Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for optimizing the delivery of products through an automated product dispensation system. The disclosed systems implement different dispensation parameters based on the size, shape, and other criteria for the different products that are dispensed through the device. The disclosed methods first identify the product being dispensed, and then determine the parameters at which the product should be dispensed for maximum efficiency.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for measuring the strength of ultrasonic waves are provided. They are capable of measuring the strength of ultrasonic waves easily and at low cost without using a sound pressure meter. The ultrasonic wave strength measuring apparatus has a particle source soaked in a cleaning liquid, an oscillator to generate the ultrasonic waves whose strength is going to be measured to vibrate the particle source so that particles are eluted from the particle source into the cleaning liquid, a counter to count the number of particles in the cleaning liquid, and an operation unit to find the strength of the applied ultrasonic waves based on the counted number of particles.

Abstract: Mixtures containing homogeneously-sized particles with a minimum concentration of agglomerates or larger particles are desired in various manufacturing processes such as, for example, in the manufacture and use of chemical mechanical polishing slurries, food emulsions, pharmaceutical products, paints, and print toner. The method disclosed herein provides these industries with an accurate and efficient method of screening such mixtures for such agglomerates and large particles. The method generally includes preparing a suspension of the mixture in an electrolyte, wherein the suspension includes a specified concentration of small particles per unit of electrolyte. The method further includes passing the prepared suspension, and a plurality of the particles therein, through an aperture of a device capable of characterizing particles according to the Coulter principle to obtain data on the particles.

Abstract: The determination of wax crystal particle size and population is used to monitor the performance of wax crystallizers used in lubricant oil processing using solvent dewaxing. The wax crystal particle size is monitored using online measurements. The information obtained from on-line monitoring is then used to control crystallization in the dewaxing equipment in order to optimize performance of the dewaxing units.

Abstract: A system for monitoring non-volatile residue concentrations in ultra pure water includes a nebulizer for generating an aerosol composed of multiple water droplets, a heating element changing the aerosol to a suspension of residue particles, and a condensation particle counter to supersaturate the dried aerosol to cause droplet growth through condensation of a liquid onto the particles. The nebulizer incorporates a flow dividing structure that divides exiting waste water into a series of droplets. The droplets are counted to directly indicate a waste water flow rate and indirectly indicate an input flow rate of water supplied to the nebulizer. The condensation particle counter employs water as the condensing medium, avoiding the need for undesirable chemical formulations and enabling use of the ultra pure water itself as the condensing medium.

Abstract: A portable multiplicity counter has signal input circuitry, processing circuitry and a user/computer interface disposed in a housing. The processing circuitry, which can comprise a microcontroller integrated circuit operably coupled to shift register circuitry implemented in a field programmable gate array, is configured to be operable via the user/computer interface to count input signal pluses receivable at said signal input circuitry and record time correlations thereof in a total counting mode, coincidence counting mode and/or a multiplicity counting mode. The user/computer interface can be for example an LCD display/keypad and/or a USB interface. The counter can include a battery pack for powering the counter and low/high voltage power supplies for biasing external detectors so that the counter can be configured as a hand-held device for counting neutron events.

Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with embodiments of the present invention provide a method for the measurement and analysis of particle counts in flow cytometry and hematology instruments. In some methods for the measurement and analysis of particle counts, a corrected histogram of particle distributions is calculated and used to obtain an accurate count of particles and an accurate measurement of other particle parameters.

Abstract: A neutron multi-detector array feeds pulses in parallel to individual inputs that are tied to individual bits in a digital word. Data is collected by loading a word at the individual bit level in parallel. The word is read at regular intervals, all bits simultaneously, to minimize latency. The electronics then pass the word to a number of storage locations for subsequent processing, thereby removing the front-end problem of pulse pileup.

Abstract: Most automatic particle classification methods produce errors. The invention provides a method for improving the accuracy of particle classification while shortening the amount of manual review time required from the operator. The method uses class weights, which are statistically-derived correction factors that accounts for frequency of classification errors. A first class weight and a second class weight are assigned to the first class and the second class, respectively. The number of particles in each of the first and the second classes is multiplied by the first class weight and the second class weight, respectively, to generate a corrected number of particles in each of the classes. If particles are reclassified, the class weights are recalculated in response to the reclassification. The method is usable with a complete classification where all the particles in a sample are classified, or a selective classification of a subset of the particles in the sample.

