FR3095788A1 - VEHICLE MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM, COMMON PROCESSING PROCESSOR - Google Patents

Abstract

A multimedia system (SM) comprises: - a digital amplifier (A1) with at least one channel and coupled to a first network interface (I1) via a first slave transmitter / receiver (ER1), - at least one audio device ( O1-O3) supplied with audio signals amplified by, or supplied with audio signals to be amplified, a channel of the amplifier (A1), - a multimedia box (BM) comprising at least one signal processing processor (PT), coupled to a second network interface (I2) via a second master transmitter / receiver (ER2), and ensuring programmed processing of each signal intended for, or coming from, each channel of the amplifier (A1), and - an audio network (RA) digital, high speed and to which the first (I1) and second (I2) network interfaces are connected. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

VEHICLE MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM, COMMON PROCESSOR

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to the multimedia systems fitted to vehicles, possibly of the automotive type, and more specifically the audio part of such multimedia systems.

State of the art

As those skilled in the art know, many vehicles include a multimedia system comprising:

- a multimedia box comprising a signal processing processor (or DSP ("Digital Signal Processor")) coupled to a network interface via a transmitter/receiver and ensuring the transfer of data to the amplifiers serving the audio components and the reception of data from audio devices via amplifiers,

- audio components supplied with amplified audio signals, or supplying audio signals to be amplified,

- amplifiers each comprising at least two channels coupled to at least one of the audio components, and a signal processing processor coupled to a network interface via a transmitter/receiver and providing programmed processing of each signal intended for, or from, each channel, and

- an audio network or a wired connection to which the network interfaces are connected.

The presence of a signal processing processor, and therefore of a local “intelligence”, in each “external” amplifier (that is to say coupled to at least one audio device), turns out to be quite expensive. In addition, this generally makes each external amplifier dependent not only on the software (or “software”) which controls its operation and on the type of multiplexed network fitted to the vehicle (for example of the CAN (“Controller Area Network”) or LIN (“ Local Interconnect Network”)). Therefore, each time one modifies the, or changes the type of, multiplexed network, one is forced to update the software that controls the operation of each amplifier, as well as a possible hardware update. Similarly, each time you want to modify the operation of an amplifier or add an additional software module, you are forced to update the software that controls its operation. These update operations are time-consuming, tedious and expensive, and moreover require managing a variety of software modules (variable from one project to another).

The aim of the invention is therefore in particular to improve the situation.

Presentation of the invention

In particular, it offers a multimedia system for this purpose comprising:

- at least one digital amplifier with at least one channel and coupled to a first network interface via a first slave transmitter/receiver,

- at least one audio device supplied with audio signals amplified by, or supplying with audio signals to be amplified, a channel of the amplifier,

- a multimedia box comprising at least one signal processing processor coupled to a second network interface via a second master transmitter/receiver and ensuring programmed processing of each signal intended for, or coming from, each channel of each amplifier, and

- A high-speed digital audio network to which said first and second network interfaces are connected.

Thanks to the use of a signal processing processor common to the multimedia box and to each external amplifier (coupled to at least one audio component), intelligence is centralized in the multimedia box, which makes it possible to make each external amplifier completely independent not only of the software (or software) which controls its operation, but also of the type of multiplexed network fitted to the vehicle (in particular, there is no longer any need for CAN or LIN links in the external amplifiers).

The portable control device according to the invention may comprise other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

its audio network can, for example, be chosen from an Automotive Audio Bus® (or A2B) network, a Media Oriented Systems Transport (or MOST) network, and an Ethernet Audio Video Bridging (or AVB) network;

- It can, for example, comprise at least one four-channel amplifier supplying amplified signals to at least two audio devices;

- It can, for example, comprise at least a first twelve-channel amplifier supplying amplified signals to at least four audio devices;

+ the audio components can be loudspeakers;

+ an amplifier can be supplied with audio signals to be amplified on at least one channel by at least one audio component arranged in the form of a microphone;

- at least one amplifier can be coupled, via the first associated slave transmitter/receiver, to a first additional network interface which is connected via the audio network to a first network interface coupled to another external amplifier via a first transmitter/receiver slave ;

- its multimedia box may comprise a system on a chip (or "System On Chip" (SOC)) comprising the signal processing processor.

The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automotive type, and comprising at least one multimedia system of the type presented above.

