Skaarhoj SDI-B4 Interface - B4 lens control over SDI signal

Avacab Official Reseller

 
 
 
 
 
The Skaarhoj SDI-B4 interface interprets Blackmagic Design's camera control protocol by extracting information from the 3G-SDI input signal. This small device from Skaarhoj uses the Blackmagic 3G-SDI Arduino Shield, which supports the following formats using SDI Level B: 720p50, 720p59.94, 720p60, 1080i50, 1080i59.94, 1080i60, 1080p23.98, 1080p24, 1080p25, 1080p29.97, 1080p30, 1080p50 (output only), 1080p59.94 (output only) and 1080p60 (output only). But in this case, the camera output does not have to be in the same video format as the signal that is sent to the Skaarhoj SDI-B4, because this signal is only used to collect the camera information, interpret it and communicate with the lens.

• Pass on the DC 12V input to the lens with GND going to pin 3 and 12V going to pin 6
• Adjust the lens iris with an analog value between 2.5 and 7.5V going out on pin 5 (output to lens)
• Read back the iris position as an analog value from pin 7 (input from lens)
• Enable iris adjustment from the B4 Link box by pulling pin 6 to 5V through a 10 K resistor. To turn of iris adjustment, it will short pin 6 to ground
  

In addition to iris control, the Skaarhoj SDI-B4 works as a tally by interpreting the camera information as it has a small built-in LED light, which indicates whether the selected camera is in preview or program at any given moment. This device from Skaarhoj's Link Series is a stand-alone, robust controller (its housing is made of anodised aluminium plates that offer great resistance) capable of controlling up to 10 Blackmagic Design cameras (URSA and Studio Series), selectable using the rotary switch at one end. 

• Principle diagram for configuration with the SDI-B4 Link
• Iris control on the B4 analogue lens
• 12-pin Hirose connector
• Tally function due to small LED which indicates when the camera is in preview and program mode
• Camera number setting via selector switch
• Tally programming from 3-pin Phoenix connector: Ground, IO, 12V (VIN)
• Test mode for iris and tally
• Iris calibration function
• Compatible with Studio Camera and URSA series
• The Hirose 12-pin connector is compatible with most B4 lenses, but it is the responsibility of the user to check that the lens in question has the functions described below.