A test device for testing a low voltage differential signaling connection in a motor vehicle

Abstract

A test device for testing a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) connection 12 in a motor vehicle comprises an adapter element 14 for connecting the test device in series to the low voltage diffe

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a test device for testing a low voltage differential signaling connection in a motor vehicle according to the pending claim 1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] Because of the shielded line inherent to LVDS (Low voltage differential signaling) currently there is no accurate method for micro testing highspeed video / low voltage differential signal harness or signals. The current test method is a visual and physical check of pins and sockets in the LVDS harness. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a test device for testing the low voltage different signal in a motor vehicle. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a test device, by which the low voltage differential signaling connection in a motor vehicle can be tested in an efficient way.

[0004] This object is solved by a test device according to the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are presented in the dependent claims.

[0005] One aspect of the invention relates to a test device for testing a low voltage differential signaling connection in a motor vehicle.

[0006] According to an embodiment, the test device comprises an adapter element for connecting the test device in series to the low voltage differential signaling connection, wherein the test device comprises an electronic computing device for testing captured low voltage differential signaling signals by the adapter element.

[0007] Therefore, the proposed solution describes a programmable microcontroller with a display to plugin to, for example, the FAKRA connectors in series to monitor and graph in particular 0 to 2 Volt signals.

[0008] In particular, the present object is to provide a portable LVDS data collection visualization device designed to capture LVDS data from, in particular, a head unit of the motor vehicle and provide graphic representation of the results.

[0009] This has the advantage to be portable, flexible and user-friendly for a LVDS data analysis.

[0010] The low voltage differential signaling is a signaling technology used for highspeed data transmission with reduced electromagnetic interference. LVDS employs a differential voltage cross pair of wires enabling noise-resistant communication between components.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the low voltage differential signaling signals are transformed into an HDMI signal by the adapter element.

[0012] In another embodiment, the test device comprises a display device for displaying the test results of the low voltage differential signaling connection.

[0013] In another embodiment, the electronic computing device is configured as a Raspberry Pi.

[0014] In another embodiment, the test device comprises an energy storage device for providing energy for the test device.

[0015] According to another embodiment, the test device is configured for capturing a plurality of low voltage differential signaling signals in the low voltage differential signaling connection.

[0016] According to another embodiment, the test device comprises a data storage device, wherein the captured low voltage differential signaling signals are stored inside the data storage device.

[0017] A computing unit / electronic computing device may in particular be understood as a data processing device, which comprises processing circuitry. The computing unit can therefore in particular process data to perform computing operations. This may also include operations to perform indexed accesses to a data structure, for example a look-up table, LUT.

[0018] In particular, the computing unit may include one or more computers, one or more microcontrollers, and / or one or more integrated circuits, for example, one or more application-specific integrated circuits, ASIC, one or more field-programmable gate arrays, FPGA, and / or one or more systems on a chip, SoC. The computing unit may also include one or more processors, for example one or more microprocessors, one or more central processing units, CPU, one or more graphics processing units, GPU, and / or one or more signal processors, in particular one or more digital signal processors, DSP. The computing unit may also include a physical or a virtual cluster of computers or other of said units.

[0019] In various embodiments, the computing unit includes one or more hardware and / or software interfaces and / or one or more memory units.

[0020] A memory unit may be implemented as a volatile data memory, for example a dynamic random access memory, DRAM, or a static random access memory, SRAM, or as a non-volatile data memory, for example a read-only memory, ROM, a programmable read-only memory, PROM, an erasable programmable read-only memory, EPROM, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, EEPROM, a flash memory or flash EEPROM, a ferroelectric random access memory, FRAM, a magnetoresistive random access memory, MRAM, or a phase-change random access memory, PCRAM.

[0021] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and / or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and / or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0023] The drawings show in:

[0024] Fig. 1 a schematic block diagram according to an embodiment of a test device; and

[0025] Fig. 2 a schematic flow chart according to a usage of the test device.

[0026] In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0028] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawing and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[0029] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion so that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by “comprises” or “comprise” does not or do not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.

[0030] In the following detailed description of the embodiment of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawing that forms part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the disclosure may be practiced. This embodiment is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0031] Fig. 1 shows a schematic block diagram according to an embodiment of a test device 10 for a motor vehicle (not shown). In particular, the test device 10 is for testing a low voltage differential signaling connection 12 in the motor vehicle. The test device 10 therefore comprises an adapter element 14 for connecting the test device 10 in series to the low voltage differential signaling connection 12, wherein the test device 10 comprises an electronic computing device 16, in particular microcontroller, for testing captured low voltage differential signaling signals 18 by the adapter element 14.

[0032] In particular, the low voltage differential signaling signals 18 are transformed into an HDMI signal by the adapter element 14. In particular, therefore the adapter element 14 may comprise an HDMI converter. An LVDS-to-HDMI converter is essential to convert the LVDS signals into a format compatible with the HDMI input of the electronic computing device 16, in particular of a microcontroller, for example, a Raspberry Pi facilitating seamless integration and display of the LVDS data.

[0033] According to an embodiment, the test device 10 may comprise a display device 18 for displaying test results of the low voltage differential signaling connection 12.

[0034] The display device 18 may also be configured as a so-called user interface. In particular, incorporating the graphical user interface using, for example, libraries such as Tkinter enhances the usability of the test device 10, allowing a user to control data collection, adjust settings, and few graphical representations of the LVDS data.

