Diagnostic method for wireless broadcast receiving system and wireless broadcast receiving system

Abstract

The invention relates to a diagnostic method (16) for a wireless broadcast reception system (1) of a motor vehicle (8), having two transmit-receive paths (2a, 2b). The invention also relates to the wireless broadcast receiving system (1) and to a motor vehicle (8) having the wireless broadcast receiving system (1).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a diagnostic method for a radio broadcast receiving system for a motor vehicle, as described in the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a radio broadcast receiving system and a motor vehicle having such a system.

[0002] A radio broadcast receiving system for a motor vehicle, comprising two receivers and two antennas, is known from EP 0 816 859 B1. These receivers and antennas define two transmit-receive paths, enabling the radio broadcast receiving system to operate in phase diversity mode. Furthermore, the radio broadcast receiving system includes a controller for controlling the two transmit-receive paths. The controller and the two receivers are combined into a so-called remote tuner module, and the antennas are mounted in the windshield of the motor vehicle.

[0003] A diagnostic method for an antenna in a radio broadcast receiving system is also described in EP 0 816 859 B1. Here, a test signal is generated using an external signal generator and received by the corresponding antenna. The received test signal is then evaluated, and the signal strength of the test signal provides information about the function of the corresponding antenna.

[0004] The disadvantage here is the need for an additional signal generator, which makes the implementation of the wireless broadcast receiving system and diagnostic methods more difficult and complex.

[0005] DE 200 19 677U1 discloses an antenna system having multiple antennas that can be connected to at least two receivers in a predetermined combination via a combining unit. Furthermore, the antenna system includes a signal processing unit for evaluating the receiver output signals and a control unit for performing a self-test. At least one of the antennas transmits a test signal at a predetermined test frequency via a first receiver, and these signals are coupled to at least another antenna. To perform the self-test, the received level of the second receiver is acquired as an actual value and compared with a predetermined set value.

[0006] DE 103 38 825A1 discloses a diagnostic apparatus and method for a multi-antenna system, which can identify defects in individual antennas of the multi-antenna system. An apparatus is designed for acquiring the activation duration and / or information regarding signal strength and signal quality of each antenna in the multi-antenna system. From this acquired data, an analysis device determines a reference value. Furthermore, by comparing the reference value with a predetermined, pre-stored reference value, and assuming all antennas are functioning perfectly, the analysis device identifies a defect in a single antenna when the reference value is lower than the predetermined reference value.

[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved or at least alternative implementation of a similar diagnostic method, which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages. A further object of the present invention is to provide a corresponding wireless broadcast receiving system and a motor vehicle having the wireless broadcast receiving system.

[0008] According to the invention, this objective is achieved by the subject matter of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of dependent claims.

[0009] The present invention is based on the general idea of ​​using the receiver’s built-in local oscillator to generate test signals, thereby avoiding the use of an external signal generator.

[0010] According to the diagnostic method of the present invention, a wireless broadcast receiving system for motor vehicles is designed. This wireless broadcast receiving system has a first transmit-receive path and a second transmit-receive path. The first transmit-receive path is formed by a first receiver and a first antenna connected to the first receiver in a signal transmission or electrical manner, and the second transmit-receive path is formed by a second receiver and a second antenna connected to the second receiver in a signal transmission or electrical manner. The two antennas are capable of coupling to each other in a signal transmission or electromagnetic manner. Furthermore, the wireless broadcast receiving system also has a controller for controlling the two transmit-receive paths. According to the present invention, a diagnostic is performed in the diagnostic method. In the first transmit-receive path, a test signal is generated at a predetermined test frequency via a local oscillator of the first receiver and transmitted via the first antenna. In the second transmit-receive path, the transmitted test signal is received via the second antenna and guided to the controller via the second receiver. It goes without saying that the second receiver is configured to receive the test signal at the predetermined test frequency. The controller then evaluates the functionality of the second antenna based on the received test signal.

