Setting up the display in the ADIRS panel

[TobiBS]

A simcockpit can never be too accurate, you agree? THerefore I decided to make a LCD for the overhead into the ADIRS panel. You might know how it looks there if it is fully wired from FDS:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18245496/ADIRS/Overhead.jpg

From the front you can see that FDS already provided some mounting holes, maybe because they want to sell a complete board for this place one day:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18245496/ADIRS/Dismantled.jpg

But this is not available today so I had to do something on my own. Displays can be found a lot, you need a 1x16 Characters display, best would be white on black, but I only found white on blue as the best approximation:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18245496/ADIRS/LCD.jpg

On the other hand you need an interface and fortunately I found a complete solution for standard LCDs: http://www.avr-projekte.de/usblcd2.htm
The website is german, but the design is still usable though. If you need help, you can also ask me.

I redesigned the board to fit exactly behind our display and make it as small as possible. The last part was now to write a pieace of software as an interface between FSUIPC and the board. It has all modes, but because I did not configure the switches in the ADIRS panel right now, it is fixed to PPOS output. Maybe the design is also interesting for Boeing pilots, as I think it is nearly the same display and technique there.

The result looks like this:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18245496/ADIRS/ADIRS.jpg

Do you like it, any ideas how to improve or any questions regarding design and production?

[dufour01]

Hey TobiBS

Have you used (or thought about using) the same approach for the LCD in the rudder trim panel?

Best regards

[TobiBS]

Have you used (or thought about using) the same approach for the LCD in the rudder trim panel?
No, until now I did not fit out this display, but I would not use a LCD for this one, because LCDs have too much numbers and therefore do not fit and it is easier to do it with e.g. 14 segment displays:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteen-segment_display

[dufour01]

Indeed, probably easier. Any ideas, how to interface it in software? I haven't found anything on the internet yet for this.

[TobiBS]

Indeed, probably easier. Any ideas, how to interface it in software? I haven't found anything on the internet yet for this.
My approach with these parts was always to develop something on my own. I did this for the brake pressure indicator as well and we are doing this in other areas as well. Shouldn't be that hard, because it is a one way device.

[missylee]

thnaks for your post

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[N737AG]

Thank you Toby for that excellent Thread. I am going to do it on my 737NG.

My question is : what software did you use to interface ?

Thank you

Axel from stormy Florida

[TobiBS]

Thank you Toby for that excellent Thread. I am going to do it on my 737NG.
Thanks, I like to hear that, the forum is a great pool of ideas and as much as it inspired me, I hope to inspire others.


My question is : what software did you use to interface ?
I wrote one on my own, it was rather easy, but as I was using specific interfaces to our cockpit software this one can not be reused. I was thinking about writing a software for others, but had no time until now.