Patents by Inventor Bruce Denning

Bruce Denning has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8232773
    Abstract: An over voltage transient controller to protect a rechargeable battery from an over voltage transient condition. The over voltage transient controller may comprise a comparator to compare a first signal with a second signal representative of a reference voltage level and to provide an output signal representative of an over voltage transient condition to a switch if the first signal is greater than or equal to the second signal. The switch is responsive to the output signal to protect the rechargeable battery from the over voltage transient condition. The over voltage transient controller may further comprise a DAC, wherein the second signal is based, at least in part, on an output of the DAC. An apparatus comprising a charge switch and such an over voltage transient controller is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: O2Micro, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Denning, Guoxing Li, Liusheng Liu
  • Patent number: 7890741
    Abstract: A computer system includes a system CPU responsive to a control signal to load a first operating system or a second operating system. The first operating system is run by the computer system in a first operation mode and the second operating system is run by the computer system in a second entertainment mode. A PC operating in an entertainment mode may operate a variety of entertainment software applications. A quick boot process is also provided. The quick boot process may include an accelerated BIOS boot process that defers and delays appropriate tasks. The quick boot process may also include: detecting a condition; performing a BIOS boot process; loading an image file associated with the condition; and executing the image file associated with the condition. The condition may be that associated hardware is unchanged from a previous boot. A parental control system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: O2Micro International Limited
    Inventors: Sterling Du, James Lam, Bruce Denning
  • Patent number: 7822956
    Abstract: A computer system includes a system CPU responsive to a control signal to load a first operating system or a second operating system. The first operating system is run by the computer system in a first operation mode and the second operating system is run by the computer system in a second entertainment mode. A PC operating in an entertainment mode may operate a variety of entertainment software applications. A quick boot process is also provided. The quick boot process may include an accelerated BIOS boot process that defers and delays appropriate tasks. The quick boot process may also include: detecting a condition; performing a BIOS boot process; loading an image file associated with the condition; and executing the image file associated with the condition. The condition may be that associated hardware is unchanged from a previous boot. A parental control system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: O2Micro International Limited
    Inventors: Sterling Du, James Lam, Bruce Denning
  • Patent number: 7646169
    Abstract: Battery protection circuitry and method are disclosed. A battery is protected from a large current overdrawn condition by setting a discharge switch into a controllable conduction state. After the discharge switch is in the controllable conduction state, a tickle discharge current is gradually generated under control of a switch control signal. The trickle discharge current can be used to determine whether the large current overdrawn condition still exists. When the large current overdrawn condition is removed, the discharge switch is turned back on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: O2Micro International Ltd.
    Inventors: Liusheng Liu, Bruce Denning
  • Patent number: 7522966
    Abstract: A low-power digital audio decoding and playing system and method for computing devices provides a low-cost, low power-consumption, long-battery-life audio playing and decoding system, which may be used to play compressed audio files of various formats. A software only solution for such a system is provided. Various applications including media select applications, voice recording applications, digital device applications, and remote control applications are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: O2Micro International Limited
    Inventors: Sterling Du, James Lam, Bruce Denning
  • Patent number: 7424623
    Abstract: 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. Various software application programs that may be run in PDA mode include Internet auction applications, electronic mail access applications, and Internet radio applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited
    Inventors: Sterling Du, Bruce Denning, James Lam
  • Patent number: 7343484
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: O2Micro International Limited
    Inventors: Sterling Du, Bruce Denning, James Lam
  • Publication number: 20080012532
    Abstract: A secondary battery protection circuit may include an over voltage detector circuit configured to monitor a voltage level of an associated cell of a rechargeable battery and provide an output signal to a switch in response to a comparison of the voltage level of the cell to an over voltage threshold level. The switch may be coupled between the rechargeable battery and a DC power source and capable of moving between conducting and non-conducting states. The switch may also be responsive to the output signal to protect the rechargeable battery if the voltage level of said cell is greater than the over voltage threshold level for a time interval less than or equal to a transient time interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: O2MICRO, INC.
