Principles of Operation

PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION

Instrument Cluster and Panel Lighting - Dimmable
The instrument panel dimmer switch allows the brightness level of the backlights and displays to be adjusted dependent upon the headlamp switch position and the instrument panel dimmer switch position. The instrument panel dimmer switch sends a signal to the instrument cluster which then sends a backlighting intensity and dimming curve command over the standard corporate protocol (SCP) communication network to the front electronic module (FEM). The FEM then sends a pulse width modulated (PWM) dimming signal to the instrument cluster, the dimmable light emitting diodes (LEDs), and the dimmable incandescent bulbs.

When the headlamp switch is in the parking lamp ON, headlamp ON, or the autolamp ON position and the autolamp feature is active, synchronized dimming of the dimmable components can be controlled with the instrument panel dimmer switch.

All backlighting is disabled when the battery saver function has been activated.

Fault Management
The dimmable backlighting defaults to 100% intensity if an instrument panel dimmer switch failure occurs.