust levels, high or low temperature, high humidity. Such switches should also be mounted in hermetic enclosures installed on poles or other structures located outdoors. For redundancy, the switches can be powered from two different power sources. The Ethernet PoE ports of the switches can power the connected devices, e.g. PoE cameras. The switches have been equipped with optical converters or SFP slots for installing modules changing the transmission medium to fiber.

ULTIPOWER Ethernet industrial switches enable data transmission at rates of 10/100 Mbps or 1000 Mbps. Their RJ45 ports support auto-negotiation and Power over Ethernet (PoE) functions. The devices automatically discover PD devices (Power Device) compliant with IEEE 802.3af standard and supply power to them. This way, it is easy to power network devices located in places without access to AC lines, such as access points, IP cameras, IP phones etc.

Example application of ULTIPOWER switches. The switches power IP cameras and transmit the video signals via UTP cables, then change the transmission medium to fiber, allowing long-range transmission (e.g. over 20 km).

Transmission of HD video (HDMI) from a DVR/NVR over a long distance.

The DVR/NVR that records video surveillance data is often located in a safe place distant from the surveillance room with the monitor(s). This implies the need to send the video signal (most frequently HDMI) from the video recorder over the long distance of tens or sometimes even hundreds of meters.

In the latter case, a reliable solution is provided by the application of fiber-optic cable and Signal-HD HDMI to fiber optic converter H3608. The converter allows for long-range transmission of HDMI signal via a single-mode fiber, in order to display it on a remote monitor. Simultaneously, the converter ensures remote control of the DVR/NVR by converting and transmitting commands from its IR remote control (switching between channels etc).

Transmission of HDMI video with the use of Signal-HD H3608 converter and optical link

How to extend the IR signal to control a PROTECT mobile DVR?

Mobile DVRs are often intentionally installed in invisible and hardly accessible parts of vehicles. When choosing the installation location, the installer/user should simply take into consideration safety reasons, but it may complicate the practical use. For example, it is difficult to control the DVR installed in the trunk. The problem can be solved by the application of the PROTECT LED KL-1 M80103 control panel used as a monitor of the operating status of a PROTECT mobile DVR and as IR remote control extender. It has 6 LED indicators:

The length of the connection cable is 4 meters. To connect the control panel to a DVR, the user has to cut off the original plug and connect the individual wires to the following ports of the DVR (via the connector supplied with the DVR):

View of the PROTECT LED KL-1 control panel properly connected to the dedicated connector

Integration of IP camera with access control system.

Hikvision cameras with "S" letter at the end of the model marking, e.g. DS-2CD2142FWD-IS, are equipped with alarm input/output and audio path. Aside from motion detection, the alarm actions of the cameras from the budget series can be triggered by analytic functions such as crossing virtual line by an object or intrusion detection in a defined area. Thanks to the functionality, the cameras can be used both for video surveillance and access control.

Application of a Hikvision IP camera with alarm output used for door opening control

The idea of integration of the DS-2CD2142FWD-IS K17362 camera with an access control system is shown above. The use of the smart features of the Hikvision camera in conjunction with combination lock allows for implementation of automatic door opening for specified periods of time. Outside the periods the opening of the door is possible after entering authorization code or using dedicated proximity key fobs. After defining a suitable intrusion detection area, the camera triggers the lock via the alarm output, allowing a person to open the door. Thanks to the use of the camera, the system can record face images of the people entering the room.

SAT/DVB-T/FM antenna system in a single-family home. This universal solution provides independent DVB-S/S2, DVB-T and FM signals to 4 outlets. The terrestrial DVB-T signals are received by the professional VHF (174-230 MHz) and UHF (470-790 MHz) DVB-T antenna set A2810. Thanks to a special construction, the VHF and UHF antenna segments can be set to the vertical (V) or horizontal (H) polarization of the received signals. This enables the user to adjust the antenna to the local parameters of the broadcast signals, e.g. different polarization in the VHF and UHF bands... >>>more

SAT/DVB-T/FM antenna system with MP-0504L R6944504 multiswitch
providing all the signals to 4 outlets located in different rooms

Protect - mobile DVRs