[0011] In the diagnostic method according to the invention, the local oscillator of the first receiver is used to generate a test signal at a predetermined test frequency. Therefore, no external signal generator is required to perform the diagnostic method, thus reducing the number of components and lowering the cost of diagnosing the second antenna. Consequently, the resulting cost is also lower, and the wireless broadcast receiving system is more reliable due to the reduced number of components.

[0012] The test signal generated in the first transmit-receive path can be received by other radio broadcast receiving systems within a certain radius, thus causing interference to these systems. To avoid this, diagnostic methods should be performed, particularly in a controlled environment.

[0013] In the diagnostic method according to the invention, the test signal is generated by a local oscillator of a first receiver. The signal generated by the local oscillator typically has high quality and high amplitude stability and is particularly suitable for use as a test signal. Current radio broadcast receiving systems typically operate in the intermediate frequency range of several hundred kHz, and the corresponding receivers are constructed as so-called Low-IF receivers (Low-IF: Low-Intermediate-Frequency). Here, the local oscillator can cover most of this frequency band and is used to generate the mixing frequency for the test signal.

[0014] In addition to the local oscillator, the first receiver may also have other components. Therefore, besides the local oscillator, the first receiver may also have at least one bandpass filter and / or at least one mixer and / or at least one analog-to-digital converter and / or at least one digital signal processor. Needless to say, the first receiver and the second receiver can be constructed identically to each other. In particular, the second receiver may have the same components.

[0015] The first and second antennas can be coupled to each other by means of signal transmission or electromagnetic means, and for this purpose can be arranged and / or aligned relative to each other with appropriate spacing and appropriate positions. The first and second antennas can be glass antennas or antenna structures shaped through the glass of a motor vehicle, as described below.

[0016] The controller can control two transmit-receive paths and evaluate the received test signals or assess the functionality of the two antennas based on the received test signals. The controller can be, for example, shaped using a microcontroller. The two receivers and the controller can be mounted or integrated in a common component, namely a so-called tuner IC (Integrated Circuit) or a so-called remote tuner module. The two receivers and the controller can be mounted particularly close to the antennas, i.e., particularly in the same vehicle.

[0017] Both transmit-receive paths are complete and independent of each other. The radio broadcast receiving system can therefore operate in phase diversity mode. In phase diversity mode, the less interference-prone transmit-receive path is used. Needless to say, the radio broadcast receiving system only operates in phase diversity mode when no diagnostic methods are employed.

[0018] The received test signal can be processed and stored in the controller after being received by the second receiver. Here, in particular, the amplitude or field strength of the received test signal at a predetermined test frequency can be stored and used for the functional evaluation of the second antenna. The evaluation of the second antenna's functionality via the controller will be further described below.

[0019] During diagnostics, the test signal can be guided from the local oscillator of the first receiver to the first antenna via a bypass path with a switch. Here, the switch of the bypass path can be closed during diagnostics and open otherwise. Specifically, this switch can be an HF (High Frequency) switch. Through the bypass path and the closed switch, the test signal can be guided from the local oscillator of the first receiver to the first antenna and transmitted therefrom. Here, the switch is only closed during diagnostics, ensuring that the signal from the local oscillator of the first receiver does not negatively affect the operation of the radio broadcast receiving system when diagnostics are not performed. In other words, the first antenna remains decoupled from the local oscillator of the first receiver when diagnostics are not performed, preventing interference between the two receivers.

[0020] According to the present invention, in this diagnostic method, a baseline measurement is performed before diagnosis. Since the possibility that the second antenna may receive other external signals during the diagnostic process cannot be ruled out, these other external signals can be acquired during the baseline measurement and taken into account when evaluating the functionality of the second antenna. In other words, a zero-value measurement can be performed, and this zero-value measurement can then be taken into account when evaluating the functionality of the second antenna. Here, during the baseline measurement, the first receiver in the first transmit-receive path is turned off. In the second transmit-receive path, an ambient signal at a predetermined test frequency is received via the second antenna and directed to the controller via the second receiver. Needless to say, the corresponding test signal and the corresponding ambient signal have the same test frequency. The controller then stores the received ambient signal for evaluating the functionality of the second antenna. Here, the amplitude or field strength of the received ambient signal at the predetermined test frequency can be measured and stored in particular.