Brief description of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examination of the detailed description below, and of the appended drawings, in which:

schematically and functionally illustrates, in a view from above, an example of a motor vehicle comprising a first example embodiment of a multimedia system according to the invention, and

illustrates schematically and functionally, in a top view, an example of a motor vehicle comprising a second example of embodiment of a multimedia system according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The aim of the invention is in particular to propose a multimedia system SM intended to equip a vehicle V and with centralized intelligence in the multimedia box BM.

In what follows, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the vehicle V is of the automobile type. This is for example a car, as illustrated in Figure 1. But the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It relates in fact to any type of vehicle comprising at least one passenger compartment. Consequently, the invention relates to any type of vehicle (land, sea (or river) or air).

There is schematically represented in FIG. 1 a first example of a motor vehicle V (here a car) comprising a passenger compartment H and an example embodiment of a multimedia system SM according to the invention comprising audio components Ok (here k=1 to 3) partially installed in the passenger compartment H.

As illustrated, a multimedia system SM, according to the invention, comprises at least one external amplifier Aj, at least one audio device Ok, a multimedia box BM, and an audio network RA.

The (each) amplifier Aj (external) is digital and has at least one channel coupled to at least one of the audio devices Ok. In addition, the (each) amplifier Aj is coupled to a first network interface I1 via a first transmitter/receiver (or "transceiver") ER1 slave.

The first network interface I1 is a connector.

It is important to note that an amplifier Aj can have several channels coupled to the same audio device Ok or several channels coupled respectively to several audio devices Ok.

It will also be noted that an amplifier Aj, the first associated slave transmitter/receiver ER1 and each first associated network interface I1 can be part of the same element (or device).

Each audio component Ok either is supplied with audio signals amplified by at least one channel of an amplifier Aj (for example when it is arranged in the form of a loudspeaker), or supplies audio signals to be amplified at least one channel of an amplifier Aj (for example when it is arranged in the form of a microphone).

The multimedia box BM comprises at least one signal processing processor (or DSP (Digital Signal Processor)) PT which is coupled to a second network interface I2 via a second master transceiver ER2. In addition, this signal processing processor PT provides programmed processing of each signal which either is intended for a channel of one (of) amplifier Aj, or comes from a channel of one (of) amplifier Add.

The second network interface I2 is a connector.

It will be noted that the multimedia box BM could also comprise an amplifier with one or more channels intended to be coupled to one or more audio devices Ok, and in this case it constitutes the first audio node of the digital audio network RA.

Since the signal processing processor PT is now common to the multimedia box BM and to each external amplifier Aj, the intelligence is centralized in the multimedia box BM. This reduces the cost, size and complexity of each external Aj amplifier. In addition, this makes it possible to make each external amplifier Aj completely independent not only of the software (or software) which controls its operation.

It will be noted that it is possible to use the signal processing processor PT usually used in a multimedia box BM of the prior art, because only a small part of its processing capacities is generally used to operate the multimedia box BM. However, if a very large processing capacity is required, a more powerful signal processing processor PT than that usually used in a multimedia box BM of the prior art could also be used.

The audio network RA is digital, broadband and all the first(s) I1 and second I2 network interfaces are connected to it. Thus, there is an exchange of audio stream and control/command signal with each external amplifier Aj in a minimum time interval (typically a latency of the order of 50 µs) which is well suited to the fact that intelligence is remote in the BM multimedia box.

For example, the RA audio network may be an Automotive Audio Bus® (or A2B) network. But it could also be a Media Oriented Systems Transport (or MOST) network or an Ethernet Audio Video Bridging (or AVB) network, for example, and more generally any other digital network allowing reduced latency. , typically less than about 100 µs.

It will be noted that the multimedia system SM can, for example, comprise at least one four-channel amplifier Aj supplying amplified signals to at least two audio devices Ok. This is particularly the case in the example illustrated non-limitatively in FIG. 1. Indeed, a single amplifier A1 (j=1) comprises four channels, two of which are dedicated to supplying amplified signals to two audio components O1 (k=1) and O2 (k=2), for example two loudspeakers. speakers.

As a variant or in addition, the multimedia system SM can, for example, comprise at least one amplifier Aj with twelve channels supplying amplified signals to at least four audio components Ok, for example four loudspeakers.

It will also be noted that an amplifier Aj can also be supplied with audio signals to be amplified on at least one channel by at least one audio component Ok arranged in the form of a microphone. This is notably the case in the example illustrated without limitation in FIG. 1. Indeed, the amplifier A1 comprises a channel which is dedicated to the reception of signals to be amplified coming from a microphone O3 (k=3).

