Mindspeed Technologies has announced the launch of a multi-channel, multi-rate, low-power chipset for serial digital interface (SDI) applications. This new chipset will provide a complete serial link solution for 3G/HD/SD-SDI equipment and provide power savings of more than 70 percent when compared to existing solutions.

 

The chipset consists of a dual cable equalizer, a quad video reclocker and a dual cable driver. The dual equalizer in the new SDI chipset provides de-emphasis at both outputs whereas the dual cable driver provides input trace equalization for up to 40" of FR4 trace at both inputs.

 

In addition, the quad reclocker provides trace equalization at the inputs and de-emphasis at the outputs which enable high speed transmission across 40" of FR4 trace and two connectors.

 

The new devices are contained in industry standard quad flat no-lead (QFN) packages and the integrated crosspoint switch present in these devices eliminates the need for additional multiplexers and switches on the board, internal supply regulators and input/output termination. This in turn reduces the need for external components and allows the devices to help achieve an area reduction of at least 30 percent when compared to designs realized with legacy solutions.

 

The low power SDI products from Mindspeed are implemented in sub-micron complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS). The chipset’s quad reclocker consumes 475mW when all four channels are active and the dual cable equalizer and cable driver consume 160mW and 80mW respectively which, when compared to existing devices, is two-thirds less power per channel. Overall, the new SDI chipset from Mindspeed will offer designers greater than 70 percent power reduction. The dual cable driver and the quad reclocker are available for sampling immediately and the dual cable equalizer will be available for sampling only in the third quarter of 2009.

 

The new SDI chipset from Mindspeed is compliant with SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) standards defined for operation at SD-SDI, HD-SDI, and 3G-SDI. These devices are ideal for the design of SDI equipment like distribution amplifiers, video routing switchers, monitors and cameras.

 

Kurt Bush, senior vice president and general manager of high performance analog products at Mindspeed said the multi-channel devices offer customers robust functionality and high performance in a fraction of the area and power. This helps customers to achieve the density and power consumption requirements of large systems. Also, by integrating compensation for trace losses, Mindspeed enables the design of robust 3G-SDI systems, without the added complexity and cost of external components.