System and method of audio testing of acoustic devices

• US 7,548,625 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2003
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Hazell, Barry S., Dorfman, Boris
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Paul; Disler
• Application Number:
  US10/721,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20050013444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,030 Days
• Field of Search: 381/86, 381 58- 60, 381/56, 381/122, 455/67, 455 6711- 6715, 455423-424
• US Class Current: 381/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/004 for microphones H04R29/007 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method of testing the audio performance of an acoustic device is provided. To test a device microphone, an audio signal is generated, provided to an external speaker, outputted to the device microphone, and routed to an auxiliary input/output device where it is outputted and analyzed. To test a device speaker, an audio signal is generated, inputted to an auxiliary input/output device, routed to the device speaker, outputted to an external microphone, and outputted to an audio analyzer.

Claims

1. A method of testing audio performance, the method comprising:

providing a two-way mobile voice-enabled communications device, the device comprising a microprocessor, a microphone connected to the microprocessor, a speaker connected to the microprocessor, an auxiliary input/output device connected to the microprocessor, a memory connected to the microprocessor, and a software module stored in the memory which configures the microprocessor to route signals from the microphone to the auxiliary input/output device;

producing a microphone electric audio test signal on an audio generator external to the two-way mobile voice-enabled communications device;

providing the microphone electric audio test signal of the audio generator as input to an external speaker;

outputting a microphone acoustic audio test signal from the external speaker corresponding to the microphone electric audio test signal;

receiving the microphone acoustic audio test signal output from the external speaker as an input to the microphone of the two-way mobile voice-enabled communications device;

outputting a microphone electric audio output signal from the microphone of the two-way mobile voice-enabled communications device corresponding to the microphone acoustic audio test signal;

directly routing the microphone electric audio output signal from the microphone to the auxiliary input/output device using the microprocessor;

outputting the microphone electric audio output signal from the auxiliary input/output device to an external test system; and

analyzing the microphone electric audio output signal output from the auxiliary input/output device on the external test system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the microphone electric audio output signal output is compared to the microphone electric audio test signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one signal characteristic of the microphone electric audio output signal is compared to a predefined test limit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of characteristics of the microphone electric audio output signal are compared to predefined test limits for a plurality of audio signal characteristics selected from the group including signal amplitude, frequency response and harmonic distortion.

5. The method of claim 1, including connecting the external speaker to the microphone of the mobile voice-enabled communications device with a seal prior to the microphone electric audio test signal being provided to the external speaker.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary input/output device is an electrical connector.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the electrical connector is a headset plug through which the microphone electric audio output signal is output.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the electrical connector is a serial port through which the microphone electric audio output signal is output.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the microphone electric audio test signal represents a single tone signal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the microphone electric audio test signal represents a multitone signal.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile voice-enabled communications device comprises an RF transceiver connected to the microprocessor and wherein the mobile voice-enabled communications device is enabled for two-way wireless data communications.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the software module configures the microprocessor to route signals from the auxiliary input/output device to the speaker, the method further comprising:

producing a speaker electric audio test signal on the audio generator external to the mobile voice-enabled communications device;

receiving the speaker electric audio test signal as input to the auxiliary input/output device from the audio generator;

directly routing the speaker electric audio test signal from the auxiliary input/output device to the speaker using the microprocessor;

outputting from the speaker a speaker acoustic audio output signal corresponding to the speaker electric audio test signal;

providing the speaker acoustic audio output signal from the speaker as input to an external microphone;

outputting a speaker electric audio output signal corresponding to the speaker acoustic audio output signal from the external microphone to the external test system; and

analyzing the speaker electric audio output signal output from the external microphone on the external test system.

13. A method of testing audio performance, the method comprising:

providing a two-way mobile voice-enabled communications device, the device comprising a microprocessor, a microphone connected to the microprocessor, a speaker connected to the microprocessor, an auxiliary input/output device connected to the microprocessor, a memory connected to the microprocessor, and a software module stored in the memory which configures the microprocessor to route signals from the auxiliary input/output device to the speaker;

producing a speaker electric audio test signal on an audio generator external to the two-way mobile voice-enabled communications device;

providing the speaker electric audio test signal as input to the auxiliary input/output device from the audio generator;

directly routing the speaker electric audio test signal using the microprocessor of the mobile voice-enabled communications device from the auxiliary input/output device to the speaker;

