FPGA board supports latest serial digital video

Reference designs based on Xilinx Virtex-5 FPGAs support the Dual Link and 3G-SDI serial digital video standards.

Xilinx has introduced a suite of new reference designs supporting the Dual Link (SMPTE 372M) and 3G-SDI (SMPTE 424M and SMPTE 425M, level A and level B) serial digital video standards based on Xilinx Virtex-5 FPGAs leveraging the industry's first available interoperability platform, the Xilinx ML571 evaluation board.

The new reference designs will showcase conversion from Dual Link HD-SDI to 3G-SDI, a 3G-SDI pass through demonstration with frame synchronisation for improved jitter performance, and conversion from 3G-SDI back to Dual Link.

The Xilinx ML571 evaluation board can also be used as an interoperability testing platform for a variety of professional broadcast and digital cinema applications that require these new interfaces for which there is no 3G-SDI test equipment currently available.

The Xilinx portfolio of serial digital audio and video solutions is the widest available for any FPGA enabling designers to quickly and easily implement these free of charge.

Designers can focus their efforts on the value-add portions of their system.

"There is a growing requirement for broadcasters to support full bandwidth 1080p60 video, particularly in the digital cinema and post production environments", said Andy DeBaets, Senior Director of Systems and Application Engineering at Xilinx.

"By offering a complete suite of new video connectivity designs at the nascent point of these standards, our objective is to present all broadcast equipment providers with the means to implement next generation interfaces with as little effort as possible".

"This is an example of how Xilinx is a true solutions provider".

Free preliminary reference designs are available now, with fully productised versions to follow in coming months.

The ML571 is available to buy now from Cook Technologies for US $3999.

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