Author: claimsbot

1. A supplement storage system configured to provide an animal dietary supplement in proximity of an animal confinement area, the supplement storage system comprising:
a supplement receptacle having at least one inner surface and an outer surface, the at least one inner surface defining a cavity configured to receive supplement material; and
a mounting system configured to couple the supplement receptacle to an object proximate to the animal confinement area, the mounting system comprising a first component that is configured to be secured to the object, and a second component that is coupled to the receptacle, the first component and second component having portions that permit the first component to be coupled to the second component.
2. The supplement storage system of claim 1 further comprising a dispenser configured to measure a portion of the supplement.
3. The supplement storage system of claim 2 wherein the dispenser is stored in the receptacle.
4. The supplement storage system of claim 1 further comprising a supplement identifier that is coupled to the receptacle, the supplement identifier providing information regarding at least one animal that is associated with the supplement storage system.
5. The supplement storage system of claim 1 wherein the supplement identifier is an identification card.
6. The supplement storage system of claim 5 wherein the supplement storage system further comprises a sleeve that is coupled to the supplement storage system, the identification card being received within the sleeve.
7. The supplement storage system of claim 6 further comprising a cover structure configured to cover at least a portion of the cavity wherein the sleeve is secured to a top side of the cover structure, the identification card being readable when the supplement storage system is mounted to an object.
8. The supplement storage system of claim 1 further comprising a cover that is removably coupled to the receptacle to prevent contamination of the supplement material.
9. The supplement storage system of claim 1 wherein the object is selected from one of: a portion of a stall, a portion of a kennel, a portion or an animal trailer.
10. The supplement storage system of claim 1 wherein the supplement receptacle is removably coupled to the object proximate to the animal confinement area.
11. The supplement storage system of claim 1 wherein the second component of the mounting system is permanently connected to the supplement receptacle.
12. A supplement organizing system configured to organize dietary supplement materials that are allocated to a plurality of animals by locating particular supplement material in the general proximity of particular animals, the system comprising:
a plurality of supplement storage receptacles, the supplement storage receptacles each having:
a supplement reservoir configured to store of supplement material;
a sealing means for sealing the supplement material in the reservoir to protect the supplement material against contamination or infestation; and
an identification means for providing information about the contents of the supplement reservoir,

at least one mounting means for removably mounting the plurality of supplement storage receptacles in the general proximity of one or more designated animals; and
a supplement dosing apparatus for measuring a volume of dietary supplement and transporting the dietary supplement to a feed area.
13. The supplement organizing system of claim 12 wherein the mounting means comprises a mechanical restraint that is configured to receive at least a portion of supplement organizing receptacle.
14. The supplement organizing system of claim 12 wherein the mounting means comprises a magnet.
15. The supplement organizing system of claim 12 wherein the supplement dosing apparatus comprises a scoop.
16. A method of organizing dietary supplement in proximity to an animal confinement area, the method comprising:
providing a supplement receptacle comprising at least one reservoir configured to store supplement material; and
mounting the supplement receptacle to an object proximate to an animal confinement area by:
providing a first component that is secured to the object and providing a second component that is coupled to the receptacle, and
coupling the first component to second component to removably mount the supplement receptacle to the object.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising providing a supplement identifier that is coupled to the supplement receptacle, the supplement identifier providing information regarding at least one animal that is designated to receive the supplement material that is stored within the supplement receptacle, the supplement identifier at least providing information identifying the at least one animal;
18. The method of claim 16 further comprising providing a supplement identifier that is located in the vicinity of the supplement receptacle, the supplement identifier providing information regarding at least one animal that is designated to receive the supplement material that is stored within the supplement receptacle, the supplement identifier at least providing information identifying the at least one animal.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein the supplement receptacle is removably mounted to the object proximate to an animal confinement area.