Abstract: A method is disclosed which allows more accurate counting of particles where the sample has significant size variability between particles. The method uses flight time and wait time to obtain a corrected count of particles.

Abstract: A counting device with control system includes a housing with a rotating wheel therein. The wheel includes a plurality of seats for each item to be counted. Upon deposit of the items into the housing, each item is seated for discharge through a housing aperture, past a sensor operating a counter and onto a conveyor line. A baffle adjacent the housing aperture directs the counted items to one or the other longitudinal side of the conveyor line. A control system controls the baffle position according to a preselected item count. An air pressure system assures a proper seating of each items and discharge through the housing aperture.

Abstract: A counter unit counts discrete articles that are within a predetermined size range into lots having a predetermined number of articles. The counter unit includes (1) a first conveyor that delivers a flow of articles separated at discrete intervals; and (2) at least one bin positioned to receive articles from the conveyor. The at least one bin has at least first and second outlet gates for emptying articles into separate respective first and second locations. A detector unit detects and maintains a count of articles that are received in the at least one bin and fall within said predetermined size range. The detector unit generates an out-of-size signal when an article received in the at least one bin falls outside said predetermined size range. A control unit causes the first outlet gate to open when the count of articles is equal to said predetermined number and causes the second outlet gate to open in response to receipt of an out-of-size signal.

Abstract: A spectroscopy instrument that uses spectra produced from random binary sequence modulated data. Statistical estimation techniques are used to achieve resolution enhancement, while properly accounting for the Poisson noise distribution and other artifacts introduced by a modulator or “chopper” or other system components. Indeed, a resolution similar to that of modem spectrometers can be achieved with a dramatic performance advantage over conventional, serial detection analyzers. Both static and dynamic behaviors are theoretically or measured experimentally accounted for in the model as determined. In one embodiment, the finite penetration of the field beyond the plane of the chopper leads to non-ideal chopper response, which is characterized in terms of an “energy corruption” effect and a lead or lag in the time at which the beam responds to the chopper potential.

Abstract: The invention relates to dust/particle monitors, and particularly but not necessarily exclusively to a method of monitoring fine particles harmful to humans in working environments. Equipment and methods of detection are known but which have several disadvantages such as no instantaneous warnings of excessive exposure, bulky sampling equipment, prone to errors due to poor handling of particles, and fluctuating flow rates of air borne particles. The object of the invention is to provide a method and equipment that avoids those disadvantages mentioned above, an objective met by a method of monitoring dust/particulate material concentrations in air, comprising drawing air through a monitor at a predetermined rate to enable particles to pass through a measurement section one at a time, whereby they may be individually detected and counted.

Abstract: A method of measuring turbidity includes irradiating specimen water with a light beam, using photoelectric conversion means for subjecting to photoelectric conversion the light scattered by fine particles in the specimen water, inputting a pulse signal as an input signal 7 obtainable from the photoelectric conversion whenever the fine particle passes through the light beam so as to measure its peak value in a peak holding circuit 13, obtaining the number concentration of fine particles in the specimen water on the basis of particle diameter divisions according to the measured value, and multiplying the number concentration by an individual coefficient on the basis of the particle diameter divisions in order to obtain the turbidity of the specimen water.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the particle size distribution and for characterizing the particle shapes of a particle mixture has a metering device for classifying a particle mixture supplied in a particle stream to the apparatus. An optoelectronic measurement section is provided that has a light source and an image collecting device aligned with one another, wherein the particle stream is guided between the light source and the image collecting device. The image collecting device has a plurality of electrooptical image recording units directed onto the particle stream and having different image recording scales matched to one another to cover the whole measurement range of the apparatus. A computing unit converts digital image points recorded by the recording units into a size determination of the particles.

