skoopia is your partner to move from CVBS to Full HD (AHD/TVI) 1080p30/25.
This is an excerpt from a presentation on which this blog is based. It describes the skoopia AHD product portfolio, but also the interaction between the different units.
skoopia understands that the transition from CVBS to Full HD has more implications than just having a higher resolution sensor. The following items are considered:
latency requirements
cable length, sliprings and video transmission band width
cabling diversity
aspect ratio change from 4:3 to 16:9 for camera and monitor
camera control
recording and overlays in recording unit
All above aspects are covered by the skoopia portfolio. Continue reading to find out that skoopia has a solution for all potential obstacles in moving from CVBS to Full-HD.
skoopia pushes the AHD video format as the step up to Full-HD resolution. Why? Solutions making use of CVBS have -so far- remain using CVBS for the following reasons:
low latency
low band width / long cabling solutions
multiple cabling options available
native signal can be displayed directly on monitor
Both AHD and TVI offer low latency, multiple cabling options and nowadays also monitors
displaying native AHD/TVI are available. However, skoopia pushes AHD because:
AHD offers lower band width compared to TVI for the same video signal
AHD native supplier -NextChip- provides superior support on the DSP, while native supplier of TVI (HikVision) is unaccessible for DSP support questions.
Note: CVI (proprietary Dahua) is also reported as an alternative. Where TVI can be licensed from HikVision, CVI is really proprietary and has several other issues. Although AHD and TVI are not compatible, the vast majority of DSPs supports both formats, whereas, CVI is not always supported, and rarely to the same extend, leading to inferior image quality and lack of camera control.
In the above picture you find the solution space of skoopia for AHD. All AHD solutions are industrial AHD solutions, providing:
The centre of the AHD solution space if formed by the AHD/TVI/CVBS Digital Video Recorder, called the D20AT-1. All other skoopia cameras and monitors are supported by this DVR.
skoopia's industrial AHD camera portfolio consist of 5 different cameras:
the very small 22mm x 26mm single board Full-HD AHD camera - called 21C26AT
the extremely small 14mm x 14mm single board Full-HD AHD camera - called 21C14AT
the small Full-HD AHD 10x optical zoom block camera - called 20Z10S-NF
the Full-HD AHD 20x optical zoom block camera - called 20Z20A
the Full-HD AHD 30x optical zoom block camera - called 20Z30A
skoopia's monitors ranging from 2.5" till 56" all have HDMI input, but also can be extended with CVBS in/out, or even more suitable AHD/TVI/CVBS in/out having auto-detection of the incoming video signal.
In the first part of the underneath section we will discuss the advantages of skoopia industrial AHD video solutions as stand-alone unit. In the second part, we will discuss the advantages of integration of skoopia industrial AHD solutions, offering you insights in moving your entire video solution chain to AHD.
Finally, all skoopia industrial AHD video solutions provide the skoopia product life cycle promise:
cameras, DVRs and monitors will be available for 5+ years
replacement products will adhere to form, fit and function
upgrade or next generation products will meet form and firt, but will offer additional functions.
skoopia's single channel industrial AHD/TVI/CVBS digital video recorder (DVR) - called D20AT-1) provides unique features focused on operator based video recording.
Operator based video recording is quite different from the video recording done for security or observation purposes. Security/observation recording is primarily done so one can determine what has happened afterwards, whereas operator based video recording supports the operator in operation. As such, all video input provided by the cameras (recorded and unrecorded) is viewed by the user of the DVR.
Therefore, the DVR is purposefully a single channel DVR.
It makes the operation via the GUI (Graphical User Interface) significantly more easy as all operations take effect on 1 camera supplying the image.
Productivity of the user is further enhanced offering direct control buttons for Record/Pauze/Stop and Snapshot.
Overlay functions can be pre-set so that:
Distance is displayed as an overlay (meter read)
Project name
Company name
Date/time
are automatically displayed during operation (in each corner, info per corner can be set).
Time dependent additional information can be set, such as:
Project description
Commenting
for which commenting will be placed centrally in the screen to secure the reviewers of the video have a clear indication of issues found by the operator.
The industrial AHD DVR offers the possibility to export video via FTP or USB thumb drive. Selection of the relevant video and images is straightforward, by searching for project name.
The digital video recorder D20AT-1 supports touch screens from skoopia, and uniquely allows you to set the overlay position dependent on the aspect ratio of your monitor (so 4:3 monitors will have the overlay position set slightly more to the inner). Yet, the DVR continues to record the video in 16:9, as a Full-HD video should be.