[0021] The controller can then compare the received test signal at the corresponding predetermined test frequency with the received ambient signal. Here, if the test signal at the corresponding predetermined test frequency is stronger than the ambient signal and the difference is a predefined reference value, the controller can evaluate the second antenna as functionally normal; otherwise, it is evaluated as functionally abnormal. Specifically, the amplitude or field strength of the test signal at the corresponding predetermined test frequency can be compared with the amplitude or field strength of the ambient signal. The aforementioned predetermined reference values ​​can be pre-stored values, measured on a functional second antenna during pre-measurement. These reference values ​​can be stored in the controller by the factory, for example, before the wireless broadcast receiving system is put into use.

[0022] During the diagnostic process, multiple test signals, each with a different test frequency, can be generated and used by the controller to evaluate the functionality of the second antenna. In other words, discrete sampling can be performed on a predetermined frequency band during the diagnostic process. Therefore, the functionality of the second antenna in the predetermined frequency band can be tested. Similarly, during the reference measurement, multiple ambient signals, each with a different test frequency, can be generated and stored by the controller to evaluate the functionality of the second antenna. Here, the test signal and the ambient signal are each generated at the same test frequency. The test frequency of the test signal of the local oscillator of the first receiver can be freely adjusted by the controller, thereby allowing the signal strength of the test signal received at the predetermined test frequency to be compared with the signal strength of the ambient signal.

[0023] The phase diversity mode of the radio broadcast receiving system can be turned off before diagnosis and / or reference measurement, and turned on after diagnosis and / or reference measurement. The first and / or second receivers of the radio broadcast receiving system can be muted before diagnosis and / or reference measurement, and unmuted after diagnosis and / or reference measurement.

[0024] The present invention also relates to a wireless broadcast receiving system for a motor vehicle. Here, the wireless broadcast receiving system has a first transmit-receive path and a second transmit-receive path. The first transmit-receive path is formed by a first receiver having a local oscillator and a first antenna connected to the first receiver in a signal transmission or electrical manner, and the second transmit-receive path is formed by a second receiver and a second antenna connected to the second receiver in a signal transmission or electrical manner. Here, the two antennas are capable of coupling to each other in a signal transmission or electromagnetic manner. Furthermore, the wireless broadcast receiving system also has a controller for controlling the two transmit-receive paths. According to the present invention, the wireless broadcast receiving system is designed to perform the above-described diagnostic method.

[0025] The second transmit-receive path may include a signal amplifier connected between the second antenna and the second receiver. Specifically, the signal amplifier may amplify the test signal received by the second antenna and / or the ambient signal received by the second antenna. The first transmit-receive path may have a bypass path with a switch, wherein the bypass path extends from the local oscillator of the first receiver to the first antenna. As mentioned above, this switch may in particular be an HF switching switch.

[0026] As described above, the controller of the wireless broadcast receiving system can be shaped like a microcontroller. The controller can be connected to the receiver in a signal transmission or electrical manner as desired. In addition to the local oscillator, the first receiver may also have other components. Therefore, the first receiver may have at least one bandpass filter and / or at least one mixer and / or at least one analog-to-digital converter and / or at least one digital signal processor, in addition to the local oscillator. Needless to say, the second receiver can be constructed identically to the first receiver. In particular, the second receiver may have the same components.

[0027] To avoid repetition, please refer to the diagnostic method description above for other characteristics of the wireless broadcast receiving system.

[0028] The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle having the aforementioned wireless broadcast receiving system. As described above, the wireless broadcast receiving system has a first antenna and a second antenna. According to the present invention, the antenna of the wireless broadcast receiving system is a glass antenna. Here, the motor vehicle may have at least one piece of glass and the first antenna and the second antenna may be mounted in the same piece of glass. Alternatively, the motor vehicle may have at least two pieces of glass that are physically separate from each other, and the first antenna may be mounted in one piece of glass and the second antenna may be mounted in the other piece of glass.

