Optical transceivers extend video range

Optical transceiver products improve the performance and reduce installation and expansion costs of video surveillance systems.

Zarlink Semiconductor has developed a family of video IP surveillance (VIPS) camera and control room optical transceiver products that improve the performance and reduce installation and expansion costs of video surveillance systems.

The compact (41mm-wide) plug-and-play copper-to-fibre convertor modules provide a secure and extended point-to-point link between video cameras and the control room over single-stranded multimode optical fibre, while consuming just 1.5W.

Video surveillance systems are being increasingly deployed as a security tool in banks, train and subway stations, retail stores and in public places, with advanced systems integrating features such as event monitoring to analyse crowd movement and alert system operators of unusual behaviour.

Video cameras are also commonly used to monitor traffic, as well as automated industrial processes.

Zarlink's VIPS products extend the distance between cameras and the control room by up to 2km.

In comparison the reach of coaxial cable is limited to 300m, whereas twisted-pair copper cabling is restricted to about 100m.

Zarlink's VIPS products require no configuration and are completely transparent to the connected cameras, video servers and control room equipment.

To save fibre costs and reduce installation time, the modules have one 100Base-TX RJ-45 port connector for the camera and control room side and use only one fibre optic port with an ST-standard connector.

All modules are encased in a metal housing to ensure operation in industrial applications and semi-outdoor environments.

fibre transmission is 100Mbit/s optical wavelength multiplexing, meaning only one fibre is required for full-duplex operation in both directions.

The use of multi-mode fibre eliminates the need for multiple switches and long runs of expensive analogue shielded copper cables.

fibre cable also adds security, as it is not vulnerable to tapping or prone to weather corrosion, and supports the evolution towards megapixel camera deployments.

Zarlink's VIPS family includes embedded copper-to-fibre convertor modules designed specifically for camera-side deployments.

The ZL60239 product is an in-camera module that mounts directly into an IP camera's protective housing enclosure and is powered from the camera's DC voltage.

The module's ultracompact size fits a wide range of IP camera housings.

The related ZL60240 camera-side product is designed to be wall-mounted close to indoor IP surveillance cameras, video servers or Ethernet aggregation hubs.

Zarlink's control room VIPS modules are designed for basic to complex installations, with the devices providing the industry's highest scalability per square inch.

The ZL60209 control room module delivers the required scalability to cope with additional fibre connectivity from new "greenfield" IP camera deployments to enable the easy expansion of complex surveillance installations.

The module supports multiple mounting options, or individual modules can be added to a 1U x 19in rack compatible panel available from Zarlink.

The related ZL60210 control room module is a wall-mounted device designed for smaller video surveillance systems where fewer than 10 fibres are aggregated close to the control room.

For larger surveillance network expansion requiring higher density in a restricted rack space, the ZL60214 is an installation-ready 1U x 19in rack integrating 14 control room embedded modules.

The ZL60214 rack product includes a built-in power supply.

Zarlink's VIPS products are now in preproduction stage.

Future additions to the VIPS product family will support higher bandwidth, extended temperature range, and unique technology for long distance video extension applications.

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