Datapath Solutions - Video In

Video Input | Mosaic Cards | Video Capture

The purpose of Datapath’s Video Input and Video Capture cards is to allow users the ability to integrate both standard definition and high definition broadcast feeds into their video wall array. Prior to the creation of the Image 4 output card, each output card operated with specific input models.

The chart below defines the output models and their corresponding input card

Video Input

Video Input Cards differ from video capture cards in two ways; first the video input series cards employ a private bus when transferring video to output cards, thus incurring no CPU overhead when transferring data between input and output card. Second, the video input series cannot function in a standalone capacity and work independently of their output counterpart, whereas the capture cards can work in a standalone capacity and transfer data to a third party output card. Listed below are descriptions of the different Video Input series cards.

VIM 4V and VIM-16

The Video Input Module series is the most basic of Datapath’s input cards, because it only accepts standard definition video (NTSC, PAL, SECAM, and S-video) and simply transfers incoming video to the output cards to via an internal ribbon cable. Once the video feeds are transferred to the output cards users are not restricted with regards to the size, shape, or position of the video feeds on the display wall.

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VIM-4V:

The VIM-4 is a 4-port video input module that can be outfitted with BNC or RCA terminals and can accept 4 standard definition NTSC, PAL, or SECAM feeds or 2-S-Video feeds.

VIM-16V:

The VIM16 is a video input module designed specifically for connecting analog video inputs to your Vantage4-PRO. The VIM16 requires a vacant mounting position on the PC backplane but does not require a PCI slot as it does not plug into the motherboard.

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Vision Switch-32-V

The VisionSwitch32- uses the very latest technology to provide a complete 32 x 32 video cross point switch. The card can be installed in any standard PC that has a free PCI slot.

PCI plug-in card occupying 2 PCI slots for the 32 x 32 Video or Audio matrix switch Any input can be routed to any number of outputs. No restrictions on input to output routing Windows application program for simple switch set-up. Save and recall switch settings Support for Windows®2000 and Windows® XP Use with Mosaic to increase the number of inputs and allow Mosaic windows to view any input

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Mosaic Cards

The Mosaic cards are intended to offer the users both high capacity and flexibility when it comes to integrating external video sources. All three models pass video to the output cards outside of the PCI bus, minimizing the CPU overhead. Moreover, Mosaic cards when combined with their appropriate output cards permit the user to display multiple video sources on the same display.

Mosaic SQ-16

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Mosaic HQ

PCI video capture card providing eight Mosaic video windows when combined with the Datapath Vantage4-SIP graphics adapter. Four HD and four SD Mosaic Video Windows. High quality windows support composite, S-Video, YPrPb or RGB video formats. Standard definition windows support composite or S-Video formats. Built-in 8 x 8 video matrix switch for composite or S-Video inputs. Four high quality video windows with de-interlacing and noise reduction. Four standard definition video windows. Support for up to 4 cards per system providing 32 video windows. (16 HD and 16 SD)

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Video Capture

The Video Capture Series cards are unique because they can function in two capacities as both a standalone solution or in conjunction with the Datapath output cards. There are 7-different capture card models constructed across 3- different PCI bus structures,

• PCI: 32-bit 33 Mhz
• PCI – X: 64–bit 66Mhz
• PCI – e4 (Express): 480Mb/sec

Many consumers who choose to use our capture cards in a standalone capacity utilize the video streaming portion of the driver set, which interacts with Windows Media Encoder (WME) allowing WME to select the Datapath card as a source for capturing and streaming video.

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Video Capture Models

RGB Pro-1 & RGB Pro 2: 32-Bit 33Mhz

A standalone PCI plug in card, the Vision RGB-PRO1 & RGB Pro 2 can capture the display output (e.g. the analog RGB data) from one or two sources and then displays it as independent applications, on your Windows® desktop. The RGB Pro1 & Pro 2 are full height half length 32-bit PCI capture cards that have HD 15 as input connectors. Both units can operate with any standard graphics adapter and is supplied with Windows® 2000, Windows® Server 2003 and Windows® XP-PRO drivers.

