ADI intros network entertainment reference design

BANGALORE, INDIA: The rapid growth of high-definition (HD) home entertainment systems has made the connections between an increasing number of sources and displays more difficult. High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cables support a limited distance, and content protection restrictions preclude most of the traditional interconnect solutions.

Several approaches have been proposed, but Analog Devices’ HDAnywhere networked entertainment solution is the only one that works with any source, over any common transport. It enables connections to wall-mounted displays without cables, ceiling mounted projectors without putting wires through the walls, and TVs in other parts of the house without running any new wires.

HDAnywhere is based on ADI’s Wavescale compression; the same JPEG2000-based technology used in digital cinema and broadcast television systems. Wavescale technology provides unique advantages in video quality, transmission robustness, scalability, low latency, and instantaneous data rate adjustment.

The HDAnywhere system compresses video in real time, encrypts the stream, and provides it to a UWB, WiFi, powerline, phoneline, or COAX modem -– all without visual interruptions. The receiver decrypts and decompresses the stream and produces an HDMI output, ready to be connected to any HD display.

It can accept video and audio in any common format, including standard definition composite and component, and HD content in analog component or an uncompressed digital form. This addresses evolving entertainment systems which incorporate a mix of HD and legacy components.

The HDAnywhere reference design includes schematics, PCB layouts, and firmware for a complete system design. It can be configured to support resolutions up to 1080i or, with additional hardware, 1080p video.  It can be easily modified to add or delete input and output ports to meet specific cost and functionality targets.  One end of the link can be embedded into a video source or display, adding interconnect flexibility to the device while minimizing overall cost.

Leveraging ADI’s broad line of video and audio products in its Advantiv portfolio, the HDAnywhere platform offers the flexibility to configure a system meeting particular cost and feature objectives with components tailored to work together seamlessly. The HDAnywhere networked entertainment reference design is available to qualified customers from Analog Devices.

Analog Devices in advanced TV

As the signal processing performance requirements for HD video, audio and interconnect functions are significantly higher than for standard-definition TVs, ADI offers the Advantiv advanced television portfolio, providing cost-effective analog, digital, and mixed-signal solutions to the most difficult multi-format ATV design challenges. Supported by ADI’s system-level experts, these customer-driven solutions enable the latest in HD home entertainment systems.

Analog Devices offers a broad range of industry-certified solutions for advanced television (ATV) applications, with products that enable rewarding experiences for consumers enjoying the latest high-definition (HD) TVs, DVD players, digital video recorders, audio/video receivers, camcorders and cable and satellite set-top boxes.