Non-bussed vehicle amplifier diagnostics

• US 8,706,278 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2012
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Kirsch, Matthew R., Close, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEUNG, CALVIN K
• Application Number:
  US13/397,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20130211663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 700/26, 700/81, 700/94, 330/2, 381/28, 381/86
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2825 in household appliances or professional audio/video equipment testing LAN's H04L43/50; testing TV systems H04N17/00; testing loudspeakers H04R29/00

Abstract

Non-bussed amplifier diagnostics are implemented for a vehicle. The vehicle includes an amplifier that includes a computer processor and a memory unit communicatively coupled to the amplifier. The memory unit stores audio test tones, each of which corresponds to a respective diagnostic test result. The vehicle also includes an input device communicatively coupled to the amplifier via wiring. The input device provides an analog signal indicative of a diagnostic test trigger to the amplifier. The computer processor of the amplifier receives the analog signal and executes a diagnostic test defined by the diagnostic test trigger, selects one of the audio test tones based on results of the diagnostic test, and outputs the selected audio test tone via speakers of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for implementing a diagnostic test for a non-bussed amplifier of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a computer processor integrated with the non-bussed amplifier, the non-bussed amplifier lacking a physical connection to a serial data bus of the vehicle;

a memory unit communicatively coupled to the non-bussed amplifier, the memory unit storing a plurality of audio test tones, each of the audio test tones corresponding to a respective diagnostic test result; and

an input device communicatively coupled to the non-bussed amplifier, the input device providing an analog signal indicative of a diagnostic test trigger to the non-bussed amplifier, the diagnostic test trigger configured to initiate the diagnostic test;

wherein the computer processor performs the diagnostic test, the diagnostic test configured to;

receive the analog signal and execute the diagnostic test defined by the diagnostic test trigger;

select one of the audio test tones based on results of the diagnostic test; and

output the one of the audio test tones to speakers of the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device includes a radio, and the system further comprises a pre-defined combination of buttons communicatively coupled to the radio, the pre-defined combination of buttons are configured, upon selection, to execute the diagnostic test trigger.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device includes a radio, and the system further comprises a storage drive communicatively coupled to the radio, the storage drive configured to receive a removable memory device that stores the diagnostic test trigger;

wherein when the removable memory device is inserted into the storage drive, the diagnostic test trigger is transmitted from the radio to the computer processor of the non-bussed amplifier.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device includes a radio, and the system further comprises a telematics system, the radio communicatively coupled to the telematics system;

wherein the telematics system transmits a digital serial data signal indicative of the diagnostic test trigger to the radio, and the radio generates the analog signal from the digital serial data signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device includes a radio, and the system further comprises a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device configured to transmit a request to initiate the diagnostic test to the non-bussed amplifier via the radio over a wireless network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device includes a microphone, and the diagnostic test trigger is a preconfigured unique audio tone;

wherein when the microphone receives the preconfigured unique audio tone, the microphone transmits the preconfigured unique audio tone to the non-bussed amplifier.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the audio test tones are differentiated by at least one of frequency, period, and pattern.

8. A method for implementing a diagnostic test for a non-bussed amplifier of a vehicle, the method comprising:

transmitting, via an input device in the vehicle, an analog signal indicative of a diagnostic test trigger, the diagnostic trigger configured to initiate the diagnostic test;

receiving the analog signal, at a computer processor integrated with the non-bussed amplifier disposed in the vehicle, the non-bussed amplifier communicatively coupled to the input device, the non-bussed amplifier lacking a physical connection to a serial data bus of the vehicle;

executing, by the computer processor, the diagnostic test defined by the diagnostic test trigger;

selecting, by the computer processor, an audio test tone based on results of the diagnostic test; and

transmitting the audio test tone to speakers communicatively coupled to the non-bussed amplifier, the audio test tone being one of a plurality of audio test tones stored in a memory unit coupled to the non-bussed amplifier, wherein the audio test tone is output by the speakers.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the input device includes a radio, the method further comprising:

receiving, at the radio, the diagnostic test trigger via a selection of a pre-defined combination of buttons communicatively coupled to the radio.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the input device includes a radio, the method further comprising:

receiving, at a storage drive communicatively coupled to the radio, a removable memory device that stores the diagnostic test trigger.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the input device includes a radio, the method further comprising:

receiving, at the radio, the diagnostic test trigger from a telematics system that is communicatively coupled to the radio; and

generating, via the radio, the analog signal from a digital serial data signal indicative of the diagnostic test trigger.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the input device includes a radio, the method further comprising:

receiving, at the radio, the diagnostic test trigger from a wireless communication device that is wirelessly coupled to the radio.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the input device includes a microphone and the diagnostic test trigger is a preconfigured unique audio tone, the method further comprising:

transmitting, by the microphone, the preconfigured unique audio tone to the non-bussed amplifier.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the audio test tones are differentiated by at least one of frequency, period, and pattern.

15. A computer program product implementing a diagnostic test for a non-bussed amplifier of a vehicle, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions, which when executed by a computer cause the computer to implement:

receiving, from an input device, an analog signal indicative of a diagnostic test trigger, the diagnostic test trigger configured to initiate the diagnostic test, the input device communicatively coupled to the computer of an amplifier in the vehicle via wiring;

executing a diagnostic test defined by the diagnostic test trigger;

selecting an audio test tone based on results of the diagnostic test and transmitting the audio test tone to speakers communicatively coupled to the amplifier, the audio test tone being one of a plurality of audio test tones stored in a memory unit coupled to the amplifier; and

outputting the audio test tone via the speakers.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the input device includes a radio, the instructions further causing the computer to implement:

receiving, from the radio, the diagnostic test trigger via a selection of a pre-defined combination of buttons communicatively coupled to the radio.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the input device includes a radio, the instructions further causing the computer to implement:

receiving the diagnostic test trigger from a removable memory device that is communicatively coupled to the radio, the diagnostic test trigger stored on the removable memory device.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the input device includes a radio, the instructions further causing the computer to implement:

receiving, from the radio, the diagnostic test trigger via a telematics system that is communicatively coupled to the radio.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the input device includes a radio, the instructions further causing the computer to implement:

receiving, at the radio, the diagnostic test trigger from a wireless communication device that is wirelessly coupled to the radio.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the input device includes a microphone and the diagnostic test trigger is a preconfigured unique audio tone, the instructions further causing the computer to implement:

receiving the preconfigured unique audio tone from the microphone.