Cockpit central display, component description - GF54.30-P-6100SX

MODEL 221.0/1, 216.3 up to Model Year 8

Location shown on left-hand drive vehicle model 221 up to 31.12.05

Fig 1: Identifying COMAND Controller Unit

Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ USA

Task

The main task of the COMAND display is the uniform display of user-relevant operation/information windows as well as the display of video picture information of the following systems:

Navigation, with code (527) COMAND APS with single DVD drive (with navigation), with code (494) USA version or with code (498) Japan version
Audio (e.g. radio, audio CD or audio DVD, MP3 or auxiliary (AUX))
Telematics (e.g. telephone, SMS, address book), with code (386) Preinstallation for telephone "Handy", UPCI system, with code (388) Telephone "Handy", UPCI system, with code (494) USA version or with code (498) Japan version
Video (TV, DVD video or AUX)
The TV function is available as standard equipment on vehicles with code (498) Japan version otherwise the TV function is available with code (863) Digital/analog TV tuner.

The DVD video function is available as standard equipment on vehicles except code (494) USA version.
Vehicle (e.g. locator lighting, rear roller blind)
The rear roller blind function is available as standard equipment on model 221.1 and available on model 221.0 with code (540) Electric rear window roller blind or with code (498) Japan version.

Set up shown on "Audio" menu item on model 221 up to 31.8.06

Fig 2: Display - Main Menu Selection Range Screen

Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ USA

The COMAND display is a swiveling "8-Thin Film Transistor (TFT) color screen" in 16:9 format with a resolution of 800X480 red, green and blue (RGB) pixels.

The "8 TFT color screen" enables a horizontal viewing angle of a maximum of ± 80° and a vertical viewing angle of a maximum of ± 30°.

However, the quality of the display decreases as the viewing angle increases!

In addition 2 photosensors, for automatic brightness control and an electric motor for manual adjustment about the vertical axis are integrated in the COMAND display.

Function

The displays and the menu display of the user-relevant operating/information windows are conveyed from the COMAND controller unit via low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) connection digitally to the COMAND display and displayed there.

This is connected to the telematics CAN for control and diagnosis of the COMAND display.

The brightness is automatically controlled via the two photosensors integrated in the COMAND display.

The changeover between day and night design takes place via the COMAND controller unit. For this purpose the COMAND controller unit reads in the Controller Area Network (data bus/CAN Bus) (CAN) messages of the rain/light sensor (B38/2) via the central CAN from the central gateway control unit (N93). After evaluating the CAN messages the COMAND controller unit transmits the corresponding signal to the COMAND display via the LVDS connection.

The manual brightness control of the COMAND display and the adjustment of the COMAND display about the vertical axis take place via the buttons of the COMAND display brightness control integrated in the cockpit switch group (S6/2r2), COMAND display swivel left switch (S6/2s13) and the COMAND display swivel right switch (S6/2s14). The COMAND display can be adjusted in the following 3 stages with the associated angles:

1 = -10°
2 = 0°
3 = +10°

The cockpit switch group is read by the upper control panel control unit and the resulting CAN messages are transmitted to the interior CAN. The central gateway control unit reads in these CAN messages and passes them on to the COMAND controller unit via the central CAN. The COMAND controller unit reads in these CAN messages and passes these on to the COMAND display via the telematics CAN.