DE102013224809A1 - Method for testing a control device for a vehicle and corresponding control device, system and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

For testing a control unit (6) for a vehicle (10), wherein the control unit (6) is designed to control a loudspeaker (5), the following steps are carried out: outputting a signal to the control unit (6) to perform a test of the Initiate control unit (6). Performing the test of the controller (6). Outputting a result of the test via the loudspeaker (5) in the form of an acoustic signal.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for testing a control device for a loudspeaker, as well as a correspondingly configured system, the corresponding control device and a correspondingly configured vehicle.

The DE 10 2010 040 549 A1 describes a test device for a motor vehicle with a control device, which can communicate via a vehicle communication interface with a control unit of the motor vehicle.

The DE 10 2004 026 594 A1 describes a motor vehicle with a control unit, which includes a malfunction detection section and a repair recommendation section, which issues a repair recommendation by means of sound signal.

The DE 10 03 07 342 A1 discloses an on-board diagnostic of a vehicle system using a mathematical model to evaluate component data.

The DE 10 97 35 017 A1 relates to a device for diagnosing and repairing safety-relevant motor vehicle conditions. The motor vehicle driver is informed of functional states and system-immanent countermeasures via an acoustic output unit.

According to the prior art, all control units in a motor vehicle are connected to the vehicle data network (eg, CAN bus) and thus directly addressable via discrete lines. Therefore, it is common in the prior art to perform a test of the controller via this vehicle data network. The functionality required in the control unit for connection to the vehicle data network is disadvantageously very cost-intensive, especially in the case of controllers produced only in small numbers.

Therefore, the present invention has the object to save the radio quality for connection to the vehicle data network, at least for certain control devices, while still having the ability to perform a test of the controller via control means of the vehicle at least partially automatically.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method for testing a control device according to claim 1, by a control device according to claim 6, by a system according to claim 7 and by a vehicle according to claim 9. The dependent claims define preferred and advantageous embodiments of the present invention.

• • Ausgeben eines Signals (z. B. eines elektrischen oder optischen Signals) an das Steuergerät, um abhängig von diesem Signal einen Test des Steuergeräts ausführen zu lassen.
• • Durchführen des Tests des Steuergeräts. Bei dieser Durchführung des Tests kann das Steuergerät zum einen sich selbst, aber auch an das Steuergerät angeschlossene Komponenten (z. B. den Lautsprecher) testen.
• • Ausgeben eines Resultat des Tests über den Lautsprecher in Form eines oder mehrerer akustischer Signale, beispielsweise einer Tonfolge.

In the context of the present invention, a method for testing a control device for a vehicle is provided. In this case, the control unit (for example an audio amplifier or a sound amplifier) is able to control a loudspeaker. The method comprises the following steps:

• • Outputting a signal (such as an electrical or optical signal) to the controller to test the controller in response to that signal.
• • Perform the test of the controller. In performing this test, the controller may test for itself or components (eg, the speaker) connected to the controller.
• Outputting a result of the test via the loudspeaker in the form of one or more acoustic signals, for example a tone sequence.

Since the loudspeaker is used to output the result of the test, a connection to the vehicle data network, at least for the evaluation of the test, is advantageously not necessary. Therefore, in the controller, the functionality for connection to the vehicle data network (e.g., the CAN bus) can be saved.

The outputting of the signal to the control unit can take place via an audio line, but for example also via radio. It is also conceivable to connect an external device to the control unit in order to output the signal via it.

If the output of the signal and thus the command for carrying out the test takes place over the audio line which also exists for other reasons, the vehicle data network can advantageously also be dispensed with for initiating the test.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method according to the invention additionally comprises the step of evaluating the result or the result of the test by detecting the acoustic signal with the aid of one or more microphones.

