Sterling S Du

6675233, Jan 6, 2004

Aug 29, 2000

09/650515

Sterling Du - Palo Alto CA
Reginia Chan - Los Altos CA

O2 Micro International Limited - Grand Cayman

G06F 1310

710 14, 710 8, 710 62, 713300, 713324

An audio controller for use with laptop and notebook digital computers for reproducing compressed digital audio recordings. The controller includes a drive interface for traversing and accessing audio data files stored on a drive of a computer system. Function keys coupled to the controller permit users to access drives containing desired audio data. The selected audio data is read from the drive into the controller. Decoding circuitry decodes the audio data and generates a decoded audio data stream. The data stream can be converted to an analog signal by the controller, or sent to the audio subsystem of the computer system. Advantageously, the controller operates when the computer system is in an inactive state, for example in power saving mode or OFF, and operates in passthrough mode when the computer system is ON or active.

6711631, Mar 23, 2004

Jun 16, 2000

09/595103

Reginia Chan - Fremont CA
Sterling Du - Palo Alto CA
James Lam - Fremont CA
Aaron Reynoso - San Jose CA

O2Micro International Limited - Cayman Islands

G06F 1300

710 14, 710 17, 710 19, 710131, 710260, 710266, 713310, 713320, 713323, 713324

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.

6718274, Apr 6, 2004

Jan 15, 2002

10/047419

Yishao Max Huang - San Jose CA
Sterling D. Du - Palo Alto CA

2Micro International Limited - Georgetown

G01R 1900

702 64, 702 65, 710 13, 710301

A controller includes a plurality of readers for reading an associated plurality of expansion cards and for controlling operation of such expansion cards, wherein at least one of the plurality of readers is a flash media reader. A method for controlling the operation of at least one expansion card with an integrated controller having a plurality of readers includes detecting the presence of at least one expansion card, and enabling a selected reader of the integrated controller associated with at least one expansion card. Another method of writing data to read only memory in an integrated controller includes unlocking the read only memory, writing information into the read only memory, and locking the read only memory to prevent otherwise unintentional or unauthorized writing to the read only memory is also provided.

6954804, Oct 11, 2005

Mar 28, 2003

10/402755

James Lam - Fremont CA, US
Bruce Denning - Monterey CA, US
Sterling Du - Palo Alto CA, US

Micro, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

G06F013/10
G06F001/32

710 14, 710 8, 710 62, 713300, 713324

A controller for use with laptop and notebook digital computers for reproducing compressed digital audio and video files. The controller includes a drive interface for traversing and accessing data stored on a drive of a computer system. Function keys or a remote controller permit users to access drives containing desired data. The selected data is read from the drive. A decoder circuit parses the data into audio data and video data and decodes each set of data to generate a decoded audio data stream or video data stream. The audio data stream can be converted to an analog signal by the controller, or sent to an external ADC of the computer system. Advantageously, the controller operates when the computer system is in an inactive state, for example in power saving mode or OFF, and operates in passthrough or bypass mode when the computer system is ON or active.

6981152, Dec 27, 2005

Jul 30, 2001

09/919076

Sterling D. Du - Palo Alto CA, US
Miao Li - San Jose CA, US
Chih Jen Kuo - Milpitas CA, US

360 Degree Web, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

G06F012/14

713193, 713182, 713172, 713185

A smart card security information configuration and recovery system provides a secure Web site and server that allows smart card users to easily create and obtain smart cards and passwords. The client program accesses the smart card inserted into the client computer and retrieves the smart card's ID and other user and system information and sends them to the server which creates an access key. The access key and the smart card ID are stored in the client computer's CMOS or non-volatile memory for boot-up access. The client computer will boot only if the proper smart card is installed or the proper access key is entered when the smart card is unavailable. If the user loses his smart card, then he must gain access to his computer through the access key which the server issues after the user logs in. When the user wants to get a new smart card issued, he logs onto the server which is sent the new smart card's ID that replaces the previous smart card's ID and the server generates a new access key and stores it. The new access key and the smart card's ID are stored in the client computer's CMOS or non-volatile memory for boot access.

7243168, Jul 10, 2007

Mar 23, 2004

10/806529

Reginia Chan - Fremont CA, US
Sterling Du - Palo Alto CA, US
James Lam - Fremont CA, US
Aaron Reynoso - San Jose CA, US

O2 Micro International Ltd. - Grand Cayman

G06F 13/00
G11B 17/22

710 14, 710 17, 710 19, 710107, 710111, 710260, 710266, 710311, 713310, 713320, 713323, 713324, 369 32, 369 33, 369124

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.

7292946, Nov 6, 2007

Apr 6, 2004

10/819246

Yishao Max Huang - San Jose CA, US
Sterling D. Du - Palo Alto CA, US

O2Micro International Limited - Georgetown, Grand Cayman

G01R 19/00
G01R 25/00
G06F 3/00
G06F 13/00

702 64, 702 65, 710 13, 710301

A controller includes a plurality of readers for reading an associated plurality of expansion cards and for controlling operation of such expansion cards, wherein at least one of the plurality of readers is a flash media reader. A method for controlling the operation of at least one expansion card with an integrated controller having a plurality of readers includes detecting the presence of at least one expansion card, and enabling a selected reader of the integrated controller associated with at least one expansion card. Another method of writing data to read only memory in an integrated controller includes unlocking the read only memory, writing information into the read only memory, and locking the read only memory to prevent otherwise unintentional or unauthorized writing to the read only memory is also provided.

7343484, Mar 11, 2008

Mar 28, 2002

10/108768

Sterling Du - Palo Alto CA, US
Bruce Denning - Monterey CA, US
James Lam - Fremont CA, US

O2Micro International Limited - Grand Cayman

G06F 9/22
G06F 9/40
G06F 9/44
G06F 15/177
G06F 1/32

713 2, 713 1, 713100, 713300, 713323, 713324

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.