1-12. (canceled)
13. A column select device configured to select one or more target columns of bit cells within which a write operation is to be performed, the column select device comprising:
a first power supply rail having a first voltage level;
a second power supply rail having a second voltage level lower than the first voltage level;
voltage boosting circuitry configured to:
generate a column select signal with a selected voltage level, wherein the column select signal with the selected voltage level is supplied to one or more column select transistors of the one or more target columns; and
generate a column select signal with an unselected voltage level, wherein the column select signal with the unselected voltage level is supplied to one or more column select transistors of one or more unselected columns other than the one or more target columns, and wherein at least one of the selected voltage level and the unselected voltage level is outside of a voltage range between the first voltage level and the second voltage level.
14. The column select device of claim 13, wherein the column select transistors are NMOS transistors.
15. The column select device of claim 13, wherein the unselected voltage level holds the one or more column select transistors of the one or more unselected columns in a high impedance state.
16. The column select device of claim 13, wherein the selected voltage level holds the one or more column select transistors of the one or more target columns in a low impedance state.
17. The column select device of claim 13, wherein the unselected voltage level is lower than the second voltage level and the selected voltage level is higher than said first voltage level.
18. The column select device of claim 13, wherein the voltage boosting circuitry comprises:
a select charge pump associated with the selected voltage level; and
an unselect charge pump associated with the unselected voltage level.
19. The column select device of claim 13, wherein the bits cells are 6 T bit cells.
20. An apparatus configured to select one or more target columns of bit cells within which a write operation is to be performed, the apparatus comprising:
means for providing a first voltage level;
means for providing a second voltage level that is lower than the first voltage level;
means for generating a column select signal with a selected voltage level, wherein the column select signal with the selected voltage level is supplied to one or more column select transistors of the one or more target columns; and
means for generating a column select signal with an unselected voltage level, wherein the column select signal with the unselected voltage level is supplied to one or more column select transistors of one or more unselected columns other than the one or more target columns, and wherein at least one of the selected voltage level and the unselected voltage level is outside of a voltage range between the first voltage level and the second voltage level.
21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the column select transistors are NMOS transistors.
22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the unselected voltage level holds the one or more column select transistors of the one or more unselected columns in a high impedance state.
23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the selected voltage level holds the one or more column select transistors of the one or more target columns in a low impedance state.
24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the unselected voltage level is lower than the second voltage level and the selected voltage level is higher than said first voltage level.
25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for generating the column select signal with the selected voltage level comprises a select charge pump associated with the selected voltage level, and wherein the means for generating the column select signal with the unselected voltage level comprises an unselect charge pump associated with the unselected voltage level.
26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the bits cells are 6 T bit cells.
27. A method of selecting one or more target columns of bit cells within which a write operation is to be performed, the method comprising:
generating a column select signal with a selected voltage level and a column select signal with an unselected voltage level;
supplying the column select signal with the selected voltage level to one or more column select transistors of the one or more target columns; and
supplying the column select signal with the unselected voltage level to one or more column select transistors of one or more unselected columns other than the one or more target columns, and wherein at least one of the selected voltage level and the unselected voltage level is outside of a voltage range between a first voltage level and a second voltage level.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the column select transistors are NMOS transistors.
29. The method of claim 27, wherein the unselected voltage level holds the one or more column select transistors of the one or more unselected columns in a high impedance state.
30. The method of claim 27, wherein the selected voltage level holds the one or more column select transistors of the one or more target columns in a low impedance state.
31. The method of claim 27, wherein the unselected voltage level is lower than the second voltage level and the selected voltage level is higher than said first voltage level.
32. The method of claim 27, wherein generating the column select signal with the selected voltage level is associated with a select charge pump, and wherein generating the column select signal with the unselected voltage level is associated with an unselect charge pump.
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. An alert apparatus comprising:
a digital processor;
an accelerometer coupled to the digital processor;
wireless pairing circuitry for pairing wirelessly with a smartphone, coupled to the digital processor;
software executable on the digital processor from a non-transitory medium;
an onboard diagnostics (OBD) connector coupled to the digital processor, enabling monitoring of an OBD system of an automobile; and
stored criteria for determining if an accident has occurred;
wherein the apparatus monitors the OBD system of the automobile for specific information, monitors the accelerometer for deceleration exceeding a preset value, updates position of the automobile periodically, compares real-time data with the stored criteria, and, in the event of a determination that an accident has occurred, transmits an alert signal to the cellular telephone via the wireless pairing circuitry.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising Global Positioning System (GPS) circuitry coupled to the digital processor, wherein the apparatus transmits global position to the cellular telephone along with the alert signal.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the accelerometer is capable of determining changes in orientation that may indicate the automobile has rolled over, wherein the fact of rollover is transmitted to the cellular telephone along with the alert signal in the event of an accident.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein deployment of one or more airbags is determined from the OBD system, and the facts of air bag deployment are transmitted to the cellular telephone along with the alert signal.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the determination that an accident has occurred derives from any single event of rollover, deceleration beyond the preset value, or deployment of one or more airbags.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless pairing circuitry is Bluetooth\u2122 protocol compatible.
7. A smartphone comprising:
a digital processor;
wireless pairing circuitry; and
an application executing on the digital processor from a non-transitory medium;
wherein the application provides a process comprising:
receiving an alert from a paired device that an accident has occurred;
triggered by the alert pre-programmed communications to pre-programmed destinations regarding the fact of the accident having occurred.
8. The smartphone of claim 7 wherein the alert from the paired device is accompanied by GPS coordinates, which are provided along with at least some of the pre-programmed communications
9. The smartphone of claim 7 wherein the smartphone has a Global Positioning System, and GPS coordinates are provided along with at least some of the pre-programmed communications.
10. The smartphone of claim 7 wherein the alert is accompanied by specific information or data about the accident, including one or both of rollover or air bags deployed.
11. The smartphone of claim 7 wherein the pre-programmed communications include one or more of emails, text messages or recorded voice messages.
12. The smartphone of claim 7 wherein the pre-programmed communications include an alert to an Internet-connected server that an accident has occurred.
13. The smartphone of claim 7 wherein the wireless pairing circuitry is Bluetooth\u2122 protocol compatible.
14. A system comprising:
an alert apparatus having a digital processor, an accelerometer, wireless pairing circuitry, and an onboard diagnostics (OBD) connecter, the alert apparatus enabled to retrieve data from an automobile OBD system, and to determine from local and retrieved data that an accident has occurred;
a smartphone executing an application enabled to receive an alert from the alert apparatus, and to send as a result pre-programmed communications to pre-configured destinations that an accident has occurred; and
an Internet-connected server enabled to receive an alert as a pre-programmed communication from the smartphone and to send as a result pre-programmed communications to pre-configured destinations that an accident has occurred.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein the smartphone sends GPS coordinates along with pre-programmed communications.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein one or more of the pre-programmed communications comprise requests for service from one or more emergency service organizations.
17. A method comprising:
monitoring onboard diagnostics information of an automobile by an alert apparatus having an accelerometer and wireless pairing circuitry;
determining by the alert device that an accident has occurred;
sending an accident alert to a smartphone via the wireless pairing circuitry;
transmitting by the smartphone one or more preprogrammed communications to one or more pre-configured destinations as a result of receiving the alert.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein one of the pre-programmed communications is to an Internet-connected server that transmits one or more communications to one or more pre-configured destinations as a result of receiving the alert.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein the smartphone either receives GPS coordinates from the alert device, or generates the coordinates in the smartphone, and sends the GPS coordinates along with one or more of the pre-programmed communications.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein one or more of the pre-programmed communications is a request for service from one or more emergency service organizations.