20. A supplement storage system configured to selectively provide an animal dietary supplement in proximity of an animal confinement structure or in an animal trailer, the supplement storage system comprising:
at least one supplement receptacle having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a cavity configured to receive supplement material;
a first mounting system configured to removably couple the supplement storage system to an object proximate to the animal confinement structure, the mounting system comprising a first component that is configured to be secured to the object, and a second component that is coupled to the receptacle, the first component and second component having mating parts that permit the first component to be coupled to the second component to removably mount the supplement receptacle to the object; and
a second mounting system configured to removably couple the supplement storage system to the trailer, the second mounting system comprising a third component that is configured to be secured to the trailer, and the second component that is coupled to the receptacle, the third component and second component having mating parts that permit the third component to be coupled to the second component to removably mount the supplement receptacle to the trailer.
21. The supplement storage system of claim 20 further comprising a supplement identifier that is coupled to the receptacle, the supplement identifier providing information regarding at least one animal that is associated with the supplement storage system;
22. The supplement storage system of claim 20, wherein the second mounting system is located in one of: a tack room or dressing room.
23. A supplement storage system configured to provide an animal dietary supplement in proximity of an animal confinement area, the supplement storage system comprising:
at least one supplement receptacle having at least one inner surface and an outer surface, the at least one inner surface defining a cavity configured to receive supplement material;
a cover that is configured to cover at least a portion of the cavity of the at least one receptacle;
a mounting system configured to couple the at least one supplement receptacle to an object proximate to the animal confinement area to make the supplement easily available at the animal confinement area and safely secure the supplement; and
a supplement identifier that is coupled to an object proximate to the animal confinement area, the supplement identifier providing information that identifies at least one animal that is to receive supplement from the supplement storage system.
24. The supplement storage system of claim 23 wherein the supplement storage system comprises at least two receptacles, the mounting system being configured so that a first receptacle can dismounted without dismounting other receptacles.

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 method of actuating a vehicle latch assembly comprising:
detecting a user’s hand gripping a handle for a door in a vehicle with proximity sensors on first and second sides of the handle;
actuating a door latch to unlatch the door based on the hand gripping the handle;
detecting with the proximity sensors an object in close proximity to the handle; and
activating a warning when the object is detected.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first side is substantially opposite the second side.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the latch comprises an electromagnetic latch.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of detecting when the vehicle is moving, wherein a warning is activated when the vehicle is not moving.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of waiting for a time delay if the vehicle is moving, and actuating the door latch to unlatch the door following the time delay when a hand is detected gripping the door handle.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of detecting movement of the hand in a direction on one of the proximity sensors and determining a swipe motion indicative of one of a door lock and unlock command to cause the door latch to lock or unlock based on the command.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining a size of the hand relative to one of the proximity sensors based on a plurality of sensor fields and providing an output signal only when the size exceeds a predetermined size.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensors comprise capacitive sensors.
9. A method of controlling a vehicle door latch assembly comprising:
detecting a hand gripping a door handle in a vehicle with first and second proximity sensors on first and second sides;
determining when the vehicle is moving;
performing an action other than activating a door latch to an unlatched position immediately following the detection of a valid hand grip when the vehicle is moving.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the action comprises sounding an alarm.
11. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of waiting for a time delay when the vehicle is moving and actuating the door release to the unlocked position following expiration of the time delay.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first side is substantially opposite the second side.
13. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of detecting movement of the hand in a direction on one of the proximity sensors and determining a swipe motion indicative of one of a door lock and unlock command, to cause the door latch to lock or unlock based on the command.
14. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of determining a size of the hand relative to one of the proximity sensors based on a plurality of sensor fields and providing an output signal only when the size exceeds a predetermined size.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein the proximity sensors comprise capacitive sensors.
16. A door latch assembly comprising:
first capacitive sensors on a first side of a door handle;
a second capacitive sensor on a second side of the door handle;
a latch operative to latch the door closed and to unlatch the door to allow the door to open; and
control circuitry for activating the latch to unlatch the door based on an object sensed with the first capacitive sensors and the second capacitive sensor.
