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- July 30, 2010
KENWOOD Announces Launch of KVT-11 Image Encoder and KAS-11 Image Viewer for the Remote Acquisition of Still Images from Surveillance Cameras Using the NEXEDGE® Digital two-way Radio System
~Joint development integrates KENWOOD’s radio technologies and JVC’s image-compression technologies~
Kanagawa, Japan, July 30, 2010 — KENWOOD Corporation, an operating company of the JVC KENWOOD Group, has announced the September launch of a new site-surveillance solution based on its NEXEDGE® digital two-way radio system. Two new products — the KVT-11 Image Encoder and the KAS-11 Image Viewer — together enable the acquisition of still pictures from a remote surveillance video camera, thus enabling customers to monitor locations such as construction sites, rivers, dams, and national parks.
Jointly developed by KENWOOD and JVC, these products integrate KENWOOD’s narrowband (6.25/12.5kHz) digital radio technologies — renowned for outstanding voice quality and inherent security — and JVC’s still image processing technologies, which employ the MPEG-4AVC/H.264 codec standard to ensure high compression efficiency with high picture quality.
| Device | Model | Launch | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image Encoder (for NEXEDGE®) |
KVT-11 | Sept. 2010 | Worldwide (except Japan) |
| Image Viewer (for Windows® OS) |
KAS-11 | Sept. 2010 | Worldwide (except Japan) |
Rationale and outline
Compared with conventional analog systems, digital radio can make more effective use of available frequencies and offer expanded coverage. As a result, worldwide demand for digital has been growing year on year. Moving to digital technologies also means higher sound quality as well as inherent security against eavesdropping. And the advantages of digital technology are not limited to voice communications, since it enables a diverse range of data applications.
The newly launched KVT-11 Image Encoder and KAS-11 Image Viewer were specially developed to surveillance sites where it would be difficult or uneconomical to install wired communications infrastructure — waterways and dams, national parks, temporary construction sites, and so on. By linking these new products with KENWOOD’s NEXEDGE® digital two-way radio system, it is possible to acquire still image data provided by a video camera installed on site. This is an ideal solution if unmanned surveillance is required at regular intervals at locations where for safety or other reasons it is not possible to station security staff.
The monitor station that transmits the images consists of a surveillance camera (sold separately), the KVT-11 Image Encoder, and a NEXEDGE® NX-700/800 digital transceiver. The base station that receives the image data combines a computer running the KAS-11 Image Viewer software and a NEXEDGE® NX-700/800 digital transceiver.
* Information on the NX-700/800 is available here
System Components
Features
1. Choice of 5 quality levels
The KAS-11 Image Viewer controls the level of compression applied to the still image data by the KVT-11 Image Encoder for transmission: source pictures of 900KB can be compressed to 18KB, 12KB, 6KB, 3KB or 1.5KB for display and storage on the local computer. The KVT-11 itself has sufficient internal memory to store 450 premium-quality (18K) images, or 5,400 standard-quality (1.5K) images.
Additionally, it is possible to specify more than one quality level for storage — so for instance the system could routinely handle 1.5KB images while allowing for the acquisition of higher resolution 18KB images if something in a picture suggests verification is required.
Image Quality
2. Compatible with both NTSC & PAL video cameras*
The KVT-11 can be connected to video cameras with a component output conforming to either NTSC or PAL, the two most widely used video standards.
3. Unified control of multiple cameras
The KAS-11 application allows for the registration and management of up to maximum 65,000 monitor stations (only one surveillance camera can be installed per station).
4. Remote system control
Using KAS-11 and the NEXEDGE® radio link, it is possible to control the KVT-11 remotely and select the size of the transmitted images. So the operator can change these and other parameters without anyone having to actually go to the site.
5. Multiple image display types
It is also possible to select how KAS-11 displays images on the computer screen. For instance, the operator can choose to look at all the images at once or focus on one particular picture. With the multi-picture display there is a choice of 3 sizes: 160 x 120, 320 x 240, 640 x 480.
6. Data archiving & searching
All data acquired by KAS-11 is automatically stored on the computer, making it easy for the operator to search the log for particular images.
7. Tamper-proof data format, with bitmap/JPEG conversion option
The image data acquired by KAS-11 is in a KENWOOD proprietary format, which prevents tampering. When needed, this data can be converted to standard bitmap or JPEG formats.
* Surveillance cameras are not included. Recommended for use with this system is JVC’s TK-C2201 and C9200/C9300 Series.
KVT-11 specifications
| Input voltage | Standard | 13.2 / 13.6 VDC |
|---|---|---|
| Range | 6.5 ~ 16 VDC | |
| Current rating | 0.22 A(typical) at 13.2 ~ 13.6VDC | |
| 0.45 A(typical) at 6.5 V | ||
| Temperature range | -30ºC ~ +60ºC | |
| Dimensions(projections not included) | W x H x D | 136.4 x 38 x 92.2 mm / 5.37 x 1.50 x 3.63 in. |
| Weight | 520 g / 18.3 oz | |
| Input signal system | NTSC/PAL | |
| Video input | VBS 1.0 V(p-p), 75 ohms (BNC) | |
KAS-11 hardware requirements
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows XP (SP3)/Vista(32bit, 64bit) / Windows 7(32bit, 64bit) |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Pentium III, 1GHz or higher |
| RAM | 300MB or more |
| HDD | 100MB ore more free space |
Registered Trademark
Windows® and Windows Vista® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Pentium® is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation.
NEXEDGE® is a registered trademark of KENWOOD Corporation in the USA, Japan and other countries.
For further information, please contact:
- Advertising and Publicity, Strategic Corporate Planning Division, JVC KENWOOD Holdings,Inc.
Tel: +81-45-444-5306 Fax:+81-45-444-5319 E-mail Request Form