Benefits of using a 4:3 monitor for Full HD video:
No need to re-engineer a portable suit case
Limit the weight of the portable suit case, if information outside of the 4:3 monitor is not/less relevant for operator support.
Details on the benefits of skoopia 4:3 monitors with zoomed panorama view can be found in the section on industrial monitors at the bottom of this blog.
skoopia has introduced two types of small, cost-effective single board AHD cameras.
The first camera is called the 21C26AT, a 22mm by 26mm industrial camera with the very sensitive Sony Starvis Exmor R (IMX290) sensor and best in class digital signal processor for AHD/TVI/CVBS (Nextchip). The result is an great image quality over easy long distance wiring, finding its purpose in primarily in industrial camera applications providing a cost effective and productive solution in any setting where CVBS cabling can be re-used.
Key specifications of the 21C26AT industrial camera
Selectable Full HD AHD/TVI (1080p30/25, 720p60/50/30/25) or CVBS (4:3 or 16:9) NTSC & PAL output
Sony Starvis Exmor R - IMX290 sensor (1/2.8")
22 mm by 26 mm single board industrial camera
4,5 - 15 V (parity protection)
Parallel Pelco-D / VISCA via RS485
No latency
One-command-customization
Flexible wiring (twisted pair, coaxial cable, etc)
Very long distance (700 meter)
The 21C26AT industrial AHD camera allows for single command, complete settings customization, a unique solution skoopia calls: "one-command-customization". It is effective a single VISCA command allowing you to set all relevant parameters of your OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) AHD camera. In need for plural settings per application / environment. Just store the different parameters in the VISCA "block command" and set the OEM camera to your liking, avoiding having multiple versions on stock with subtle, but different settings (e.g. PAL/NTSC, flip in case of reverse build-in, baud rate, white balance, gain).
skoopia's second industrial AHD board camera is the super-small, single board 14mm by 14mm industrial AHD camera with extremely low light sensitivity.
The camera is called skoopia 21C14AT.
It sets the new industry standard replacing small 14mm by 14mm CVBS camera as well as Φ 19 mm CVBS OEM cameras.
It is based on the first in world SoC integrating imaiging sensor, AHD DSP (digital signal processor and AHD Tx (AHD transmission chip).
Key USPs skoopia 21C14AT
Very sensitive 1/2.7" sensor
Extremely small form factor: 14mm x 14mm single board (fits Φ 19 mm)
No latency
Easy integration via FFC (flexible flat cable) on OEM board
Active amplified differential video (V+/V-) and regular video (V, GND)
Extreme long cable distances possible
Extreme operational temperature range: -40°C / 105°C
Agile powering: 4-16V, Very low power consumption 0.8 W
Dynamic camera control via direct register access (via I2C and UtC)
True DOL WDR: max. 120 dB
The 21C14AT has cut off corners, allowing replacement of industrial CVBS cameras with the dimension of Φ 19 mm single board implementation.
More details on the 21C14AT can be found in a previous blog.
skoopia markets three block cameras having AHD output, offering respectively 10x, 20x or 30x optical zoom.
skoopia 20Z10S-NF is a Full HD block camera with 10x optical zoom, providing HD-SDI, EX-SDI, AHD and CVBS output without separate break-out boards. Moreover, it provides 1 cm near focus capability, making it a perfect replacement for discontinued Sony block cameras.
Key features of the block camera 20Z10S-NF:
10x optical zoom
Full HD output AHD (1080p30/25) & CVBS output (NTSC/PAL)
1 cm near focus
True DOL WDR Small size Full HD block camera: 43mm x 44mm x 60mm
9 pin FFC (Sony block camera compatible), 24 pin FFC (Sony block camera compatible),
This industrial block camera is a great replacement for analog Sony FCB-EX11 and Sony FCB-EX15, as well as Sony H11.
Next to replacement of CVBS block cameras, this camera could also be an interesting alternative for Y/Pb/Pr cameras.
Click for more information on this industrial block camera.
skoopia 20Z20A is a Full HD block camera, providing AHD and CVBS output at 20x optical zoom, next to 32x digital zoom
Key features of the block camera 20Z20A:
20x optical zoom
Full HD output AHD (1080p30/25)
CVBS output (NTSC/PAL)
True DOL WDR Exact match to Sony block camera size: 50mm x 60mm x 87mm
9 pin FFC (Sony block camera compatible) and 20 pin FFC (Sony block camera compatible)
The 20Z20A industrial AHD block camera is a great replacement for analog Sony FCB-EX45, Sony FCB-EX47, Sony FCB-EX2200, and Sony FCB-EX2700, as well as Sony FCB-EV53xx and Sony FCB-73xx series.
