COMAND operating, display and controller unit, component description - GF82.85-P-3134GZJ

MODEL 164.1/8, 251 with CODE (498) Japan version with CODE (529) HIGH Class Japan up to Model Year 2008 

Shown on model designation 164 

Shown on model designation 251 

Location 

The COMAND operating, display and controller unit is installed in the center console.

Task 

It is a central operating and display unit for all entertainment and communication systems integrated in the vehicle.

It can also be controlled using the control panels in the multifunction steering wheel (MFL) (left multifunction steering wheel button group (S110) and right multifunction steering wheel button group (S111)).

The most important task of the COMAND operating, display and controller unit is to provide uniform and user-friendly display of all individual components integrated in the system.

Pressing a hard key on the control strip below the screen activates the user functions.

The COMAND operating, display and controller unit controls the: 

• Integrated function components
  • Navigation (including the Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and gyrometer)
  • TV tuner
  • DVD video, CD video
  • DVD audio, CD audio
  • Frequency modulation (FM) multiplex tuner

  Voice control system (VCS [SBS]) control unit (N41/3) with code (813) Voice control system (VCS [SBS])

• External function components
  • Audio gateway control unit (N93/1), with radio tuner
  • Amplifier for sound system (N40/3)
  • CD changer (A2/6) (6-disk CD changer)
  • VICS control unit (A2/37) (dealer option), for dynamic destination-oriented navigation system during navigation
  • Electronic toll collection (ETC) control unit (A50/3) for automatic payment of toll fees (dealer option)
  • Microphone array control unit (N41/5)
  • TV antenna selector (A2/79)
  • PDC portable CTEL connection (portable CTEL separation point (X39/37)) in telephone slot of center console
  • An external analog audio source can be connected to the COMAND operating, display and controller unit via the AUX jack in the glove box. Data exchange via a discrete line.
  • Backup camera control unit (N66/2) with code (218) Backup camera

Device description 

• 2-DIN control cap with:
  • 12 key block with telephone keys on right side
  • 5 soft keys each on left and right of the screen
  • 8 hard keys on the left side
  • 5 hard keys below the screen
  • Joystick with actuation function on right side
  • Rotary pushbutton for "RPT" and volume on left side
• Interfaces for:
  • Media Oriented System Transport (MOST)
  • Electronic Toll Collection ETC (Dealer Option)
  • Portable CTEL (A34/6) (PDC portable CTEL connection)
  • VICS control unit (dealer option)
  • TV
  • GPS and radio antenna
  • AUX jack for audio
  • Backup camera control unit with code (218) Backup camera
• Can be controlled using steering wheel buttons of MFL and voice control, no remote control
• 6.5" color display
• Display in formats: 16:9 and 4:3
• Controls for:
  • Audio (radio, DVD/CD audio, CD changer)
  • Video (DVD video, CD video)
  • TV
  • Navigation
  • Internet
  • FM multiplex
  • Communication (telephone, email, i-mode)
• Left and right sensors of DVD slide-in unit:
  • Left (TV remote control), nonfunctional
  • Right (screen brightness control)

Screen brightness is controlled by: 

• Soft startup after switching on the illumination
• Control by ambient brightness over sensor (phototransistor) during day mode
• Control by circuit 58d and brightness data via Controller Area Network bus class B (interior) (CAN-B) during night mode
• Additional brightness correction possible using dimmer
• Post dimming over temperature sensors at low temperatures

DVD ROM drive: 

The DVD drive can read media with a storage capacity of up to 4.7 GB.

A DVD can be loaded or ejected at any given time.

Data download only possible when circuit 15R active.

The DVD drive supports the following media:

• DVD ROM
• DVD/CD audio
• DCD/CD video

Next to audio and video media data DVDs can also be read out for the navigation. This media contains, e.g. the map data necessary for map navigation. Here it is not possible to change the data DVD during route guidance.

Navigation processor 

Navigation functionality runs in the COMAND operating, display and controller unit. For this purpose, a GPS receiver and a turn rate sensor are integrated into the device, in addition to the DVD ROM drive.

GPS 

Unit for reception of GPS signals (longitude and latitude as well as UTC time and date).

Position fixing, e.g. through the reception of at least 3 satellites, the receiver can evaluate and track up to 12 satellites The GPS antenna (A2/93a6) is integrated into the roof antenna module (A2/93). The GPS signal is also used to adjust the system time.

Calculation of navigation algorithms 

• Evaluation of GPS data
• Evaluation of RIZ signal
• Evaluation of turn rate data (cornering)
• Calculation of interlinked satellite navigation
• Map-matching procedure
• Generation of visual and acoustic driving instructions
• Route calculation
• Loading and saving of position environment in RAM
• Reception, decoding of UTC time, correction to local time and synchronization with electronic clock (A1p6) in instrument cluster (A1)

Discrete inputs 

• Circuit 30
• Circuit 31
• Wake-up
• TV RF (from TV antenna selector)
• RF IN for Vehicle Information and Communication System (VICS) of VICS antenna splitter (A28/10)
• GPS antenna signal from roof antenna module
• Vehicle speed signal from ESP control unit (N47-5)
• AUX jack for audio (analog)
• Camera V (video input from backup camera control unit, code (218) Backup camera)

Discrete outputs 

• Remote antennas (for TV rear window antenna amplifier)
• TV antenna selector
• Control line for external fan (trigger signal)

MOST signals 

Control, data and audio signals from and to:

• CD changer
• Microphone array control unit
• Amplifier for sound system
• Audio gateway control unit
• COMAND operating, display and controller unit

RS-2 Bus 

This serial bus is used to exchange data signals between the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) control unit and the COMAND operating, display and controller unit.

The interface for connection of the electronic toll collection (ETC) control unit is provided ex-factory. The dealer is responsible for adaptation into the system.

AVC LAN Step 2 

AVC-LAN Step 2-bus (Audio Video Connection Local Area Network) is used to transmit data signals for the dynamic destination-oriented navigation system to the COMAND operating, display and controller unit.

The VICS control unit is connected to the COMAND operating, display and controller unit for this task.

The interface for connection of the VICS control unit is delivered ex-factory. The dealer is responsible for adaptation into the system.

DoCoMo bus 

The DoCoMo bus is used to exchange control and data signals between the PDC portable CTEL connection (portable CTEL separation point) and the COMAND operating, display and controller unit.

Backup camera 

The vehicles are equipped with an assist system, which should assist the driver when maneuvering while backing up and parking.

The backup camera system (Dynamic Rear View Monitor) consists of the following components:

• Backup camera (B84/3), which records the immediate surroundings of the rear end of the vehicle.
• Passenger-side outside mirror backup camera (B84/6), with which the passenger side can be seen
• Backup camera control unit as central processor unit.

The backup camera control unit directly forwards the camera pictures of the backup camera and of the passenger-side outside mirror backup camera via a screened line to the COMAND operating, display and controller unit.

You can find a detailed description of the backup camera in the "Backup camera" system description.