We recently added a new product line, the USB Extension Core 2200 Modules, for our customers who need to add USB extension to a larger more complex system.   USB extension solutions are ideal for a number of applications including industrial automation/control, KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) extension for remote desktops, security, digital signage, home network integration, accessing remote medical devices, and extending interactive white boards.

There are four Core 2200 Modules: Core 2210, 2220, 2230, and 2240.  Each module offers a unique transmission interface supporting different types of USB devices.  Depending on the target market and use case a specific Core Module can be used.  For example, in industrial automation/control applications where a keyboard and mouse needs to be extended up to 300 meters away from the computer, the Core 2210 would be integrated into the design.

One of the exciting features of the Core 2200 Modules is that there are multiple products available depending on what use cases need to be supported.  The modules come in a 200 pin SO-DIMM form factor along with full reference designs for integration.   This allows many applications that require USB extension an easy to source connector and flexible integration in the design.

Form Factor of Core 2200 Modules

If you are interested in learning more about  how to use the Core 2200 Modules in your application contact sales@icron.com or visit the product web page.

In addition to product news video series, Icron has developed a Product News video of our EL4500. The EL4500 adds efficiency to the workplace and provides best in class, high definition DVI video, audio and USB 2.0 connectivity for PCs.

EL4500 features include:

• High Definition video with no video degradation over distance
• DVI input and output
• Three USB 480Mbps ports supporting all USB 2.0 device types (including isochronous)
• Stereo audio
• LAN connectivity or 100 meters over Cat 5 cabling
• True “Plug and Play” (no software drivers required)
• Support for all operating systems
• Support for additional USB hubs and devices
• Optional rack mount kit

See below to review our video of this exciting product!

If you have any questions about this product or any other Icron products, please email us for more information.

Our visit to the International CES 2011 show was an ideal forum to showcase to the industry our technology and product roadmap while receiving feedback from our strategic customers on what they would like to see, and get compelling mention in the press.   Suffice to say, we are excited that we achieved all three.

While at the show, Icron held a press conference on January 7^th where we unveiled technology demos of our USB 3.0 extender cable, USB over DisplayPort, along with our KVM product line up.  In case you missed our press conference, here are just a few descriptors of the demos:

• In partnership with Intersil, we introduced our new 20 meter USB 3.0 Active Extension Cable which utilizes our LionsGate IC and leverages USB extension technology, the active cable extends USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 connectivity well beyond the USB 3.0 specification distance limitation of three meters.
• Advanced USB over DisplayPort technology, which delivers DisplayPort video and USB 2.0 capability over a standard DisplayPort cable.
• ExtremeLink™ 4500, the newest addition to our KVM product line. The ExtremeLink™ 4500 is one of our KVM (keyboard, video and mouse) extender products and allows a computer to be placed remotely from a workstation area, connected over an existing LAN or dedicated Cat 5 (up to 330 ft).

This abundant set of demonstrations received an enthusiastic article in the CES Daily which is published each day of the show. The article covers our KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) extenders which enable video, USB 2.0 and audio to be extended up to 500 meters (1640 feet) on Cat 5 cables or support connections on a Local Area Network (LAN).

As well, the review of our ExtremeLink™ 4500 in CRN reiterated the impressive performance of our KVM products.

The ability to extend KVM and USB over a dedicated Cat 5 cable was impressive enough. But over a LAN? Testers were truly dazzled when they connected the 4500 sender and receiver to their test LAN and it worked right out of the box, permitting input from the remote keyboard and mouse to be displayed on the remote monitor, and with almost no detectable delay.

Thank you for visiting us at CES 2011 and for helping us make it a successful show. Please feel free to drop me a line with your thoughts of the show. If you are interested in our KVM products or any of our other products, please contact us at any time.

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday!

Before the holidays, Icron developed another video presenting  USB over DisplayPort.

You can also see our view on our YouTube channel!

Also, in case you didn’t know we are attending the International CES show in Vegas! If you are there, stop by our booth (South Hall 1, Lower Level # 20560) to review our product lines and see demos of the following:

• New 20-meter USB 3.0 Active Extension Cable which utilizes Icron’s LionsGate ASIC and leverages Icron’s USB extension technology, the active cable extends USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 connectivity well beyond the USB 3.0 specification distance limitation of three meters
• Advanced USB over DisplayPort technology, which delivers DisplayPort video and USB 2.0 capability over a standard DisplayPort cable
• New uncompressed video and USB KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) extender product

If you’re at the show, please stop by and say “hi”!

CES is one month away and companies are rushing to complete all of their preparations for the most important consumer electronics show in the world. Many companies, including Icron begin preparations for CES in the summer in order to ensure everything is ready to ship to the show by late December.

This year expect to see lots of new connected TVs, 3D TVs, new mobile devices, and different sized tablet PCs. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will kick off CES this year with a preshow keynote address at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 5 in the Las Vegas Hilton Center. In previous years, Microsoft used the CES keynote stage to launch major products including Xbox, Windows Vista and its Sync technology partnership with Ford. Verizon CEO, Ivan Seidenberg, also has a keynote on January 6, no word if he’ll be announcing the rumored Apple iPhone for the Verizon network.

Rounding up the keynotes will be Boo-Keun Yoon, Samsung President and General Manager of Visual Display Business and Alan Mulally Ford Motor Company President and CEO. 2011 promises to be another year for amazing new technology and product announcements at CES.

