16 Sep
2023
16 Sep
'23
4:25 p.m.
On 2023-Sep-16, at 8:52 AM, Shoppa, Tim via cctalk wrote:
Not quite computer tech but I figure this is the best
place to ask:
Does anyone recognize the display tech that was used on the Concorde's in-cabin
display?
Examples:
https://samchui.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/CON15.jpg
https://samchui.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/CON16.jpg
The display had fully-formed digits and letters, and showed either Mach and Feet, or Temp
and MPH. Some pictures show the display in green and others show it in orange - which of
course were popular monochrome CRT colors, yet the display looks too "flat" to
be a couple CRT's. Those colors were also popular for Electroluminiscent displays
which matches the evident "flatness" but I'm not sure I've seen any
EL's with fully formed digits like this with no visible segmentation?
I want to guess it was individual digits back-projected - which was a popular
control-theater display tech at the end of the 20th century - but I can't rule out,
say, really well-done edge-lit character plates. In any event there doesn't seem to be
any visible jitter up and down between digits that I might expect with either of those
technologies.
The "FEET" display in the above-referenced JPG's shows some artifacts at
the left and right edges which might be a clue?
Some pics of the BA Concorde interior had a simple 15-segment and 7-segment green LED
display. Don't need help with that one 🙂.
It sure looks like back-projection. Rather than individual digits, perhaps it was a single
scroll for each of the items. E.g. the altitude display may have been only 1000-ft
resolution, the temperature display only 5-degree resolution, etc., reducing the count of
values to be presented to something manageable. Even then though, I can't say I've
seen an off-the-shelf type that would fit, even with custom films. But being Concorde, a
full-custom design is quite conceivable.