Abstract: A device for counting and measuring particles provides an analysis of the particle characteristics and includes a processing system 27, comprising a control subsystem 13, including a microprocessor subsystem 20 and a terminal devices 21, an analog-digital subsystem 14, comprising an amplifier 15 and a pulse former 24, and a light detecting system 11, providing particle detection. An improved device determines the size of particles by the quantity of the strobe pulses of the strobe pulse sequence within each strobe pulse pack, formed from the amplified and converted output of the light detecting system 11. The quantity of the identical strobe pulse packs characterizes the quantity of the particles with an appropriate identical size.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a procedure for counting faintly luminescent particles, and relates specifically to a procedure for counting cells and microorganisms marked with a colored or fluorescent stain or marker that selectively marks the microorganisms and cells to be counted, characterized by the fact that the said procedure is implemented with the aid of a photon-accumulator camera and includes the acquisition of at least one low-resolution image I, the threshold processing of the said low-resolution image in order to obtain at least one digital image Ib, at least one dimensional filtration stage, and the counting of the number N of objects belonging to a given class of sizes in the digital image Ib.

Abstract: An object counter includes a feeding funnel having a frustroconical section, the narrow end of which is coupled to a substantially vertical feeding channel having a substantially rectangular cross section. A pair of linear optical sensor arrays are arranged along adjacent orthogonal sides of the feeding channel and a corresponding pair of collimated light sources are arranged along the opposite adjacent sides of the feeding channel such that each sensor in each array receives light the corresponding light source. Objects which are placed in the feeding funnel fall into the feeding channel and cast shadows on sensors in the arrays as they pass through the feeding channel. Outputs from each of the two linear optical arrays are processed separately, preferably according to various conservative criteria, and two object counts are thereby obtained. The higher of the two conservative counts is accepted as the accurate count and is displayed on a numeric display.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically analyzing cells in urine using flow cytometry. The present invention includes means for converting scattered-light signals indicative of individual cells in a urine specimen into corresponding pulse signals, means for converting the pulse width of each pulse signal resulting from the aforementioned conversion into cell-diameter data in accordance with known cell diameters, and means for classifying and enumerating various cells in the urine in correlation with each item of cell-diameter data resulting from the conversion.

Abstract: There is provided a method for counting and dispensing pills, tablets, and capsules which depends on a simple vibrating, sloped, concave-shaped (e.g., V-shaped) trough, having a number of descending steps. The vibration of the trough is controlled and adjusted by a microprocessor. The vibration of the trough is patterned to provide a greater vibratory amplitude at its dispensing end than at its intake end. The difference at each end of the trough in vibratory amplitude is achieved by elastomeric supports that are differently spring dampened. The microprocessor electronically adjusts the input vibration to the trough, such that the flow of materials is adjusted for different types of materials (i.e., tablets of different shapes and/or sizes). This causes the tablets to align accurately within the trough, and sequentially pass a pill detector mechanism in single file. This ensures that the device can handle an extremely varied range of tablet or capsule sizes and shapes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a portable on-line fluid contamination monitor. An inlet and an outlet are provided for connecting the monitor to a fluid control circuit and a measuring device is included for withdrawing fluid from the circuit. An optical sensor assembly is used to view fluid withdrawn from the circuit and to determine the level of contamination by observation of the particles therein, the optical sensor assembly viewing the fluid through a window by means of a light source disposed to project light through the window and the fluid. A light sensor disposed on the opposite side of the window from the light source is arranged to detect particles in the fluid passing across the window by sensing the degree of light obscuration caused by particles in the fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of measuring particles and an apparatus for the same, which count only particles in liquid by distinguishing between the particles and bubbles in liquid. In order to fulfill the above requirements, in the present invention, liquid to be measured flows through a flow cell at a fixed flow rate, and a laser beam is irradiated thereto. Scattering light is generated when particles and bubbles pass through a laser beam irradiation region, and the scattering light is converted into a pulse signal by a photoelectric converter. In the pulse signals, a pulse signal having a pulse width of 100 .mu.S is regarded as corresponding to light scattered by a bubble, which is omitted from the number of pulse signals. Thus, only a pulse signal corresponding to light scattered by a particle in liquid can be measured.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically and rapidly, retrieving, counting and/or analyzing at least one selected white blood cell population and/or subset thereof of a whole blood sample or portion thereof. A volume of a biological sample containing the white blood cells is prepared and at least one reactant specific or preferential at least to some selected biological cells is introduced thereto and rapidly mixed for a short period of time. The opacity and/or volume parameter of the cells can be modified and the mixture is then counted and analyzed in one or more steps to obtain the desired white blood cell population analysis.The biological sample can be a whole blood sample and the reactant can include or be a lyse or a monoclonal antibody bound to microspheres, which will bind to specific ones of the cells or a combination of lyse and microspheres with antibody bound thereto.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method are disclosed for determining the sizes of particles entrained in a fluid over a relatively wide range of sizes and determining the distribution of particles in a plurality of size increments. A sample of particles is fed into a drop tube, allowing the particles to be distributed at a relatively low density and fall through a sensing region defined at an intermediate point in the drop tube. A laser diode produces coherent light that is focused with a lens, forming a sheet of coherent light that is directed transversely through transparent sides of the drop tube toward a lens that focuses the sheet of coherent light on a photodetector. A laser intensity control circuit maintains a constant light intensity output from the laser diode when no particle is present in the sensing region and compensates for ambient light. When a particle in the size range of 32.mu. to 4000.mu.

