Split Screen Architecture : High speed data transmission in industrial machines and vehicles

Abstract: This thesis examines different interfaces to suggest a concept of a split screen architecture for a company who develops and manufactures computers with integrated displays for industrial machines and vehicles. Splitting the display from the computer requires a high speed cable link between the display and the computer. This cable link must reach the mechanical and electromagnetic requirements of the intended environment the computers will operate in. Interfaces were found that can send the required video and control data over the same twisted pair or coaxial cables up to 15 m using serializers and deserializers. To send data in high speed puts tough electromagnetic requirements on the cable link as to not interfere or be interfered by nearby electrical systems. Electromagnetic properties of different cable solutions were compared to find a suitable cable that is not too expensive for the intended cable lengths. The study shows that there are interfaces available which can send several data types in a single cable so that a touch display can be positioned several meters away from the computer in demanding environments without losing the functionality it had when integrated in the computer.