17. The door latch assembly of claim 16, wherein the second capacitive sensor comprises a plurality of second capacitive sensors.
18. The door latch assembly of claim 16, wherein the assembly determines at least one of a swipe and a hand size based on signals generated by the first capacitive sensors.
19. The door latch assembly of claim 16, wherein the control circuitry further detects with the first and second capacitive sensors an object that is not gripping the handle and is in close proximity to the handle, and further activates a warning when the object is detected.
20. The door latch assembly of claim 16, wherein the control circuitry determines that the object is a hand gripping the handle and further determines if the vehicle is moving and performs an action other than activating the door latch to an unlatched position immediately following the detection of a hand gripping the handle when the vehicle is determined to be moving.

1. A driving method of a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor, the LCD monitor comprising:
an LCD panel for displaying a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix format;
a positive buffer circuit for driving the pixels with a positive voltage;
a negative buffer circuit for driving the pixels with a negative voltage;
a detector for receiving a horizontal synchronization signal and a polarity signal, and for comparing states of the polarity signal at two successive triggers of the horizontal synchronization signal; and
a controller connected to the detector, the positive buffer circuit, and the negative buffer circuit for controlling operation of the positive buffer circuit and the negative buffer circuit according to an output of the detector;
the driving method comprising:
using the controller to control either the positive buffer circuit or the negative buffer circuit for driving two adjacent pixels, which are located in the same column but different rows on the LCD panel corresponding to the two successive triggers of the horizontal synchronization signal, with voltages of the same polarity when the detector detects that states of the polarity signal at two successive triggers of the horizontal synchronization signal are the same so that the positive buffer circuit continuously drives the pixels with the positive voltage and the negative buffer circuit continuously drives the pixels with the negative voltage; and
using the controller to control the positive buffer circuit and the negative buffer circuit for driving two adjacent pixels, which are located in the same column but different rows on the LCD panel corresponding to two successive triggers of the horizontal synchronization signal, with voltages of opposite polarities when the detector detects that two states of the polarity signal at two successive triggers of the horizontal synchronization signal differ.
2. The driving method of claim 1 wherein the pixel to be driven with a positive voltage is precharged to a predetermined positive level before being driven, and the pixel to be driven with a negative voltage is precharged to a predetermined negative level before being driven.
3. The driving method of claim 2 wherein the positive buffer circuit comprises a first precharge circuit for providing the predetermined positive level, and the negative buffer circuit comprises a second precharge circuit for providing the predetermined negative level.
4. The driving method of claim 3 wherein the first precharge circuit and the second precharge circuit are source followers.
5. The driving method of claim 1 wherein the detector comprises two latch circuits for holding the corresponding states of the polarity signal at two successive triggers of the horizontal synchronization signal, and a logic circuit for comparing two states of the polarity signal at two successive triggers of the horizontal synchronization signal.
6. The driving method of claim 1 wherein each of the positive buffer circuit and the negative buffer comprises a class-A operational amplifier buffer for driving pixels.
7. A liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor comprising: an LCD panel for displaying a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix format;
a positive buffer circuit for driving the pixels with a positive voltage;
a negative buffer circuit for driving the pixels with a negative voltage;
a detector for receiving a horizontal synchronization signal and a polarity signal, and for comparing states of the polarity signal at two successive triggers of the horizontal synchronization signal; and
a controller connected to the detector, the positive buffer circuit, and the negative buffer circuit for controlling operation of the positive buffer circuit and the negative buffer circuit according to an output of the detector;
wherein the controller controls either the positive buffer circuit or the negative buffer circuit for driving two adjacent pixels, which are located in the same column but different rows on the LCD panel corresponding to the two successive triggers of the horizontal synchronization signal, with voltages of the same polarity when the detector detects that states of the polarity signal at two successive triggers of the horizontal synchronization signal are the same so that the positive buffer circuit continuously drives the pixels with the positive voltage and the negative buffer circuit continuously drives the pixels with the negative voltage, and the controller controls the positive buffer circuit and the negative buffer circuit for driving two adjacent pixels, which are located in the same column but different rows on the LCD panel corresponding to two successive triggers of the horizontal synchronization signal, with voltages of opposite polarities when the detector detects that two states of the polarity signal at two successive triggers of the horizontal synchronization signal differ.
