Validating the operation of a transducer and an audio signal path

• US 10,455,340 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2018
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Sachs, Daniel Grobe, Harmke, Charles B., Pinder, Ellis A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hamid, Ammar T
• Application Number:
  US15/977,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20190349697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 381 58, 381 59
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/185 Electrical failure alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/001 Signalling to an emergency team, e.g. firemen
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/10 of transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/23 Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods for validating the operation of a transducer and an audio signal path to the transducer. An example method includes switching, with an audio switch, the audio signal path between an audio power amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter. The method includes routing an audio signal received from the transducer to the analog-to-digital converter when the audio power amplifier is not enabled. The method includes, upon receiving a button signal, processing, with an electronic processor, a digital version of the audio signal received from the analog-to-digital converter to generate a sample. The method includes comparing the sample to a reference audio sample. The method includes generating an alert when the sample does not match the reference audio sample.

Claims

1. A system to validate the operation of a transducer and an audio signal path to the transducer, the system comprising:

an audio power amplifier;

an analog-to-digital converter;

an audio switch coupled in the audio signal path, the audio switch configured to

switch the audio signal path between the audio power amplifier and the analog-to-digital converter, and

route an audio signal received from the transducer to the analog-to-digital converter when the audio power amplifier is not enabled; and

an electronic processor, coupled to the analog-to-digital converter, and configured to

upon receiving an electrical signal indicating that a button has been either actuated or de-actuated, process a digital version of the audio signal received from the analog-to-digital converter to generate a sample,

compare the sample to a reference audio sample that represents sound generated when the button is either actuated or de-actuated; and

when the sample does not match the reference audio sample, generate an alert.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic processor is further configured to, in response to generating the alert, re-route audio signals for the transducer to an alternate audio signal path.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein

the button signal is a push-to-talk release signal;

and

the reference audio sample represents sound generated when a push-to-talk switch is released.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transducer is a speaker.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the alert is at least one selected from the group consisting of an audio alert, a visual alert, a haptic alert, and a network message.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an accessory interface coupled in the audio signal path;

wherein the audio switch is configured to switch the audio signal path by switching the accessory interface between the audio power amplifier and the analog-to-digital converter; and

wherein the electronic processor is coupled to the accessory interface and configured to receive the button signal via the accessory interface.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the transducer is in an accessory device coupled to the accessory interface.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the reference audio sample represents sound generated when a push-to-talk switch is released in the accessory device.

9. A method to validate the operation of a transducer and an audio signal path to the transducer, the method comprising:

switching, with an audio switch, the audio signal path between an audio power amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter, and

routing an audio signal received from the transducer to the analog-to-digital converter when the audio power amplifier is not enabled;

upon receiving an electrical signal indicating that a button has been either actuated or de-actuated, processing, with an electronic processor, a digital version of the audio signal received from the analog-to-digital converter to generate a sample,

comparing the sample to a reference audio sample that represents sound generated when the button is either actuated or de-actuated; and

generating an alert when the sample does not match the reference audio sample.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

in response to generating the alert, re-routing audio signals for the transducer to an alternate audio signal path.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein

receiving a button signal includes receiving a push-to-talk release signal;

and

comparing the sample to a reference audio sample includes comparing the sample to a reference audio sample that represents sound generated when a push-to-talk switch is released.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein routing an audio signal received from the transducer includes routing an audio signal received from a speaker.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein generating an alert includes generating at least one selected from the group consisting of an audio alert, a visual alert, a haptic alert, and a network message.

14. The method of claim 9,

wherein switching the audio signal path includes switching an accessory interface between the audio amplifier and the analog-to-digital converter;

and

wherein receiving a button signal includes receiving a push-to-talk release signal via the accessory interface.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein routing an audio signal received from the transducer includes routing an audio signal received from a transducer in an accessory device coupled to the accessory interface.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein comparing the sample to a reference audio sample includes comparing the sample to a reference audio sample that represents sound generated when a push-to-talk switch is released in the accessory device.

17. A remote speaker microphone comprising:

an audio signal path coupled to a transducer;

an audio power amplifier;

an analog-to-digital converter;

an audio switch coupled in the audio signal path, the audio switch configured to

switch the audio signal path between the audio power amplifier and the analog-to-digital converter, and

route an audio signal received from the transducer to the analog-to-digital converter when the audio power amplifier is not enabled; and

an electronic processor, coupled to the analog-to-digital converter, and configured to

upon receiving an electrical signal indicating that a button has been either actuated or de-actuated, process a digital version of the audio signal received from the analog-to-digital converter to generate a sample,

compare the sample to a reference audio sample that represents sound generated when the button is either actuated or de-actuated; and

when the sample does not match the reference audio sample, generate an alert.

18. The remote speaker microphone of claim 17, wherein the electronic processor is further configured to, in response to generating the alert, re-route audio signals for the transducer to an alternate audio signal path.

19. The remote speaker microphone of claim 17, wherein

the button signal is a push-to-talk release signal;

and

the reference audio sample represents sound generated when a push-to-talk switch is released.

20. The remote speaker microphone of claim 17, wherein the transducer is a speaker.