O2Micro Granted Key Inverter Patent for I-Dimmer Product.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SANTA CLARA, Calif. & GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 2003--O2Micro(R) International Limited (Nasdaq:OIIM), a leading supplier of innovative power management and security ICs to mobile computer and communications manufacturers, was granted 11 claims under United States patent number 6,531,831 for its Lamp Heating and Dimming Control IC, I-Dimmer.

I-Dimmer is an electronic ballast controller that optimizes lamp heating and dimming functions for hot cathode fluorescent lamps (HCFLs). HCFLs are ubiquitous in day-to-day activity, providing most of the light by which one works, shops, dines, etc.

"This patented architecture allows O2Micro to offer consumers cost-effective dimming control, plus an energy-saving technique for daily-use fluorescent lamps," said Dr. Yung Lin executive vice president of O2Micro's Intelligent Lighting business unit.

"We are excited about this patent," said Sterling Du, Chairman and CEO of O2Micro. "It is fundamental to O2Micro's entry into the lighting market."

About O2Micro

Founded in April 1995, O2Micro designs, develops and markets innovative power management and security components for mobile communication, computer, information appliance, and LCD products. Products include AudioDJ(R), SmartCardBus(R) for secure on line e-commerce, Intelligent Lighting and Battery Management ICs.

O2Micro International maintains an extensive portfolio of intellectual property with 1079 patent claims granted, and over 3800 more pending. The company maintains offices worldwide. Additional company and product information can be found on the company website at www.o2micro.com.

Statements made in this release that are not historical, including statements regarding O2Micro's or management's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations, representations, projections, plans or predictions of the future, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in these statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include risks and uncertainties such as reduced demand for products of electronic equipment manufacturers which include O2Micro's products due to adverse economic conditions in general or specifically affecting O2Micro's markets, technical difficulties and delays in the development process, and errors in the products. You are also referred to the documents filed by O2Micro with the SEC from time to time, including but not limited to the Form F-1 in connection with the company's initial public offering in August 2000, which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.