System and method of audio testing of acoustic devices

• US 7,961,891 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2009
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• 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): Faulk; Devona E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Paul; Disler
• Application Number:
  US12/437,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20090257600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 381/56, 381 58- 60, 381/111, 381/122, 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 of an electronic device comprising a microprocessor, and a microphone, speaker, and auxiliary input/output (I/O) device each connected to the microprocessor, the method comprising:

generating a microphone electric audio test signal on an audio generator external to the electronic device, wherein the microphone electric audio test signal is configured for testing the microphone, the microphone electric audio test signal varying in frequency and amplitude;

receiving the microphone electric audio test signal as input to an external speaker;

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

receiving the microphone acoustic audio test signal as input to the microphone;

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

routing the microphone electric audio output signal from the microphone to the auxiliary I/O device using the microprocessor;

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

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

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the microphone electric audio output signal is compared by the external test system 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 by the external test system 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 by external test system 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, further comprising:

generating a speaker electric audio test signal on the audio generator external to the electronic device, wherein the speaker electric audio test signal is configured for testing the speaker, the speaker electric audio test signal varying in frequency and amplitude;

receiving the speaker electric audio test signal as input to the auxiliary I/O device;

routing the speaker electric audio test signal from the auxiliary I/O device to the speaker using the microprocessor;

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

receiving the speaker acoustic audio output signal 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.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device further comprises a memory connected to the microprocessor, the memory having stored therein a software module which configures the microprocessor for routing signals from the microphone to the auxiliary I/O device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the electronic device further comprises a memory connected to the microprocessor, the memory having stored therein a software module which configures the microprocessor for routing signals from the microphone to the auxiliary I/O device and from the auxiliary I/O device to the speaker.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a two-way voice-enabled mobile communication device.

9. A method of testing audio performance of an electronic device comprising a microprocessor, and a microphone, a speaker, and an auxiliary input/output (I/O) device each connected to the microprocessor, the method comprising:

generating a speaker electric audio test signal on an audio generator external to the electronic device, wherein the speaker electric audio test signal is configured for testing the speaker, the speaker electric audio test signal varying in frequency and amplitude;

receiving the speaker electric audio test signal as input to the auxiliary I/O device;

routing the speaker electric audio test signal from the auxiliary I/O device to the speaker using the microprocessor;

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

receiving the speaker acoustic audio output signal 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 an external test system; and

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

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the speaker electric audio output signal is compared by the external test system to the speaker electric audio test signal.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one signal characteristic of the speaker electric audio output signal is compared by the external test system to a predefined test limit.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein a plurality of characteristics of the speaker electric audio output signal are compared by the external test system to predefined test limits for a plurality of audio signal characteristics selected from the group including signal amplitude, frequency response and harmonic distortion.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic device further comprises a memory connected to the microprocessor, the memory having stored therein a software module which configures the microprocessor for routing signals from the auxiliary I/O device to the speaker.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic device is a two-way voice-enabled mobile communication device.

15. A system for testing the audio performance of electronic 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, wherein the microphone electric audio test signal is configured for testing the microphone, the microphone electric audio test signal varying in frequency and amplitude; and

an electronic device comprising a microprocessor, and a microphone, speaker, and auxiliary input/output (I/O) device each connected to the microprocessor, wherein the microphone is configured for receiving the microphone acoustic audio test signal output from the external speaker as input and outputting a microphone electric audio output signal corresponding to the microphone acoustic audio test signal;

the microprocessor being configured for receiving a microphone electric audio output signal from the microphone and routing the microphone electric audio output signal to the auxiliary I/O device for output to an external test system for analysis.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

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

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

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

an external microphone;

wherein the microprocessor is further configured for (i) receiving a speaker electric audio test signal via the auxiliary I/O device, the speaker electric audio test signal being configured for testing the speaker, the speaker electric audio test signal varying in frequency and amplitude, and (ii) routing the speaker electric audio test signal from the auxiliary I/O device to the speaker;

wherein the speaker is configured for receiving 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 for receiving 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.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the electronic device further comprises a memory connected to the microprocessor, the memory having stored therein a software module which configures the microprocessor for routing signals from the microphone to the auxiliary I/O device.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the electronic device further comprises a memory connected to the microprocessor, the memory having stored therein a software module which configures the microprocessor for routing signals from the microphone to the auxiliary I/O device and from the auxiliary I/O device to the speaker.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the electronic device is a two-way voice-enabled mobile communication device.

21. A system for testing the audio performance of electronic devices, the system comprising:

an external microphone;

an electronic device comprising a microprocessor, and a microphone, speaker, and auxiliary input/output (I/O) device each connected to the microprocessor,

wherein the microprocessor is configured for receiving (i) a speaker electric audio test signal via the auxiliary I/O device, the speaker electric audio test signal being configured for testing the speaker, the speaker electric audio test signal varying in frequency and amplitude, and (ii) routing the speaker electric audio test signal from the auxiliary I/O device to the speaker; and

wherein the speaker is configured for receiving 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 for receiving 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.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

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

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

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the electronic device further comprises a memory connected to the microprocessor, the memory having stored therein a software module which configures the microprocessor for routing signals from the auxiliary I/O device to the speaker.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the electronic device is a two-way voice-enabled mobile communication device.