Audio Precision Demonstrates A2B Audio Test Concept at AES 2017 International Conference on Automotive Audio

September 6 2017, 02:50
Audio Precision announced a technology demonstration of multichannel audio bus testing at the upcoming AES 2017 International Conference on Automotive Audio in San Francisco. Conducted in cooperation with Mentor Automotive, the test scenario will center on the digital audio bus technology developed by Analog Devices, Automotive Audio Bus (A2B), and the concept system will incorporate AP’s eight-channel APx585 audio analyzer and Mentor’s A2B Analyzer platform.
 

Capable of distributing audio and control data together with clock and power over a single, unshielded, low cost twisted-pair wire, A2B from Analog Devices significantly reduces the weight of existing cable harnesses (by upwards of 75% in key applications), resulting in improved vehicle fuel efficiency while delivering high-fidelity audio. A2B also supports the connection of multiple remote sensors for different applications— voice recognition, active noise cancellation, in-car communications — in a daisy-chain sequence, significantly reducing redundant cable runs.

Analog Devices' AD242x family of enhanced A2B transceivers are capable of distributing audio and control data together with clock and power over a single, unshielded, low cost twisted-pair wire. A2B also connects multiple remote sensors for different applications in a daisy chain sequence, significantly reducing redundant cabling runs. As a result, the weight of the cable harness is reduced dramatically, while overall design costs and complexity (in design, installation and maintenance) are reduced due to the need for fewer cables. The A2B technology can also supply power to other devices in the daisy chain, eliminating the need for local power supplies and further reducing total system cost. 

Closed-Loop, Multichannel A2B Audio Test
For the AES Automotive Conference, Audio Precision will demonstrate a concept for a complete, "off-the-shelf" A2B test system using an eight-channel APx585 audio analyzer, APx500 audio measurement software, a Mentor A2B Analyzer System and software. Within the concept system, the Mentor analyzer platform provides straightforward A2B network configuration and simulation, as well as flexible, high-fidelity audio routing. The APx585 delivers comprehensive, multichannel audio measurement analysis and offers a wide range of interface options. ASIO connectivity ties the two analyzer systems together, enabling a true closed-loop test system.

"We're excited to be working with Mentor Automotive and thrilled for the potential A2B audio test capabilities this concept system demonstrates," states Dave Schmoldt, Audio Precision CEO. "And helping engineers — in this case vehicle, automotive subsystem, and component designers — as they endeavor to develop and verify the performance of next-generation audio systems, is at the core of what we do."

Mentor Automotive, a division of Mentor, a Siemens business is a long-established automotive systems supplier, engaged with nearly every leading OEM and Tier 1 supplier, and providing design tools and embedded software in the areas of connectivity, electrification, autonomous drive and vehicle architecture.

Audio Precision's participation in the AES Automotive Conference also includes the tutorial "Not Your Father's AM Car Radio – Characterizing the Audio Performance of Today's Multi-layered Infotainment Systems." Scheduled for Friday, September 8 at 3:30 p.m., the tutorial discusses the variety of tools available to system designers and implementers for the design verification and performance validation of the functional blocks that make today's sophisticated automotive audio systems. The discussion will be led by Jayant Datta, AP Chief Technology Officer, and Dan Foley, AP Sales Engineer.

The AES Automotive Conference runs September 8-10 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport. www.aes.org/conferences/2017/automotive/
www.ap.com
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