The detection of the test result with the help of a microphone allows an automatic evaluation of the test result. For example, according to this embodiment, the test results may be coded into a sequence of sounds which may then be detected by the microphone and evaluated by control means. As a result, a fully automatic implementation and evaluation of the test of the control device and optionally its components is advantageously possible.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, for testing a connection to the control unit via which the signal to the Execution of the test is output to the control unit, a further signal (optical or electrical) are output to the control unit, which is then output by the control unit via the speaker as a further acoustic signal. This further signal, which can be transmitted to the control unit via the audio line, for example, can be a noise signal.

With the further embodiment, in particular the connection to the control unit (for example the audio line), but also the connection from the control unit to the loudspeaker can be tested. Only if the further acoustic signal dependent on the further signal is detected correctly, in particular by the microphone, can it be assumed with some certainty that both the connection to the control unit and the connection from the control unit to the loudspeaker are free of errors (at least for the corresponding channel) , If the control unit comprises a plurality of loudspeakers or a plurality of channels, all other loudspeakers or channels can be tested with this further embodiment. In this case, it is advantageous for the test of the respective loudspeaker to use an individual signal dependent on the respective loudspeaker, which then leads to an individual loudspeaker-dependent acoustic signal.

In particular, the result of the test can be output by means of the double-tone multi-frequency method so that the result of the test is output in the form of a sequence of tones via the loudspeaker, each tone being generated by means of the double-tone multi-frequency method. Each tone of the tone sequence, which corresponds to the result of the test, is composed of two tones of different frequencies. In other words, each tone of the tone sequence corresponds to a superposition of two tone frequencies. If, for example, four frequencies are possible for the first tone of the two tones of different frequency and four other frequencies for the second tone of the two tones of different frequency, 4 bits (4 × 4 = 2 ⁴ ) can be transmitted with one tone of the tone sequence.

However, it is also possible that the result of the test is output by means of otherwise acoustically codable or acoustically coded signals. The result may be transmitted acoustically by forming each tone of a tone sequence of only one frequency (e.g., from a set of discrete frequencies) or by superimposing more than two tones of different frequencies. Alternatively or additionally, the result of the duration with which a tone of the tone sequence is transmitted (similar to the Morse code), be acoustically encoded.

In the context of the present invention, a control device for a vehicle is also provided. The control unit is able to carry out a test of the control unit, ie to test itself. In addition, the controller is capable of addressing or controlling a loudspeaker and outputting a result of the test in the form of an acoustic signal via the loudspeaker.

The control device according to the invention, which is, for example, an audio amplifier or sound amplifier, is thus able to be tested with the method according to the invention, which has been described above. Therefore, the control unit has the same advantages as the method according to the invention, which are carried out in advance in detail, so that is omitted here a repetition.

In addition, a system for a vehicle is also provided in the context of the present invention. This system includes control means and a microphone. The control means are capable of outputting a signal to a control unit of a loudspeaker (for example to the control unit according to the invention) in order thereby to carry out a test of this control unit. In addition, the control means are able to detect a result of the test via the microphone.

In other words, the system according to the invention is capable of carrying out the method according to the invention for testing the control device. Therefore, the controller has the advantages of the method according to the invention, which are carried out in advance in detail, so that is omitted here a repetition.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the system may also comprise the control unit according to the invention and the loudspeaker.

Finally, in the context of the present invention, a vehicle is provided which comprises a system according to the invention.

The vehicle according to the invention comprises in particular a vehicle data network (CAN bus), the control device advantageously having no connection to this vehicle data network.

If the control unit has no connection to the vehicle data network, the control unit advantageously does not require a functional unit for connection to this vehicle data network, so that the control unit advantageously need not be designed for tests of the vehicle data network (for example CAN bus).

The present invention is particularly suitable for motor vehicles. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this preferred application, since the present invention is also applicable to ships, aircraft and track-bound or track-guided vehicles. In addition, the present invention could also be used detached from means of locomotion, for example to test a stationarily arranged control device for a loudspeaker.

In the following, the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the figures.

1 schematically shows a system according to the invention.

In 2 the flow chart of a method according to the invention for testing a control device is shown with speakers.

In 3 a vehicle according to the invention with a system according to the invention is shown schematically.

1 is schematically a system according to the invention 20 coupled to a CAN bus 2 of the vehicle (not shown).

