A detailed white paper from Extron Electronics examines common multiplexing techniques -- including time division multiplexing (TDM) and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) -- with the aim of helping designers and integrators to make better decisions when selecting equipment for fiber optic AV systems.
The paper's premise is as follows: Fiber-optic AV systems require conversion of video, audio, and control signals into one or more serial digital streams of light pulses for transmission along optical fiber. TDM and WDM are the most common technologies implemented for this purpose; however, each method presents its own unique advantages and challenges.
The paper examines the way common signals, including HDMI, DVI, multi-rate SDI, RGB, HD and SD component video, S-video, composite, USB, audio, and RS-232 control, are multiplexed in fiber-optic systems. It then compares and contrasts TDM and WDM techniques and performance across the areas of bi-directional signaling, AV signal transmission distance, daisy-chaining, secure systems, and switching and distribution, for both singlemode and multimode fiber types.
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