Smart plug and play automatic OBD-II system tester

• US 9,781,527 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2015
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Zaman, Najamuz
• Primary Examiner(s): Teshale, Akelaw
• Application Number:
  US14/845,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20160073211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 381 86, 381 58, 381 59, 381103, 381 56, 381 98, 381106, 381107, 381 55, 381 714, 381 941, 381 99, 381104, 381150, 381 18, 381 20, 381300, 381303, 381307, 381314, 381 77, 381 80, 381 96, 381 715, 381 81
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/00 Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308

Abstract

An audio system testing arrangement includes a controller coupled to a communication. bus of a motor vehicle. The controller runs test scripts via the communication bus. The test scripts are for testing features of an audio system within the vehicle. A fault of the audio system is determined dependent upon results of the test scripts, a display and/or speaker annunciates the determined fault of the audio system.

Claims

1. An audio system testing arrangement,

comprising:

a controller configured to;

be coupled to a communication bus of a motor vehicle;

run a plurality of test scripts via the communication bus, the test scripts testing features of an audio system within the vehicle; and

determine a fault of the audio system dependent upon results of the test scripts;

a display and/or speaker configured to annunciate the determined fault of the audio system;

a microphone configured to sense audible sounds emitted by a speaker of the vehicle, the controller being configured to determine the fault of the audio system dependent upon a signal generated by the microphone; and

a first switch connected to the controller and a second switch connected to the controller, the first switch configured to cause the controller to run a next one of said test scripts in response to the first switch being actuated, the second switch being configured to cause the controller to run a previous one of said test scripts in response to the second switch being actuated.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the audio system, the controller being configured to determine the fault of the audio system dependent upon a signal generated by the temperature sensor.

3. The arrangement of claim 2 wherein the signal generated by the temperature sensor includes a temperature and a date and time stamp associated with the temperature.

4. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the test scripts include a plurality of first test scripts that store information about an audio system of the vehicle and a plurality of second test scripts that diagnose the audio system, the stored information including a battery voltage.

5. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the controller is disposed within a portable module that is configured to be temporarily plugged into the motor vehicle.

6. An audio system testing method, comprising the steps of:

coupling a controller to a signal bus of a motor vehicle;

using the controller to run a plurality of test scripts via the signal bus, the test scripts testing features of an audio system within the vehicle;

determining a fault of the audio system dependent upon results of the test scripts;

annunciating the determined fault of the audio system

sensing a temperature of the audio system;

determining the fault of the audio system dependent upon the sensed temperature; and

generating and storing in memory a date and time stamp in association with the temperature;

causing the controller to run a next said test script by actuating a first switch; and

causing the controller to run a previous said test script by actuating a second switch.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the determined fault is annunciated by a display screen and/or a loudspeaker.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

sensing audible sounds emitted by a speaker of the vehicle; and

determining the fault of the audio system dependent upon the sensed audible sounds.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the sensing of audible sounds is performed by a microphone, and the fault of the audio system is determined dependent upon a microphone signal generated by the microphone.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the test scripts include a plurality of first test scripts that store information about an audio system of the vehicle and a plurality of second test scripts that diagnose the audio system, the stored information including a radio nomenclature and part number.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the controller is disposed within a portable module, the method further comprising temporarily plugging the portable module into the motor vehicle.

12. An audio system testing arrangement,

comprising:

a controller configured to;

run a plurality of test scripts via a communication bus of a motor vehicle, the test scripts including a plurality of first test scripts that store information about an audio system of the vehicle and a plurality of second test scripts that diagnose the audio system, the stored information including at least one of a battery voltage, a radio nomenclature and a radio part number; and

determine a fault of the audio system dependent upon results of the test scripts; and

a display and/or speaker configured to annunciate the determined fault of the audio system; and

a first switch connected to the controller and a second switch connected to the controller, the first switch being configured to cause the controller to run a next one of said test scripts in response to the first switch being actuated, the second switch being configured to cause the controller to run a previous one of said test scripts in response to the second switch being actuated.

13. The arrangement of claim 12 further comprising a microphone configured to sense audible sounds emitted by a speaker of the vehicle, the controller being configured to determine the fault of the audio system dependent upon a signal generated by the microphone.

14. The arrangement of claim 13 further comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the audio system, the controller being configured to determine the fault of the audio system dependent upon a signal generated by the temperature sensor.

15. The arrangement of claim 14 wherein the signal generated by the temperature sensor includes a temperature and a date and time stamp associated with the temperature.

16. The arrangement of claim 12 wherein the controller is disposed within a portable module that is configured to be temporarily plugged into the motor vehicle.

17. The arrangement of claim 12 wherein the stored information includes a battery voltage, a radio nomenclature and a radio part number.