To trigger or perform the test or the diagnosis, for example, via the CAN bus 2 a signal 14 to the control means 1 (eg a main unit, a radio unit or a central infotainment computer of the vehicle). These tax means 1 include a test control 11 , an error code converter table 12 and a signal generator 13 ,

• • Prüfen der mit den Steuermitteln 1 verbundenen Mikrofone 3. x Prüfen der Audioleitungen 4, mit welchen die Steuermittel 1 mit dem eigentlich zu testenden Steuergerät 6 verbunden sind.
• • Ansteuern des Signalgenerators 13, um über jeden an das Steuergerät 6 angeschlossenen Lautsprecher 5 individuell ein Rauschsignal auszugeben. Wenn dieses Rauschsignal über die Mikrofone 3 erfasst wird, wird die entsprechende Audioleitung 4, über welche das Rauschsignal an das Steuergerät 6 übertragen wird, und der entsprechende Lautsprecher 5, welcher das Rauschsignal ausgibt, als funktionsfähig angesehen.
• • Über zumindest eine funktionsfähige Audioleitung 4 wird eine Doppelton-Mehrfrequenz-Tonfolge an das Steuergerät 6 übertragen, um einen Test bzw. eine Diagnose des Steuergeräts durchzuführen.
• • Über die Mikrofone 3 werden Fehler erfasst, welche bei der Durchführung des Tests des Steuergeräts 6 über die Lautsprecher 5 in Form einer Doppelton-Mehrfrequenz-Tonfolge von dem Steuergerät 6 gemeldet werden. Mit Hilfe der Fehlercodewandlertabelle 12 werden die Ergebnisse des Tests, d.h. die jeweiligen Doppelton-Mehrfrequenz-Tonfolge beispielsweise in Signale gewandelt, welche dem CAN-Bus zugeführt werden.

The test control 11 Perform the following steps, especially in the given order, when performing a test:

• • Checking with the tax money 1 connected microphones 3 , x Check the audio lines 4 with which the control means 1 with the actual controller to be tested 6 are connected.
• • Activation of the signal generator 13 to talk about each to the controller 6 connected speakers 5 individually output a noise signal. When this noise signal over the microphones 3 is detected, the corresponding audio line 4 , via which the noise signal to the control unit 6 is transmitted, and the corresponding speaker 5 , which outputs the noise signal, considered to be functional.
• • Over at least one functional audio line 4 will send a double-tone multi-frequency tone sequence to the controller 6 transferred to perform a test or a diagnosis of the control unit.
• • About the microphones 3 errors are detected when carrying out the test of the control unit 6 over the speakers 5 in the form of a dual tone multi-frequency tone sequence from the controller 6 be reported. Using the error code converter table 12 For example, the results of the test, ie the respective double-tone multifrequency tone sequence, are converted into signals, which are fed to the CAN bus.

The control unit 6 includes a controller 21 , an error code converter table 22 and a signal generator 23 , The control 21 recorded via the audio lines 4 , whether by the tax means 1 a test procedure for the control unit 6 is initiated. If so, the controller will perform 6 Automatically a self-test, which also connected components, such as the speakers 5 can take into account. The results of this test will be over at least one speaker 5 to the control means 1 which these over the microphones 3 capture, transfer. For this purpose (ie to transfer the results to the control means 1 ) saves the control 21 a functional return channel (in particular a functional loudspeaker 5 ). Then the results are calculated using the error code converter table 22 converted into a double-tone multi-frequency tone sequence and the signal generator 23 over at least one functional loudspeaker 5 output.

In 2 is the sequence of a method according to the invention for testing the control unit 6 shown.

In step S1, the execution of the test or the diagnosis is triggered, for example, by a message from the electrical system (eg CAN bus) of the vehicle. With the steps S2 to S5, the functionality of all audio lines 4 and all microphones 5 checked. One way an audio line 4 It consists of checking through the control means 1 the resistance of the corresponding audio line 4 to eat. Similarly, from the controller 6 the resistance of each connected speaker 5 be checked.

