May 12 2008
AOptix Technologies, Inc., a leading edge developer of ultra-high bandwidth laser communication solutions was awarded TV Technology magazine's prestigious 2008 Mario Award and S.T.A.R. awards at the NAB Show in Las Vegas. "Our panel of editors walk the show floor in search of the most innovative technologies. The AOptix broadcast lasercom system is a significant technology breakthrough that is worthy of our two annual awards for technical excellence and forward thinking," said Tom Butts, Editor of TV Technology magazine.
Broadcast and film industry professionals witnessed the live transmission of continual, simultaneous, uncompressed, HD-SDI, SD-SDI, Audio, Production Line Comms, Serial Data and Gigabit Ethernet signals over a single DWDM link. Show goers were surprised to learn that these portable, low power, eye safe communication terminals could easily extend the reach of fiber, without actually have to make long fiber optic cable runs between remote studios, cameras and production trucks.
“The AOptix lasercom system can transmit up to 6 uncompressed HD feeds simultaneously through a single link across several kilometers. The system also offers virtually latency-free remote IRIS settings and camera controls for precise, instantaneous adjustments even though the actual camera may be a several kilometers away from the engineer,” said Bruce Carpenter, Director of Sales, Commercial Lasercom systems at AOptix.
The system is made up of two AOptix LCT-5 lasercom terminals along with two small companion I/O rack units where signal muxing and amplification take place. Each bidirectional terminal was placed line-of-site, atop the Las Vegas Convention Center and on the balcony of a luxury high rise condominium nearly 1km away.
The live, uncompressed 1080i remote shot at 1.45Gbps, came from an Ikegami HDN-X10 Editcam with Fujinon 22x7 HD lens, mounted on a Movie Engineering C.A.M.S. (computer aided motion system) head. This gave NAB attendees at the AOptix booth, complete remote control of pan, tilt, zoom, focus as well as the camera shading and painting over the link through RS-422 control. Additional transmit sources came from tape players at 1080i and 480i (1.45Gbps and 270Mbps). A remote control webcam was also viewable from the AOptix booth over gigabit Ethernet.
To achieve stability and link quality over the air, the LCT-5 uses AOptix Technologies proprietary Adaptive Optics technology to compensate for atmospheric distortions in real time. This revolutionary approach to FSO (Free Space Optical), minimizes the effects of atmospheric scintillation, dramatically enhancing link availability.
“With the licensing and spectral limitations of RF, AOptix is providing a new solution for wireless that breaks through the current bandwidth bottlenecks. We’re proud of the recognition we’ve received in our first NAB and look forward to even greater breakthroughs for optical wireless in the near future,” says Dean Senner, President and CEO of AOptix.
Organized in 1993, the Mario Awards were established to recognize manufacturers whose products represent significant technical breakthroughs -- many of these products have gone on to significantly impact the future of video technology. The awards are given out annually at the NAB convention to companies that demonstrate forward thinking and technical excellence in their products.
The STAR Award is designed to celebrate and showcase the outstanding technological innovations available to the broadcast industry. Editors and columnists reviewed a variety of products, examined the technical applications and their overall contribution to the industry, and then submitted their award nominees.