Low power CD-ROM player for portable computer
First Claim
1. 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.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
133 Citations
42 Claims
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1. 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. 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. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. 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. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An audio-interface IC adapted for use in a digital computer having both a computer subsystem and a CD-ROM subsystem:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification