Testing method for components with reception capabilities

• US 20020177967A1
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Laird Technologies Incorporated (DuPont de Nemours, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: RecepTec LLC (DuPont de Nemours, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fuchs, Andreas Dirk, Blank, Roman
• Granted Patent: US 6,591,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/113
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/20 of receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/29 Performance testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/12 Arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/58 of audio determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/59 of video recognising characters or patterns in general G06F18/00, G06V20/00

Abstract

A method for comparing the quality of components with signal reception capabilities. The method generally includes the steps of: (1) providing at least two test vehicles, each equipped with a component to be tested, (2) providing each vehicle with a device for recording the output of the component to be tested, (3) providing at least one of the two vehicles with a video recording device, (4) simultaneously traveling a test route with the two vehicles remaining in close proximity, (5) recording the output signals of the two components to be tested as the vehicles travel the test route, (6) providing a video recording of the vehicles traveling the test route and (7) comparing the recorded signals of the two components while taking into consideration environmental conditions shown in the video recording. The present invention also provides a method for automatically rating the sound quality of a recorded FM broadcast. The method generally includes the steps of (1) computing the average signal level at a frequency above the normal FM modulation frequency, (2) computing the average signal level of the FM pilot signal and (3) subtracting the average signal level computed in step (1) from the average signal level of the FM pilot signal.

Claims

1. A method for testing vehicle components with signal reception capabilities, comprising the steps of:

providing a first vehicle with a first component and a first recording means for recording signals from the first component;

providing a second vehicle with a second component and a second recording means for recording signals from the second component;

providing at least one of the first and second vehicles with a video recording device;

traveling through a test route with both the first vehicle and the second vehicle in close proximity to one another;

simultaneously recording a first audio recording of output from the first component with the first recording means and a second audio recording of output from the second component with the second recording means during at least a portion of said traveling step;

recording a video recording during the portion of said traveling step simultaneously with said simultaneous recording step; and

comparing the first audio recording, second audio recording and video recording to obtain a relative quality evaluation of the first component and the second component.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

capturing the audio recording of the first component in a computer as a first audio file; and

capturing the audio recording of the second component in the computer as a second audio file.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of capturing the video recording in the computer as a video file.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said comparing step includes the steps of:

playing back with a computer at least portions of the first audio file and the second audio file; and

playing back with a computer at least portions of the video file, the video file playback being synchronized with the audio file playback whereby environmental conditions encountered while recording the first audio recording and the second audio recording can be viewed simultaneously with the playback audio file playback of the audio recordings created under those environmental conditions.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of synchronizing the first audio file with the second audio file.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of synchronizing the video file with the first and second audio files.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of synchronizing the first and second audio files includes the step of cutting at least one of the first and second audio files in a computer so that the first and second audio files begin and end at substantially the same points in time.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of synchronizing includes the step of embedding a marker in the first and second audio files during said simultaneous recording step.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of synchronizing the video file with the first and second audio files includes the step of cutting the video file in a computer so that it begins and ends at substantially the same points in time as the first and second audio files.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said comparing step includes the step of computing and displaying in a computer data indicative of the signal level at various frequencies of at least portions of the first audio file and the second audio file, the computing and displaying step occurring in real-timereal-time during playback of the first audio file and the second audio file.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the data indicative of the signal level at various frequencies is further defined as relative amplitude.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said computing and displaying step is further defined as:

merging in a computer a first stereo channel of the first audio file with a second stereo channel of the second audio file to generate a merged audio output;

computing and displaying in a computer a relative amplitude of at least portions of the first audio file contained in the first stereo channel of the merged audio output; and

computing and displaying in a computer a relative amplitude of at least portions of the second audio file contained in the second stereo channel of the merged audio output, both of said computing and displaying steps occurring in real-time during playback of the first audio file and the second audio file.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

capturing the recorded audio output from the first component in a computer as a first audio file;

capturing the recorded audio output of the second component in the computer as a second audio file; and

