Brompton Technology Unveils 8K LED Video Processor, Tessera
SQ200
Brompton Technology shared a preview of its third-generation LED video processing at NAB for
the
first time. Known as the Gen 3 range, it is built on the latest Agilex 7 FPGA
technology from Intel
and delivers Brompton's industry-leading functionality, image-quality, and reliability, alongside
support for the latest video standards.
The first product in the Gen 3 range is the flagship 8K Tessera SQ200 processor, being
announced at
this year's show. It follows in the footsteps of the multi-award-winning SX40, delivering the same
core feature-set and full backward-compatibility with existing Brompton-powered LED panels, as well
as existing XD data distribution units, but now supporting 8K and 4x4K workflows and added support
for AV-over-IP protocols such as ST2110 and IPMX. The SQ200 brings a staggering 20-fold increase in
power over the SX40, making it the world's most powerful 8K LED video processor and ensuring ample
headroom for many years of continued feature innovation.
Chris Deighton, CTO and Co-founder of Brompton Technology, notes, "Brompton always seeks to
do more
than just check boxes – our aim is to deliver products that address the needs of the real world and
that are future-proof to ensure great return-on-investment for our customers." With that in mind,
the SQ200 offers 100Gb Ethernet connectivity to support 8K video-over-IP at 60fps and 12bpc over a
single cable. There is also a second 100Gb Ethernet input for a fully redundant video-over-IP
network, meeting the requirements of Brompton's most demanding customers.
The ‘200' in the product name comes from it also having a massive 200Gb of Ethernet bandwidth for
output to LED panels. One 100Gb Ethernet link is sufficient to drive an 8K screen at 12bpc and
60fps, with a second 100Gb Ethernet link to support fully redundant cabling. Additionally, new data
distribution units support fan-out from 100Gb to 10Gb and to 1Gb Ethernet, allowing connections to
existing Tessera R2, R2+, and G1 receiver cards.
Another important innovation is the support for irregular canvas sizes, which can extend up to 64K
pixels in either dimension. This capability enables a single processor to handle screens that would
have previously required multiple separate units.
"Thanks to its leading-edge Agilex 7 FPGA, the SQ200 sets a new benchmark when it comes to
performance and offers new opportunities for feature innovation," continues Deighton, noting how
many features now closely associated with the Tessera SX40 did not exist when the product was first
launched. "Things like Dynamic Calibration, support for HDR video, Frame Remapping, ShutterSync, and
Extended Bit Depth have all been added in free software upgrades, which is an important part of how
Brompton brings extra value to its customers. Similarly, the SQ200 gives us an amazing platform for
ongoing innovation, and I'm excited about what we will be able to deliver for our customers over the
coming years."
The SQ200 is just the first of several planned products in the Gen 3 range, to cover a variety of
price-points and applications. "The guarantee of backwards-compatibility makes it an easy upgrade
option for customers looking to enhance their existing LED inventory with new processing
capabilities as well as giving them confidence that they will have access to the very latest
innovations in LED video for many years to come," Deighton concludes.