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Fibre optics
Fibre optics A fibre-optic transmitter and for transmitting receiver pair high-quality video signals has been announced by Pilkington Fibreoptic Technologies of the UK. The PPS373C, the transmitter, contains an onboard switch to allow the input signal to be terminated to 75 a. The unit is designed to allow composite video signals to be transmitted over optical fibre cables. This enables the signal cables to be installed in existing power ducts and in areas of high electrical noise while maintaining picture quality, says Pilkington. The PPA373C, the receiver, converts optical signals originated by a PPS373C to a 1 V peak-topeak composite video signal. Gain adjustment is accessible through the front panel. The two units can also be combined to transmit other analogue signals up to 1.4 V peak to peak. Both units are RS170 compatible. Their frequency range is from 10 Hz to 25 MHz, says PilBoth are Eurocard kington. mounted and use a 12 V power (Pilkington Fibre-optic Technologies, Kinmel Park, Bodelwyddan, Rhyl, Clwyd LL18 5TY, UK. Tel: (0745) 584545) cl
supply.
&600 for intelligence Intelligent colour graphics for &600 has been introduced by UK firm JB Microsystems. The MRLCGC unit has a Z80A microprocessor as its CPU. Input is via RS232 or RS422 interfaces at up to 9600 baud. The unit’s built-in firmware accepts commands to draw lines, boxes and rectangles, to present process symbols, to flash, change and fill colours, and to write textual data. The unit can also be interrogated for details of cursor position, colour and other information. 5 12 X 256 pixel pictures are produced. fJB Microsystems Ltd, South Street, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leics LE6 5BW, UK. Tel: (0530) 412796)
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IC drives RGB Italian semiconductor firm SGS has developed a 250 V bipolar integrated circuit (IC) which drives directly the RGB cathodes of colour TV tubes. The TDA8150 replaces discrete transistor circuits. Thus it reduces component count and increases reliability, says SGS. Inside the chip are three independent video output amplifiers. Also included is a circuit to generate the first grid voltage. This allows simple spot burn elimination single external with a capacitor. Each output stage is protected by an internal clamp diode against flashover discharges in the tube. The TDA8 150 has internal current generators to compensate for positive and negative leakages. The European version also has a common sensing output, as it is
Video controller ups CRT performance A four-channel video controller has been announced by US-based firm Zetaco. The model 9 11E is designed to let standard CRTs give the video terminal performance of a Texas Instruments 911 system. The controller handles up to four asynchronous CRTs, says Zetaco. It operates with TI’s DXlO and DNOS operating systems, and with Ryan-McFarland’s COS 990. Each channel can be set up individually with respect to baud rate, RS232 or 20 mA current loop and local or remote interface, operation. The controller contains four CRT image memories. There is an onboard selfcheck program with LED indication of malfunction. Each channel has an echoback switch for checking interface connections. (Zetaco International (European Office), 9 The High Street, 2nd Floor, Tring, Herts HP23 5AB, UK. UK distributor: Ellinor Peripherals Ltd, I4 Arkwright Road, Reading RG2 OLS, UK. Tel: (0734) 863417. Telex: 847395) 0
Pasquale Pistorio, chief officer of the SGS group
executive
designed for use in TVs with sequential cutoff adjustment. The two versions of the IC have been developed for the European CCIR standard and the US NTSC standard. The main differences are a narrower bandwidth, the use of parallel cutoff sensing in the US version (rather than the sequential system) and the packaging. In making the TDA8150, SGS uses a top/bottom ion-implanted isolation technique and a field plate technique to increase breakdown voltages. Top/bottom isolation means forming the collector isolation diffusions (structures which separate the transistor collectors) with ion implants before and after the epitaxial collector growth. When the wafer is heated these two components diffuse and join in the middle. Diffusion time is shortened and outdiffusion of the buried layer is therefore less. Hence the net epitaxial layer thickness, which determines the breakdown voltage, is greater. Field plates are layers of lowresistivity material placed over junctions to smooth out the electric field, preventing field concentration breakdown. The TDA8150 uses field plates to increase the breakdown voltage of base-collector junctions. Submerged polycrystalline silicon field plates in the oxide layer protect the collector isolation junctions crossed by metal tracks. (SGS, Via C Olivetti 2, 20041 Agrate Brianza, Italy. Tel: (39) 39 655 54 21. Telex: 4333013I) cl
image and vision computing
supply.
&600 for intelligence Intelligent colour graphics for &600 has been introduced by UK firm JB Microsystems. The MRLCGC unit has a Z80A microprocessor as its CPU. Input is via RS232 or RS422 interfaces at up to 9600 baud. The unit’s built-in firmware accepts commands to draw lines, boxes and rectangles, to present process symbols, to flash, change and fill colours, and to write textual data. The unit can also be interrogated for details of cursor position, colour and other information. 5 12 X 256 pixel pictures are produced. fJB Microsystems Ltd, South Street, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leics LE6 5BW, UK. Tel: (0530) 412796)
216
IC drives RGB Italian semiconductor firm SGS has developed a 250 V bipolar integrated circuit (IC) which drives directly the RGB cathodes of colour TV tubes. The TDA8150 replaces discrete transistor circuits. Thus it reduces component count and increases reliability, says SGS. Inside the chip are three independent video output amplifiers. Also included is a circuit to generate the first grid voltage. This allows simple spot burn elimination single external with a capacitor. Each output stage is protected by an internal clamp diode against flashover discharges in the tube. The TDA8 150 has internal current generators to compensate for positive and negative leakages. The European version also has a common sensing output, as it is
Video controller ups CRT performance A four-channel video controller has been announced by US-based firm Zetaco. The model 9 11E is designed to let standard CRTs give the video terminal performance of a Texas Instruments 911 system. The controller handles up to four asynchronous CRTs, says Zetaco. It operates with TI’s DXlO and DNOS operating systems, and with Ryan-McFarland’s COS 990. Each channel can be set up individually with respect to baud rate, RS232 or 20 mA current loop and local or remote interface, operation. The controller contains four CRT image memories. There is an onboard selfcheck program with LED indication of malfunction. Each channel has an echoback switch for checking interface connections. (Zetaco International (European Office), 9 The High Street, 2nd Floor, Tring, Herts HP23 5AB, UK. UK distributor: Ellinor Peripherals Ltd, I4 Arkwright Road, Reading RG2 OLS, UK. Tel: (0734) 863417. Telex: 847395) 0
Pasquale Pistorio, chief officer of the SGS group
executive
designed for use in TVs with sequential cutoff adjustment. The two versions of the IC have been developed for the European CCIR standard and the US NTSC standard. The main differences are a narrower bandwidth, the use of parallel cutoff sensing in the US version (rather than the sequential system) and the packaging. In making the TDA8150, SGS uses a top/bottom ion-implanted isolation technique and a field plate technique to increase breakdown voltages. Top/bottom isolation means forming the collector isolation diffusions (structures which separate the transistor collectors) with ion implants before and after the epitaxial collector growth. When the wafer is heated these two components diffuse and join in the middle. Diffusion time is shortened and outdiffusion of the buried layer is therefore less. Hence the net epitaxial layer thickness, which determines the breakdown voltage, is greater. Field plates are layers of lowresistivity material placed over junctions to smooth out the electric field, preventing field concentration breakdown. The TDA8150 uses field plates to increase the breakdown voltage of base-collector junctions. Submerged polycrystalline silicon field plates in the oxide layer protect the collector isolation junctions crossed by metal tracks. (SGS, Via C Olivetti 2, 20041 Agrate Brianza, Italy. Tel: (39) 39 655 54 21. Telex: 4333013I) cl
image and vision computing