Barco Argus Information

Argus

The digital display controller for easy video and data integration

ARGUS is the most flexible and scalable multi-screen controller

system, which easily integrates video and data sources on

display walls. The powerful controller has the capacity to

operate walls of virtually unlimited size. With its intelligent

high-bandwidth backplane and its sophisticated OMNISCALER

technology, up to 320 external sources can be integrated into

graphic data. The scalable source windows can be moved to

any location on the display wall.

LAN

Analog & digital sources

LAN

Argus system overview

• capable of flexibly and economically

supporting any system size and any
input demand

• open architecture and the extensive

use of industry standards provide
ultimate scalability and upgradability

• future-proof investment thanks to

two-unit approach

Argus processing power plus
multimedia speedway

• state-of-the-art 3GHz Pentium-IV CPU

performance combined with the
integration flexibility of a standard
PCI bus based PC

• high volume components combined

with redundancy options guarantee
optimal reliability and performance

• capable of driving up to five A

RGUS

OMNI

B

US devices

Argus OmniBus features

• A

RGUS OMNIBUS forms the backbone of

the graphic and video subsystem

• destined to integrate and display all

kind of data sources

• beyond the bandwith of 533 MB/s

an optimized intelligent PCI 64/66
backplane bus ensures guaranteed
Quality of Service (QoS) by separating
graphic data and network traffic from
the bandwidth-hungry video data

• each O

MNIBUS provides 18 slots for

A

RGUS expansion cards, i.e. graphic

cards, O

MNISCALERS and input cards

Extension and connectivity

The A

RGUS

driver level software for X­Window System or Microsoft Windows
(NT/2000/XP) combines multiple
A

RGUS

graphic cards in one or more

O

MNIBUS units to form one giant

desktop image on a display wall,
consisting of multiple projectors or
monitors at resolutions up to UXGA
each.

Graphic cards and O

MNISCALER cards

introduce an unparalleled high degree
of quality and flexibility for video data
processing into the system:

• video and RGB windows can be

placed everywhere on the wall

• different scaling factors on one

module are processed naturally
without any quality loss, even for the
smallest windows

• large scaling factors up to the whole

display area

• multiple video windows on one

projector are handled brilliantly

Quad analog video card

• allowing up to four simultaneously

displayable video sources

• all types of analog video signals are

decoded and digitally processed so
they can be displayed in windows of
the desired size and position on the
wall

Dual RGB input card

• enabling the display for computer

generated RGB data

• up to SXGA two sources can be

processed in parallel by one card

• for higher resolutions the card can

bundle up its input resources and
provide outstanding 270 MHz input
bandwidth for UXGA sources and
above

Streaming video input card

• decodes up to 4 digital video streams

simultaneously

• multiple compression standards

Quad SDI input card

• allows display of up to 4 digital video

sources simultaneously

• flexible baseboard/mezzanine

concept

Even the highest demands on size and inputs

can be easily fulfilled with the flexible and

scalable A

RGUS architecture. Extending the

system is as simple as adding an OMNIBUS
and a few PCI bus ARGUS expansion cards.

All windows, including windows showing

external data like video and RGB, can be

freely positioned on the display wall. Even

up to 64 windows can be run on 1 cube.