outputting from the speaker a speaker acoustic audio output signal corresponding to the speaker test electric audio signal;

providing the speaker acoustic audio output signal from the speaker as an input to an external microphone;

outputting a speaker electric audio output signal corresponding to the speaker acoustic audio output signal from the external microphone to an external test system; and

analyzing the speaker electric audio output signal output from the external microphone on the external test system.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the speaker electric audio output signal is compared to the speaker electric audio test signal.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one signal characteristic of the speaker electric audio output signal is compared to a predefined test limit.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein a plurality of characteristics of the speaker electric audio output signal are compared to predefined test limits for a plurality of audio signal characteristics selected from the group including signal amplitude, frequency response and harmonic distortion.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the auxiliary input/output device is an electrical connector.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the electrical connector is a headset plug to which the speaker electrical audio test signal is provided.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the electrical connector is a serial port to which the speaker electric audio test signal is provided.

20. A system for testing the audio performance of acoustic devices, the system comprising:

an external speaker for receiving a microphone electric audio test signal as input and outputting a microphone acoustic audio test signal representation thereof; and

a two-way mobile voice-enabled communications device, the device comprising a microprocessor, a microphone connected to the microprocessor, a speaker connected to the microprocessor, an auxiliary input/output device connected to the microprocessor, a memory connected to the microprocessor, and a software module stored in the memory which configures the microprocessor to route signals from the microphone to the auxiliary input/output device;

the microphone being configured to receive the microphone acoustic audio test signal output from the external speaker as input and output a microphone electric audio output signal corresponding to the microphone acoustic audio test signal;

the microprocessor under instruction of the software module being configured to;

receive a microphone electric audio output signal from the microphone; and

directly route the microphone electric audio output signal to the auxiliary input/output device for output therefrom to an external test system for analysis.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the auxiliary input/output device is an electrical connector.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the electrical connector is a headset plug.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the electrical connector is a serial port.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the mobile voice-enabled communications device comprises an RF transceiver connected to the microprocessor and wherein the mobile voice-enabled communications device is enabled for two-way wireless data communications.

25. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

an audio generator coupled to the external speaker for producing the microphone electric audio test signal and providing the microphone electric audio test signal to the external speaker; and

wherein the external test system is an audio analyzer coupled to the auxiliary input/output device for receiving and analyzing the microphone electric audio output signal.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the software module configures the microprocessor to route signals from the auxiliary input/output device to the speaker, the system further comprising:

an external microphone;

wherein the microprocessor under instruction of the software module is configured to;

receive a speaker electric audio test signal via the auxiliary input/output device; and

directly route the speaker electric audio test signal from the auxiliary input/output device to the speaker;

wherein the speaker is configured to receive the speaker electric audio test signal and output a speaker acoustic audio output signal representation of the speaker electric audio test signal; and

wherein the external microphone is configured to receive the speaker acoustic audio output signal as input and output a speaker electric audio output signal representation thereof for analysis on the external test system.

27. A system for testing the audio performance of acoustic devices, the system comprising:

an external microphone;

a two-way mobile voice-enabled communications device, the device comprising a microprocessor, a microphone connected to the microprocessor, a speaker connected to the microprocessor, an auxiliary input/output device connected to the microprocessor, a memory connected to the microprocessor, and a software module stored in the memory which configures the microprocessor to route signals from the auxiliary input/output device to the speaker;

wherein the microprocessor under instruction of the software module is configured to;

receive a speaker electric audio test signal via the auxiliary input/output device; and

directly route the speaker electric audio test signal from the auxiliary input/output device to the speaker; and

wherein the speaker is configured to receive the speaker electric audio test signal and output a speaker acoustic audio output signal representation of the speaker electric audio test signal; and

wherein the external microphone is configured to receive the speaker acoustic audio output signal as input and output a speaker electric audio output signal representation thereof for analysis on an external test system.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the auxiliary input/output device is an electrical connector.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the electrical connector is a headset plug.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the electrical connector is a serial port.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the mobile voice-enabled communications device comprises an RF transceiver connected to the microprocessor and wherein the mobile voice-enabled communications device is enabled for two-way wireless data communications.

32. The system of claim 27, further comprising:

an audio generator coupled to the auxiliary input/output device for producing the speaker electric audio test signal and providing the speaker electric audio test signal to the auxiliary input/output device; and

wherein the external test system is an audio analyzer coupled to the external microphone for receiving and analyzing the speaker electric audio output signal.