The invention relates to a device for detecting and counting live bullet shots, blank shots and dry-firing actuation of the striker for all types of semi-automatic or automatic weapons, said device being able to discriminate between said three events and comprising: an electronic circuit (5); a first sensor for detecting a movement of a part (2) of the weapon preceding a potential live bullet shot or blank shot; and a second sensor (6) for measuring recoil acceleration when the live bullet shot or blank shot has been fired.

A method and an arrangement for detecting and counting articles are disclosed, performing the steps of: providing a detecting station arranged along a passageway for the articles, the detecting station being adapted to establish at least a scanning radiation beam at a cross section of the passageway; passing articles past the detecting station, the detecting station detecting an article upon sensing at least a partial interruption of the scanning radiation beam; and obtaining a count of the detected articles through the passageway, wherein the detecting station include first and second detecting assembly arranged at a predetermined distance from each other along the direction of travel of the articles, which first and second detecting assembly establish a respective scanning radiation beam on a first, respectively second scanning plane at a corresponding cross section of the passageway, and wherein at least a first predetermined reference section of the articles is detected at each scanning plane; a travelling speed of each article is calculated based on the time used by the at least one reference section of the article to travel the predetermined distance between the first and the second scanning planes; at least a second predetermined reference section of the articles, which is separate from the first reference section, is detected at least at one of the first and second scanning plane; and a count of the articles is obtained by calculating a length thereof from the calculated travelling speed and by calculating the time used by the article to cross at least one of said first and second scanning plane.

A method and a system for density measurement of zooplankton in situ in an aqueous solution are provided. The method comprises acquiring at least one image of a volume of the aqueous solution; processing the at least one image and identifying particles in the at least one image; analyzing the identified particles based on a sharpness of each particle, and identifying zooplankton to be counted.

A self-contained pill dispenser is disclosed. A housing is provided and a hopper for containing a plurality of pills is supported by the housing. A transport tube receives pills from the hopper. The transport tube has a controllable aperture for facilitating or inhibiting delivery of pills to the transport tube. A microcontroller is also operatively connected to the hopper, the transport tube, and the input aperture. Optionally, a feed chute can be operatively connected between the hopper and the transport tube. The system can self-calibrate the mechanism for counting and dispensing pills by dynamically adjusting the input aperture based upon the stored information representative of the pulse width signal and the amplitude signal.

A system comprising a measurement device and a handheld device is disclosed, the system adapted to withstand, detect, record, and display heat cycle event counts. The measurement device comprises a sensor for measuring and a heat cycle detection unit. The heat cycle detection unit comprises a temperature or pressure responsive element, a detection module, data interface, and data memory. The handheld device comprises a screen, a button, a communication circuit, and a processing system. The communication circuit is configured to communicate with the measurement device and a computing device and the processing system is configured to receive non-measurement information from the measurement device, display the received information on the screen, and cycle the received information displayed on the screen based on an actuation of the button, wherein the handheld device is used to display a heat sterilization cycle count of the measurement device.

A system comprising a measurement device and a handheld device is disclosed, the system adapted to withstand, detect, record, and display heat cycle event counts. The measurement device comprises a sensor for measuring and a heat cycle detection unit. The heat cycle detection unit comprises a temperature or pressure responsive element, a detection module, data interface, and data memory. The handheld device comprises a screen, a button, a communication circuit, and a processing system. The communication circuit is configured to communicate with the measurement device and a computing device and the processing system is configured to receive non-measurement information from the measurement device, display the received information on the screen, and cycle the received information displayed on the screen based on an actuation of the button, wherein the handheld device is used to display a heat sterilization cycle count of the measurement device.

A measurement device is disclosed, embodiments of which are adapted to withstand, detect, and record detection of heat cycle events, including autoclave cycles. Embodiments of the measurement device comprise a sensor for measuring a characteristic of a medium and a heat cycle detection unit. Embodiments of the heat cycle detection unit comprise a temperature or atmospheric pressure responsive element, a detection module, data interface, and data memory. In one disclosed embodiment, the temperature or pressure responsive element is configured to respond to a characteristic of a heat cycle event while the heat cycle detection unit is off. In another disclosed embodiment, the detection module is configured to automatically power off the heat cycle detection unit in response to detecting an autoclave cycle. Methods of using the devices are also disclosed.

A measurement device is disclosed, embodiments of which are adapted to withstand, detect, and record detection of heat cycle events, including autoclave cycles. Embodiments of the measurement device comprise a sensor for measuring a characteristic of a medium and a heat cycle detection unit. Embodiments of the heat cycle detection unit comprise a temperature or atmospheric pressure responsive element, a detection module, data interface, and data memory. In one disclosed embodiment, the temperature or pressure responsive element is configured to respond to a characteristic of a heat cycle event while the heat cycle detection unit is off. In another disclosed embodiment, the detection module is configured to automatically power off the heat cycle detection unit in response to detecting an autoclave cycle. Methods of using the devices are also disclosed.

A method and apparatus for counting belted or bulk ammunition rounds. The modular ammunition counter includes a detachable electronics assembly, an ammunition guide for receiving the ammunition rounds, and a sensor module. The electronics assembly is configured to count the number of ammunition rounds that pass through the coupled ammunition guide. This method of ammunition round counting offers a significant improvement in speed and accuracy compared to manually counting the ammunition rounds by hand.

In some embodiments, a counting machine may include a counting area configured to count a plurality of items. The counting area may include a fixed pressure plate, a movable pressure plate, and one or more sensors configured to measure the distance between the fixed pressure plate and the movable pressure plate, and a processor configured to determine the number of items in the counting area by comparing a sampled thickness value to the thickness of the items located between the fixed pressure plate and the movable pressure plate.