GRAUPNER mx-16 ifs, Programming Manual

Page: 32 / 132

32 Description of transmitter: defi nition of terms
Defi nition of terms
Control functions, transmitter controls, function inputs, control channels, mixers, switches, control switches
To make it easier for you to understand the
mx
-16iFS
manual, the following section contains defi nitions of many
terms which crop up again and again in the remainder of
the text.
Control function
The term “control function” can be thought of as the
signal generated for a particular function which needs
to be controlled – initially independent of its subsequent
progress through the transmitter. In the case of fi xed-wing
model aircraft the control functions include throttle, rudder
and aileron, whereas collective pitch, roll and pitch-axis
are typical of those used for helicopters. The signal of a
control function may be assigned directly, or to several
control channels simultaneously via mixers. A typical
example of the latter is separate aileron servos, or pairs
of roll-axis or pitch-axis servos in a model helicopter. The
essential feature of a control function is its infl uence on
the mechanical travel of the corresponding servo.
Transmitter control
The term “transmitter control” refers to the mechanical
elements on the transmitter which are operated directly by
the pilot. Their movements in turn generate corresponding
movements in the servos, speed controllers etc. at the re-
ceiver end. The transmitter controls include the following:
The two dual-axis stick units for the control functions •
1 to 4; for both model types (“fi xed-wing” and “helicop-
ter”) these four functions can be interchanged in any
way you wish using the “Mode” function, e. g. throttle
left or right, without having to re-connect the servos.
The dual-axis stick function for throttle (or airbrakes) is
often referred to as the Ch 1 (Channel 1) control.
The rotary proportional control fi tted at top left
•
(CTRL 7).
The INC / DEC buttons (CTRL 5 + 6) located on either •
side of the aerial base.
Switches SW 1 … 8, if they have been assigned to a
•
control channel in the » contr set. « menu.
When a proportional transmitter control is operated, the
servo or servos follow the position of the control directly,
whereas a switched channel provides just the two or three
set servo positions.
Function input
This is an imaginary point on the signal path, and must
not be considered the same as the point on the circuit
board where the transmitter control is connected! The two
menus “stick mode” and »
contr set. « affect the course of
the signal “after” this point, and it is possible (and likely)
that there will be differences between the number of the
transmitter control (as stated above) and the number of
the subsequent control channel.
Control channel
There is a point on the signal path where the signal
contains all the control information required for a particu-
lar servo – this may be directly generated by a transmitter
control or indirectly via a mixer – and from this point on we
call the signal a “control channel”. This signal is specifi c
to an individual servo, and is only affected by any adjust-
ments carried out in the »
servo set. « menu before leav-
ing the transmitter via the RF module in order to actuate
the corresponding servo in the model.
Mixer
The transmitter’s software includes a wide range of mixer
functions. Their purpose is to enable a control function to
affect multiple servos at the branching point of the mixer
input, or alternatively to allow several control functions
to affect one servo. For more information please refer to
the numerous mixer functions as described in the section
starting on page 72 of the manual.
Switch
The three standard switches SW 1 … 3, the three-position
switch SW 6/7 and the momentary button variants SW 4
/ PB 8 can also be incorporated into the programming of
the transmitter controls. However, all these switches are
also capable of controlling various program options, e. g.
starting and stopping timers, switching mixers on and off,
transferring control in Trainer mode etc.. Each physical
switch function can be assigned to as many functions as
you wish.
Numerous examples are described in the manual.
Transmitter control switch
It is often desirable to switch a function on or off automati-
cally at a particular position of another transmitter control,
e. g. at a defi ned position of one of the dual-axis sticks.
Typical examples are switching a stopwatch on and off to
allow you to record the motor run time, extending spoilers
automatically (and many others). The
mx
-16iFS software
includes a total of two (three – for helicopters) “control
switches” of this type.
Two transmitter control switches are available for the Ch
1 stick in each model memory, both for fi xed-wing model
aircraft and helicopters. For helicopters a third is present
in the form of the throttle limiter; see pages 33 and 62.
This manual includes a range of instructive examples
which make programming as simple as child’s play.
Please refer to the programming examples in the section
starting on page 94.