In step S6, a measuring signal (eg, a noise signal) is subsequently transmitted via the control means to each channel classified as functional in steps S2 to S5 1 output. In step S7 it is checked whether the respective channel is in order, which is the case when the corresponding measurement signal from the control means via the microphones 3 is detected. Each channel, for example, starting with the channel front left to the channel right back in a surround system, checked and exclude any channel detected as non-functional in step S8 for further testing.

In step S9, a channel classified as functional in the preceding test steps is selected and a double-tone multi-frequency tone sequence is generated for that channel, thereby performing the test of the controller 6 initiate. In step S10, this double-tone multi-frequency tone sequence is sent to the controller 6 transmitted via the previously selected channel, which sent to the control unit 6 transmitted sequence of tones also contains information from which the control unit 6 can deduce over which channel the transmission takes place. Upon receipt of this sequence of tones, the controller performs 6 in step S11 the test or a self-diagnosis, in which, for example, power amplifier ICs, the connected speakers 5 and a power supply will be checked.

In step S12, the controller collects 6 Results of the test carried out, which, for example, also corresponding errors in the control unit 6 include. In step S13, the controller converts by means of its error code converter table 22 the results (especially the errors) in a corresponding double-tone multi-frequency tone sequence, which then in the subsequent step S14 via at least one classified as functional loudspeaker 5 is emitted via the acoustic path in the vehicle.

This sound sequence is then from a microphone 3 detected and in step S15 in the control means 1 with the help of the error code converter table 12 converted into another type of error signal or error code. In step S16 further errors, which were possibly stored in steps S3 and S5, fetched, which together with the detected from the double-tone multi-frequency tone sequence errors in the form of an error signal or error codes, for example via the CAN bus to the diagnosis or The device triggering the test will be sent.

In 3 schematically is a vehicle according to the invention 10 which is a system according to the invention 20 includes.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

control means

2

CAN bus

3

microphone

4

Audio line

5

speaker

6

control unit

10

vehicle

11

test control

12

Error code converter table

13

signal generator

14.15

signal

20

system

21

control

22

Error code converter table

23

signal generator

S1-S17

step

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102010040549 A1 [0002]
• DE 102004026594 A1 [0003]
• DE 100307342 A1 [0004]
• DE 109735017 A1 [0005]

Claims (10)

Method for testing a control device ( 6 ) for a vehicle ( 10 ), whereby the control unit ( 6 ) is designed to be a loudspeaker ( 5 ), the method comprising the steps of: outputting a signal to the control unit ( 6 ) to test the controller ( 6 ) initiate the test of the controller ( 6 ), and outputting a result of the test via the loudspeaker ( 5 ) in the form of an acoustic signal. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the output of the signal via an audio line ( 4 ) he follows. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the method further comprises the step of: evaluating the result by the acoustic signal by means of a microphone ( 3 ) is detected. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for testing a connection to the control device ( 6 ) another signal to the control unit ( 6 ) is output, which via the speaker ( 5 ) is output as another acoustic signal. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the result of the test is output by means of a double-tone multi-frequency method or by means of acoustically codable signals. Control device for a vehicle ( 10 ), whereby the control unit ( 6 ) is designed to test the controller ( 6 ) to a speaker ( 5 ) and a result of the test in the form of an acoustic signal via the loudspeaker ( 5 ). System for a vehicle ( 10 ), whereby the system ( 20 ) Control means ( 1 ) and a microphone ( 3 ), and wherein the control means ( 1 ) are configured to send a signal to a control unit ( 6 ) of a loudspeaker ( 5 ), thereby performing a test of the controller ( 6 ) and a result of the test via the microphone ( 3 ) capture. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the system ( 20 ) the control device according to claim 6 and the loudspeaker ( 5 ) and designed to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1-5. Vehicle with a system ( 20 ) according to claim 7 or 8. Vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that the vehicle further comprises a vehicle data network ( 2 ), and that the control unit ( 6 ) no connection with the vehicle data network ( 2 ) having.

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