The increasing demand for high-resolution and low-latency video in modern aircraft has made reliable avionics video transmission an important design consideration. ARINC 818 Copper Conversion Cards provide a practical approach for transmitting high-speed video over copper while addressing key requirements such as signal integrity, electromagnetic interference (EMI), cable length, and transmission reliability.
ARINC 818, also known as the Avionics Digital Video Bus (ADVB), is widely used for high-performance video transmission in military and commercial avionics systems. The protocol is suitable for applications requiring low latency, high bandwidth, reduced cabling, and reliable video communication.
Typical applications include cockpit displays and recorders, cockpit simulators, video concentrators, infrared sensors, and other mission-critical avionics systems.
ARINC 818 Copper Conversion Cards for Avionics Video Transmission
ARINC 818 can be implemented over both optical fiber and copper media. For data rates from approximately 1 Gbps to 3 Gbps, copper and optical transmission can be considered depending on system requirements, while higher data rates are typically implemented using fiber-optic links.
Copper transmission can be attractive for applications operating at a 1.0625 Gbps link rate, particularly where existing copper infrastructure, connector compatibility, system cost, or integration requirements are important considerations.
However, maintaining video quality over copper requires careful attention to signal integrity. Factors such as cable characteristics, impedance matching, EMI, cable length, and grounding can directly influence the quality and reliability of the received video.
iWave Implementation of ARINC 818 Copper Conversion Cards
iWave has implemented ARINC 818-based video transmission over copper to evaluate its feasibility for high-performance avionics applications.
The evaluation platform uses ARINC 818-to-DVI and DVI-to-ARINC 818 conversion cards. In the test setup, a DVI video source is converted to ARINC 818, transmitted through a 100-ohm copper cable, and subsequently converted back to DVI for video output evaluation.
Both shielded Twinax and custom Quadrax copper cables were evaluated at a differential impedance of 100 ohms and a data rate of 1.0625 Gbps.
This implementation demonstrates the feasibility of using copper as an ARINC 818 transmission medium while maintaining stable video output.
Key Design Considerations
Reliable ARINC 818 transmission over copper requires careful selection and validation of the complete signal path.
Cable Selection
Cable selection plays an important role in maintaining signal quality. iWave evaluated both shielded Twinax and custom Quadrax cables for the ARINC 818 copper transmission setup.
The cable needs to provide suitable electrical characteristics while supporting the required data rate and transmission distance.
EMI Protection
EMI can significantly affect high-speed video transmission. Cables can act as both sources and receivers of electromagnetic interference.
Shielded Twinax and Quadrax cables were therefore evaluated to improve EMI resistance and maintain stable video transmission. Proper shielding implementation is particularly important for avionics systems operating in electrically demanding environments.
Impedance Matching
Maintaining consistent impedance throughout the signal path is critical for high-speed transmission.
The copper connector, mating plug, and cable should have compatible impedance characteristics. Proper impedance matching helps minimize signal reflections and transmission losses that could otherwise affect video quality.
Cable Length
Signal attenuation increases as transmission distance and data rate increase. To determine suitable operating conditions, iWave evaluated different cable lengths and data rates while monitoring the resulting video quality.
The testing helped identify suitable cable configurations for stable video transmission without frame loss.
Grounding
Proper shield grounding is another important consideration. Incorrect grounding can introduce unwanted noise, signal interference, and video glitches.
The grounding implementation was carefully evaluated to achieve stable and error-free video transmission.
Features of ARINC 818 Copper Conversion Cards
iWave’s ARINC 818-to-DVI and DVI-to-ARINC 818 conversion cards are designed for demanding avionics applications and offer:
- Rugged standalone 6U form factor
- ARINC 818-to-DVI conversion
- DVI-to-ARINC 818 conversion
- Two ARINC 818 duplicator/splitter channels
- Two ARINC 818 switch channels
- Front-panel and backplane configuration options
- MIL-grade PCB design
- Flexible cPCI connector for video transmission, reception, and system communication
- Support for progressive and interlaced video
- Full HD video support up to 60 fps
ARINC 818 Copper Conversion Cards for Avionics Applications
The ability to transmit ARINC 818 video reliably over copper expands the design options available to avionics system developers. With appropriate cable, connector, impedance, shielding, and grounding considerations, copper-based transmission can support applications where low latency, robustness, and reliable video communication are essential.
Potential applications include:
- Cockpit display systems
- Cockpit video recorders
- Cockpit simulators
- Video concentrators
- Infrared imaging systems
- Military avionics
- High-performance embedded video systems
iWave ARINC 818 Expertise
With more than two decades of FPGA design expertise, iWave has developed and delivered a broad portfolio of ARINC 818 protocol-based solutions, including IP cores, conversion cards, and customized avionics video solutions.
iWave’s ARINC 818 solutions can be customized to address specific video formats, interfaces, form factors, and system requirements, helping avionics OEMs and system developers accelerate development while meeting demanding performance and reliability requirements.
For more information about iWave’s ARINC 818 solutions, visit www.iwave-global.com or contact mktg@iwave-global.com
