USB audio controller

• US 7,962,668 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2009
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solid State System Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Solid State System Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Ding, Rong-Hwa
• Primary Examiner(s): TSENG, CHENG YUAN
• Application Number:
  US12/541,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20100161857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 710/31
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L

Abstract

A USB audio controller includes a USB interface unit, an audio interface unit, a storage interface unit, and a processing unit. The USB interface unit is used to connect to a USB bus for communicating with a host by a communication information. The audio interface unit is used to connect to at least one audio device for communicating with an audio signal. The storage interface unit is used to connect to a memory unit for communicating storage information. The processing unit is for processing the communicating information, storage information, or audio signal.

Claims

1. A universal serial bus (USB) audio controller, comprising:

a USB interface unit, used to connect to a USB bus for communicating with a USB host by a communication information;

an audio interface unit, used to connect to at least one audio device for communicating with an audio signal;

a storage interface unit, used to communicate with an external storage unit by a storage information; and

a processing unit, having at least one processor with data exchange or sharing scheme when multiple processors exist, for processing the communicating information, the storage information, or the audio signal, wherein when the USB interface unit is connected to the USB host, the processing unit processes with respect to a USB device class definition for the audio devices or operates together with a software in the USB host to work as function of a USB external sound card, and processes with respect to USB mass storage class specifications or operates together with a software in the USB host to work as a USB storage device, wherein when the USB interface unit is disconnected from the USB host, the processing unit processes an audio playback function with an audio source from the external storage unit or an audio record function with an audio source from audio interface unit,

wherein when the USB audio controller is connected to the USB host and works as the USB external sound card, the controller records a first audio information which is from the audio interface unit to the USB host and stores a second audio information which is from the USB host to the audio interface unit to the external storage unit, wherein the first audio information and the second audio information are stored to the external storage unit without involving operation of the USB host.

2. The USB audio controller of claim 1, wherein a user switching function input is provided for a user to select USB audio device only or USB storage device only when the USB audio controller is connected to the USB host.

3. The USB audio controller of claim 1, wherein the audio signal comprises an input audio signal or an output audio signal, and the audio interface unit comprises one audio input unit for receiving the input audio signal or comprises one audio output unit for outputting the output audio signal.

4. The USB audio controller of claim 3, wherein the audio input unit comprises at least one analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit, or the audio output unit comprises at least one digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuit.

5. The USB audio controller of claim 1, wherein the processing unit comprises a capability to compress or decompress an audio compressed format.

6. The USB audio controller of claim 1, wherein a nonvolatile memory unit is embedded in the USB audio controller to communicate with the storage interface unit.

7. The USB audio controller of claim 1, wherein when the USB audio controller is connected to the USB host, the storage information is an original audio signal output to the audio device from the USB host via the audio interface unit or a compressed audio signal of the original audio signal.

8. The USB audio controller of claim 1, wherein when the USB audio controller is connected to the USB host, the storage information is an original audio signal input to the USB host from the audio device via the audio interface unit or a compressed audio signal of the original audio signal.

9. The USB audio controller of claim 1, wherein when the USB audio controller is connected to the USB host, a software for VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) application stored in the storage unit is communicating with the USB host via the storage unit and the USB interface unit and is executed by the USB host.

10. The USB audio controller of claim 1, wherein the USB interface unit, the audio interface unit, the storage interface unit, and the processing unit are integrated as a single integrated circuit chip.

11. A universal serial bus (USB) audio controller, comprising:

a USB interface unit, used to connect a USB bus for communicating with a USB host by a communication information;

an audio interface unit, used to connect to at least one audio device for communicating with an audio signal;

a storage interface unit, used to communicate with an external storage unit by a storage information; and

a processing unit, having a hardware circuit or at least one processor with data exchange or sharing scheme when multiple processors exist, for processing the communicating information, the storage information, or the audio signal wherein the processing unit is in compliant to a USB audio device class protocol with respect to a USB device class definition for the at least one audio device;

wherein when the USB interface unit is connected to the USB host, the processing unit operates together with a software in the USB host to let the USB audio controller having function of a USB external sound card of the USB host, such that the controller records a first audio information which is from the audio interface unit to the USB host and stores a second audio information which is from the USB host to the audio interface unit to the external storage unit, wherein the first audio information and the second audio information are stored to the external storage unit independent from operations of the USB host; and

when the USB interface unit is disconnected from the USB host, the processing unit is capable of processing an audio playback function with an audio source from the external storage unit or an audio record function with an audio source from audio interface unit.