US 6,226,237 B1Granted

Low power CD-ROM player for portable computer

AssigneeO2 Micro International Limited

InventorsReginia Chan, Sterling Du, James Lam, Aaron Reynoso

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Abstract

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 drive's 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.

Claims42

Dependent claims

A digital computer comprising both a computer subsystem and a CD-ROM subsystem:

said computer subsystem including a digital computer bus via which commands and data are exchanged between various pairs of digital computer devices of the computer subsystem that are selected from a group consisting of a central processing unit (“CPU”), a random access memory (“RAM”), a display, a read-write mass storage device, a manual input device, and a digital-audio generating integrated circuit (“IC”);
and
said CD-ROM subsystem including:
a CD-ROM drive;
an audio output amplifier that is coupled to the CD-ROM drive for receiving an analog audio signal from the CD-ROM drive;
a plurality of CD-ROM control buttons for controlling operation of the CD-ROM drive during replay of audio compact disks (“CDs”);
and
an audio-interface IC that is continuously connected to the digital computer bus of said computer subsystem, to a bus extension included in said CD-ROM subsystem to which the CD-ROM drive connects, and to the CD-ROM control buttons, said audio-interface IC comprising transmission gates to selectively couple or isolate said digital computer bus and said bus extension;
the audio-interface IC when the CD-ROM subsystem is energized:
in a first operating mode in which the computer subsystem is energized and operating, relaying commands and data between the digital computer bus of the computer subsystem and the CD-ROM drive;
and
in a second operating mode in which the computer subsystem is not energized and is inoperative, autonomously responding to signals received from the CD-ROM control buttons and transmitting commands to the CD-ROM drive, the commands causing the CD-ROM drive to play an audio CD present in the CD-ROM drive.

9 more elements

An audio-interface IC adapted for use in a digital computer having both a computer subsystem and a CD-ROM subsystem:

the computer subsystem including a digital computer bus via which commands and data are exchanged between various pairs of digital computer devices of the computer subsystem that are selected from a group consisting of a CPU, a RAM, a display, a read-write mass storage device, and a manual input device;
and
the CD-ROM subsystem including:
a CD-ROM drive;
an audio output amplifier that is coupled to the CD-ROM drive for receiving an analog audio signal from the CD-ROM drive;
and
a plurality of CD-ROM control buttons for controlling operation of the CD-ROM drive during replay of audio disks;
the audio-interface IC comprising:
a host-bus interface that is adapted to continuously connect the audio-interface IC with the digital computer bus of the computer subsystem, said host-bus interface comprising transmission gates to selectively couple or isolate said digital computer bus and said CD-ROM drive;
a CD-ROM interface that is adapted to continuously connect the audio-interface IC with a bus extension included in the CD-ROM to which the CD-ROM drive connects;
a control-button logic adapted for coupling the audio-interface IC to the CD-ROM control buttons and for receiving electrical signals from the CD-ROM control buttons;
the audio-interface IC when the CD-ROM subsystem is energized:
in a first operating mode in which the computer subsystem is energized and operating, relaying commands and data between the digital computer bus of the computer subsystem and the CD-ROM drive;
and
in a second operating mode in which the computer subsystem is not energized and is inoperative, autonomously responding to signals received from the CD-ROM control buttons and transmitting commands to the CD-ROM drive, the commands causing the CD-ROM drive to play an audio CD present in the CD-ROM drive.

12 more elements

A digital computer comprising both a computer subsystem and a CD-ROM subsystem:

said computer subsystem including a digital computer bus via which commands and data are exchanged between various pairs of digital computer devices of the computer subsystem that are selected from a group consisting of a CPU, a RAM, a display, a read-write mass storage device, a manual input device, and a digital-audio generating IC;
and
said CD-ROM subsystem including:
a CD-ROM drive;
an audio output amplifier that is coupled to the CD-ROM drive for receiving an analog audio signal from the CD-ROM drive;
a plurality of CD-ROM control buttons for controlling operation of the CD-ROM drive during replay of audio CDs;
and
an audio-interface IC that is coupled to the digital computer bus of said computer subsystem, to the CD-ROM drive, and to the CD-ROM control buttons, said audio-interface IC comprising transmission gates to selectively couple or isolate said digital computer bus and said CD-ROM drive;
the audio-interface IC when the CD-ROM subsystem is energized:
in a first operating mode in which the computer subsystem is energized and operating, relaying commands and data between the digital computer bus of the computer subsystem and the CD-ROM drive;
and
in a second operating mode in which the computer subsystem is not energized and is inoperative, autonomously responding to signals received from the CD-ROM control buttons and transmitting commands to the CD-ROM drive, the commands causing the CD-ROM drive to play an audio CD present in the CD-ROM drive, and when the CD-ROM drive has been idle for a first pre-established interval of time, the audio-interface IC entering a lower power operating mode, and transmitting a command to the CD-ROM drive that places the CD-ROM drive in a lower power operating mode.

9 more elements

An audio-interface IC adapted for use in a digital computer having both a computer subsystem and a CD-ROM subsystem:

the computer subsystem including a digital computer bus via which commands and data are exchanged between various pairs of digital computer devices of the computer subsystem that are selected from a group consisting of a CPU, a RAM, a display, a read-write mass storage device, and a manual input device;
and
the CD-ROM subsystem including:
a CD-ROM drive;
an audio output amplifier that is coupled to the CD-ROM drive for receiving an analog audio signal from the CD-ROM drive;
and
a plurality of CD-ROM control buttons for controlling operation of the CD-ROM drive during replay of CDs;
the audio-interface IC comprising:
a host-bus interface adapted for coupling the audio-interface IC to the digital computer bus of the computer subsystem, said host-bus interface IC comprising transmission gates to selectively couple or isolate said digital computer bus and said CD-ROM drive;
a CD-ROM interface adapted for coupling the audio-interface IC to the CD-ROM drive;
a control-button logic adapted for coupling the audio-interface IC to the CD-ROM control buttons and for receiving electrical signals from the CD-ROM control buttons;
the audio-interface IC when the CD-ROM subsystem is energized:
in a first operating mode in which the computer subsystem is energized and operating, relaying commands and data between the digital computer bus of the computer subsystem and the CD-ROM drive;
and
in a second operating mode in which the computer subsystem is not energized and is inoperative, autonomously responding to signals received from the CD-ROM control buttons and transmitting commands to the CD-ROM drive, the commands causing the CD-ROM drive to play an audio CD present in the CD-ROM drive, and when the CD-ROM drive has been idle for a first pre-established interval of time, the audio-interface IC entering a lower power operating mode, and transmitting a command to the CD-ROM drive that places the CD-ROM drive in a lower power operating mode.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/136,207Filed 19 Aug 1998 · us provisional application
Priority: 26 Mar 1998
Granted: 1 May 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G06F 1/3256
Power saving in peripheral device: power saving in optical drive
G06F 1/3203
Means for saving power: power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
Y02D 10/00
Energy efficient computing
Y02D 30/50
Reducing energy consumption in communication networks: in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate