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 u
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.
대표청구항▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A controller for enabling a plurality of audio files to be played on a computer subsystem of a computer system if said computer system is in an inactive state, said controller comprising: a switch having a first state and a second state, wherein said switch in said firs
The invention claimed is: 1. A controller for enabling a plurality of audio files to be played on a computer subsystem of a computer system if said computer system is in an inactive state, said controller comprising: a switch having a first state and a second state, wherein said switch in said first state decouples said controller from said computer subsystem and from an audio integrated circuit (IC) coupled to said computer subsystem, wherein said audio IC is configured to play said plurality of audio file if said switch is in said first state, and wherein said switch in said second state couples said controller to said computer subsystem in response to said computer system being in said inactive state; a drive interface configured to interface with a drive of said computer subsystem depending on a state of said switch, wherein said drive interface is configured to access audio data on said drive if said switch is in said second state; and decoder circuitry for providing an audio signal to a speaker so as to play said plurality of audio files if said switch is in said second state, wherein said speaker is selectively coupled to said audio IC and said decoder circuitry according to said state of said switch. 2. The controller of claim 1, wherein said audio data comprises compressed audio data, and wherein said decoder circuitry is configured to receive said compressed audio data and to output decompressed audio data. 3. The controller of claim 2, wherein said decoder circuitry comprises a buffer memory for temporarily storing said decompressed audio data. 4. The controller of claim 3, wherein said buffer memory comprises a first-in-first-out (FIFO) memory. 5. The controller of claim 2, wherein said decoder circuitry comprises a digital to analog circuit for receiving said decompressed audio data and for generating an analog audio signal. 6. The controller of claim 2, wherein said decoder circuitry comprises an interface circuit for receiving said decompressed audio data and for communicating with an external digital to analog converter. 7. The controller of claim 2, further comprising: a processor for controlling said state of said switch and for controlling said decoder circuitry. 8. The controller of claim 7, further comprising: a flash memory for storing data and a plurality of commands, wherein said data and said plurality of commends are used by said processor for controlling said decoder circuitry. 9. The controller of claim 1, further comprising: a liquid crystal display (LCD) interface for generating at least one signal to an LCD display, wherein said LCD display displays directory data associated with said drive. 10. The controller of claim 1, further comprising: a function key interface responsive to a plurality of function keys, wherein said plurality of function keys generate a plurality of user commands to said controller through said function key interface. 11. The controller of claim 1, further comprising: a processor for controlling said state of said switch. 12. The controller of claim 1, wherein said audio data comprises non-compressed audio data. 13. A controller for enabling a plurality of audio files to be played on a computer subsystem of a computer system if said computer system is in an inactive state, said controller comprising: a switch having a first state and a second state, wherein said switch in said first state decouples said controller from said computer subsystem and from an audio IC coupled to said computer subsystem, wherein said audio IC is configured to play said plurality of audio files if said switch is in said first state, and wherein said switch in said second state couples said controller to said computer subsystem in response to said computer system being in said inactive state; a drive interface configured to interface with a drive of said computer subsystem depending on a state of said switch, wherein said drive interface is configured to access compressed audio data on said drive if said switch is in said second state; and decoder circuitry for receiving said compressed audio data and output decompressed audio data to a speaker so as to play said plurality of audio files if said switch is in said second state, wherein said speaker is selectively coupled to said audio IC and said decoder circuit according to said state of said switch. 14. The controller of claim 13, wherein said decoder circuitry comprises a buffer memory for temporarily storing said decompressed audio data. 15. The controller of claim 14, wherein said buffer memory comprises a first-in-first-out (FIFO) memory. 16. The controller of claim 13, wherein said decoder circuitry comprises a digital to analog circuit for receiving said decompressed audio data and for generating an analog audio signal. 17. The controller of claim 13, wherein said decoder circuitry comprises an interface circuit for receiving said decompressed audio data and for communicating with an external digital to analog converter. 18. A method for playing a plurality of audio files in a computer system comprising a computer subsystem, said method comprising: decoupling an audio controller comprising a switch and a drive interface from said computer subsystem and from an audio IC coupled to said computer subsystem if said computer system is in an active state, playing said plurality of audio files by said audio IC if said computer system is in said active state; coupling said audio controller to said computer subsystem if said computer system is in an inactive state; controlling access and playing of said plurality of audio files by said audio controller if said computer system is in said inactive state; and selectively coupling said audio IC and said audio controller to a speaker according to said active state and said inactive state. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: detecting if said computer system is in said active state; and detecting if said computer system is in said inactive state.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (80)
Lam Don T., Audio activity detection circuit to increase battery life in portable computers.
Oh Ji-byoung (Suwon KRX) Suh Moon-hwan (Seoul KRX) Leim Jang-earn (Suwon KRX), CDP-incorporated television receiver which selects a signal based on a type of compact disk detected.
