Methods, systems and apparatus to use audio return path for functional safety validation

At least one non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by computing hardware, including a processor circuitry coupled to a memory circuitry, cause the computing hardware of a System-on-Chip (SoC) to:

• issue a safety warning signal from a Safety Application of the platform, the safety warning signal configured for audio delivery to a human audience;
• transmit the safety warning signal through a transmit path, the transmit path further comprising an audio driver, an Input/Output (TO) bus with at least one dedicated I/O pin, and a digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry in communication with the Safety Application;
• detect the safety warning signal at the dedicated I/O pin;
• communicate the detected safety warning signal back to the Safety Application;
• and
• confirm communication of the safety warning signal;
• wherein the transmit path, the I/O bus, the Safety Application and the DSP circuitry are integrated on the SoC;
• and
• wherein the at least one dedicated I/O pin is exclusive to the FuSa platform validation operation.

A method to validate operation of a Functional Safety (FuSa) System-on-Chip (SoC) platform through delivery of a warning signal, the method comprising:

• issuing a safety warning signal at a Safety Application of the platform, the safety warning signal configured for audio delivery to a human audience;
• transmitting the safety warning signal through a transmit path, the transmit path further comprising an audio driver, an Input/Output (I/O) bus with a at least one dedicated I/O pin and a digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry in communication with the Safety Application;
• detecting the safety warning signal at the at least one dedicated I/O pin;
• communicating the detected safety warning signal back to the Safety Application through a receive path;
• and
• confirming communication of the safety warning signal;
• wherein the transmit path, the I/O bus, the receive path, the Safety Application and the DSP circuitry are integrated on the SoC;
• and wherein the at least one dedicated I/O pin is exclusive to the FuSa platform validation operation.