[0029] Other important features and advantages of the invention are described in the dependent claims, the drawings, and related figures based on the drawings.

[0030] It should be understood that the above features and the features to be explained below can be used not only in their respective specified combinations, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0031] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings and described in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components.

[0032] Here:

[0033] Figure 1 A view of a wireless broadcast receiving system according to the invention on the glass of a motor vehicle;

[0034] Figure 2 A flowchart of the diagnostic method according to the invention is shown on a wireless broadcast receiving system according to the invention.

[0035] Figure 1 A view of a wireless broadcast receiving system 1 according to the present invention is shown. The wireless broadcast receiving system 1 is designed for implementing the diagnostic method 16 according to the present invention. Reference will be made below. Figure 2 The functions of diagnostic method 16 and wireless broadcast receiving system 1 are further explained.

[0036] Here, the wireless broadcast receiving system 1 has a first transmit-receive path 2a and a second transmit-receive path 2b. Furthermore, the wireless broadcast receiving system 1 includes a first receiver 3a and a first antenna 4a, which are connected to each other by means of signal transmission or electrical conductivity, forming the transmit-receive path 2a. Additionally, the wireless broadcast receiving system 1 includes a second receiver 3b and a second antenna 4b, which are connected to each other by means of signal transmission or electrical conductivity, forming the transmit-receive path 2b. The first antenna 4a and the second antenna 4b can be coupled to each other by means of signal transmission or electromagnetic flux and are arranged close to each other accordingly.

[0037] In addition, the wireless broadcast receiving system 1 also has a controller 5 for controlling the two transmit-receive paths 2a and 2b. The controller 5 and the two receivers 3a and 3b are integrated into a common component 6, namely the so-called tuner IC or the so-called remote tuner module.

[0038] The two antennas 4a and 4b are glass antennas or formed by a planar antenna structure, and are mounted on a common piece of glass 7 of the motor vehicle 8. Here, the glass 7 is not part of the wireless broadcast receiving system 1 according to the invention.

[0039] Each of the corresponding receivers 3a or 3b includes a local oscillator 9a or 9b, a bandpass filter 10a or 10b, a mixer 11a or 11b, an analog-to-digital converter 12a or 12b, and a digital signal processor 13a or 13b. The two receivers 3a and 3b are constructed identically to each other. The corresponding receivers 3a or 3b are connected to the controller 5 via the digital signal processor 13a or 13b through signal transmission or wires.

[0040] Furthermore, the first transmit-receive path 2a includes a bypass path 14 with a switch 15. Here, the bypass path 14 extends from the local oscillator 9a of the first receiver 3a to the first antenna 4a. Additionally, the second transmit-receive path 2b includes a signal amplifier 17, which is arranged or connected between the second antenna 4b and the second receiver 3b and amplifies the signal received by the second antenna (4b).

[0041] Figure 2 A flowchart of the diagnostic method 16 according to the invention is shown in the wireless broadcast receiving system 1 according to the invention. In the diagnostic method 16 according to the invention, the functionality of the second antenna 4b can be detected. Here, a preparation process V with sub-steps V1-V2, a reference measurement R with sub-steps R1-R3, a diagnostic process D with sub-steps D1-D9, and a closing process N with sub-steps N1-N3 are performed.

[0042] In preparation process V, the radio broadcast receiving system 1 prepares for subsequent steps. Here, in sub-step V1, the second receiver 3b of the radio broadcast receiving system 1 is muted. Then, in sub-step V2, the phase diversity mode of the radio broadcast receiving system 1 is turned off.

