1. A personal monitor system for monitoring a safety of a person that might be exposed to a gas or other hazards while at a worksite or while traveling to or from the worksite, the personal monitor system comprising:
a central base system;
a portable transceiver unit carried by the person and being movable thereby to a remote location relative to the central base system, the portable transceiver unit includes a logic circuit;
a wireless communication link placing the portable transceiver unit in communication with the central base system;
a gas sensor borne by the portable transceiver unit, operatively coupled to the logic circuit, and being responsive to the gas;
a user interface borne by the portable transceiver unit, the user interface being operatively coupled to the logic circuit and being responsive to a plurality of manual manipulations by the person;
a notification system borne by the portable transceiver unit and being operatively coupled to the logic circuit;
an alarm emanating from the notification system if a concentration of the gas, as sensed by the gas sensor, exceeds a predetermined limit;
an alarm message displayed by the central base system as a result of the concentration of gas (as sensed by the gas sensor) exceeding the predetermined limit;
a plurality of prompt signals periodically emanating from the notification system, wherein the plurality of prompt signals includes a first prompt signal;
a first check-in signal conveyed by the wireless communication link from the portable transceiver unit to the central base system in response to a first manual manipulation of the user interface, wherein the first manual manipulation is one of the plurality of manual manipulations; and
a warning message displayed by the central base system if the central base system fails to receive a subsequent check-in signal within a certain time span following at least one of the first check-in signal and the first prompt signal.
2. The personal monitor system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of command signals conveyed by the wireless communication link from the central base system to the portable transceiver unit, the plurality of prompt signals at the portable transceiver unit being initiated by the plurality of command signals from the central base.
3. The personal monitor system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of prompt signals occur more frequently when the portable transceiver is at the worksite than when the portable transceiver is traveling to the worksite.
4. The personal monitor system of claim 1, further comprising a record provided by the central base system, the record identifying whether the portable transceiver unit is at the worksite or traveling thereto.
5. The personal monitor system of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a push button that, depending on how many times the push button is depressed in succession, indicates whether the person is calling for help or the person is okay.
6. The personal monitor system of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a push button that, depending on how many times the push button is depressed in succession, indicates whether the portable transceiver unit is traveling beyond the worksite or is at the worksite.
7. A personal monitor method that involves the use of a central base system and a portable transceiver unit for monitoring a safety of a person that might be exposed to a gas or other hazards while at a worksite or while traveling to or from the worksite, wherein the worksite is at a remote location relative to the central base system, the personal monitor method comprising:
during a chosen period of monitoring, maintaining the portable transceiver unit in proximity with the person such that the portable transceiver unit and the person generally travel and move with each other during the chosen period of monitoring;
at least periodically establishing wireless communication between the portable transceiver unit and the central base system;
sensing the gas via a gas sensor borne by the portable transceiver unit;
the portable transceiver unit notifying the person when a concentration of the gas exceeds a predetermined limit;
during a first period within the chosen period of monitoring, the person and the portable transceiver unit traveling to the worksite;
during a second period within the chosen period of monitoring, the person and the portable transceiver unit moving with each other at the worksite;
at least one of the portable transceiver unit and the central base determining whether the portable transceiver unit is traveling to the worksite or is at the worksite; and
the portable transceiver unit periodically prompting the person to manually manipulate a user interface on the transceiver unit when the portable transceiver unit is at the worksite.
8. The personal monitor method of claim 7, further comprising the central base system commanding that the portable transceiver unit is to prompt the person to manually manipulate the user interface on the transceiver unit.
9. The personal monitor method of claim 7, wherein the prompting occurs less frequently, if at all, when the portable transceiver unit is traveling to the worksite than when the portable transceiver unit is at the worksite.
10. The personal monitor method of claim 7, further comprising prompting the person to manually manipulate the user interface on the portable transceiver unit when the portable transceiver unit is at a generally fixed location off the worksite.
11. The personal monitor method of claim 7, further comprising the person manipulating the user interface to create a signal that indicates that the portable transceiver unit has arrived at the worksite.
12. The personal monitor method of claim 7, further comprising the wireless communication link conveying a location signal from the portable transceiver unit to the central base system, wherein determining whether the portable transceiver unit is traveling to the worksite or is at the worksite is based on the location signal.
13. The personal monitor method of claim 7, wherein the user interface includes a push button, and further comprising the person selectively pressing the push button a first given number of times to indicate that the person has arrived at the worksite and pressing the push button a second given number of times to indicate that the person is departing the worksite, the given numbers being equal to at least one, the first given number being distinguishable from the second given number, and the person pressing the push button the given number in succession if the given number is greater than one.
