Harris Corporation To Receive Technical Emmy For ATSC Broadcast Transmission System RF Filters
Cincinnati, CT - Harris Corporation, an international communications and information technology company, will be awarded a Technology & Engineering Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) for developing special transmission filters that help broadcasters improve the quality and reduce the costs of operating digital television signals. Harris will be presented the award for developing the ATSC Broadcast Transmission System RF Filters at a ceremony January 7, 2008, at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
The ATSC RF filter technology, which was awarded a U.S. patent in 2005, was pioneered by Robert J. Plonka, principal engineer with Harris Corporation (now retired), to overcome potential quality and interference problems stemming from operating adjacent analog and digital channel assignments. The resulting band-pass RF filters maintain highly reduced side-band emission levels to eliminate interference with other signals in adjacent channels, particularly when broadcasting at full power DTV with dual-purpose capability to use that same filter as an adjacent channel combiner. When used as an adjacent channel combiner, the RF Filters provide the necessary mask filtering and merge the two adjacent channels together into a single transmission line feeding the antenna. This concept reduced broadcasters' installation costs, tower reinforcement costs and maintenance costs associated with running a second transmission line and antenna.
In November of 2000, KFSN-TV, the ABC affiliate in Fresno, Calif., became the first station to employ the technology in its broadcast operation, broadcasting its digital signal on VHF channel 9. Today, the ATSC Broadcast Transmission System RF Filters have become an industry-standard component deployed across a variety of ATSC DTV transmission platforms by third-party vendors.
Tim Thorsteinson, president of Harris Broadcast Communications, said, "We're thrilled to have been selected by NATAS for our efforts to advance ATSC signal transmission through the use of sharply tuned band-pass RF filters. Today, DTV stations in the United States use these
RF filters to stay in strict compliance with FCC specifications. Ensuring that DTV signals maintain highly reduced side-band emission levels means that adjacent spectrum may be used reliably for other purposes without the risk of interference."
The ATSC Broadcast Transmission System RF Filters technology is one of many patented solutions developed by Harris Corporation, the industry leader in ATSC VHF and UHF transmission and encoding equipment.
Harris Broadcast Communications offers products, systems and services that provide interoperable workflow solutions that span the entire broadcast delivery chain. The Harris ONE approach brings together highly integrated and cost-effective products that are ideal for emerging media business models and for customers upgrading media operations to digital and high-definition services.
About NATAS Emmy Awards
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) is a professional service organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry. It recognizes excellence in television with the coveted Emmy Award for News & Documentary, Sports, Daytime Entertainment, Daytime Creative Arts & Entertainment, Humanitarian & Public Service, Technology & Engineering, and Business & Financial Reporting. Beginning in 2006, NATAS began recognizing programming produced for the Internet, cell phones, and portable media players with its new Broadband Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Content for Broadband and Portable Delivery. Excellence in Primetime programming and international programming is recognized by its affiliate, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Regional Emmys are given in 19 regions across the United States. Beyond awards, NATAS has extensive educational programs including National Student Television and its Student Award for Excellence for outstanding journalistic work by high school students, as well as scholarships, publications, and major activities for both industry professionals and the viewing public.
SOURCE: Harris Corporation