[0043] Since the possibility that the second antenna 4b may receive other external signals during diagnostic method 16 cannot be ruled out, a reference measurement R is performed. During the reference measurement R, environmental or external signals are measured and taken into account when evaluating the functionality of the second antenna 4b. Here, in sub-step R1, the second receiver 3b is set to a predetermined first test frequency. Then, in sub-step R2, environmental signals at the predetermined first test frequency are received via the second antenna 4b, and in sub-step R3, the received environmental signals are guided to the controller 5 via the second receiver 3b and stored therein. Sub-steps R1-R3 are performed for multiple test frequencies that are different from each other. In other words, environmental signals in a predetermined frequency band are acquired and stored in the controller 5. Here, in particular, the amplitude or field strength of the received environmental signals can be stored in the corresponding storage unit of the corresponding predetermined test frequency.

[0044] Once the reference measurement R is completed, diagnostic D is performed. During diagnostic D, the functionality of the second antenna 4b is tested. In sub-step D1, the local oscillator 9a of the first receiver 3a is enabled, and in sub-step D2, switch 15 is closed to enable bypass path 14. In sub-step D3, a test signal at a predetermined first test frequency is generated via the local oscillator 9a in the first transmit-receive path 2a and transmitted by the first antenna 4a. In sub-step D4, the second receiver 3b is set to the predetermined first test frequency. Then, in sub-step D5, the test signal transmitted by the first antenna 4a at the predetermined first test frequency is received via the second antenna 4b, and in sub-step D6, it is guided to the controller 5 via the second receiver 3b and stored therein. Here, the amplitude or field strength of the received test signal can also be stored in the corresponding memory unit of the corresponding predetermined test frequency. Sub-steps D3-D6 are performed for multiple test frequencies that are different from each other. Discrete measurements of the frequency band are also performed here. The predetermined test frequency of the generated test signal is associated with the test frequency used in the reference measurement R, thereby allowing comparison between the ambient signal and the test signal. In sub-step D7, switch 15 is turned on and bypass path 14 is disabled. Then, in sub-step D8, the local oscillator 9a of the first receiver 3a is disabled.

[0045] In sub-step D9, the functionality of the second antenna 4b is evaluated. This involves comparing the received ambient signal with the received test signal at a predetermined test frequency. As mentioned above, the stored amplitude or stored field strength can be compared. If the test signal is stronger than the ambient signal at the predetermined test frequency and the difference is a predefined reference value, the second antenna 4b is considered to be functioning correctly; otherwise, it is considered malfunctioning. These predefined reference values ​​can be stored in the controller 5 and measured, for example, by predicting quantities using another functional antenna. This process can be performed by the factory before the wireless broadcast receiving system 1 is put into service.

[0046] After diagnosis D is completed, the closing process N of the radio broadcast receiving system 1 is then performed. In sub-step N1, the initial receiving frequencies of receivers 3a and 3b are set. In sub-step N2, the phase diversity mode of the radio broadcast receiving system 1 is enabled. Subsequently, in sub-step N3, the second receiver 3b of the radio broadcast receiving system 1 is either unmuteed or unmuted.

Claims

1. A diagnostic method (16) for a wireless broadcast receiving system (1) for a motor vehicle (8), -The wireless broadcast receiving system (1) has a first transmit-receive path (2a), the first transmit-receive path having a first receiver (3a) with a local oscillator (9a) and a first antenna (4a) connected to the first receiver (3a) in a signal transmission manner; -The wireless broadcast receiving system (1) has a second transmit-receive path (2b), the second transmit-receive path having a second receiver (3b) and a second antenna (4b) connected to the second receiver (3b) in a signal transmission manner. -The two antennas (4a, 4b) are coupled to each other in a signal transmission manner, and -The wireless broadcast receiving system (1) wherein the wireless broadcast receiving system (1) has a controller (5) for controlling the two transmit-receive paths (2a, 2b). -In the diagnostic method (16), a diagnosis (D) is performed, wherein during the diagnosis (D): In the first transmit-receive path (2a), the test signal is generated at a predetermined test frequency via the local oscillator (9a) of the first receiver (3a) and transmitted via the first antenna (4a). In the second transmit-receive path (2b), the transmitted test signal is received via the second antenna (4b) and guided to the controller (5) via the second receiver (3b), and The controller (5) evaluates the functionality of the second antenna (4b) based on the received test signal. Its features are, In the diagnostic method (16), a baseline measurement (R) is performed prior to the diagnosis (D), wherein during the baseline measurement (R): - Close the first receiver (3a) in the first transmit-receive path (2a), In the second transmit-receive path (2b), the ambient signal at the predetermined test frequency is received via the second antenna (4b) and guided to the controller (5) via the second receiver (3b), and The controller (5) stores the received environmental signals to evaluate the functionality of the second antenna (4b).

