Abstract: An electronic pointing cursor control device such as a trackball or mouse, comprising a first chamber adjoined to a second chamber, the chambers being separated by a fluid-tight wall comprising an optically permeable region; wherein the first chamber contains electronic components including optical detectors directed towards the optically permeable region and a ball protruding through an aperture provided in the second chamber, the detectors being operable in use to detect and generate electronic signals representative of motion of the ball. Also provided is an electronic pointing or cursor control device comprising a ball and optical detectors operable to detect and generate electronic signals representative of motion of the ball, wherein the detectors are mounted such that a radial line from the ball to the detectors forms a non-zero angle with a diametric line though the ball normal to the mounting plane of the device.

Abstract: An automated feeding system for pets with special diets includes a feeder dish which is made accessible to a pet only when an ID tag on the pet is recognized as authorized by a receiver on the device and only for a certain time period. The appropriate amount of food is thereby made available at appropriate time intervals. If a plurality of tags is pre-programmed as authorized, each animal's tag can sequentially activate the feeding device to feed each animal, respectively. However, if more than one authorized tag is present in the feeding time set for one animal, the drawer closes.

Abstract: An automated feeding system for pets with special diets includes a feeder dish which is made accessible to a pet only when an ID tag on the pet is recognized as authorized by a receiver on the device and only for a certain time period. The appropriate amount of food is thereby made available at appropriate time intervals. If a plurality of tags is pre-programmed as authorized, each animal's tag can sequentially activate the feeding device to feed each animal, respectively. However, if more than one authorized tag is present in the feeding time set for one animal, the drawer closes.