O2Micro Snapshot
O2Micro has more to do with silicon than oxygen. The company makes integrated circuits (ICs) used in LCD computer monitors and TV screens, cell phones, GPS devices, and notebook computers. Its products include energy-saving chips that connect a computer's microprocessor to plug-in cards, chips that let a notebook computer play a CD without powering up the main processor, products that manage and maximize battery usage, and inverters for converting battery power for use by LCDs. Subsidiary O2Security sells network security chips for firewalls and VPNs. The fabless semiconductor company relies on CR Micro, SMIC, and X-FAB to manufacture its chips. Almost all of its sales come from Asia.