14. The personal monitor method of claim 7, wherein the user interface includes a push button, and further comprising the person selectively pressing the push button a given number of times to indicate that the person is no longer at the worksite but instead is at a predetermined home location, the given number being equal to at least one, and the person pressing the push button the given number in succession if the given number is greater than one.
15. The personal monitor method of claim 14, further comprising:
the wireless communication link repeatedly conveying a location signal from the portable transceiver unit to the central base system; and
after pressing the push button the given number of times to indicate that the person is at the predetermined home location, determining (based on the location signal) whether the portable transceiver unit is traveling from the predetermined home location.
16. The personal monitor method of claim 7, wherein the user interface includes a push button, and further comprising the person selectively pressing the push button a first given number of times to indicate that the person is okay and pressing the push button a second given number of times to indicate that the person is requesting assistance, the given numbers being equal to at least one, the first given number being distinguishable from the second given number, and the person pressing the push button the given number in succession if the given number is greater than one.
17. The personal monitor method of claim 7, further comprising displaying a warning at the central base system in response to the person failing to manually manipulate the user interface in spite of the portable transceiver unit’s prompting of the person to do so.
18. The personal monitor method of claim 7, wherein the user interface includes a push button, and further comprising:
the person selectively pressing the push button a given number of times to indicate that the person is at the worksite, the given number being equal to at least one;
the wireless communication link conveying a location signal from the portable transceiver unit to the central base system; and
recording an association of the worksite and the location signal.
19. The personal monitor method of claim 7, further comprising:
manipulating the user interface to send a first drill signal to the central base, the first drill signal indicating that a first drill is being initiated at the worksite, the first drill involving a first set of actions to be performed by a crew at the worksite;
prompting the crew to perform the first set of actions at the worksite;
manipulating the user interface to send a completion signal to the central base, the completion signal indicating that the crew completed the first set of actions at the worksite; and
recording an occurrence of the first drill signal and the completion signal, thereby creating a first record that includes a date and time-of-day stamp associated with the first drill.
20. The personal monitor method of claim 19, further comprising:
manipulating the user interface to send a second drill signal to the central base, the second drill signal indicating that a second drill is being initiated at the worksite, the second drill involving a second set of actions to be performed by the crew at the worksite, the first drill being distinguishable from the second drill with the first set of actions being distinguishable from the second set of actions;
prompting the crew to perform the second set of actions at the worksite;
recording an occurrence of the second drill signal; and
creating a second record that includes a second date and time-of-day stamp associated with the second drill.
21. The personal monitor method of claim 7, further comprising selectively manipulating the user interface in a first manner and a second manner with the first manner being for soliciting assistance related to a potential health problem and the second manner being for soliciting assistance related to a potential illegal activity.
22. A personal monitor method that involves the use of a central base system and a portable transceiver unit for monitoring a safety of a person that might be exposed to a gas or other hazards while at a worksite or while traveling to or from the worksite, wherein the worksite is at a remote location relative to the central base system, the personal monitor method comprising:
maintaining the portable transceiver unit in proximity with the person such that the portable transceiver unit and the person generally travel and move with each other;
at least periodically establishing wireless communication between the portable transceiver unit and the central base system;
sensing the gas via a gas sensor borne by the portable transceiver unit;
the portable transceiver unit notifying the person when a concentration of the gas exceeds a predetermined limit;
during a first period, the person and the portable transceiver unit traveling to the worksite;
during a second period, the person and the portable transceiver unit moving with each other at the worksite;
at least one of the portable transceiver unit and the central base system determining whether the portable transceiver unit is traveling to the worksite or is at the worksite;
the portable transceiver unit periodically prompting the person to push a push button on the transceiver unit when the portable transceiver unit is at the worksite;
the person selectively pressing the push button on the portable transceiver unit a first given number of times to indicate that the person has arrived at the worksite;
the person selectively pressing the push button a second given number of times to indicate that the person is departing the worksite;
the person selectively pressing the push button a third given number of times to indicate that the person is okay; and
the person selectively pressing the push button a fourth given number of times to indicate that the person is requesting assistance, the given numbers being equal to at least one, the given numbers being distinguishable from each other, and the person pressing the push button the given number in succession if the given number is greater than one.
23. The personal monitor method of claim 22, wherein the prompting occurs less frequently, if at all, when the portable transceiver unit is traveling beyond the worksite than when the portable transceiver unit is at the worksite.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A voltage select circuit, comprising:
a plurality of first transfer elements configured to transfer respective operating voltages to a first output terminal;
a transfer select circuit unit configured to output a first voltage necessary to transfer an operating voltage, selected from among the operating voltages, to at least one first transfer element in response to a plurality of enable signals; and
a control circuit configured to boost the first voltage to a second voltage in response to the plurality of enable signals.