Abstract: An apparatus for counting discrete objects of various sizes and shapes as they travel through the apparatus in a disorderly flow. The apparatus includes a sensor array which comprises a plurality of photodetectors arranged in a linear fashion. The discrete objects are passed over the sensor array. By utilizing the sensor array as a means for obtaining information about the discrete objects, the apparatus samples the sensor array at predetermined time intervals, examines the various contours of the images produced through the sampling and based upon predetermined criteria determines whether an image represents one or more objects.

Abstract: A method for automatic particle size analysis of a particle mixture by linear, optoelectronic scanning of a separated particle stream. Particle chord length categories are counted and converted to a particle size distribution. The method takes into account practical considerations such as mixed particle velocities and mixed grain shapes. The exposure time for the linear scanning determines, as a function of the diameter and the velocity of the smallest particle being measured, the number of particles per category size by means of appearance probabilities of recorded chord lengths for corresponding particle sizes. The determination of particle numbers is made using the sequence of the category of the largest particle diameters to the category of the smallest particle diameter, whereby, after each calculation of a particle size category, the number of chord lengths in the length category is corrected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically and rapidly, retrieving counting and/or analyzing at least one selected population of cells or formed bodies, such as a white blood cell population and at least one subset thereof of a whole blood sample or portion thereof. A volume of a biological medium containing the white blood cells is prepared and at least one reactant specific or preferential at least to some selected biological cells is introduced thereto and rapidly mixed for a short period of time. A multipart blood cell analysis is obtained with a single sensing parameter by depleting at least one WBC subset population. The percentage of a desired WBC population subset or the overlapping of WBC subset populations also can be obtained by subtracting one or more obscuring WBC subset populations.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring nonvolatile residue concentrations in liquid is disclosed. A plurality of fixed and adjustable flow restrictive elements are utilized and arranged in-line from a fluid supply source to provide a constant, pressure controlled flow of liquid to the measuring apparatus and allow for real-time measurements and optimal concentration detection. An atomizer atomizes the liquid into droplets which are dried to nonvolatile residue particles. The nonvolatile residue particle concentration is then determined utilizing an electrostatic aerosol detector. The invention further discloses apparatus for collecting a sample of nonvolatile residue for analysis and identification using a corona precipitator.

Abstract: A particle measurement apparatus is disclosed in which a laser beam is projected at a sample containing particles to be measured in a measurement zone and light scattered by particles in the sample is evaluated to thereby determine properties of particles in the sample. The apparatus includes a plurality of light receiving systems for receiving scattered light arranged at different angles relative to the axis of the laser beam. The amplitude of scattered light signals from the light receiving systems are compared with predetermined values. The arrangement is such that particles are counted by size only when the scattered light signals from the light receiving systems exceed a predetermined value, enabling false signals caused by noise and the like to be eliminated and assuring more accurate measurements.

