E2E FIZ PRO Metadata Box

https://home.loledvirtual.com/products/e2e-fiz-pro-lens-metadata-box

In the virtual production industry, there was a need for a sub-$5k metadata and lens encoding solution. Existing solutions were not only expensive, but bulky and power hungry.

I opted to utilize a powerful microcontroller and RTOS rather than the competing approach of a Linux SBC. This allowed for similar functionality at a fraction of the size, with sub-10 second boot times.

My experience building the SyncCheckr directly fed into this project as well, with both my circuitry and code providing timecode and genlock support to the box. The box wound up being so small that full sized BNCs would not fit, so mini BNC connectors are used instead.

The box also includes an 4-pin LEMO and RS232 transceiver, along with my custom implementation of both the Cooke /i and Zeiss XD lens metadata protocols. This allows for direct lens communication without the need of external encoders.

It used two stacked custom PCBs in an aluminum enclosure. The top of the box needed to be RF transparent so as not to interfere with the internal WiFi antenna.

• 85x80x25mm
• 4x Locking USB-C ports
• Supports ProMark and Indiemark 3 lens encoders, Cooke /I and Zeiss XD protocols
• Internal WiFi radio, Ethernet interface
• 10 second boot, 2W power draw
• Genlock and Timecode support (mini BNC to full size adapters included)
• SD Card included for configuration
• 1/4-20 anti-twist mounting plate included