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The PIC HomeCockpit Controller (PHCC)

PHCC Overview

Features:

• cheap
• modular and extensible
  • one 100x160mm "motherboard"
  • daughterboards for switch controllers, display controllers, stepper controllers, digital out, servos, USB
• if other solutions don't cut it anymore :-)
• up to 1024 switches/push buttons
  • why so many ?
    • count things up: 3 CDUs, glareshield, MIP, pedestal, overhead, circuit breaker overhead, and more
  • can be upgraded in steps of 64 per daughterboard
• 35 channels analog in
  • 3 primary: eg for aileron,elevator,rudder
  • 32 secondary: eg for throttles, reversers, toe brakes, steering tiller, radio volume control, brightness,...
• unlimited 8bit digital out channels, used for:
  • 7 segment displays (including the often neglected decimal point)
  • LEDs
  • stepper control via H-bridge drivers
  • character LCDisplays
  • Relays/solenoids
  • lamps/Korry switches and indicators
• servos
• analog out (ADC using PWM)
• uses 1 RS-232 Serial Port
  • USB daughterboard available
• based on a PIC 18F4X2
• uses standard components: MAX232, serveral 74HCxxx and 74HCTxxx
  
• costs: (not counting the displays, LEDs, switches, pots, steppers and servos)
  • motherboard: about 35-40 EUR (includes all analog in channels)
  • daughterboards
    • switch controller 5-10 EUR every 64 switches. (about 2 EUR if you have switches w/ built-in diodes and you want to solder everything on the board)
    • check subpages for details of other daughterboards
• all software is open source/free software according to GPL
  • this includes
    • firmware (PIC assembly language)
    • and controlling software on the host (PC) that talks (at least) to the flightgear simulator (FlightGear)
    • kernel drivers (eg. for the analog channels used for joystick input)
  • usually third party software is also released as open source, or at least as freeware