New Application Streamlines Battery Operation
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – Anton/Bauer®, a brand of The Vitec Group, and the world’s premier provider of batteries, chargers, lighting and other mobile power systems for the professional broadcast, video and film industries is introducing its new AB-BMS (Anton/Bauer Battery Management System) to the European market at IBC 2009 (Stand 9.D28b). This application includes Battery Management software and a USB to Anton/Bauer Gold Mount bracket. The AB-BMS streamlines battery maintenance protocols while delivering critical information to the camera operator.
When a battery is installed on the AB-BMS Gold Mount bracket, information is downloaded from the battery via the Battery Management software into a PC. The software will automatically open a file based on the battery serial number, date of manufacture, and store all battery related data for the purpose of usage tracking. By storing this data, the Battery Management software offers users a selectable battery capacity “trip point” for invoking an early e-mail warning as the battery approaches 60% or 70% of nameplate capacity. The software also provides for end-user defined options for local, regional and Anton/Bauer e-mail addresses.
“When high pressure breaking news events are overwhelming ENG crews, the last thing the operator needs to worry about is current battery charge and overall battery reliability,” says Joe Murtha, Anton/Bauer engineering manager. “Our new Battery Management System gives the camera operator the information to verify how much charge is left, but know the details related to overall battery health. The AB-BMS delivers all essential information about the battery and the interaction with the particular camera giving the operator high confidence going into a critical capture situation.”
The Battery Management software calculates how long a given battery will run a given camera based on an included database of professional video cameras and their respective load rating in watts. The operator simply selects the camera model and the software automatically displays the runtime for the installed battery. The operator can also enter additional camera specifications into the data base.
Essential information such as the battery model name (e.g. HyTRON® 140) with a picture of the installed battery, the battery’s temperature, voltage, present capacity, learned capacity, nameplate capacity and serial number are also displayed. A graphical representation of the battery’s RealTime® “fuel gauge” also appears on the screen displaying the percentage of capacity and remaining runtime.
ABOUT ANTON/BAUER
Anton/Bauer is recognized as the world’s innovator and premier provider of batteries, chargers, lighting and other key mobile power systems for the professional broadcast, video and film industries. Based in the United States in Shelton, CT, with offices in Europe and Asia, Anton/Bauer was established in 1970 and has expanded its product offerings to include many signature lines such as its leading Gold Mount® system, InterActive® chargers and Logic Series® batteries such as the HyTRON® 50, 100 and 140, and Dionic® 90, 160 and HC. Their products are compatible with virtually every camera brand on the market today. Other Anton/Bauer high performance products include the UltraLight®, ElipZ®, ElightZ®, CINE-VCLX® and CINE VCLX/2®. Their superior-quality products have become an industry standard. For more information on Anton/Bauer, visit www.antonbauer.com.
ABOUT THE VITEC GROUP PLC
The Vitec Group plc is acknowledged as a global leader in the supply of equipment and services to the broadcasting, entertainment and photographic industries and has established a reputation for technical excellence and superior engineering along with an astute business strategy which has seen it grow by acquisition. Innovation is a cornerstone of the Group’s activities and the organization is committed to a policy of continuous product development. With revenues (2007) of $546m (£274m) and over 2200 employees world-wide, its products are distributed in almost 100 countries, through a strong, fully-resourced distribution network or direct to the end user or corporate customer. More information can be found at www.vitecgroup.com.
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