2. The voltage select circuit of claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises:
a first OR gate configured to generate a result signal by performing an OR operation on the plurality of enable signals;
a delay circuit configured to generate an output signal by delaying the result signal of the first OR gate for a specific time period;
an inverter configured to generate an inverted signal by inverting the output signal;
a voltage supply circuit configured to output a third voltage or a ground voltage to a second output terminal in response to the output signal of the delay circuit and the inverted signal of the inverter, where the third voltage is higher than the first voltage, but lower than the second voltage; and
a plurality of capacitors coupled between respective first transfer elements and the second output terminal and configured to boost the first voltage, supplied to the first transfer element, to the second voltage by using the third voltage outputted to the second output terminal.
3. The voltage select circuit of claim 2, wherein the voltage supply circuit comprises:
a first switching element coupled between an output terminal of the delay circuit and the second output terminal and turned on in response to the output signal of the delay circuit;
a second switching element coupled between the second output terminal and a ground node of the ground voltage and turned on in response to the inverted signal of the inverter; and
third and fourth switching elements coupled in series between an input terminal to which the third voltage is inputted and the second output terminal,
wherein the third switching element is turned on in response to a signal of the second output terminal,
the fourth switching element is turned on in response to the inverted signal of the inverter,
the first to third switching elements are turned on in response to a signal of a high level, and
the fourth switching element is turned on in response to a signal of a low level.
4. The voltage select circuit of claim 3, wherein the transfer select circuit unit comprises a plurality of transfer select circuits for supplying the first voltage or the ground voltage to at least one first transfer element in response to the respective enable signals.
5. The voltage select circuit of claim 4, wherein each of the transfer select circuits comprises:
fifth and sixth switching elements coupled in series between an input terminal of a power source voltage and the ground node, wherein the fifth switching element is turned on in response to the enable signal and the sixth switching element is turned on in response to an inverse enable signal of the enable signal; and
seventh and eighth switching elements coupled in series between the input terminal of the power source voltage and a node of the fifth and the sixth switching elements, wherein the seventh switching element is turned on in response to the enable signal, and the eighth switching element is turned on in response to the inverse enable signal of the enable signal,
wherein the first voltage or the ground voltage is transferred to the first transfer element through a node of the seventh and the eighth switching elements.
6. The voltage select circuit of claim 3, wherein the transfer select circuit unit comprises:
a second OR gate configured to generate a select signal by performing an OR operation on the plurality of enable signals;
a select voltage supply circuit configured to output the first voltage to a third output terminal in response to the select signal;
second transfer elements configured to transfer the first voltage to a respective first transfer element in response to the plurality of enable signals.
7. The voltage select circuit of claim 6, wherein the select voltage supply circuit comprises:
ninth and tenth switching elements coupled in series between an input terminal of a power source voltage and the ground node, wherein the ninth switching element is turned on in response to the enable signal and the tenth switching element is turned on in response to an inverse enable signal of the enable signal; and
eleventh and twelfth switching elements coupled in series between the input terminal of the power source voltage and a node of the ninth and the tenth switching elements, wherein the eleventh switching element is turned on in response to the enable signal, and the twelfth switching element is turned on in response to the inverse enable signal of the enable signal,
wherein a node of the eleventh and the twelfth switching elements is coupled to the third output terminal.
8. The voltage select circuit of claim 1, wherein each of the first transfer elements is a transistor for transferring a high voltage.
9. An integrated circuit, comprising:
internal circuits operated in response to an operation control signal and respective operating voltages selected from among a plurality of operating voltages;
voltage select circuits coupled to respective internal circuits and configured to select the operating voltages to be supplied to the respective internal circuits in response to the plurality of operating voltages and a plurality of enable signals,
wherein each of the voltage select circuits comprises:
a plurality of first transfer elements configured to transfer the respective operating voltages to a first output terminal coupled to the internal circuits;
a transfer select circuit unit configured to output a first voltage for transferring an operating voltage, selected from among the plurality of operating voltages, to at least one first transfer element which transfers the selected operating voltage in response to a plurality of enable signals; and
a control circuit configured to boost the first voltage to a second voltage in response to the plurality of enable signals.