Also note that the 20Z20A in CVBS mode would provide up to 40x zoom without resolution loss, due to the fact that the first 2x digital zoom will be without resolution loss.
More information on industrial block cameras.
skoopia 20Z30A is a Full HD block camera, providing AHD and CVBS output at 30x optical zoom. It is the big brother of the 20Z20A.
Key features of the block camera 20Z30A:
30x optical zoom
Full HD output AHD (1080p30/25)
CVBS output (NTSC/PAL)
Sensor size : 1/3"
True DOL WDR Dimensions: 50mm x 60mm x 93mm exactly meet Sony FCB- EV75xx series (also including latest Sony FCB EV7520 and EV7520A).
9 pin FFC (Sony block camera compatible) and 20 pin FFC (Sony block camera compatible)
This 30x optical zoom industrial AHD block camera is a great replacement for analog Sony FCB-EX1020 and Sony FCB-EX2700, as well as Sony FCB-EV55xx and Sony FCB-75xx series.
skoopia industrial monitors offer numerous advantages that are independent of the input format, such as:
high brightness for sun-light readability
rigid metal housing
monitor panel & driver boards for OEM monitor integration in e.g. toolcase
protective glass
non-glare touch screen (capacitive and pressure based)
fire protective finishes and custom powering
But for the transition from CVBS to AHD, skoopia monitors offer two very important additional features.
Native AHD Industrial Monitor.
skoopia industrial monitors offer auto-detection of the incoming video signal and allow for direct display of AHD, TVI or CVBS. This is particularly useful, if you require lowest possible latency in displaying the video signal. For this specific reason, the native AHD/TVI/CVBS monitors provide native signal look-throught, allowing the fastest possible video display in native format, but in parallel recording of the AHD/TVI/CVBS signal (e.g. on the D20AT-1, skoopia's single channel operator focused DVR).
Zoomed panorama view on 4:3 Industrial Monitors
Zoomed panorama view is a skoopia name for the fact that any 16:9 video signal that is provided to a skoopia monitor can be displayed in full screen on a skoopia 4:3 monitor, without distorting the aspect ratio of the incoming video.
This will allow you to continue to use 4:3 industrial high brightness monitors in e.g. tool cases, without requiring redesign. Moreover, the weight of the monitor (or monitor module) is significantly lower than the 16;9 monitor.
Zoomed panorama 4:3 industrial monitor feature is particularly useful in applications that do not require the 16:9 aspect ratio (often applications observing square or round objects). Video solutions for the sewer industry are a good application example.
So far, we have not discussed the impact of sensor development on the video solution chain. Four key features change when moving from CVBS to AHD.
The aspect ratio of the sensor (or at least the output are of the sensor) changes from 4:3 to 16:9.
CVBS cameras are often still based on CCD, providing a different TFL (total focal length) of the optical system.
The sensors used for AHD typically are larger than the sensors used for CVBS, particularly in small board cameras.
AHD based cameras are based on latest sensor technology, providing superior sensitivity.
Whereas the first two aspects require that one needs to consider new lens characteristics to match the existing system (if this is required), the later two aspects provide the possibility to have a smaller aperture and as such a superior depth of field.
So switching from CVBS to AHD also provides additional benefits, particularly in applications that require more sensor sensitivity.
If the industrial skoopia cameras are used in combination with the skoopia industrial AHD/CVBS DVR the cameras can be fully controlled via the DVR. No need for additional peripherals.
21C26AT can be directly steered using the RS485 from the D20AT-1
21C14AT, 20Z10S-NF, 20Z20A and 20Z30A can be controlled using the UtC (up the coax) capability present in the D20AT-1.
Finally, the D20AT-1 supports all skoopia touch screens, allowing you to operate the D20AT-1 without keyboard/mouse.
Industrial AHD amplifier/transmitter and Industrial AHD amplifier/filter/receiver
In specific cases, the AHD signal, is not strong enough or shows color shifts if long cabling and/or multiple connectors and/or several slip rings are part of the video chain.
In such cases, usage of an Industrial AHD amplifier/filter/receiver is required. And should this is not be sufficient, additional signal enhancement can be achieved combining it with an industrial AHD amplifier/transmitter. Both amplifier/transmittor (14mm x 14mm) and the larger amplifier/filter/receiver are made by www.ps-gmbh.de.
