RGB SVideo

Description

The AD724 is a complete RGB to S-Video / composite converter in a single IC configurable for both PAL and NTSC formats but not SECAM. It requires just a few external components to complete the system. It is only available in an SMD package. You can choose to make the entire PCB in SMD or use a mixture of SMD and standard parts for the external components. Unlike the MC1377 used in older Modulators, the AD724 requires just 5V, meaning it is ideally suited for installation in the CPC Plus range and Classic 464, both of which don't have an internal 12V source (required by the MC1377).The IC can be configured for several different input and output systems. The main configurations needed for the CPC with PAL output are as follows:

AD724 Configuration Pins:

Pin 1: Select PAL (connect to 0V) or NTSC (connect to 5V) The schematics and layouts below are all configured for PAL.

Pin 3: Is the clock input. For PAL a 4.433619Mhz Crystal is connected here, for NTSC a 3.579545 Crystal should be used. In the schematic below the crystal has been tuned using a 22pf capacitor in parallel. The tuning capacitor may be anywhere between 10pf and 33pf. In most cases 22pf should give a good result.

Pin 12: Selects whether the frequency crystal used is the exact frequency needed or 4 times the needed frequency. The schematics and layouts below are configured for exact crystal frequencies.

Pin 15: The AD724 has seperate HSync and VSync inputs. If the source has a combined HSync and VSync (known as CSync) then Pin 15 (VSync) needs to be held above 2V and the CSync is connected to the HSync input. The CPC has a combined Sync signal, so in the schematics and layouts below pin 15 has been simply connected to the 5V supply and CSync is connected to the HSync input.

The RGB inputs and S-Video / Composite outputs of the circuit have all been terminated with 75ohms as required and have filter capacitors to reduce niose (100nf for the RGB inputs and 220µf for the outputs). Because the AD724 is a hybrid IC (analogue and digital content) it has two seperate power supply inputs, these have been de-coupled with seperate 100nf capacitors to reduce crosstalk / interference and an additional 100µf capacitor is used to stabilise the entire circuit. This reduces the chance of noise from the power supply or from the CPC ruining your picture quality.

The composite output of the AD724 produces a 2.5V peak to peak signal for both PAL and NTSC. The S-Video Chrominance output is approximately 1.8V peak to peak and the Luminance is around 2V peak to peak. These values are all within the Composite / S-video standards and should be compatible with all TVs, Displays and further converters.

S-Video and composite signals contain only picture information, they do not contain any sound information, so don't expect the CPCs sound to come out of the TV.

Building Your Own RGB To Composite Converter

If you choose not to use the layouts below, please keep in mind that the layout and component position can greatly effect the quality of the output. The two 100nf capacitor on the IC power inputs should be kept as close as possible to the IC.

In the miniature layout seen below a bypass diode (1N4001) was also added to the supply input. This diode protects the IC in case the user wrongly connects the power the circuit, which would otherwise result in the AD724 being fried. This diode isn't currently included in the large S-Video plus composite layout below, but will be added soon.

Schematic

The following schematics are configured for PAL TVs. If you are in an area where NTSC is in use, please see the notes above and below regarding pinout changes and crystal frequencies.

Connecting to the CPC

The following diagrams show how to connect the S-VHS Modulator for all situations.

Connecting to the TV

The circuit can be connected in several ways to a TV:

• Depending on the inputs the TV has to offer. The cheapest and easiest way is to directly connect to an S-Video input. This will also produce the best picture.

• If your TV doesn't have an S-Video socket it may still accept S-Video signals through a SCART socket. To connect through a SCART socket you will need an S-Video to SCART adapter which you should find in most TV shops. This method will also produce the best possible picture quality. Some TVs only offer S-Video on one of the SCART sockets. Check the TV handbook to confirm that your TV has this feature and which SCART socket needs to be used.

• If you have built your modulator with the components and RCA socket for composite output you can connect this signal either directly or through a SCART adapter also. However, the composite output does not produce the quality of picture that the S-Video offers, so composite connections should only be used as a last resort.

• If your modulator only has the S-Video ouput, you can still connect to a composite TV input by using an S-Video to composite adapter. This adapter combines the Chrominance and Luminance signals back together (passively), but again the quality will not be as good as the S-Video picture, so this method should only be considered as a last resort.

Internal Installation

If you do decide to install the miniature version of the modulator inside a CPC or even just give it a casing, the following dimensions can be used. The 42mm x 27mm dimensions of the PCB may vary slightly.

The new mini version is a mere 32mm x 25mm and is even easier to fit inside most computers.

Resources

The following files are the PCB and component position layouts to construct the circuit above:

File:AD724 Mod Layout.pdf - PCB Track Layout for full SMD version (with Composite Output) as seen in the third picture above.

File:AD724 Mini Layout.pdf - Miniature PCB Track Layout with mixed SMD / through-pin components (only has S-Video Socket).

NTSC

Pin 1 of the AD724 selects whether the output is in PAL or NTSC format. In the schematics and layouts above, pin 1 is grounded to select PAL, should you require NTSC, this pin needs to be disconnected from the ground and connected to the 5V supply signal and instead of the 4.433619 Crystal, you will need to use a 3.579545 Crystal. the value of the tuning capacitor may need to be altered to obtain the best picture quality.