Abstract: In particle analysis applied to blood cells, use is made of a distinguishing parameter which is the ratio of pulse height to pulse width derived from individual pulses generated in response to detection of corresponding individual particles. The distribution of the distinguishing parameter is plotted on a distribution of pulse height and pulse width, and a three-dimensional display of pulse height, pulse width and the distinguishing parameter is used in analyzing the particles.

Abstract: A microcomputer based digital analysis system is disclosed which includes a microcomputer and a flatbed optical scanner to analyze test sheets of paper fabricated from a batch of pulp to be tested. A keyboard is utilized by an operator to select one of a predetermined number of reports. After a report is selected, a menu is displayed on a CRT which enables the operator to start the sample tests under the control of the microcompuer. Once the total document is scanned either by operator manipulation or under the control of an automatic document feeder, the microcomputer tabulates the data retrieved during each of the individual sheet tests as necessary to generate the report selected by the operator. The microcomputer processes the image data on a line by line basis. A dot buffer is created having a location for each pixel across the scanned line, wherein numbers are incremented as dots having image data are encountered in the scanned line.

Abstract: A filter and filtering apparatus for measuring the deformability of a blood cell passing through a flow passage formed as a space between a surface of a groove formed in a first substrate and a surface of a second substrate with which the groove is sealed. The filtering apparatus includes electrodes mounted at the inlets and outlets of the flow passages, or optical elements to enable cell deformity measurements.

Abstract: Apparatus, intended primarily for use in an aerodynamic particle sizing system, for generating a pair of closely-spaced, substantially parallel light beams and for determining particle sizes by measuring the times of flight of particles between the two light beams. The apparatus for generating the light beams includes a laser source, an aperture slit for establishing the shape of the beams, a cylindrical lens for focusing the laser beam on the aperture slit, a diffraction grating for converting the beam from the aperture slit into diffracted beams in the zero order lobe and one first order lobe and a transfer lens for directing the diffracted beams as substantially parallel beams.

Abstract: The apparatus for analyzing particles in a particle containing fluid, especially pretreated liquids containing blood samples, contains storage devices and computing sections for determining separation threshold values and the particle distribution as a function of a pretermined particle parameter. The separation threshold values are determined on the basis of measured values of the predetermined particle parameter arranged in individual histograms containing at least two particle population maxima and minima. At least one particle population minimum is determined using an adaptive method. For insufficiently distinct particle population minima, there is first determined, on the basis of histograms containing corresponding distinct particle population minima and maxima, a characteristic difference quotient: ##EQU1## The separation threshold value associated with the insufficiently distinct particle population minimum is determined on the basis of the characteristic difference quotient according to:S.sub.

Abstract: Diagnosis data for respective portions of an apparatus are collected from respective sensors provided on the apparatus at the respective portions thereof and stored in a memory for each of the respective portions. These diagnosis data are the amount of change with time and frequency of occurrence of abnormal operation. The amount of change with time is yielded from the number of treatments for a detection object of each sensor, while the frequency of occurrence of abnormal operations is provided as a ratio of the number of anbormal operations detected by the respective sensors to the number of treatments by the particular object or part involved. The resulting diagnosis data is compared with a predetermined reference value, and when the diagnosis data exceeds the reference value, a prediction alarm flag indicative of a prediction of necessary maintencance to prevent trouble from occuring is added to the diagnosis data and stored in the memory.

Abstract: An apparatus for counting particles attached to surfaces of a solid is disclosed which includes an external tank, an internal tank disposed within the external tank for hermetically accommodating a measuring liquid into which a sample having particles attached to the surfaces thereof is to be immersed, a driving mechanism for rotating the internal tank with respect to the external tank, sonic wave generators provided on the external tank for generating sonic waves having a plurality of different frequencies toward the internal tank, and a measuring mechanism connectable to the internal tank in a hermetic fashion for counting the number of particles in the measuring liquid removed from the sample by the sonic waves generated from the sonic wave generators.