For multi-screen applications requiring improved update rates and lower system overhead then we recommend using Datapath’s Vantage4 graphics adapters. The VisionRGB software, when used with the Datapath graphics cards, implements direct DMA to the graphics texture memory. The captured RGB is then rendered to the display using hardware texture mapping to greatly improve performance. This implementation dramatically improves update rates when the image is up-scaled as would be required with video wall and data wall applications.

• DMA transfers the data across the PCI bus without using host CPU cycles.
• When used with Datapath Vantage4 adapters, the CPU load is negligible even if the image is being upscaled to a video wall, resulting in real time performance.
• Hardware up and downscaling for resizing the captured video
• The Vision RGB-PRO uses specialized dual ported video memory to ensure the highest possible performance with low system overhead.
• The Vision RGB has 6MBytes of video capture memory per channel and can capture data at 640 x 480, 800 x 600, 1024 x 768 and 1600 x 1200 resolutions. PAL and NTSC are also supported as well as many non standard modes.
• The Vision RGB-PRO captures data at a maximum pixel rate of 280MHz. Once captured, the data is converted to either 555, 565 or 888 pixel display formats and then transferred over the PCI bus to host memory, for display on the desktop.
• Dynamic Input Source Selection
• The Vision RGB-PRO application program is also built into the Datapath Wall Control software for video wall systems
• The Vision RGB-PRO is optimized for operation with the range of Vantage4 graphics cards for maximum update rates
• RGB Pro-2 Simultaneous Dual Channel operation

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RGB X2: 64-Bit 66Mhz

A stand alone 64bit PCI-X plug in card, the VisionRGB-X2 captures the display output (analog RGB or single link DVI) from one source and then displays it as an independent application on your Windows® desktop.  This is done in real time, enabling you to view data from PCs, MACs, industrial/medical equipment, cameras and other video equipment.  The VisionRGB-X2 has two DVI-I type connectors for simultaneously feeding two independent data sources directly into your main PC.

The VisionRGB-X2 captures the analog RGB/DVI data and stores it in an on-board video buffer. This data is then copied using Direct Memory Access (DMA) to the host system for display, storage or streaming.

When using a Datapath graphics card the VisionRGB-X2 transfers the data directly to the graphics card thereby increasing performance.  The VisionRGB-X2 sends the relevant portions of each captured image to each display channel and instructs each channel to use its graphics engine to render the data.  This fully utilizes the hardware and dramatically increases performance. When the RGB/DVI data is displayed on a non Datapath graphics card, the VisionRGB-X2 sends the data to system memory or direct to the graphics card, dependant on the software used for display.

The VisionRGB-X2 is supplied with a DirectShow compatible WDM streaming driver, enabling software applications supporting the DirectShow interface to use the card as a capture device.  Software such as Windows Media Encoder® can be used with the VisionRGB-X2 card, as well as many other DirectShow applications offering a wide choice of capture and streaming capabilities.

The VisionRGB-X2 is supplied with 2 x VGA to DVI converters

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RGB e1 & RGB e2: PCI Express x 4

A stand alone PCI-e x 4 low profile plug in card, the VisionRGB-E1 and RGB E2 captures the display output (analog RGB or single link DVI) from one or two sources and then displays it as an independent application on your Windows® desktop.  This is done in real time, enabling you to view data from PCs, MACs, industrial/medical equipment, cameras and other video equipment.  The VisionRGB-E series has DVI-I type connectors for feeding independent data sources directly into your main PC.

The Vision RGB-Express series captures the analog RGB/DVI data and stores it in an on-board video buffer. This data is then copied using Direct Memory Access (DMA) to the host system for display, storage or streaming.

When a Datapath multi-headed graphics card is used, the Vision RGB-E series capture cards transfer data directly to the graphics card thereby increasing performance.  By sending only the relevant portions of each captured image to each display channel the Vision RGB-E series cards fully utilizes the hardware and dramatically increases performance.

When the RGB/DVI data is displayed on a non Datapath graphics card, the Vision RGB-E series cards send the data to system memory or direct to the graphics card, dependant on the software used for display

In addition to working within a Video/Data Wall configuration Vision RGB-E series cards are supplied with a DirectShow compatible WDM streaming driver, enabling software applications supporting the DirectShow interface to use the card as a capture device.  Software such as Windows Media Encoder® can be used with the VisionRGB-E1 card, as well as many other DirectShow applications offering a wide choice of capture and streaming capabilities.