[0035] In another embodiment, the electronic computing device 16 may be configured as a Raspberry Pi. A Raspberry Pi is a credit card’s size computer capable of running various operating systems and executing a wide range of tasks. The Raspberry Pi serves as the central processing unit, handling LVDS data acquisition, processing and outputting the results. In addition to its GPIO pins for interfacing with LVDS signals, the Raspberry Pi offers programmability and flexibility, making it suitable for further enhancements and scalability.

[0036] In particular, for example, the programming language may be Python, a widely used and accessible language known for its simplicity and extensive libraries. The Raspberry Pi GPIO enables interaction with the Raspberry Pi's pins, Open CV provides image processing capabilities, NumPy offers numerical computations, Matplotlib facilitates data visualization.

[0037] Furthermore, the test device 10 comprises an energy storage device 20 for providing energy for the test device 10. For example, a USB power bank as the energy storage device 20 may be used. In particular, a power bank with the following specifications may be used: with an output voltage of 5 Volt DC, sufficient to power both the Raspberry Pi and the LVDS to the HDMI converter. Furthermore, the power bank may be selected with the capacity that meets the desired run time and power requirements. Furthermore, USB to DC cable may be provided. The cable that has a USB Type-A connector on the end for a connection to the power bank, and an appropriate DC connector on the other end to match the power inputs of the Raspberry Pi and the LVDS-to-HDMI converter may be used.

[0038] Furthermore, a DC power splitter cable may be optional.

[0039] In another embodiment, the test device 10 is configured for capturing a plurality of low voltage differential signaling signals 18 in the low voltage differential signaling connection 12.

[0040] Furthermore, the test device 10 may comprise a data storage device 22, wherein the captured low voltage differential signaling signals 18 are stored inside the data storage device 22.

[0041] In particular, Fig. 1 shows that the adapter element 14 is connected to the head unit 24 of the motor vehicle in order to collect the data. The LVDS cable with the adapter element 14 is connected to the electronic computing device 16. In particular, it should be ensured to modify the cable as needed. Therefore, the HDMI converter is needed.

[0042] The electronic computing device 16 may send and receive data and the results need to be visualized. All the data is collected and stored in the data storage device 22. The energy storage device 20 provides sufficient power to the electronic computing device 16 and is in particular portable.

[0043] On the display device 26 the data is displayed including signal voltage and signal quality. If there is a signal issue detected, the error and trouble shooting options may be displayed on the display device 26.

[0044] Fig. 2 shows a schematic flow chart according to an embodiment for using the test device 10 of Fig. 1. In particular, in a first step S1 the method starts. In a second step S2, the motor vehicle as well as the test device 10 are turned on. In a third step S3, the test device 10 is connected to the appropriate LVDS harness connection. In a fourth step S4, the data collection and the visualization software are started. In a fifth step S5, the LVDS signal to be monitored can be chosen. In a sixth step S6, the sampling rate and display range may be configured.

[0045] In the fourth step S4, the controller starts automatically in, for example, the Raspberry Pi operation system. The application may have to be selected. In the fifth step S5, signal options may be displayed on the display device 26, which may be, for example, a driver display, a central display or a passenger display.

[0046] In the sixth step S6, the sampling rate may describe how often the signal is sampled, and a display range may describe what voltage values are displayed.

[0047] After the sixth step S6, the seventh step S7 may be performed, wherein in the seventh step S7, the data collection may be started by clicking a start button on the test device 10. In an eighth step S8, it is monitored, if a test signal is detected. If not, a few trouble shoot options for the user may be displayed on the display device 26, which is shown with a nineth step S9. If a signal is detected, a tenth step S10 is performed, wherein the data are displayed on the display device 26, for example, as a graph, including the LVDS signal voltage and signal quality.

[0048] In an eleventh step S11, the data is saved locally or over the air. For example, USB or memory cards may be used to store the data. Furthermore, mandatory fields for input of the vehicle identification may be created. In particular, the data must be locked with information about the motor vehicle that is being checked.

[0049] Inatwelfth step S12 the method ends. Signs test device low voltage differential signaling connection adapter element electronic computing device low voltage differential signaling signals energy storage device data storage device head unit display device steps of the method

Claims

1. A test device (10) for testing a low voltage differential signaling connection (12) in a motor vehicle, characterized in thatthe test device (10) comprises an adapter element (14) for connecting the test device (10) in series to the low voltage differential signaling connection (12), wherein the test device (10) comprises an electronic computing device (16) for testing captured Low voltage differential signaling signals (18) by the adapter element (14).

2. The test device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe low voltage differential signaling signals (18) are transformed into an HDMI signal by the adapter element (14).

3. The test device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatthe test device (10) comprises a display device (26) for displaying test results of the low voltage differential signaling connection (12).

4. The test device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in thatthe electronic computing device (16) is configured as a Rasperry Pi.

5. The test device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in thatthe test device (10) comprises an energy storage device (20) for providing energy for the test device (10).

6. The test device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in thatthe test device (10) is configured for capturing a plurality of low voltage differential signaling signals (18) in the Low voltage differential signaling connection (12).

7. The test device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in thatthe test device (10) comprises a data storage device (22), wherein the captured low voltage differential signaling signals (18) are stored inside the data storage device (22).

Images