8. The liquid crystal display monitor of claim 7 wherein the pixel to be driven with a positive voltage is precharged to a predetermined positive level before being driven, and the pixel to be driven with a negative voltage is precharged to a predetermined negative level before being driven.
9. The liquid crystal display monitor of claim 8 wherein the positive buffer circuit comprises a first precharge circuit for providing the predetermined positive level, and the negative buffer circuit comprises a second precharge circuit for providing the predetermined negative level.
10. The liquid crystal display monitor of claim 9 wherein the first precharge circuit and the second precharge circuit are source followers.
11. The liquid crystal display monitor of claim 7 wherein the detector comprises two latch circuits for holding the corresponding states of the polarity signal at two successive triggers of the horizontal synchronization signal, and a logic circuit for comparing two states of the polarity signal at two successive triggers of the horizontal synchronization signal.
12. The liquid crystal display monitor of claim 7 wherein each of the positive buffer circuit and the negative buffer circuit comprises a class-A operational amplifier buffer for driving the pixels.
13. A driving circuit of a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor, the LCD monitor comprising an LCD panel for displaying a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix format, the driving circuit comprising:
a positive buffer circuit for driving the pixels with a positive voltage;
a negative buffer circuit for driving the pixels with a negative voltage;
a detector for receiving a horizontal synchronization signal and a polarity signal, the detector comprising:
two latch circuits for holding the corresponding states of the polarity signal at two successive triggers of the horizontal synchronization signal; and
a logic circuit for comparing two states of the polarity signal at two successive triggers of the horizontal synchronization signal; and

a controller connected to the detector, the positive buffer circuit, and the negative output buffer for controlling operation of the positive buffer circuit and the negative buffer circuit according to an output of the detector;
wherein the controller controls either the positive buffer circuit or the negative buffer circuit for driving two adjacent pixels, which are located in the same column but different rows on the LCD panel corresponding to the two successive triggers of the horizontal synchronization signal, with voltages of the same polarity when the detector detects that states of the polarity signal at two successive triggers of the horizontal synchronization signal are the same so that the positive buffer circuit continuously drives the pixels with the positive voltage and the negative buffer circuit continuously drives the pixels with the negative voltage, and the controller controls the positive buffer circuit and the negative buffer circuit for driving two adjacent pixels, which are located in the same column but different rows on the LCD panel corresponding to two successive triggers of the horizontal synchronization signal, with voltages of opposite polarities when the detector detects that two states of the polarity signal at two successive triggers of the horizontal synchronization signal differ.
14. The driving circuit of claim 13 wherein the pixel to he driven with a positive voltage is precharged to a predetermined positive level before being driven, and the pixel to be driven with a negative voltage is precharged to a predetermined negative level before being driven.
15. The driving circuit of claim 14 wherein the positive buffer circuit comprises a first precharge circuit for providing the predetermined positive level, and the negative buffer circuit comprises a second precharge circuit for providing the predetermined negative level.
16. The driving circuit of claim 15 wherein the first precharge circuit and the second precharge circuit are source followers.
17. The driving circuit of claim 13 wherein each of the positive buffer circuit and the negative buffer circuit comprises a class-A operational amplifier buffer for driving the pixels.