wherein said audio playback step is further defined as playing back, in the computer, at least selected portions of the first audio file and the second audio file.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of capturing the recorded video in the computer as a video file, said video playback step being performed in the computer.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of computing and displaying in a computer data indicative of the signal level at various frequencies of at least portions of the first audio file and the second audio file, the computing and displaying step occurring in real-time during said audio playback of the first audio file and the second audio file.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of synchronizing the first audio file with the second audio file.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of synchronizing the video file with the first and second audio files.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said the step of synchronizing the first and second audio files includes the step of cutting at least one of the first and second audio files in a computer so that the first and second audio files begin at the same point in time during the simultaneous recording step.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said the step of synchronizing the first and second audio files includes the step of cutting at least one of the first and second audio files in a computer so that the first and second audio files end at the same point in time during the simultaneous recording step.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said the step of synchronizing the video file with the first and second audio files includes the step of cutting the video file in a computer so that it begins and ends at the same point in time during the recording step as the first and second audio files.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the data indicative of the signal level at various frequencies is further defined as relative amplitude.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said computing and displaying step includes computing and displaying relative amplitude of at least selected portions of the first audio file simultaneously with corresponding portions of the second audio file.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein said computing and displaying step is further defined as:

merging in a computer a first stereo channel of the first audio file with a second stereo channel of the second audio file to generate a merged audio output;

computing and displaying in a computer a relative amplitude of at least portions of the first audio file contained in the first stereo channel of the merged audio output; and

computing and displaying in a computer a relative amplitude of at least portions of the second audio file contained in the second stereo channel of the merged audio output, both of said computing and displaying steps occurring in real-time during playback of the first audio file and the second audio file.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the first value is further defined as being indicative of a relative amplitude of the FM pilot signal embedded in the recorded FM broadcast;

and

wherein the second value is further defined as being indicative of a relative amplitude of the recorded FM broadcast at the frequency outside of a range of frequencies in which an FM signal is normally modulated.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the first calculating step includes the step of calculating in a computer an average relative amplitude of the FM pilot signal over a period of time.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the second calculating step includes the step of calculating in a computer an average relative amplitude of the FM broadcast at a frequency outside of a range of frequencies in which an FM signal is normally modulated over a period of time.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the second calculating step is further defined as calculating in a computer an average relative amplitude of the FM broadcast at a frequency above approximately 15 KHz and below approximately 19 KHz over a period of time. above approximately 15 KHz and below approximately 19 KHz over a period of time above approximately 15 KHz and below 19 KHz.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the calculating step includes the step of subtracting the first value from the second value.

31. The method of claim 25 further comprising the steps of:

prior to said calculating steps, capturing in a computer an audio file output from an audio component with FM signal reception capabilities; and

wherein said first calculating step includes the steps of;

playing back at least of a portion of the audio file;

computing a value indicative of the relative amplitude of the pilot signal embedded in the audio file in real-time during said playback step; and

computing a value indicative of the relative amplitude of the recorded FM broadcast at a frequency outside of a range of frequencies in which an FM signal is normally modulated in real-time during said playback step.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the first value is further defined as being indicative of a relative amplitude of the FM pilot signal embedded in the recorded FM broadcast;

and

wherein the second value is further defined as being indicative of a relative amplitude of the recorded FM broadcast at the frequency outside of a range of frequencies in which an FM signal is normally modulated.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the frequency outside of a range of frequencies in which an FM signal is normally modulated is further defined as a range above approximately 15 KHz and below 19 KHz.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the frequency outside of a range of frequencies in which an FM signal is normally modulated is further defined as approximately 17 KHz.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the audio system of the second vehicle is substantially identical to the audio system of the first vehicle, whereby differences noted during said comparing step are attributable to differences between the first and second reception systems.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising the steps of:

recording video of environmental conditions encountered while traveling the first test route simultaneously with said first and second audio recording steps;

recording video of environmental conditions encountered while traveling the second test route simultaneously with said third and fourth audio recording steps;

wherein said playback step further includes playing back at least selected portions of the recorded video corresponding to the played-back portions of the recorded audio output from the first component and the recorded audio output from the third component, the playing back of the recorded video occurring simultaneously with and in synchronized relationship to the corresponding portions of the played-back portions of the recorded audio output from the first component and the recorded audio output from the third component; and

said comparing step includes considering the played-back portions of the recorded video when comparing the first audio recording and the simultaneously recorded audio output from the reference component and when comparing the third audio recording and the simultaneously recorded audio output from the reference component.

