O2micro International Limited

O2 Micro, Incorporated

02 Micro International Limited

02micro Inc.

Micro, LLC

2micro International Limited

James Lam

Sterling D Du

Reginia Chan

Bruce Denning

Aaron Reynoso

Sheau Chuen Her

William Densham

Yishao Max Huang

Jeng-Luen Li

Rajesh B Koilada

Liusheng Liu

Jiwei Chen

Eva Sheng

Vlad Popescu-Stanseti

Volodymyr Ivchenko

Chun-His Lin

A computer system includes a system CPU responsive to a control signal to load a first operating system or a second operating system. The first operating system is run by the computer system in a first operation mode and the second operating system is run by the computer system in a second entertainment mode. A PC operating in an entertainment mode may operate a variety of entertainment software applications. A quick boot process is also provided. The quick boot process may include an accelerated BIOS boot process that defers and delays appropriate tasks. The quick boot process may also include: detecting a condition; performing a BIOS boot process; loading an image file associated with the condition; and executing the image file associated with the condition. The condition may be that associated hardware is unchanged from a previous boot. A parental control system is also disclosed.

Low power digital audio decoding/playing system for computing devices

The present invention is a computer system adapted to play audio files. The computer system includes a central processing unit, a storage unit, a first operating system, an interfacing unit, and a second operating system. The first operating system can control at least the CPU. The interface unit can interface with an external digital media device that may store a plurality of compressed audio files. The second operating system is capable of controlling the computer system operating in an audio playback mode. The power of the computer system is turned on and the computer system plays the plurality of compressed audio files in the audio playback mode when the external digital media device is in communication with the interface unit.

A method according to one embodiment includes coupling at least one power supply to a power bus comprised in a digital camera. The method of this embodiment may also include allocating power to at least one component of the digital camera by coupling at least one component to the power bus based on at least one power management priority rule. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Power management for digital devices

A method and system for tracking a portable device. A tracking system includes a portable device, a first Radio Frequency (RF) module, and a second RF module. The first Radio Frequency (RF) module is installed in the portable device for transmitting a wireless signal. The second RF module is used for receiving the wireless signal. When a received amplitude of the wireless signal that is received by the second RF module is less than a predetermined value, the second RF module generates an alert.

Short range wireless tracking and event notification system for portable devices

A low-power digital audio decoding and playing system and method for computing devices provides a low-cost, low power-consumption, long-battery-life audio playing and decoding system, which may be used to play compressed audio files of various formats. In one aspect, a computer system adapted to play audio files comprises a system CPU, memory, at least one drive comprising compressed audio data, and an audio controller coupled to the system CPU, memory and drive. The audio controller is adapted to cause the drive to read the compressed audio data from the drive, to cause the system CPU to decompress the compressed audio data from the drive into decompressed audio data, to cause the decompressed audio to be stored in the memory, and to cause the decompressed audio data to be retrieved from the memory for playing.

A low-power digital audio decoding and playing system and method for computing devices provides a low-cost, low power-consumption, long-battery-life audio playing and decoding system, which may be used to play compressed audio files of various formats. A software only solution for such a system is provided.

A low-power digital audio decoding and playing system and method for computing devices provides a low-cost, low power-consumption, long-battery-life audio playing and decoding system, which may be used to play compressed audio files of various formats. A software only solution for such a system is provided. Various applications including media select applications, voice recording applications, digital device applications, and remote control applications are also provided.

A personal computer (PC) adapted to function as a personal digital assistant (PDA) includes: a central processing unit (CPU) responsive to a control signal to load a first operating system or a second operating system, wherein the first operating system is run by the PC in a first PC mode and the second operating system is run by the PC in a second PDA mode. Various software application programs that may be run in PDA mode include Internet auction applications, electronic mail access applications, and Internet radio applications.

Personal computer integrated with personal digital assistant

A low-power audio CD player for portable computers permits operation of the CD-ROM subsystem when power is not being supplied to the computer subsystem. In one embodiment of the invention, the computer subsystem comprises a system CPU, a digital-audio generating circuit, a digital computer bus coupling the CPU and the digital-audio generator circuit, and a digital computer bus controller. The CD audio subsystem comprises an audio device capable of playing an audio CD and coupled to the digital computer bus controller, an audio amplifier circuit coupled to the audio device, and an audio interface coupled to the digital computer bus in parallel to the digital computer bus controller and the audio device. The audio interface is adapted to generate signals to operate the audio device and play the audio CD when power is not being supplied to the computer subsystem or to the CPU. In method form, a method for playing an audio CD in a computer system comprises deenergizing a computer CPU; and controlling, using an audio interface coupled to a digital computer bus in parallel to a digital computer bus controller and an audio device capable of playing an audio CD, the audio device and a computer audio amplifier to play an audio CD without supplying energy to the CPU.

Low-power CD-ROM player with CD-ROM subsystem for portable computer capable of playing audio CDs without supply energy to CPU

A personal computer (PC) adapted to function as a personal digital assistant (PDA) includes: a central processing unit (CPU) responsive to a control signal to load a first operating system or a second operating system, wherein the first operating system is run by the PC in a first PC mode and the second operating system is run by the PC in a second PDA mode. A method of operating a personal computer (PC) in either a PC mode or a PDA mode is also provided that includes: initiating a control signal; and loading a first or second operating system based on the control signal, wherein the first operating system operates the PC is the first PC mode and the second operating system operates the PC is the second PDA mode.

A computer capable of playing real time applications includes a processing circuit configured to operate in a first power state, a second power state, and a third power state where the processing circuit consumes less power in the second state than in the first state, and less power in the third state than in the second state; and a real time subsystem coupled to the processing circuit, wherein the real time subsystem includes a buffer. The buffer is further configured to store data and output the data to an output device thereby enabling the processing circuit to enter the third power state while the buffer is outputting said data.

Power conservation techniques for a digital computer

A computer subsystem of a computer includes a CPU, RAM, display, storage device, input device(s), and a digital-audio generating IC. A CD-ROM subsystem of the computer includes a CD-ROM drive and CD-ROM control buttons for controlling CD-ROM drivers operation while playing audio CDs. An audio-interface IC of the CD-ROM subsystem couples a bus of the computer subsystem to the CD-ROM drive, and to the control buttons. The audio-interface IC, in one operating mode, relays commands and data between the bus and the CD-ROM drive. A second operating mode permits turning the computer subsystem off while the audio-interface IC autonomously responds to the control buttons and transmits commands to the CD-ROM drive for playing an audio CD.

Low power CD-ROM player with CD-ROM subsystem for portable computer capable of isolating digital computer bus from CD-ROM drive

The present invention provides systems and methods to operate a PC as an alarm clock. An IC is provided to monitor the power status of PC and generate an alarm clock event at a preselected time. The alarm clock event includes a variety of operations, for example, powering on or off the PC system or controlling an AM/FM or TV module.

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Fremont, CA, United States of America

James Lam