2. The diagnostic method (16) according to claim 1, Its features are, The test signal is guided from the local oscillator (9a) of the first receiver (3a) to the first antenna (4a) via a bypass path (14) with a switch (15), and The switch (15) of the bypass path (14) is closed when the diagnosis (D) is performed, and is otherwise open.

3. The diagnostic method (16) according to claim 1, Its features are, The controller (5) is capable of evaluating the received test signals and received environmental signals at the corresponding predetermined test frequency, and - Once the test signal is stronger than the ambient signal at the corresponding predetermined test frequency and the difference is a predefined reference value, the controller (5) can evaluate the second antenna (4a) as functionally normal, otherwise it is evaluated as functionally abnormal.

4. The diagnostic method (16) according to claim 1, Its features are, - During the diagnostic (D) process, multiple test signals are generated at different test frequencies and used by the controller (5) to evaluate the functionality of the second antenna (4b). And / or - During the reference measurement (R), multiple environmental signals are received at their respective test frequencies and stored by the controller (5) for further evaluation of the functionality of the second antenna (4b).

5. The diagnostic method (16) according to claim 1, Its features are, - Before the diagnosis (D) and / or before the reference measurement (R), the phase diversity mode of the radio broadcast receiving system (1) is turned off, and after the diagnosis (D) and / or after the reference measurement (R), it is turned on, and / or - Before the diagnosis (D) and / or the reference measurement (R), the first receiver (3a) and / or the second receiver (3b) of the wireless broadcast receiving system (1) can be muted, and after the diagnosis (D) and / or the reference measurement (R) can be unmute.

6. A wireless broadcast receiving system (1) for a motor vehicle (8), -The wireless broadcast receiving system (1) has a first transmit-receive path (2a), the first transmit-receive path having a first receiver (3a) with a local oscillator (9a) and a first antenna (4a) connected to the first receiver (3a) in a signal transmission manner; -The wireless broadcast receiving system (1) has a second transmit-receive path (2b), the second transmit-receive path having a second receiver (3b) and a second antenna (4b) connected to the second receiver (3b) in a signal transmission manner. -The two antennas (4a, 4b) are coupled to each other in a signal transmission manner, and -The wireless broadcast receiving system (1) wherein the wireless broadcast receiving system (1) has a controller (5) for controlling the two transmit-receive paths (2a, 2b). Its features are, The wireless broadcast receiving system (1) is designed to implement the diagnostic method (16) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The wireless broadcast receiving system (1) according to claim 6, Its features are, The second transmit-receive path (2a) has a signal amplifier (17), and the signal amplifier (17) is connected between the second antenna (4b) and the second receiver (3b).

8. The wireless broadcast receiving system (1) according to claim 6 or 7, Its features are, The first transmit-receive path (2a) has a bypass path (14) with a switch (15), and the bypass path (14) extends from the local oscillator (9a) of the first receiver (3a) to the first antenna (4a).

9. A motor vehicle (8) having a wireless broadcast receiving system (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, Its features are, The first antenna (4a) of the wireless broadcast receiving system (1) is a glass antenna, and the second antenna (4b) of the wireless broadcast receiving system (1) is a glass antenna. -The motor vehicle (8) has at least one piece of glass (7) and the first antenna (4a) and the second antenna (4b) are mounted in the same piece of glass (7), or -The motor vehicle (8) has at least two pieces of glass (7) that are physically separated from each other, and the first antenna (4a) is installed in one of the pieces of glass (7) and the second antenna (4b) is installed in the other piece of glass (7).

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