Circuit for testing the function of mobile receiving installations

• US 6,011,962 A
• Filed: 05/07/1997
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Delphi Delco Electronics Europe GmbH (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: FUBA Automotive GmbH
• Inventors: Hopf, Jochen, Lindenmeier, Heinz, Reiter, Leopold
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Nguyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc
• Application Number:
  US08/852,561
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 455/226.1, 455/226.2, 455/226.4, 455/67.1, 455/67.4, 455/67.7, 455/423, 455/272
• US Class Current: 455/226.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/20 of receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/73 for taking measurements, e.g. using sensing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0802 using antenna selection H04B7/0868 takes precedence; antenna beam directivity switching H01Q3/24

Abstract

A circuit for testing the function of mobile radio receiving installations is provided, wherein the circuit generates an HF-output signal that is used to test the system. A frequency mixer receives an oscillation signal (8) generated from within the superheterodyne receiver and an IF-carrier oscillation signal (32) generated from and oscillator (7) within the circuit. The frequency mixer generates an HF-output signal (12) that is dependent on the amplitude and frequency of the received oscillation signals. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the circuit of the invention is incorporated into the superheterodyne receiver, and the generated IF-carrier frequency 32 is eliminated and replaced with an IF-signal 22 produced by self-excitation of the superheterodyne receiver. With multi-antenna scanning diversity systems, additional switches and switching signals are included.

Claims

1. A circuit for testing the working function of a mobile receiving installation (20) having at least one receiving antenna (5) in a high frequency connection with a superheterodyne receiver (1), the superheterodyne receiver (1) having an image frequency filter (4), an oscillator (9), an IF-signal (11) and a measuring system (10) coupled to the IF-signal for detecting the level of the received signal, the circuit comprising:

a circuit arrangement (2) disposed within the receiving installation (20) and coupled to the superheterodyne receiver (1) and the at least one antenna (5), said circuit arrangement comprising;

a frequency mixer (3) having a first input coupled to an output of oscillator (9) in superheterodyne receiver (1), a second input and an output, oscillator (9) generating an oscillator signal (8);

a feedback loop connecting the IF-signal (11) to said second input of said frequency mixer (3) to provide a self excitation condition, thereby generating an IF-carrier frequency (22), of limited amplitude from the IF-amplifier part of the superheterodyne receiver (1);

said frequency mixer (3) producing an HF-output signal (12) having a constant amplitude with respect to time at its output, said HF-output signal (12) having a frequency conforming to a receiving frequency to which the superheterodyne receiver (1) is tuned, said receiving frequency being dependent on said oscillator frequency (8) and said IF-carrier frequency (22);

a coupling system (33) having at least one input and coupled to said circuit arrangement to receive said HF-output signal (12), said coupling system coupling said HF-output signal (12) to the at least one receiving antenna (5) or a receiver input,

so that the level of the receiving signal of the receiving installation (20) can be determined by said measuring system (10).

2. The circuit for testing the working function of a mobile receiving installation (20) according to claim 1, wherein the superheterodyne receiver (1) is displaced from the receiving antenna (5), and further comprises an HF-connection line (14) connecting the receiver (1) with the receiving antenna (5).

3. A circuit for testing an RF superheterodyne receiver installation (20) over its reception band and coupled to at least one antenna (5), through a first RF connection line (14), for receiving an RF-receiving signal (13), the receiver (1) having an image frequency filter (4), a local oscillator (9), for producing a variable output signal (8) as the receiver is tuned, an IF-signal (11) and a measuring system (10) coupled to the IF-signal for detecting the level of the received signal, the circuit comprising:

circuit arrangement (2) disposed within the receiver installation (20) and coupled to the superheterodyne receiver (1) and the at least one antenna (5), said circuit arrangement comprising;

a second RF-connection line (23) connecting the superheterodyne receiver (1) with the circuit arrangement (2), said second RF-connection line (23) carrying said local oscillator signal (8) and the IF signal (11);

a fixed frequency oscillator (7) for producing an IF-carrier frequency (32) approximately equal to the mean frequency of the IF-signal (11);

a mixer (3) having its inputs coupled to the local oscillator (9) and fixed oscillator (7) for mixing the fixed and local oscillator signals (32 and

