TPG-8D Test Pattern Generator

Test pattern generator TPG-8 is a compact, portable device with extreme usability, designed to generate test video signals based on test patterns or other static video images stored in the device memory.

TPG-8 can be used to assess resolution, dynamic range, colour rendition in video monitors, digital video recorders, digital video security, TV, cable video systems and nonlinear editing systems after digitization and compression.

Often people would use a video camera for these tasks. However, the error in this case is initially found at the positioning of the test pattern, brightness and the whole path of image processing, beginning with the lens and ending with signal transformations. A Test Generator with standard test patterns signals is a completely different matter.

TPG-8 can be used to:

• Assess the video monitors rendering quality, including video-frequency band; video monitor linearity, gamma correction, optimal contrast ratio and brightness;
• Measure the recording and playback speed in digital video monitors, network video servers and computer video surveillance systems;
• Control the signal quality of long cable commutation (adjust wave impedance parameters, far-end echoes, etc.);
• Monitor the recording and playback qualities of video recorders and other devices for analog transmission and playback;
• Evaluate vertical and horizontal image resolution, dynamic range and colour rendition after image digitisation under various standards (JPEG, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, Wavelet, JPEG 2000, etc.) and compression levels;
• Estimate geometric distortions after video image digitisation;
• Detect video signal dynamic range and level.

TPG–8D Specifications

Video outputs	S–Video, Composite, YUV
Video signal standards	PAL и NTSC
Video processing	Digital
Custom level of output video signal	from 0,5 to 2 V, with 0.1 V resolution
Loaded test patterns or static images	8
Forming and loading images	via USB–interface
Power options	external power adapter, USB or built-in three NiMH AA type batteries (6 hours operation)
Recharging of batteries	from USB or external power adapter
Dimentions, Weight	190x77x26 mm, 270 g

TPG-8 can use any dynamic logo 100x100 pixels with 50 frames (PAL) or 60 frames (NTSC) as a test pattern.

TPG-8 comes with a test logo in shape of a white circle divided into25 (or 30) sectors with 50 (or 60) frames. Each sector is coloured redfor even frames and black for uneven frames. When the logo isdisplayed, it shows a ray, which "runs" over the circle and changescolour twice within each sector. This dynamic test logo allows toestimate the frame record speed and frame display rate in digital videorecorders and surveillance systems. It helps to obtain the true,correct number of lost frames in digital frame relay andencoding/decoding process.