    Inventor: Bruce Denning
  • Publication number: 20070024243
    Abstract: Battery protection circuitry and method are disclosed. A battery is protected from a large current overdrawn condition by setting a discharge switch into a controllable conduction state. After the discharge switch is in the controllable conduction state, a tickle discharge current is gradually generated under control of a switch control signal. The trickle discharge current can be used to determine whether the large current overdrawn condition still exists. When the large current overdrawn condition is removed, the discharge switch is turned back on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Liusheng Liu, Bruce Denning
  • Publication number: 20060279289
    Abstract: Full capacity determination in a battery gas gauge. Operations include measuring instantaneous open circuit voltage levels during an open circuit time interval for a specific battery cell and correlating such measurements to estimate values. Such estimated values may then be correlated to associated relative state of charge levels. Finally, a full capacity calculation can be made based on the associated relative state of charge levels. A plurality of full capacity determinations may also be made and compared to each other to assess the reliability of such determinations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Applicant: O2MICRO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Bruce Denning
  • Publication number: 20060080475
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Inventors: James Lam, Bruce Denning, Sterling Du
  • Publication number: 20050248320
    Abstract: A battery pack may include at least one battery cell, a discharge switch coupled to the at least one battery cell, and monitoring and control circuitry responsive to a position of a trigger of an associated cordless power tool to provide a control signal to the discharge switch. The discharge switch may be responsive to the control signal to control a discharge current provided to a load of the cordless power tool. The load may be a motor driving an element of the cordless power tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventor: Bruce Denning
  • Publication number: 20050248309
    Abstract: A cordless power tool may include tool identification circuitry to provide a tool identification signal to a battery pack. The tool identification signal may be representative of data particular to the cordless power tool. A method may include coupling a battery pack to a cordless power tool, and providing a tool identification signal to the battery pack from the cordless power tool once the battery pack is coupled to the cordless power tool, the tool identification signal representative of data particular to the cordless power tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventor: Bruce Denning
  • Publication number: 20050248318
    Abstract: A method consistent with an embodiment may include selecting one of a plurality of components of a power supply system of a cordless power tool to be a protected weak link element. The method may also include configuring the protected weak link element to fail from an overload condition before failure of a remainder of the plurality of components from the overload condition, monitoring a power condition of the protected weak link element, and protecting the protected weak link element from the overload condition to thereby also protect the remainder of the components from the overload condition. A battery pack and a cordless power tool are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventor: Bruce Denning
  • Publication number: 20050237028
    Abstract: A secondary battery protection circuit may include an over voltage detector circuit configured to monitor a voltage level of an associated cell of a rechargeable battery and provide an output signal to a switch in response to a comparison of the voltage level of the cell to an over voltage threshold level. The switch may be coupled between the rechargeable battery and a DC power source and capable of moving between conducting and non-conducting states. The switch may also be responsive to the output signal to protect the rechargeable battery if the voltage level of said cell is greater than the over voltage threshold level for a time interval less than or equal to a transient time interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventor: Bruce Denning
  • Publication number: 20050231206
    Abstract: Full capacity determination in a battery gas gauge. Operations include measuring instantaneous open circuit voltage levels during an open circuit time interval for a specific battery cell and correlating such measurements to estimate values. Such estimated values may then be correlated to associated relative state of charge levels. Finally, a full capacity calculation can be made based on the associated relative state of charge levels. A plurality of full capacity determinations may also be made and compared to each other to assess the reliability of such determinations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventor: Bruce Denning
  • Patent number: 6954804
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Micro, Inc.
    Inventors: James Lam, Bruce Denning, Sterling Du
  • Publication number: 20050212484
    Abstract: Battery charging circuitry and systems are provided. One embodiment may include at least one switch having a full conduction state and a controllable conduction state and switch control circuitry capable of sensing a condition. The switch control circuitry may further be capable of generating at least one control signal capable of controlling the conduction state of the switch based on, at least in part, the sensed condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Bruce Denning, Guoxing Li, Liusheng Liu
  • Publication number: 20050212489
    Abstract: An over voltage transient controller to protect a rechargeable battery from an over voltage transient condition. The over voltage transient controller may comprise a comparator to compare a first signal with a second signal representative of a reference voltage level and to provide an output signal representative of an over voltage transient condition to a switch if the first signal is greater than or equal to the second signal. The switch is responsive to the output signal to protect the rechargeable battery from the over voltage transient condition. The over voltage transient controller may further comprise a DAC, wherein the second signal is based, at least in part, on an output of the DAC. An apparatus comprising a charge switch and such an over voltage transient controller is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Bruce Denning, Guoxing Li, Liusheng Liu
  • Publication number: 20040024931
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: James Lam, Bruce Denning, Sterling Du