Tech Primer
Analog Video Matrix Switch, or Video Matrix for short, is an electronic device that can switch any of M video inputs to N outputs. Generally, the number of inputs (M) is greater than the number of outputs (N). Some video matrixes also have the audio switch function, so that video and audio signal can be switched synchronously, hence the name video/audio matrixes. Video matrixes are usually used in surveillance applications and capable of transferring the input signal on any channel to any display terminal or recording device. It may operate in a polling or primary supervision mode so as to reduce the number of displays as well as cost.
The core device of a video matrix is a Video Crosspoint Switch, capable of conncting any input M to any output N, and can be combined with other video crosspoint switches to increase the number of inputs and outputs in order to satisfy the actual requirements. For example, 4 video crosspoint switches featured with 8 inputs and 4 outputs can be combined together to build a video matrix with 32 inputs and 4 outputs or 16 inputs and 8 outputs, or other configurations. The switch will usually integrate som form or serial communication to allow control of the input and oyuput switching via a protocol such as RS232 or RS485.
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