Qwurgxfwlrq – Grass Valley XSwitch Feb 01 2005 User Manual

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The PVTV XSWITCH is a routing switch that facilitates switching of all communication, video, and audio
signals, as well as PC controllers and monitors. The switch is performed between all peripheral devices
(cameras, VTRs, VCRs, etc.) and two complete PVTV NEWS systems. The XSwitch facilitates redun-
dancy by providing a means to simultaneously rerout all pertinent signals with the push of one button.

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Master

The Master is a 6 Rack Unit rackmount module. It contains a backplane PCB that incorporates plug-in con-
nections for 10 switch cards of any combination, a microprocessor card and one KVM module. The micro-
processor controls the switch cards and KVM module. It also provides user interface via the front panel
mounted LCD and button field. A menu driven set-up facility allows the sw
itching configuration to be programmed. Five different configurations can be programmed. A single button
press can assert any one of the configurations.

Switch Cards

The Master comes pre-loaded with:

•1 CPU Card
•6 Communication Switch Cards
•2 SDI (Video) Switch Cards
•2 Audio Switch Cards
•1 KVM Module

Each switch card is designed to perform switching of a specific signal type, i.e. Communications, Video,
Audio, etc. All of the switch cards contain circuitry, which communicates with the microprocessor on the
CPU card over a common bus. With the exception of the KVM module, these circuits are all identical.

COMMUNICATION SIGNAL SWITCHING

The Comm Switch Card is a passive switching device. There are no active electronics (semiconductor
devices such as ICs or discrete transistors) in the signal paths. The communication signal paths are
switched by relay contact. The I/O connectors on this card are 9-pin D type. Input (control source) connec-
tors are female. Output (peripheral) connectors are male.

As a passive switching device, the Comm Switch Card does not significantly alter or in any way affect the
electrical characteristics of the signal paths being switched. However, signal paths on the open side of the
switch are not terminated. This card employs a "form C" configuration and can switch two sets of commu-
nication ports. The typical topology would consist of one peripheral device and two control systems per set.
Both sets are switched simultaneously. Due to the passive switching circuitry, the communication signals
can be of virtually any type such as RS232, RS422, RS485, etc. This card does not support extremely
high-speed signal switching such as Ethernet. The actual contact exchange occurs within 6mS maximum,
including settling time.