Vision RGB E1 & Vision RGB E2 Technical Specifications

• Board Format: PCI-e x4 half size plug-in card, 110mm x 170mm. PCI-e bus master with scatter gather DMA providing maximum data rate of 480MB/s
• Connectors: DVI-I type connectors
• Maximum Sample Rate: 170Mpixels per second analog RGB or 165 MHz DVI Analog modes up to 340MHz pixel clock can be captured using dual-pass sampling
• Video Sampling: RGB: 24 bits per pixel / 8-8-8 format Video Capture Memory: 32 MB, triple buffered
• Analog RGB Mode Support: 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024, 1600x1200, 1920x1080, 2048x1536, custom modes.
• DVI Single Link Mode Support: 640 x 480, 800 x 600, 1024 x 768, 1280 x 1024, 1600 x 1200, 1920x1080, 1900 x 1200, and Custom modes.
• HD Modes: 1080p,1080i, 720p, 576p, 576i, 480p and 480i using a Component-DVI connector (HDCP not supported).
• Input Mode Detection: Automatic detection of input modes in hardware, enabling the tracking of mode changes in the source signal.
• Pixel Output Formats: RGB: 5-5-5, 5-6-5 or 8-8-8 pixels. YUV: 4:2:2
• Update Rate: User defined, captured frame rate will match the source providing max data rate (480MB/s) is not exceeded. Multi-buffered to eliminate tearing artifacts
• Video Format Options: Analog RGB plus HSync and VSync (5 wire). ) Analog RGB with Composite Sync (4 wire). )- Progressive Analog RGB with Sync on Green (3 wire). ) DVI Single Link.
• Operating System Support: Windows® XP Professional (x86 and x64), Windows® Server 2003 (x86 and x64), Windows Vista® (x86 and x64) and Windows® Server 2008 (x86 and x64)
• Power Requirements: Max current at +3.3V – 0.25A, Max current at +12V – 1.2A, Max power – 15 Watts
• Operating Temperature: 0 to 35 deg C. Storage Temperature: -20 to 70 deg C

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Vision SD8

The Vision SD8 is an 8-channel PCI Express video Capture card. The card supports PAL, NTSC, SECAM, in both composite and S-Video formats. The Vision SD8 is compatible with the Image 4 graphics card for high performance video wall applications and supports de-interlaced video capture and display at 25/30 frames/sec for real-time video overlays. The card is supplied with DirectShow drivers for WDM streaming applications.

Vision SD8 Technical Specifications

• Four Lane PCI express video capture card
• Eight simultaneous capture channels
• Support for NTSC, PAL, SECAM, S-video
• Max Capture resolution 8x 720x576x16-bit
• 32MB on board frame buffer
• Auto video mode and no-signal detection
• Adjustments for color, brightness, and contrast
• Daisy chain input to output with selectable termination
• High performance DMA with scatter gather
• Data Transfers at 480MB/s
• Supports up to 16-Windows with any mix of input channels
• SDK available for OEM customers
• MTBF 100,000 hrs

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Vision SD4+1

The Vision SD4+1 is a combination of the RGB e1 and the Vision SD8, to offer users the ability to capture both standard definition and high definition feeds from a single card. The Vision SD4+1 has five independent capture channels supporting 1-channel of 1920 x 1080 and 4 channels of standard definition 720x576x16-bit resolution.

Vision SD4+1 Technical Specifications

• Four Lane PCIe interface with a maximum data rate of 480MB/sec
• Maximum analog RGB capture resolution of 2048 x 1536 x 24bit
• Maximum DVI capture resolution of 1920 x 1200 x 24bit
• HD modes (using a Component-DVI connector, HDCP not supported)
• On card processor for real time mode and sync detection
• High quality down scaling
• Support for YUV 4:2:2, RGB 5:5:5, 5:6:5 and 8:8:8 video formats
• High performance DMA to system memory or direct to graphics memory with scatter gather
• Support for NTSC, PAL, SECAM, S-video
• Max Capture resolution 4x 720x576x16-bit

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