tlcdcemu -car audio hardware

Multiple hardware adapters have been built and tested. The proposed adapters currently only concern thelevel conversion for protocol emulation and not the analog/SPDIF conversion, so please check first thatyou have a SPDIF output on your PC or soundcard.

The emulator is plugged into the CD changer connector, a 8-pin blue "mini-iso" connector at the back of thehead unit.

Where to get it ?

This connector can be found in multiple places but make sure that metallic contacts are provided (eitherpre-wired or to solder), because the connector is sometimes proposed as an empty shell. Car hi-fi stores are good sources but are sometimesexpensive. eBay is another alternative and I personally bought one from Adaptershop (search on "blau").If you have an actual CD Changer and you're looking for a female connector to insert your adapter (with relay switching) between the CDC andHU, the cheapest way I could find is to dismantle a 1.3 m extender by Blaupunkt , ref 7 607 621 154.

Pinout

Here's a diagram of the head unit pinout. The connector we're interested in here is the blue one: C3.Warning : This pinout is for Philips/VDO/Dayton "Tuner List" and "Update List" head units only. Other models (i.e. Blaupunkt) are known to usethe same physical connectors but with a different pin assignment.Tuner list

APower connector

1 Speed Dependent Volume Control2 n/c

Quick links.

Introduction.1.

Head unit connector.

Where to get it ?1.

Pinout

Tuner list1.

Update list2.

2.

2.

Sample circuits.

Original MAX3232-based version1.

Opto-isolated version2.

Simplest version3.

Full version4.

3.

TLCDCEmu - Hardware http://tlcdcemu.sourceforge.net/hardware.html

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3 Phone mute (ground to activate)4 +12V (constant)5 + Aerial (12V when radio on)6 + Lights (12V when lights on)7 +ACC (12V when ACC on)8 GND

B

Speaker connector1 + Rear Right2 - Rear Right3 + Front Right4 - Front Right5 + Front Left6 - Front Left7 +Rear Left8 - Rear Left

C1

CCU(*) connector1 DTA2 CLK3 MIRQ4 n/c5 Radio ON6 GND

C2(**)

AUX connector (**)7 n/c8 n/c9 n/c10 Audio Left11 Audio Right12 Audio GND

C3CD Changer connector

13 Tx (from HU to CDC or PC)14 Rx (from PC or CDC to HU)


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Update list

15 GND16 12V (constant)17 HU ON (12V when HU is ON)18 SPDIF IN (***)19 SPDIF GND (***)20 (SPDIF GND) (***)

(*) Central Communication Unit. This is the way the HU receives stalk control commands and sends information to the dash display.(**) Auxiliary input only available on Update List models. The AUX input must be activated in the head unit's menu. C2 doesn't exist at allon Tuner List models(***) Models before 2000 have an analog CD Changer audio input instead of SPDIF. In that case, the pinout is as follows: 18=Audio GND,19=Audio Left and 20=Audio Right.


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Note that multiple functions can be provided by following circuits. Not all circuits provide all functions, but you can probably easily combinedifferent circuits if needed.These functions are :- level adaptation in both directions : Mandatory.- optical isolation between PC and head-unit : Optional or mandatory... depends on your PC and HU- propagation of "remote out" signal from the HU to the PC (this wire is at 12V once HU is on and triggers "booting" of actual CD changers) :Optional.- control of relays to switch back and forth between PC and actual CD Changer (if you have one) with the RTS signal : Optional (not done yet).

Original MAX3232-based version

For maximal RS232 compatibility, the first version used uses a MAX3232 to provide the correct levels to the PC.It has been built multiple times and works as long as the following condition is fulfilled :Warning : this version of the adapter assumes HU ground and PC ground are shared, which is frequently not the case with inverter-poweredPCs. Please check if it's the case for you. You might also run into ground loop noise.


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Opto-isolated version

For optical isolation between PC and HU, here is a version using optocouplers. Please note that it relies on fixed levels provided on the RTS(+) and DTR (-) pins of the serial port. Latest versions of the software emulators provided here take care of this. HU_ON (aka HU_REMOTE) istransmitted to the PC, but note that latest software versions don't need it and determine if HU is on simply by checking they get reply to therequests.


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Simplest version


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For maximum simplicity, here is a version without a single IC, only 2 transistors and a few passive components. It might or might not workdepending on the thresholds of your PC's serial port.Warning : this version of the adapter assumes HU ground and PC ground are shared, which is frequently not the case with inverter-poweredPCs. Please check if it's the case for you. You might also run into ground loop noise.

Full version

This version is inspired by the opto-coupled one above with slightly different parts. It also features a relay switching and is particularly suited ifyou have an actual CD changer in your car : if the carPC is off or the emulator is not running, the hardware emulator is disconnected andconnection to the actual CDC is active, providing among other things a smooth transition when booting or shutting down.


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if you feel it deserves it... This project is hosted by

Docume


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tlcdcemu -car audio hardware

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