Dimming Ideas

jdpainter

New Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2006
Messages
21
Location
Atlanta, GA
I have several ideas regarding dimming of both the EFIS and EMS units.

a) First, it would be nice to have all of the units send dimming commands to the other units over DSAB. I know this is non-trivial due to the different combinations of screens (i.e. the new bright 100 series displays vs. the smaller screens, etc). Perhaps on the dimming menu this could be simplified by each device setting a 'day' and 'night' mode. You could bring up the dimming screen on one unit and selecting 'day mode' would switch all of the other units to the same mode and vice versa.

b) Since the EMS units are now capable of GPS input, the dimming could be made automatic. The units have everything they need to know in order to calculate sunrise/sunset. Switching the displays automatically would be fantastic. Implementing dimming over DSAB as mentioned above would make this easier. Even nicer would be to have the displays switch modes gradually, although this is a little more difficult calculation.

c) It may also be possible to DIM the units automatically using the GP inputs on the EMS. Since these are resistance inputs, why not just (optionally) enable the dimming to be controlled by one of these inputs. A simple rheostat could be used to dim the EMS, which could in turn dim the other units over DSAB.
 

rdoerr

New Member
Joined
Jun 13, 2006
Messages
60
I also would like to see the Dimming on one unit be sent across the DSAB to all the others so it only needs to set on one unit. If other units have different levels of brightness, then have a offset that could be set to alter the dimming command on the dsab. For your Next Gen hardware I would like to see a dimming wire that could be connected to my dimming buss, or include a photo sensor on the front face of the unit, so it can automaticlly dim the buss based on the ambient light in the cockpit. This works very well on my Garmin equipment.

Thanks

Ray Doerr.
 
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