Custom LCD’s For Aviation Products
Avionics engineers have a huge problem: aviation products must meet a very set of strenuous requirements. The problem impacts hundreds of thousands of designers and production teams, alike. To the average onlooker, it might seem menial that the issue lies in the search for the perfect LCD; however, the development of this display entails meeting both design parameters and technical specifications.
This is of utmost importance to those wishing to turn their ideas into profitable realities.
Engineers at companies like TKM are the heroes behind the scenes that are making avionic components not only tangible but functional, affordable, and frankly, pretty remarkable.
Working in partnership with Master Electronics in Phoenix, and FocusLCDs.com a successful consultant on designing and producing custom LCD’s with touch-point capability, facilitated TKM in developing that would address their biggest design obstacle–limited space. TKM needed an LCD that would achieve the size-problem and boast a modern look.
This was not only about aesthetics.
Previous radios utilized Vacuum Florescent Display (VFD) technology that drew more current and had narrower viewing angle. Ulta-Wide-Viewing-Display (UWVD) technology, in contrast, is not only less expensive than its predecessor VFD but it addresses concerns such as power consumption and viewing angle.
Functionality, a paramount consideration in the design of this radio, would change dramatically. The radio called for the elimination of physical buttons thus maximizing the total area of the LCD for a surface allowing multiple touch points.
Talk about a performance boost.
These, according to TKM, are of the importance to when it comes to engineering displays in their avionics applications.
This means that the display must illuminate in very bright conditions, for instance, when a pilot encounters direct sunlight in a cockpit. Since the pilot and his/her co-pilot must be able to recognize the channel on the display at all times, from both of their vantage points, the display must be equipped to demonstrate that certain degree of sharpness and luminosity to be read clearly.
The product, itself, must withstand the rigors of everyday use and be reliable since the pilot’s interaction with the unit depends on continuous communication with the tower.
An OEM product in the aviation industry and the route in which it takes to enter the market can be critical for a product to be successful and to reach its customer base efficiently. Certification problems can subject production to unnecessary delays and a finished product to market.
The biggest draw of the NAV/COMM radio, a slide-in replacement, would be that it is the most cost-effective option for systems needing upgraded radios with LCD displays. The aesthetic prowess is just an added bonus.
As we can see, finding the right fit can be tougher than it initially seems for avionics projects. When producing a cost-effective and reliable OEM product, TKM knew that to make NAV/COMM radios a reality for plane owners and pilots in need of well-built radios and interactive displays, they needed help.
TKM AVIONICS is now pleased to announce their latest product as it enters the airways.
Do you have questions about custom LCDs? Contact us today!