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 method for adjusting an oscillator (44) in a system, the system comprising an adjustable oscillator (44), a time source (31) knowing a clock time with a specified accuracy, and a packet switched network (21) between the oscillator and said time source, the method comprising:
updating a clock (42) on the basis of the clock time known to said time source (31) over the packet switched network (21), the clock being on the same side of the packet switched network as the adjustable oscillator (44):
using said clock (42) in the adjustment of the oscillator (44) for adjusting the oscillator to oscillate at a desired frequency.
2. A method according to claim 1, the method comprising:
counting pulses generated by the oscillator (44) during a counting period for producing oscillator control information, which counting period starts at a determined first time instant and ends at a determined second time instant, said time instants being determined on the basis of the clock time of said clock (42);
adjusting the oscillator (44) to oscillate at the desired frequency using said control information.
3. A method according to claim 2, the method comprising:
determining the reliability of the clock time of said clock (42) at said time instants, whereby in the case where the clock time at said first time instant is not reliable, starting of the counting period is delayed with a specified first delay, and in a case where the clock time at said second time instant is not reliable, ending of the counting period is delayed with a specified second delay.
4. A method according to claim 2, wherein NTP (Network Timing Protocol) adjustment is used in updating the clock time of said clock (42) and said first and second time instants are scheduled for a point in time immediately upon performing the NTP adjustment of the clock (42).
5. A method according to claim 2, wherein said clock (42) is located in the NTP client or in connection therewith, and said time source is an NTP server (31) and in the method:
the NTP client inquires and receives from the NTP server (31) a clock time having an accuracy of NTP over the packet switched network (21);
the clock time of said clock (42) is compared in the NTP client with the received clock time having the accuracy of NTP for obtaining an offset value;
the clock time of said clock (42) is adjusted according to NTP on the basis of the offset value;
data on the offset values are maintained in the memory of the system, and
the reliability of the clock time of said clock (42) at any of said time instants is determined by comparing the offset value used at least in one NTP adjustment of the clock (42) preceding said time instant with a specified condition.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein offset values used in more than one NTP adjustment of the clock (42) preceding said time instant are compared with a specified condition, which specified condition is that all offset values to be compared are lower than a specified limit value set to the offset value and that none of the offset values to be compared is missing.
7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said clock (42) is located in the NTP client or in connection therewith, and said time source is the NTP server (31) and in the method
the NTP client inquires and receives from the NTP server (31) a clock time having an accuracy of NTP over the packet switched network (21);
in the NTP client, the clock time of said clock (42) is compared with the received clock time having the accuracy of NTP for obtaining an offset value;
data on the offset values are maintained in the memory of the system;
the reliability of the offset value is determined;
said oscillator (44) is adjusted on the basis of said offset value in the case where the offset value is reliable, and
the oscillating frequency of the oscillator (44) is derivedapplied () for the reference frequency of said clock (42) for updating the clock (42).
8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the reliability of the offset value is determined by comparing said offset value with a moving average of the offset values which is calculated from a specified set of offset values preceding said offset value.
9. An apparatus for adjusting an oscillator in a system, the system comprising an adjustable oscillator (44), a time source (31) knowing a clock time with a given accuracy and a packet switched network (21) between the oscillator and said time source, the apparatus comprising:
a clock (42) which is on the same side of the packet switched network (21) as the adjustable oscillator (44);
updating means (41) for updating the clock (42) over the packet switched network (21) on the basis of the clock time known to said time source (31);
adjusting means (45, 51 to 57, 64, 67, DAC) for adjusting the oscillator (44) to oscillate at a desired frequency by means of said clock (42).
10. Computer software for adjusting the oscillator in a system comprising an adjustable oscillator (44), a time source (31) which knows a clock time with a given accuracy and a packet switched network (21) between the oscillator and said time source, the software comprising a program code for:
updating the clock (42) over the packet switched network (21) on the basis of the clock time known to the time source (31), the clock being on the same side of the packet switched network (21) as the adjustable oscillator (44);
using said clock (42) in the adjustment of the oscillator (44) for adjusting the oscillator to oscillate at a desired frequency.