Icron has two CES announcements about new products (USB 3.0 extension and uncompressed 1080p video extension) and we’re demonstrating them as well as USB over DisplayPort at our booth, LVCC South Hall 1, Booth #20560.  We also have a press event titled  “Future of Connectivity: Unveiling New Video and USB Technology”.  Write to us if you’re interested in viewing our new product demonstrations or attending the press event (no press credentials needed!).

If you haven’t registered for CES yet, you’ve missed the free registration period, but if you’re an Icron customer, write me and I’ll see if we have any passes left.

See you at CES 2011 and have a great holiday season!

When it comes to video, everyone focuses on the buzz words and wants the latest and greatest.  When price is not an issue, pick any display whether you are using the full features of the display or not.  However, if you really don’t need and will never use a high resolution (i.e. 1920 x 1200), why even spend the money?

The above is also true in KVM (keyboard, video, and mouse) or remote desktop extension.  Consider these market segments; Education, Corporate IT or Enterprise, Pro A/V, Medical, Industrial Automation.   Do you expect Education to need the same resolution as Pro A/V?  Of course not, these are two different markets that need and use different resolutions.

Below are the results of two surveys covering two different types of users; W3Schools who surveys are for people with an interest in web technologies and Steam Hardware who surveys are for people interested in the gaming industry.

*w3schools: January 2010

*Steam Hardware & Software Survey: October 2010

These users are a good example of the most popular resolution; 1280 x 1024 with 18.2% market share.  Thus, when a user needs desktop extension, look at what their target market/use case is and what they really need and use.  In many market segments, 1680 x 1050 is more than enough to support the application.

Icron’s new line of KVM extenders covers the popular resolutions listed above and gives more than enough flexibility to support the appropriate market segments.  We have already signed on OEM partners two of which can be found at Rose Electronics in North America and IHSE in Europe.  For information on becoming an Icron OEM partner please contact sales@icron.com

.

I recently returned from 3 glorious weeks in Europe where I visited many countries such as Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey. However, I flew into major hubs such as Munich and Istanbul airports

As any traveller has experienced, checking in can be a hassle at the best of times – even with online check in. Unfortunately for me, one of my flights did not allow me to check in online. This is where an interactive kiosk to check in your flights proved to be my godsend! Not only did I not have to wait in the long line ups to verify my information, I was able to do so quickly without having to worry about my flight information being incorrect.

A few of Icron’s products helps expedite that interactive process. Our ExtremeLink™ and Ranger product series help deliver remote connectivity freestanding kiosks. Icron’s solutions transmit secure information and USB peripheral connectivity (keyboard, mouse, imaging devices, flash drives, etc.) to any location within or between buildings.

Of course, you can use these products wherever interactive kiosks are vital to the communication flow in business operations. By having a PC remote from the kiosk it increases serviceability, while lessening noise and heat levels, and takes up less space thereby allowing a kiosk to be small enough to fit anywhere. All while the server processes the information in a remote yet secure area. Interactive kiosks are used in businesses such as banks, shopping centers, information centers, government and restaurants.

Though I loved being in Europe, I am glad to be back to grind of things at Icron – be sure to check back often as Icron has some exciting plans for our product line in the next upcoming months.

In part two of this blog series, I am going to discuss the challenges of multiplexing PC Video and USB 2.0 wirelessly over 802.11n. The PC-on-TV architecture, shown below, illustrates the complete system.  The PC video and audio is presented to the user’s TV or monitor without disturbing any of the existing A/V sources (e.g. cable-TV source, DVD, etc.) connected to the TV.  The PC DVI or HDMI output and USB connection is connected to the PC Extender, which then transmits both video and USB 2.0 wirelessly over 802.11n.  The TV or Monitor Extender receives the transmission and decodes the video and USB 2.0 sending DVI or HDMI to a remote TV or monitor and enabling connection of any USB 2.0 device. 

PC-on-TV Architecture

Let’s examine the PC-on-TV architecture and the three challenges of combining high definition real time PC video with latency sensitive USB 2.0 and transmitting it wirelessly; these challenges are transmitting video, transmitting USB 2.0 and multiplexing video and USB together.   

Read the rest of this entry »

As part one of a three part blog series, I will talk about the increased demand for adding PC-like functionality to the TV and Icron’s innovated solutions to meet this demand. The series highlights the challenges of combining high-quality video with a true PC experience including USB connectivity for devices with all transfer types (control, interrupt, bulk, and isochronous) to develop a high-performance and stable architecture.   Low latency, high-quality video, optimized bandwidth, and consistent resolution over typical distances within a home are all achieved with the solution. 

At Icron Technologies, we’ve developed ExtremeLink™ PC-on-TV technology to deliver high quality video and USB 2.0 wirelessly over 802.11n.  Many technology platforms offer video streaming and a subset of other PC functionality to a standard television.  What ExtremeLink™ technology offers is the transmission of high quality video and USB 2.0 to deliver all types of PC interaction including the ability to browse the Internet, access email, instant message, create documents, stream content off a flash drive, play games, and much more.

I will be covering all the challenges and the solution to create a complete “PC-on-TV” solution in this series.   Further, as the market continues to demand more and more wireless connectivity with full PC functionality, the attractiveness of the solution becomes increasingly popular and the technology hurtles have already been addressed.