Goodrich D. Stephen (The Woodlands TX) Granzow Drew D. (Spring TX) Mundt Kevin W. (Spring TX) Condra Neil L. (The Woodlands TX) Felcman Chris F. (Spring TX) Tracy Mark S. (Tomball TX) Blackwell Sam D, Combined notepad and notebook computer.
Harper Leroy D. (Sunnyvale CA) Schlichting Grayson C. (Cupertino CA) Hooks Douglas A. (Sunnyvale CA) Cullimore Ian H. S. (Palo Alto CA) Bradshaw Gavin A. (Cupertino CA) Banerjee Biswa R. (San Jose CA, Computer power management system.
Jacobs Bill E. ; Forlenza Dan V. ; Mondshine James L. ; Zhang Tim L. ; Memo Greg B. ; Frost Kevin R. ; Pope Lonnie J., Computer system capable of playing audio CDs in a CD-ROM drive independent of an operating system.
Jacobs William E. ; Forlenza Daniel V. ; Mondshine James L. ; Zhang Tim L. ; Memo Gregory B. ; Frost Kevin R. ; Pope Lonnie J., Computer system capable of playing audio CDs in a CD-ROM drive independent of an operating system.
Clark ; Jr. Louis George (St. Charles MO) Gummow ; Jr. Donald Romaine (O\Fallon MO) Vanacht Marc (St. Louis MO), Hand-held GUI PDA with GPS/DGPS receiver for collecting agronomic and GPS position data.
Bailis Robert Thomas ; Bonds ; Jr. Thomas Lee ; Draughn Roy Lee ; Genzlinger Alvin Dean ; Jensen David John ; Lingafelt Charles Steven ; Oakley Brian Scott ; Ward Michael James, Hot plug of adapters using optical switches.
Moore Mark Douglass (Palo Alto CA) Burckhartt David M. (Houston TX) Johnson Drew S. (Houston TX) Brown Norman P. (Tomball TX) Hess Randall L. (Cypress TX), Launching computer applications.
Chang Jackson,TWX ; Ho Dai-Shui,TWX ; Tsai Shih-Kuang,TWX ; Peng Yi-Zhong,CNX, Method and apparatus for inputting and recognizing characters in a PDA and transferring the recognized characters in parallel to a keyboard buffer of a PC.
Narad Charles E. (Santa Clara CA) Ebrahim Zahir (Mountain View CA) Nishtala Satyanarayana (Cupertino CA) Van Loo William C. (Palo Alto CA) Normoyle Kevin B. (San Jose CA) Coffin ; III Louis F. (San J, Method and apparatus for reducing power consumption in a computer network without sacrificing performance.
Kato Naotaka,JPX ; Kanada Yoshihisa,JPX, Methods and apparatus for downloading data between an information processing device and an external device via a wireless communications technique.
Naotaka Kato JP; Yoshihisa Kanada JP, Methods and apparatus for downloading data between an information processing device and an external device via a wireless communications technique.
Nolan James ; Dellacroce Brian, Microcontroller wake-up function having an interleaving priority scheme for sampling a plurality of analog input signals.
Kikinis Dan (Saratoga CA) Dornier Pascal (Sunnyvale CA) Seiler William J. (Scotts Valley CA), Personal computer system having a docking bay and a hand-held portable computer adapted to dock in the docking bay by a.
Chaiken Craig L. ; Zhang Tim L. ; Mondshine James L. ; Forlenza Daniel V. ; Schlaffer Mark J., Polling and displaying updated audio disk track number in a portable computer.
Smith R. Steven (Saratoga CA) Hanlon Mike S. (San Jose CA) Bailey Robert L. (San Jose CA), Power management for a laptop computer with slow and sleep modes.
Craig L. Chaiken ; Tim L. Zhang ; James L. Mondshine ; Daniel V. Forlenza ; Mark J. Schlaffer, Providing an audio track number to a status display of a portable computer system which is in an audio compact disk play mode.
Moore Mark Douglass ; Burckhartt David M. ; Johnson Drew S. ; Brown Norman P. ; Hess Randall L., Storage medium storing application programs and application initialization files and automatic launching of computer app.
Anatole Vitaly Gershman ; Kishore Sundaram Swaminathan ; James L. Meyers ; Andrew Ernest Fano, System, method and article of manufacture for mobile communication utilizing an interface support framework.
Bodnar Eric O. ; Lee Jennifer J. ; Kahn Philippe R. ; Feague Roy W. ; Jorgensen David E. ; Liu Gwoho H., User interface methodology supporting light data entry for microprocessor device having limited user input.
Sutardja, Sehat; Loc, Peter; Rainnie, Hedley; Janofsky, Eric B., Apparatus, method, and computer program product for recording and reproducing digital data.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.