13. A method for recording and playing back data for comparing vehicle components with signal reception capabilities, comprising the steps of:

recording audio output from a first component while traveling a test route, the first component generating output from a broadcast signal at a frequency;

recording audio output from a second component simultaneously with said first audio recording step while traveling the test route, the second component generating output from the broadcast signal at the frequency;

recording video of environmental conditions encountered while traveling the test route simultaneously with said first and second audio recording steps;

playing back at least selected portions of the recorded audio output from the first component and the recorded audio output from the second component; and

playing back at least selected portions of the recorded video corresponding to the played-back portions of the recorded audio output from the first component and the recorded audio output from the second component, the playing back of the recorded video occurring simultaneously with and in synchronized relationship to the corresponding portions of the played-back portions of the recorded audio output from the first component and the recorded audio output from the second component.

25. A method for rating the quality of a recorded FM broadcast, comprising the steps of:

calculating in a computer a first value indicative of a level of an FM pilot signal embedded in the recorded FM broadcast;

calculating in a computer a second value indicative of a level of the recorded FM broadcast at a frequency outside of a range of frequencies in which an FM signal is normally modulated; and

computing a rating indicative of noise present in the recorded FM broadcast as a function the first value and the second value.

35. A method for providing a relative rating of two components with FM reception capabilities, comprising the steps of:

recording a first audio recording of output from a first component playing an FM broadcast;

recording a second audio recording of output from a second component playing the FM broadcast, said second recording step occurring simultaneously with said first recording step;

for each of the first and second audio recordings;

calculating in a computer a first value indicative of a level of an FM pilot signal embedded in the audio recording;

calculating in a computer a second value indicative of a level of the recorded FM broadcast at a frequency outside of a range of frequencies in which desired sound in an FM signal is normally modulated; and

computing a rating indicative of noise present in the recorded FM broadcast as a function the first value and the second value;

comparing the rating of the first audio recording to the rating of the second audio recording to provide an indication of the relative quality of the first and second audio recordings, and consequently the relative quality of the first and second components.

36. A method for comparing the quality of reception system, comprising the steps of:

providing a first vehicle with an audio system and a first reception system to be tested;

providing a second vehicle with an audio system and a second reception system to be tested;

traveling through a test route with the first vehicle and the second vehicle in close proximity to one another;

simultaneously recording output from the first audio system and the second audio system during said traveling step with the first and second audio systems producing output from a predetermined frequency;

recording video of environmental conditions encountered by the first and second vehicles during said traveling step;

playing back at least selected portions of the recorded audio output from the first audio system and the recorded audio output from the second audio system;

playing back at least selected portions of the recorded video corresponding to the played-back portions of the recorded audio output, the playing back of the recorded video occurring simultaneously with and in synchronized relationship to the corresponding portions of the played-back portions of the recorded audio output; and

comparing the recorded output from the first audio system with the recorded output from the second audio system in view of the recorded video to obtain a relative quality evaluation of the first reception system and the second reception system.

38. A method for testing vehicle components with signal reception capabilities, comprising the steps of:

recording audio output from a first component while traveling a first test route, the first component generating output from a first broadcast signal;

recording audio output from a reference component simultaneously with said first audio recording step while traveling the first test route, the reference component generating output from the first broadcast signal;

recording audio output from a third component while traveling a second test route, the first component generating output from a second broadcast signal;

recording audio output from the reference component simultaneously with said third audio recording step while traveling the second test route, the reference component generating output from the second broadcast signal;

playing back at least selected portions of the recorded audio output from the first component and the simultaneously recorded audio output from the reference component;

playing back at least selected portions of the recorded audio output from the third component and the simultaneously recorded audio output from the reference component; and

comparing a relative quality of the first audio recording and the simultaneously recorded audio output from the reference component with a relative quality of the third audio recording and the simultaneously recorded audio output from the reference component to obtain a relative quality evaluation of the first component and the third component.