This is a rather generic question, as the standards, and final requirements, are not really well defined for me to deal with at the moment.
A company I sometimes work for, sells character generators. They are analog outputs, and of course, in the broadcast world, that is not very appealing any more.
I am researching alternatives to some very expensive "black box" solutions that they have been offered, which will convert the CG output, to SDI, or HDTV, or if its a better term, digital video. These boxes are overkill, and overfeatured, and include audio channels, which do not apply to the CG application in its application.
Many head ends are using these kinds of 'black boxes' as a solution to the fact that they do analog commercial insertion, while the broadcasters are quickly moving to digital delivery. A stopgap, but a popular one nonetheless, at this point in the changeover.
What I am searching for, is information and ideas as to how to create our own 'black box' that only converts video, more of a custom solution. The management is convinced this is doable, and so I have been tasked with finding out how to proceed.
Its not my field of expertise, but I think if I can find the basic requirements of the circuits, and hopefully the IC building blocks, I could handle it, or at least find the help I need to provide their solution.
Again, rather a generic inquiry, as opposed to all the dirty details. Can anyone point me to a source for such components, or discussions on this issue?
Just hoping to get a road map, to find out how to proceed.
Thanks very much for any suggestions or references.
John