Displays for panels

[pitbldr]

Hey guys,

 

I need to start planning for displays that I may potentially use in my pit. Has anyone started down this road and come up with some usable display options for the panels that have readouts on them (ILS, VHF, UHF, TACAN, etc.)?

 

I am very weak when it comes to electronics, but I assume for most of these we can use either LCD's or some type of 7 segment display.

[slowhand]

I would look in to the Helios Program http://www.scsimulations.com/index.php/software/helios-cockpit-management-system.html then go from there..:pilotfly:

[pitbldr]

I've been using the helios beta and it works great but I'm not sure how Helios will help with actual displays for the panels. I am not talking about displaying panels, but displays for each panel. For example, a "bank" of 7 segment displays for the frequencies on the UHF panel and individual segments for the VHF.

 

Maybe my limited experience in this area is making this seem more complicated to me than it is.

 

For everyone who is planning to have some feedback on your panels, what are you using for the frequency indicators?

[hog_driver111th]

You could check on the Open Cockpit site for the 7-segment displays.

http://www.opencockpits.com/catalog/digits-assembled-units-colour-amber-p-280.html?cPath=24_56

 

That's probably the way I'm going to go... but what about the EW panel? I know some guys on viperpits did it with LCDs, but I can't get any info from anyone over there about it...

[Duckling]

As long as you ask for planning but not yet in 'production'... ;-)

I'll go for IOCard 7 segment display card output controlled by SIOC

/Gus

[Duckling]

... but what about the EW panel? I know some guys on viperpits did it with LCDs, but I can't get any info from anyone over there about it...

 

Myself, I'll go for a VFD (hopfully) controlled by IOcard LCD card. Got two of the displays (2*20 +2*16) on the shelf. 2*16 fits on the quad but I've fiddled around still with the 2*20 display to fit the pieces together. 2*20 will allow a blank character between the sections. Problem is that the PCB expands over where the buttons needs to be. 2*16 fits but will not allow the needed space bwteween the sections. Interfacing OLED (that would do the trick) is out of my reach.

(still a long way go :-)

 

/Gus

[y2kiah]

http://www1.futureelectronics.com/doc/AVAGO%20TECHNOLOGIES/HCMS-2903.pdf

This is about the only display type that I've found that will work for the CMSP and CMSC panels. They are 5x7 dot matrix 8 character displays, and actually fit perfectly for those panels. There is a slightly larger and smaller version for the top and bottom row of the CMSP panel. They are not cheap, but I was not able to find any character LCDs or VFDs that would fit.

 

For the radios and ILS panel I'm using HDSP-F503 7-segs, and multiplexing them with a MAX-7219.

 

The TACAN panel needs an X or Y in the last digit, so I'm going to use a 14-seg for that, and the equivalent MAX IC for multiplexing 14 segs.

 

For the CDU I'm using a 3.5" TFT LCD. Of course, we still have no way to interface it, but if push comes to shove we can try to do some memory hacking to find static pointers to extract all of the data. It's spread all around in memory and won't be easy. Hopefully ED will save us the trouble and just make it a viewport display like the MFDs.

Edited February 18, 2011 by y2kiah

[Alex_rcpilot]

I saw a whole bunch of lua files supposedly making up the framework of the CDU pages, it seems to be much less work just to export the text buffer through export.lua. 240 bytes or as much as 960 bytes will do the job. Despite this has been repeatedly asked in this forum countless times, there's no response from ED whatsoever.

[hog_driver111th]

http://www.crystalfontz.com/product/CFAH2002Y-GDI-ET

 

What about an LCD like this one? I know the PCBoard is too wide for using it on the EW panel (already made some measurements) but still... I'm sure there's a way to take it apart and make it onto a new PCBoard that would fit better... right?

[Duckling]

Separating the PCB from the display is doable but the risk of damaging either of'em in the process is high.

One option would be to cut the pins between display from the PCB and soldering a ribbon cable extension or likewise between'em (short as possible) but there's no guarantee it will be successfull. I asked the same quiz some time ago to one of the soldering Wizards I know but he turned me down due to the above reasons. If it shows possible though, it would realy ease build of the panel.

[hog_driver111th]

There must be a way to make an extension of sorts so the the display doesn't sit directly on the PCB... this way you can set the PCB back an inch or so out of the way of switches and screws. I may consider buying one of these and trying to fit it to the EW panel I'll be getting soon and let you all know how that works out. Sorry if I'm stealing your thread Pit, but anyone know where to get cheapish flat-top toggle switches used on the EW panel and elsewhere?

Edited February 19, 2011 by hog_driver111th

[Alex_rcpilot]

If the display component is soldered to the original PCB with metal pins, then it'd be relatively easier coz you've only need to design a smaller piggy back PCB to carry the component, and then stack it on the original PCB with flat cable or connectors.

 

While if conductive rubber bars are used like what normally happens to segmented LCD's, then it would suck a lot.

[pitbldr]

Thanks for all the feedback so far everyone. I will start looking into some of the options you've mentioned. :)

[LeLv30_Superbus]

FWIW, I bought an IOcard LCD board from OC but I haven't got a display for it yet. I've been looking for one that'd look like the real thing, with green dots and all, to no avail (so far). I haven't even powered my master card yet, so I have a long way to go. I decided to use my PC's power supply, so I won't run out of current.