     8) to produce an output signal 12 having a constant amplitude and a frequency conforming to a receiving frequency to which the superheterodyne receiver (1) is tuned, said receiving frequency being dependent on said fixed oscillator frequency (8) and said IF-carrier frequency (32);

a coupling system (33) having at least one input coupled to said circuit arrangement (2) to receive said RF-output signal (12), a transmitting antenna (6) coupling said RF-output signal (12) to the at least one receiving antenna (5) said antenna being a low capacitive connection (21) so that the level of the receiving signal of the receiving installation (20) is determined by said measuring system (10), as the superheterodyne receiver (1) is tuned over its reception band.

4. The circuit for testing the working function of a mobile receiving installation (20) according to claim 3, wherein said coupling system (33) is printed using a screen printing method adjacent receiving antenna (5) associated with single-pane safety glass windows.

5. The circuit for testing the working function of a mobile receiving installation (20) according to claim 3, wherein said coupling system (33) is disposed in the form of embedded wire or wires associated with composite safety glass windows.

6. The circuit for testing the working function of a mobile receiving installation (20) according to claim 3, wherein the HF-output signal (12) is generated and the function test is performed during a transmission gap which is determined by detecting a receiving level in the superheterodyne receiver (1) being dependent on a receiving frequency.

7. The circuit for testing the working function of a mobile receiving installation (20) according to claim 3, wherein said receiving antenna (5) is an antenna scanning diversity system, and further comprising:

a switch signal generator (31) disposed within the superheterodyne receiver (1) and adapted to generate a switching signal (29);

a diversity processor (30) having a signal selector switch (24) and a trouble indicator (25), said diversity processor (30) being supplied with the IF-signal (11) and said switching signal (29) via said second HF-connection line (23), said switching signal (29) initiating the function test.

8. The circuit for testing the working function of a mobile receiving installation (20) according to claim 7, wherein said switching signal (29) is formed such that the signals of the receiving antenna (5, 5'"'"', ,5") are sequentially switched by said signal selector switch (24) to the superheterodyne receiver (1) and tested.

9. A circuit for testing an RF superheterodyne receiver (1) over its reception band having at least one receiving antenna (5), for receiving an RF receiving signal (13), the receiver (1) having an image frequency filter (4), a local oscillator (9), for producing a variable output signal (8) as the receiver is tuned, an IF-signal (11) and a measuring system (10) coupled to the IF-signal for detecting the level of the received signal, the circuit comprising:

an RF connection line (14) coupling the antenna (5) to receiver (1);

a first signal switch (16) disposed within the receiver (1) and coupled to the oscillator signal (8) and the IF-signal (11), said first signal switch (16) being coupled to a first end of said RF-connection line (14);

a circuit arrangement (2) disposed within the receiver installation (20) and coupled through said RF connection line (14) to the superheterodyne receiver (1), and the at least one antenna (5), and wherein said local oscillator signal (8), the IF-signal (11) and the RF-receiving signal (13) are selectively transmitted across said RF-connection line (14), said circuit arrangement (2) comprising;

a second signal switch (18) disposed within circuit arrangement (2) and coupled to the opposite end of said RF-connection line (14), said second signal switch (18) picking up IF-signal (11),

a frequency mixer (3) coupled to said second switch (18) for receiving local oscillator signal (8);

an amplitude limiter (17) coupled to second switch (18) for receiving IF-signal (11) and providing to mixer (3), an IF-signal (22), limited in amplitude,

said mixer (3) producing an RF-output signal (12) at its output having a constant amplitude and a frequency conforming to a receiving frequency to which the superheterodyne receiver (1) is tuned, said receiving frequency being dependent on said fixed oscillator frequency (8) and said IF carrier frequency (11);

a coupling system (33) having at least one input and coupled to said circuit arrangement to receive said RF-output signal (12), said coupling system coupling said RF-output signal (12) to the at least one receiving antenna (5) or a receiver input,

wherein the RF-receiving signal (13) from antenna (5) is coupled to said second signal switch (18) and is transmitted across said RF-connection line (14) to said first signal switch (16) and coupled to the superheterodyne receiver (1), said first and second signal switches (16 and