It will be understood that the multimedia system SM can be very easily adapted according to the needs, and more precisely to the number of audio components Ok that it must include, the respective types of the latter (Ok), and the number of amplifiers Aj .

Depending on the programming of the common signal processing processor PT, concerning an amplifier Aj, several channels of the latter (Aj) can carry different or identical audio signals.

It will also be noted that the multimedia box BM can comprise a system on a chip (or “system on a chip” (SoC)) SP comprising the signal processing processor PT. It is recalled that a system on a chip is a set of electronic components embedded on a single chip and which may include one or more memories, one or more microprocessors, one or more interface peripherals, and any other electronic component necessary for the realization of at least one predefined function.

It will also be noted, as illustrated without limitation in the second embodiment of FIG. 2, that the multimedia system SM can comprise several (at least two) “chained” external amplifiers Aj.

In this case, at least one amplifier Aj is coupled, via the first associated slave transmitter/receiver ER1, to a first additional network interface I1 which is connected via the audio network RA to a first network interface I1 coupled to another amplifier Aj' external via a first slave transmitter/receiver ER1. In other words, each external amplifier Aj is chained, via a first transmitter/receiver ER1 and a first network interface I1, to a first additional network interface I1 which is coupled to the first transmitter/receiver ER1 to which the previous Aj-1 amplifier (in the chain).

In the second example illustrated in FIG. 2, the multimedia system SM comprises two external amplifiers A1 (j=1) and A2 (j=2). The first amplifier A1 is coupled to two first network interfaces I1 via a first slave transmitter/receiver (or “transceiver”) ER1. One of these first network interfaces I1 is connected to a first part of the digital audio network RA, itself connected to the second network interface I2 (of the multimedia box BM), the other first network interface I1 is connected to a second part of the digital audio network RA, itself connected to the first network interface I1 which is coupled to the second amplifier A2 via a first transmitter/receiver (or transceiver) ER1 slave. Furthermore, the first amplifier A1 is connected to three audio devices O1 to O3, and the second amplifier A2 is connected to four audio devices O4 to O7, by way of purely illustrative example.

It will be noted that a third amplifier A3 could possibly be chained to the second amplifier A2, just as a fourth amplifier A4 could possibly be chained to this possible third amplifier A3, and so on according to the needs.

It will also be noted that in the two examples illustrated without limitation, the digital audio network RA is linear, as is for example the case of an A2B network. But it could also be in a loop, as is for example the case of a MOST network. In the latter case, each external amplifier Aj must be associated with two first network interfaces I1 and a first transmitter/receiver ER1 (as is the case with the first amplifier A1 in figure 2).

Claims (10)

Multimedia system (SM), characterized in that it comprises i) at least one digital amplifier (Aj) and at least one channel and coupled to a first network interface (I1) via a first slave transmitter/receiver (ER1) , ii) at least one audio component (Ok) supplied with audio signals amplified by, or supplying with audio signals to be amplified, a channel of said amplifier (Aj), iii) a multimedia box (BM) comprising at least one signal (PT), coupled to a second network interface (I2) via a second master transmitter/receiver (ER2), and ensuring programmed processing of each signal intended for, or coming from, each channel of each amplifier (Aj), and iv) a high-speed digital audio (RA) network to which said first (I1) and second (I2) network interfaces are connected. System according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said audio network (RA) is chosen from among an Automotive Audio Bus® network, a Media Oriented Systems Transport network, and an Ethernet Audio Video Bridging network. System according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises at least one four-channel amplifier (Aj) supplying amplified signals to at least two audio devices (Ok). System according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises at least one twelve-channel amplifier (Aj) supplying amplified signals to at least four audio components (Ok). System according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the said audio devices (Ok) are loudspeakers. System according to one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the said amplifier (Aj) is supplied with audio signals to be amplified on at least one channel by at least one audio component (Ok) arranged in the form of a microphone. System according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one amplifier (Aj) is coupled, via the said first associated slave transmitter/receiver (ER1), to a first additional network interface (I1) which is connected via said audio network (RA) to a first network interface (I1) coupled to another external amplifier (Aj') via a first slave transmitter/receiver (ER1). System according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the said multimedia box (BM) comprises a system on a chip (SP) comprising the said signal processing processor (PT). Vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one multimedia system (SM) according to one of the preceding claims. Vehicle according to Claim 9, characterized in that it is of the automobile type.