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| Industrial PC provides high definition pictures of sports events | | Always on the ball | The BFE Studio- und Mediensysteme GmbH uses PC-based technology in a mobile outside broadcast vehicle for high definition television (HDTV). A compact Simatic Box PC 627 calculates the path of the video signals through the complex controller systems in a split second and ensures that always the right camera picture appears on the right screen.
The TV service provider Top Vision positions the modern OB vehicle directly on location at the sporting competition. There the signals from different cameras and microphones in the stadium are edited and cut and commentaries, sound or special effects added to produce a program ready for broadcasting by satellite or cable. This requires technology which works immediately and reliably and can be controlled accurately and clearly.
Shunting yard for signals
BFE uses so-called cross-rail systems for marshalling all the audio and video signals. A cross-rail controller (CRC) as a central unit saves and distributes the configuration data in the system and organizes the communication between all the connected devices via an Ethernet-based Local Area Netzwerk (LAN). In extensive cross-rail systems, the controller is made up of several local area controllers which communicate with all other area controllers via the LAN.
Which camera is "on the air"?
The so-called tallybox now has to wade through this sea of data cables to find out which camera is "on the air" and momentarily supplying the visual material. This task is performed by the Simatic Box PC 627 by picking up the switching status of all the studio equipment and tracking the "on-air signal" (tally signal) through the systems to the appropriate camera. It calculates the red/green light signaling from this information which tells the studio team which audio and video signals have "on the air" status and which do not.
Another job which the highly efficient industrial PC performs is the signal monitoring. The names or labels of the signals which are currently visible on the appropriate monitor can be displayed on remote controlled display units, the Under-Monitor-Displays (UMDs). The Simatic Box PC 627 connects the display units with the cross-rail system. It receives information about the system switching status, signal names and labels as well as the tally status via LAN and passes this on to the UMDs.
High reliability
The industrial PC with the latest Intel Pentium-M technology, two Ethernet, one serial COM1 and four USB interfaces as well as two PCI slots has a RAID1 reflection plate system which allows redundant data storage on two hard disks. This prevents the TV stations losing high income from commercials in minutes in the case of a hard disk failure.
Due to the robust design and high electromagnetic compatibility, the team and the sensitive technology are optimally protected against interference. |  |
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