Semiconductor Solutions for Point-to-Point Matrix Switching
Semtech’s BlueRiver® technology is the perfect replacement for the incumbent point-to-point matrix switch connectivity, HDBaseT. BlueRiver provides true 4K60 support using standard IEEE physical interfaces and protocols, ensuring the best reach and noise immunity performance over standard copper category cabling. Where current extended reach matrix switch connectivity is limited to HD, this has prompted the move to IP based systems to support 4K, but AV-over-IP is not always the ideal choice for some applications. For example, in-room connectivity requiring only the switching of up to four sources to wall-mounted displays and a ceiling-mounted projector only requires a simple matrix switch. The BlueRiver-based 4x4 matrix switch application diagram below illustrates this example using low cost AVP1000 devices to extend and switch HDMI over copper category cable, such as Cat-6a.
Figure 1. BlueRiver-based 4x4 matrix switch application diagram using low cost AVP1000 devices to extend and switch HDMI over copper category cable.
BlueRiver for KVM Matrix Switching
BlueRiver uses standard Ethernet technology to distribute AV content over an IP network, or devices can be connected point-to-point for legacy matrix switch-style applications. Since all BlueRiver devices provide a 1G Ethernet interface which can be connected to the same network as the SDVoE™ API server, the API will discover all BlueRiver devices and endpoints, including those connected remotely across the 10G link. This is illustrated in the simple 2x2 BlueRiver-based matrix switch system diagram example below.
As shown by the red arrow in the diagram, client software can monitor and control BlueRiver devices, both local to the matrix switch and remotely, via the 10G extension links. As mentioned earlier, BlueRiver uses standard IP protocol between devices even when connected point-to-point. Other servers may also exist on the same network to intercept USB traffic generated by USB devices connected to remote BlueRiver endpoints for advanced KVM applications, such as single user control of multiple hosts. Thanks to the flexibility of the SDVoE API, any software developed for legacy matrix switch applications can be repurposed or reused as-is for AV-over-IP solutions, significantly reducing development costs and providing end-users with a flexible, common control set across both point-to-point AV extension and SDVoE AV-over-IP systems.
Figure 2. 2x2 matrix switch system diagram: client software can monitor and control BlueRiver devices, both local to the matrix switch and remotely, via the 10G link.
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Inside the Box with AVP1000: A Simple and Cost-Effective Point-to-Point Matrix Switch Solution
Figure 3: Semtech’s AVP1000 AV Processor can be used to transmit up to 4K60 video over 100m of Cat-6a standard copper category cabling.
For the most cost-effective point-to-point matrix switch solution, providing the lowest end-to-end latency performance, Semtech’s AVP1000 AV Processor can be used to transmit up to 4K60 video over 100m of Cat-6a standard copper category cabling. When paired with an industry standard 10GBaseT PHY, only a handful of core components are needed to implement the complete BlueRiver transmitter solution.
Similarly, the AVP1000 can be used to power the BlueRiver receiver, providing an end-to-end solution with sub-millisecond latency for high performance matrix switch applications using copper category cabling. As a single chip solution for both Transmitter and Receivers, the AVP1000 can also be dynamically switched between Transmitter and Receiver operation, allowing single hardware designs to be configurable at install. Where AV extension over 100m is required, the AVP1000 can be paired with a standard SFP+ optical module for extension over fiber.
Figure 4: AVP1000 is also capable of dynamic switching between transmitter and receiver operation.
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