     18) being selected such that the signals on RF-connection line (14) do not interfere with each other,

wherein the level of the receiving signal of the receiving installation (20) is determined by said measuring system (10), as the superheterodyne receiver (1) is tuned over its reception band.

10. The circuit for testing the working function of a mobile receiving installation (20) according to claim 9, wherein at least one of said first and second signal switches (16 and 18) are direction-selective.

11. The circuit for testing the working function of a mobile receiving installation (20) according to claim 9, wherein at least one of said first and second signal switches (16 and 18) are frequency-selective.

12. The circuit for testing the working function of a mobile receiving installation (20) according to claim 9, wherein at least one of said first and second signal switches (16 and 18) is designed direction-selective by directional couplers, and is also frequency-selective for supporting selection properties.

13. A circuit for testing an RF superheterodyne receiver (1) over its reception band having at least one antenna (5), for receiving an RF-receiving signal (13), superheterodyne receiver (1) having an image frequency filter (4), a local oscillator (9), for producing a variable output signal (8) as the receiver is tuned, an IF-signal (11) and a measuring system (10) coupled to the IF-signal for detecting the level of the received signal, the circuit comprising:

an RF connection line disposed between said antenna (5) and said receiver (1);

a circuit arrangement (2) coupled to line (14) between the antenna (5) and superheterodyne receiver (1) comprising;

a mixer (3) having a first input for receiving frequency (8) of receiver (1), a second input for receiving an amplitude limited IF-signal (22);

said frequency mixer (3) producing an RF-output signal (12) having a constant amplitude at its output, said RF-output signal (12) having a frequency conforming to a receiving frequency to which the superheterodyne receiver (1) is tuned, said receiving frequency being dependent on said fixed oscillator frequency (8) and said IF-signal (22); and

wherein the receiving antenna (5) is an antenna scanning diversity system, and further comprises;

a diversity processor (30) having a signal change-over switch (24) and a trouble indicator (25), said processor (30) being supplied with the IF-signal (11) from receiver (1), said RF-connection line (14) connecting said diversity processor (30) with the superheterodyne receiver (1);

a coupling system (33) having at least one input to receive said RF-output signal (12), from said circuit arrangement (2), said coupling system coupling said RF-output signal (12) to the at least one receiving antenna (5),

a switch signal generator (31) disposed within the superheterodyne receiver (1) and adapted to generate a switching signal (29), said diversity processor (30) being coupled with the IF-signal (11) and said switching signal (29) via the single RF-connection line (14), said switching signal (29) initiating the function test, so that the level of the receiving signal of the receiving installation (20) is determined by said measuring system (10), as the superheterodyne receiver (1) is tuned over its reception band.

14. The circuit for testing the working function of a mobile receiving installation (20) according to claim 13, further comprising:

a first signal switch (16) disposed within the receiver (1) and being supplied with said oscillator signal (8), the IF-signal (11), and said switching signal (29), said first signal switch (16) being coupled to said HF-connection line (14);

a second signal switch (18) disposed within circuit arrangement (2) and coupled to the opposite end of HF-connection line (14), said second signal switch transmitting said switching signal within said circuit arrangement (2); and

wherein when the installation function is tested, said oscillator signal (8) is also transmitted via HF-connection line (14), said oscillator signal (8) having a level selected so that no additional selection measures are required in said signal switches (16 and

     18).