Grass Valley CRSC v.3.2 - Manual (Page 121)

109
CRSC
User’s Guide
Inside the Router
In concept, at least, a router contains an array of wires. (Physically, it might be different.)
Fig. A-1: A rudimentary switching matrix
If you had the patience and some materials, you could build a simple router. It would be nothing
more than a number of wires arranged so they cross over each other. If you pressed two wires
together where they cross, a signal could flow (given proper electrical connections) from the
input to the output. In Figure A-1, input wire 4 and output wire 2 are connected.
The point where they cross is called a crosspoint. The pattern formed by all the points is called a
crosspoint matrix.
If a matrix has N inputs and M outputs, it has N × M crosspoints. The 6×4 matrix depicted above
has 24 crosspoints. By convention, the number on the left represents inputs; the number on the
right, outputs.
In a real router, the matrix is an integrated circuit, and the connection between an input and an
output is performed electronically (by a transistor or similar circuit).
Some routers also perform signal conditioning at the output of the matrix.
Sources and Destinations
The signals that routers process come from, and go to, devices. “Device” is a generic name for
VCRs, DVDs, cameras, video monitors, audio monitors, mixers, video editing workstations, and
so on.
A source device is one that feeds a signal into a router. The source is where the signal originates.
A destination device is one that receives a signal from a router. The destination is where the
signal is going.
What is a Control Panel?
A control panel is the set of buttons, knobs, switches, etc. that operators use to control a router.
Grass Valley’s compact routers and control panels are separate units and more than one router
can be controlled from a single panel. This lets you place multiple panels in different rooms.
Grass Valley’s CR Series control panels were designed for very simple operation.
Control panels, under CRSC, operate in one of 3 modes. For details on panel operation modes,
see
Remote Panel Operating Modes on page 112.
Input wires
Output wires
1 2 3 4 5 6
1
2
3
4