Solid state flight deck modules and components thereof

A systems control panel comprising:

• a front plate of heat conductive material;
• a front PWA spaced a predetermined uniform distance from the front plate and having a front surface adjacent to the front plate and a rear surface remote from the front plate, the front PWA including two internal thermal planes closely adjacent to the front and rear surfaces, respectively, and separated by thermally insulating material of a thickness greater than the distance from each thermal plane to the adjacent surface of the PWA;
• a heat conductive housing coupled to the front plate and the front PWA for dissipation of heat from heat producing components of the front PWA by way of the thermal planes;
• and
• a plurality of systems control devices including one or more of switches, rheostats and annunciators mounted on the front plate and front PWA, the front PWA having circuitry for the systems control devices, and each of the systems control devices having solid state elements mounted on the front PWA and interacting with the circuitry thereof.

A systems control panel comprising:

• a front plate of heat conductive material;
• a front PWA spaced a predetermined uniform distance from the front plate and having a front surface adjacent to the front plate and a rear surface remote from the front plate, the front PWA including an internal thermal plane closely adjacent to one of the front and rear surfaces and separated from the other of the front and rear surfaces by thermally insulating material of a thickness greater than the distance from the thermal plane to said one surface of the front PWA;
• a heat conductive housing coupled to the front PWA for dissipation of heat from heat producing components mounted at one of the surfaces of the front PWA;
• and
• a plurality of systems control devices including one or more of switches, rheostats and annunciators mounted on the front plate and front PWA, the front PWA having circuitry separate from the thermal plane for the systems control devices, and each of the systems control devices having solid state elements mounted on the front PWA and interacting with the circuitry thereof.

A systems control panel comprising:

• a front plate of heat conductive material;
• a front PWA spaced a predetermined uniform distance from the front plate and having a front surface adjacent to the front plate and a rear surface remote from the front plate, the front and rear surfaces being separated by a thickness of thermally insulating material sufficient to achieve substantial thermal isolation of the front and rear surfaces;
• a heat conductive housing coupled to the rear surface of the front PWA for dissipation of heat from heat producing components at the rear of the front PWA, the front surface of the PWA being thermally coupled to the front plate;
• and
• a plurality of systems control devices including one or more of switches, rheostats and annunciators mounted on the front plate and front PWA, the front PWA having circuitry for the systems control devices, and each of the systems control devices having solid state elements mounted on the front PWA and interacting with the circuitry thereof.

A systems control panel comprising:

• a front plate of heat conductive material;
• a front PWA spaced a predetermined uniform distance from the front plate and having a front surface adjacent to the front plate and a rear surface remote from the front plate, the front PWA including internal ground and power planes and at least one separate thermal plane of heat conducting material, the front and rear surfaces being separated by thermally insulating material of a thickness sufficient to substantially thermally isolate the front and rear surfaces;
• a heat conductive housing coupled to the front plate and the front PWA and in thermal contact with at least one of the front plate and the housing for dissipation of heat from heat producing components of the front PWA by way of the thermal plane;
• and
• a plurality of systems control devices including one or more of switches, rheostats and annunciators mounted on the front plate and front PWA, the front PWA having circuitry for the systems control devices, and each of the systems control devices having solid state elements mounted on the front PWA and interacting with the circuitry thereof.