Function enhancements uplift quality

	The model VAS44-H VGA and audio switch from Shenzhen Zhuopu has four input and four output ports.

Makers eye lineup expansion with HDMI-enabled products on the rise.

Suppliers of A/V switches, distributors and control boxes in China are emphasizing functionality, versatility and efficiency to keep the line’s small but solid client base.

Although demand for this line is stable because of wide adoption, the sector has remained a minority compared with other A/V accessories.

Makers are nevertheless confident the industry will grow as world economies recover. Many forecast exports will increase by 5 to 10 percent in the next 12 months.

The HDMI segment, in particular, will lead this upturn, together with the rise of high-definition digital devices, including media players, HDTVs and set-top boxes.

Advances in devices such as TVs and PCs, which are the top output terminals, also stimulate demand. Global shipments of the first product will hit 218 million units by end-2010 from 205 million last year, a 6 percent YoY jump according to DisplaySearch.

Computer overseas sales are forecast by Gartner to reach 366.1 million units, equivalent to 20 percent growth YoY.

To match this outlook, selection expansion tops the agenda of enterprises. More manufacturers are looking to explore digital interfaces for desktop and notebook PCs, portable media players, digital photo frames, projectors and other consumer electronics to broaden market reach.

HDMI is expected to set the pace in standard development in the next 12 months.

Makers also seek to roll out more features-rich products. Recent releases boast smart switches, power-saving capability, a locking function, and multiple input and output interfaces. These support many display modes.

Some plan to introduce multifunction versions in the next 12 months to take advantage of the rosy outlook. Portability and security are likewise emphasized.

Strategies for quality enhancements include the adoption of better ICs. MCUs and power, switch and distributor chips are widely used but several companies have begun exploring SoCs and solutions that reduce overall power consumption. Those from ADI, Freescale, Intersil, Maxim, Analogix, Pericom and TI are integrated into a growing number of midrange and high-end models. ICs sourced from mainland China and Taiwan vendors such as Explore are targeted at entry- and midlevel variants.

Suppliers are looking to score quality gains in external and internal design as well. They are using better materials such as metal alloy and a more efficient PCB layout to improve heat dissipation.

Complementing quality initiatives are efforts to broaden export markets to boost sales.

Many makers are actively seeking out new export destinations in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and South America. They also participate in trade shows and online marketing to strengthen overseas business further.

Switches, distributors and control boxes support a host of consumer electronics because their main function is to connect the A/V source to the output terminal.

The typical input devices are DVD and other media players, video cassette and personal video recorders, and set-top boxes.

The common output terminals are TVs, PC monitors, laptops, PMPs, digital photo frames and projectors.

The popular signals and interfaces include S-Video, CVBS, YPbPr, VGA, SCART, DVI, DisplayPort and HDMI. VGA, SVGA, XGA, SXGA, UXGA, 480i/p, 576i/p, 720i/p and 1080i/p are supported. Additional functions comprise manual and infrared remote control, smart switch and lock.

Recent releases incorporate mostly DVI, DisplayPort or HDMI. For example, the H318 model from Tonetron Electronic Ltd is an HDMI distributor that boasts eight outputs. It is fully compatible with HDMI 1.3 protocol and HDCP, and incorporates hot-plug detect for auto switching, and remote control.

VGA switches are gaining more ground because of the standard’s penetration of the PC market, which itself was boosted by declining computer prices.

The VAS44-H model from Shenzhen Zhuopu Technology Co. Ltd is a VGA/audio switch that supports a maximum resolution of 2048x1536 pixels at 85Hz. It is suitable for VGA, SVGA, XGA, SXGA, UXGA and multisync monitors. The unit has four inputs and outputs, and allows both manual and IR remote control.

Entry-level A/V switches and distributors allow S-Video, CVBS, YPbPr and VGA signal and interfaces with manual or IR remote control. Such varieties are made of plastic.

Midrange and high-end models support SCART, DVI, DisplayPort and HDMI 1.2 or 1.3 on top of those enabled by basic and midlevel versions. They incorporate ESD protection, high bandwidth, low power consumption, an IR learning remote control, a smart switch and locking function. These types can deliver 1080p resolution. The housing can be a better type of plastic or metal.

Makers typically adopt both manual and remote control capability for switches. Xiamen Seebest Technology Co. Ltd’s SB-R41VA model has an IR learning remote control that can be configured to manage its four input channels. The CVBS switch consumes less than 2.5W power.

Suppliers are split on price projections. Some expect entry-level and midrange quotes to remain stable, and those for high-end units to go down 5 percent in the next six months. Others forecast that an increase in material costs will result in a 5 to 10 percent corresponding adjustment in prices.

The outlay for plastic, copper and other components climbed last year. Several ICs rose by 15 percent from 2009 figures.

	Tonetron’s model H318 HDMI 1.3 distributor features one input and eight output ports.

China has about 100 to 200 suppliers of A/V accessories and peripherals offering switches, distributors, extenders and converters, remote controls, connectors, adapters, cables, TV boxes and USB hubs. More than 70 percent of them are small and midsize operations, with OEM and ODM as key business. The rest constitutes tier 1 enterprises with strong R&D experience, complete product lines, more factories and own brands.

Guangdong province is the main sourcing base, followed by Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces. More than half of manufacturers are located in the first, mainly in the cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Huizhou and Dongguan.

Zhejiang and Jiangsu combined account for about 30 percent of manufacturers. The areas likewise host traders.

The hubs in the first are Hangzhou, Ningbo and Wenzhou, while it is Changzhou in Jiangsu.

Entry-level suppliers employ 100 to 300 workers and turn out fewer than 10,000 units a month.

Midsize makers have a total of 500 to 700 employees who output 30,000 to 50,000. Large ones have more than 900 workers and a monthly yield exceeding 80,000 units.

Enterprises such as Shenzhen Zhuopu Technology Co. Ltd have a factory both in the mainland and Taiwan.

Tonetron Electronic Ltd specializes in HDMI products, while Finder Electronics Co. Ltd offers YPbPr, CVBS, S-Video, SCART, VGA, DVI and HDMI switches and distributors.

To improve quality, several manufacturers have a separate department handling IQC, PQC, FQC and OQC. They adhere to AQL standards.

Some suppliers even import advanced test equipment such as logic analyzers, frequency spectrographs and high-frequency oscilloscopes from Agilent and Tektronix. Many also acquire ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001 certification.

Products meet CE, GS, UL, FCC, HDMI ATC, HDCP and RoHS requirements.

The influx of PCs, TVs and home entertainment devices featuring the latest interfaces such as DVI and HDMI has helped sustain Taiwan’s A/V switch, distributor and control box industry. The supplier base consists of no more than 10 companies, most of which expect a steady market in years ahead. The majority constitutes small and midsize operations exporting to Europe, the US and Asia.

HDMI 1.3 is the mainstream version. Under efforts to match demand and boost revenue, makers are developing models based on this protocol such as extenders, matrixes and KVMs but are also adopting other standards, including DisplayPort.

Smart Home Engineering Corp. offers Cat 5 extenders with DisplayPort. These are wall-mount types that support HDTV resolutions of 480 and 1080i, and 480 and 720p. The working range reaches 300m.

Besides home applications, some control boxes such as the YE02Dal model can be used outdoors. The Cat 5 extender with chainable function can connect to multiple monitors in public areas. For high-end applications, the maker offers the YE09D model.

Entry-level and midrange units are mainstream and are available for $10 to $80. HDCP-compliant models go for $30 to $80. High-end matrixes and switches are above $100.