Display controller for easy video and
data integration

LAN

Analog & digital sources

Maximum flexibility and scalability

• supported operating systems: Windows®NT®4.0, Windows 2000,

Windows XP, X Window System

• output resolution up to UXGA

• up to 80 display channels for Windows NT/2000/XP

• unlimited wall sizes for the X Window System thanks to Barco’s unique

distributed X server technology

• up to 320 video/160 RGB sources in a system

• up to 64 video/32 RGB sources per dual display channels

Superb video and RGB integration

• up to 64 video/32 RGB windows freely movable on the whole display

wall

• analog and digital sources

• full range scaling capability from finger print size to full wall size

• direct video/RGB access and control

• independent color depth selection of video, RGB, and graphic windows

• uncompromising digital data processing

• genlock synchronization of graphics and video data for a perfectly

smooth motion display

Power, bandwidth, future-proof

• perfect synergy of highest graphic and video performance combined

with maximum processing power in a two-unit architecture

• A

RGUS PROCESSOR is the high performance processing core of the system,

built on the latest easily upgradable standard PC technology

• ARGUS OMNIBUS, with dedicated high-bandwidth ARGUS backplane,

provides the optimized resources needed for graphic and video data
processing

• redundant, hot-swappable critical components for high overall system

reliability

System solution

• perfectly integrated with Barco’s A

POLLO and OSIRIS Control Room

Management software

LAN

Analog & digital sources

Reliability and redundancy

For uninterrupted system operation
several redundancy options on system
and component level are offered:

• redundant power supplies with

separate mains connectors, hot­swappable

• redundant Hard Disk RAID Level 1,

hot-swappable

• redundant Ethernet Adapter

• DVI switch unit for system level

redundancy
The redundancy components are
continuously monitored; audio and
video alarms are triggered in case of
failure of a redundancy component.

Also for small walls, particularly with a given

amount of video and RGB sources, ARGUS can

provide a cost-efficient entry level solution.

ARGUS also features built-in extendibility in

size, sources and power.

Operating systems

With Windows NT/2000/XP and the X
Window System A

RGUS supports the

main existing operating systems, thus
easily fitting into almost any
installation.

Windows NT/2000/XP

• the display is operated as one giant

Windows NT/2000/XP desktop

• transparent, unrestricted use of the

entire wall for standard Windows
NT/2000/XP applications

• all applications can be operated by

the local keyboard or under Windows
NT remotely by any other Windows
95/98/NT/2000/XP computer (with
optional A

POLLO package)

• powerful Windows NT/2000/XP

drivers tuned and optimized for large
multiscreen display walls.

X Window System

• X.11 R6 compatible

• transparent, unrestricted use of the

entire wall for standard X clients

• simultaneous multiple color modes

for X-applications and video

• allows integration of Windows™

applications

• powerful extensions available like

multi cursor, blinking, ...

• support for multiple logical screens

Wall management software

Barco’s wall management software
enables operators to control and
manage the display wall content in a
user-friendly way, both for remote and
local applications. The layout of all
windows can be determined and
controlled dynamically.
A

RGUS

operated as X-Terminal can be

managed by O

SIRIS, or if operated as

Windows NT/2000 workstation it can
be managed by APOLLO

.

Argus OmniBus equipped

with expansion card (back and front view)

Specifications Argus expansion cards

Graphic card 4-channel UGX graphic card (2-channel AGX graphic card)

• Graphic memory 4x32 MB SDRAM (AGX: 2x16 MB SDRAM)

• Processors 4 graphic accelerators + 1 64 bit RISC processor with 64 MB local memory

(AGX: 2 graphic accelerators)

• Output 2 dual-DVI connectors with DVI-D adapter cable (digital) or VGA adapter cable (analog)

(AGX: 1 dual-DVI connector)

• Resolution up to 1600x1200 pixels per channel (AGX: up to 1280x1024)

• Color depth 8, 15, 16 and 32 bpp

• Additional features - DDC for automatic adaption to standard Plug and Play monitor and projector

- manual display parameter setting for display devices without DDC capability

OmniScaler 2 channel multisource and multifactor scaler card

• Input dual-DVI for 2 digital channels from graphic card

• Output dual-DVI for 2 digital channels to projection module (via DVI-D adapter cable)

• Internal data stream format YUV 4:2:2, RGB 8:8:8, RGB 5:6:5

• Scaling - up to 64 videos or RGB sources per O

MNISCALER

card

- individual scaling factors per source

• Additional features - sharpness control per source

- independent color depth selection for graphic, video and RGB data

Quad Analog Video Card quad input card for simultaneous display of 4 analog video sources

