Focus Enhancements FS456 Data Sheet

Page of 41
FS453/4 AND FS455/6 
 
DATA SHEET: HARDWARE REFERENCE 
3.3 Video Encoding 
Unlike component video formats (PC and HDTV) that process the color information separately to avoid 
interference, broadcast SDTV combines all picture information into a single, composite signal.  SDTV 
standards have been strictly defined to protect video quality and to allow television manufacturers to 
design and build large volumes of systems with confidence that their signal decoders will work—
regardless of variances in final product tolerances.   
 
3.3.1 Encoding Challenges 
If a video encoder does not adhere closely to these standards, it may produce video artifacts on many 
consumer televisions.  Unfortunately, most scan converters use signal encoders that don't strictly follow 
NTSC and PAL guidelines.  Their encoders can increase artifacts such as chroma crawl and color 
bleeding/smearing.   
 
To meet broadcast quality a video encoder must comply with the NTSC (EIA-170A, SMPTE-170M) and 
PAL (ITU-R624-3) standards in all modes.  Of key importance are the specifications related to accurate 
timing and signal amplitudes, video subcarrier frequency good to +/- 5Hz, and horizontal lock with zero 
SC-H phase.  The encoder must use a low jitter crystal (50 ppm) to drive DAC output directly.  The DACs 
should have 10 bits of resolution, and exhibit good differential gain and differential phase characteristics.  
The video encoder must be able to pre-filter composite video (CVBS) to prevent luma(Y)/chroma(C) cross 
talk. 
3.3.2 FS453 Solution 
The FS453 features a broadcast quality encoder.  It uses tunable Y-notch and C-bandpass filters to 
prevent the creation of video artifacts and to meet all specifications.  The FS453's encoder subcarrier is 
programmable in frequency and phase.  Because of the encoder's independence of color format, vertical 
sync, and number of lines, the FS453 is able to support many SDTV video standards, including all of the 
South American variations.  The FS453 can output NTSC M, J and PAL B, D, G, H, I, M, N, Combination 
N, and PAL-60 formats with 10 bits of resolution.  Both Composite and S-Video outputs are available 
simultaneously.  In addition to encoded PAL or NTSC, the user may select analog SCART RGB outputs.  
Each channel of RGB has 10 bits of resolution.  Note that the 10-bit DACs exceed the bit depth supported 
by the 8-bits available at the FS453 input. 
JANUARY, 2005, VERSION 3.0 
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COPYRIGHT 
©2003-4 FOCUS ENHANCEMENTS, INC. 
FOCUS Enhancements Semiconductor