10. The integrated circuit of claim 9, wherein the control circuit comprises:
a first OR gate configured to generate a result signal by performing an OR operation on the plurality of enable signals;
a delay circuit configured to generate an output signal by delaying the result signal of the first OR gate for a specific time period;
an inverter configured to generate an inverted signal by inverting the output signal;
a voltage supply circuit configured to output a third voltage higher than the first voltage, but lower than the second voltage or a ground voltage to a second output terminal in response to the output signal of the delay circuit and the inverted signal of the inverter; and
a plurality of capacitors coupled between respective first transfer elements and the second output terminal and configured to boost the first voltage, supplied to the first transfer element, to the second voltage by using the third voltage outputted to the second output terminal.
11. The integrated circuit of claim 10, wherein the voltage supply circuit comprises:
a first switching element coupled between an output terminal of the delay circuit and the second output terminal and turned on in response to the output signal of the delay circuit;
a second switching element coupled between the second output terminal and a ground node of the ground voltage and turned on in response to the inverted signal of the inverter; and
third and fourth switching elements coupled in series between an input terminal to which the second voltage is inputted and the second output terminal, wherein the third switching element is turned on in response to an output signal of the second output terminal, and the fourth switching element is turned on in response to the inverted signal of the inverter,
wherein the first to third switching elements are turned on in response to a signal of a high level, and
the fourth switching element is turned on in response to a signal of a low level.
12. The integrated circuit of claim 11, wherein the transfer select circuit unit comprises a plurality of select circuits for supplying the first voltage to a gate of the first transfer element in response to the respective enable signals.
13. The integrated circuit of claim 12, wherein each of the select circuits comprises:
fifth and sixth switching elements coupled in series between an input terminal of a power source voltage and the ground node, wherein the fifth switching element is turned on in response to the enable signal and the sixth switching element is turned on in response to an inverse enable signal of the enable signal; and
seventh and eighth switching elements coupled in series between the input terminal of the power source voltage and a node of the fifth and the sixth switching elements, wherein the seventh switching element is turned on in response to the enable signal, and the eighth switching element is turned on in response to the inverse enable signal of the enable signal,
wherein the first voltage or the ground voltage is transferred to the first transfer element through a node of the seventh and the eighth switching elements.
14. The integrated circuit of claim 11, wherein the transfer select circuit unit comprises:
a second OR gate configured to generate a select signal by performing an OR operation on the plurality of enable signals;
a select voltage supply circuit configured to output the first voltage to a third output terminal in response to the select signal;
second transfer elements configured to transfer the first voltage to a respective first transfer element in response to the plurality of enable signals.
15. The integrated circuit of claim 14, wherein the select voltage supply circuit comprises:
ninth and tenth switching elements coupled in series between an input terminal of a power source voltage and the ground node, wherein the ninth switching element is turned on in response to the enable signal and the tenth switching element is turned on in response to an inverse enable signal of the enable signal; and
eleventh and twelfth switching elements coupled in series between the input terminal of the power source voltage and a node of the ninth and the tenth switching elements, wherein the eleventh switching element is turned on in response to the enable signal, and the twelfth switching element is turned on in response to the inverse enable signal of the enable signal,
wherein a node of the eleventh and the twelfth switching elements is coupled to the third output terminal.
16. The integrated circuit of claim 9, wherein each of the first transfer elements is a transistor for transferring a high voltage.
17. A voltage select circuit comprising a transfer select circuit configured to receive a plurality of enable signals and output a first voltage necessary to transfer an operating voltage to a first output terminal, wherein the operating voltage is selected from among a plurality of operating voltages on the basis of the plurality of enable signals.
18. The voltage select circuit of claim 17, further comprising:
a control circuit configured to boost the first voltage to a second voltage in response to the plurality of enable signals; and
a plurality of first transfer elements configured to transfer respective operating voltages to the first output terminal.
19. The voltage select circuit of claim 18, wherein the control circuit comprises:
a first OR gate configured to generate a result signal by performing an OR operation on the plurality of enable signals;
a delay circuit configured to generate an output signal by delaying the result signal of the first OR gate for a specific time period;
an inverter configured to generate an inverted signal by inverting the output signal;
a voltage supply circuit configured to output a third voltage or a ground voltage to a second output terminal in response to the output signal and the inverted signal, where the third voltage is higher than the first voltage, but lower than the second voltage; and
a plurality of capacitors coupled between respective first transfer elements and the second output terminal and configured to boost the first voltage, supplied to the first transfer element, to the second voltage by using the third voltage outputted to the second output terminal.
20. The voltage select circuit of claim 18, where the transfer select circuit comprises:
a second OR gate configured to generate a select signal by performing an OR operation on the plurality of enable signals;
a select voltage supply circuit configured to output the first voltage to a third output terminal in response to the select signal;
second transfer elements configured to transfer the first voltage to a respective first transfer element in response to the plurality of enable signals.