• Inputs 2 LFH160 connectors for 4 S-video or composite video sources using the included LFH160 to

BNC adapter (Mini-DIN, component video on request)

• Broadcast standards PAL, NTSC and SECAM

• Frame rate 25/30/50/60 fps

• Features - display multiple video sources in any size windows, everywhere on the display wall

- select between managed full screen/full module/window display mode

- genlock, de-interlacer

Dual RGB Input Card dual input card for simultaneous display of up to 2 RGB sources

• Inputs 2 HD15 to connect up to 2 sources, Hsync+Vsync, Csync, Sync on Green

• Pixel frequency 20 MHz to 270 MHz

2 channels up to SXGA or 1 channel UXGA and higher

• Line frequency 15 kHz to 130 kHz

• Features - display multiple RGB sources in any size windows, everywhere on the display wall

- select between managed full screen/full module/window display mode

Streaming Video Card 4 channel universal digital streaming video decoder

• Inputs RJ 45 10/100 Base-T

• Compression formats MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MJPEG

• Processing capacity max. 4 channels simultaneously per card

• Protocols TCP, UDP, RTP, IP, IGMP

Quad SDI Input Card quad input card for simultaneous display of 4 digital video sources

• Inputs 4 BNC connectors for video

• Standards supports all standard definition SMPTE 259-M-C 270 Mbps/4:2:2 formats on PAL and NTSC

www.barcocontrolrooms.com

Specifications Argus units

Features Argus Processor Argus OmniBus

• host for up to 5 ARGUS OMNIBUS units • enhanced PCI 64/66 backplane

• PC ATX technology architecture with 533MB/s bandwidth

• Intel Pentium

®

IV 3GHz processor with • 18 slots in each A

RGUS OMNI

B

US for

hyperthreading A

RGUS expansion cards e.g. ARGUS graphic

• up to 1GB main memory cards, O

MNISCALER, DUAL RGB-INPUT CARD and

• 10/100/1000 MBit Ethernet Q

UAD A

NALOG VIDEO

CARD

• redundant power supply (optional) • redundant power supply (optional)

• 40/60 GB IDE disk drive (RAID-1 optional) • hot swappable chassis fans

• redundant Ethernet (optional)

Dimensions

• 19" Industrial case, height in rack unit 4U 6U

• Width case 440 mm | 17.32 in. 449 mm | 17.68 in.

• Width with fixation 482 mm | 18.98 in. 449 mm | 17.68 in.

• Depth case 450 mm | 17.72 in. 420 mm | 16.54 in.

• Depth with handles 502 mm | 19.76 in. 461 mm | 18.15 in.

• Height 177 mm | 6.97 in. 267 mm | 10.51 in.

• Height with rubber feet 183 mm | 7.20 in. 270 mm | 10.63 in.

Weight

• Base unit approx 15.7 kg | 34.6 lbs approx 18.4 kg | 40.6 lbs

Mains

• Power supply 100-240 V, 50-60 Hz

• Power consumption (typical) 300 W 600 W

Operating Conditions

0 - 40°C | 30 - 105°F at max. 80% humidity (non condensing)

Accessories

- keyboard/mouse extension for distances of up to 60 m

- digital data cables for projector connection in copper and fiber optics, various lengths up to

100 m and beyond

- HERMES DXD for controller system level redundancy

Ref. no. R599660 November ‘03

Barco Control Rooms is an ISO 9001 registered company.
The information and data given are typical for the equipment described. However any individual item is subject to change without any notice.
The latest version of this product sheet can be found on www.barcocontrolrooms.com
Windows and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Barco Control Rooms - Belgium

Noordlaan 5, 8520 Kuurne

Phone (32) (56) 368211

E-mail [e-mail]

Germany Phone (49) (721) 62010

USA Phone (1) (770) 2183200

Brazil Phone (55) (11) 38421656

Japan Phone (81) (3) 57628720

Hong Kong Phone [phone]

for updated product information see at
www.barcocontrolrooms.com/en/products