Abstract: Apparatus for analyzing particles contained in a fluent edium (12). The apparatus includes a body (20) having a window (30), an optical source preferably comprising a laser diode (100) having a small light emitting area (140), and an optical system (102) for focusing the light from the laser diode at a focal spot (84) such that the size of the focal spot is approximately equal to the size of the light emitting area of the laser diode. A photodetector (106) is mounted in the body and detects light backscattered from the focal spot by particles in the fluent medium, and produces an electrical signal that comprises a series of pulses associated with the particles. The electrical signal is input to a detector that counts the pulses and indicates the number of particles in the fluent medium. The detector includes discrimination means for preventing the counting of a pulse that has a rise or fall time above a predetermined threshold, thereby discriminating against particles that are not at the focal spot.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining various characteristics of particles suspended in a liquid, e.g., the deformability or other values of red blood corpuscles. The particles are transported by a method similar to the Coulter method through a measuring channel having sections which are constricted or widened over the length of the measuring channel in, e.g., a foil. The change of certain electrical characteristics of the liquid is measured during passage of each particle, which furnishes a measure of the desired particle characteristics. The volume, as well as the deformability and other characteristics, of a particle can be determined during one passage through one and the same measuring channel. This is accomplished by forming a measuring channel composed of alternate constricted and widened portions in a step-like configuration which are a plurality of cylindrical channel sections, throughout the length of the channel.

Abstract: In a flow cytometer where the laser beam is larger than the size of each biological cell of a column of cells being passed through the laser beam at a high rate wherein new and improved method and means are used to calculate the size of the cells as sensed by low angle forward light scatter or secondary emission of fluorescent material on the surface of the cell by measuring the time-of-flight of the smaller cell across the laser beam, with the time-of-flight being measured by integrating an electrical signal from either the forward light scatter or the secondary flourescent emission from a single cell as it passes through the laser beam and deriving still another electrical signal measuring the peak amplitude of the first signal and then dividing the integrated signal by the peak signal and subtracting a constant electrical signal from that quotient.

Abstract: A biological microparticle inspection apparatus has a reactor in which blood containing T cells is mixed with latex-labeled antibodies and T cells are coupled with the antibodies to form complexes. A particle size measurement unit is provided for measuring the size of the particles contained in the blood, including the complexes. A signal processing unit processes the measured sizes of the particles outputting signals only when the measured sizes fall within a range of the size of the complex, and counts the number of the output signals. The number of the output signals corresponds to the number of the complexes and hence the T cells.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for jetting a measured volume of a suspension of particulates such as blood cells or colloids into a single fluid-primed incompletely partitioned transducer chamber in such a way that the dynamic relationship between the priming liquid and the inflowing jet imparts to the suspended particulates the properties of a stable stream line monofile which reliably traverses one or more particulate-identifying and/or analyzing sensing zones. Said transducer chamber has one or more of the following three sources of energy for moving the contained fluids: an easily maintained non-critical pressure differential between the suspension inflow port and an exit line, potential energy stored within the transducer chamber during the priming step, a pump mechanism to propel particulate-free fluid. The measurement period in all such transducers may be defined by monitoring the volume of either the inflowing or displaced outflowing liquid.

Abstract: Blood constituents such as red cells, white cells, and platelets are centrifuged into layers in a capillary tube and the true extent of one or more of the layers is measured photometrically. Each layer to be measured is optically scanned by a sequence of scanning operations with the actual extent of each layer traverse being recorded in a computer. After each layer has been completely circumferentially scanned and each traverse recorded, the computer determines the true average axial dimension for each layer and computes, through prior input, the actual constituent count for each constituent layer.

Abstract: The apparatus provides a method of observing a water sample that is caused to flow rapidly past a beam of light of rectangular cross section. Attenuation of the beam by the sample is measured in a first detector that generates an output signal that has a basic, relatively slowly changing (e.g. half a second) component representative of the overall turbidity of the sample, and a series of short (e.g. 6 millisecond) pulses caused by individual, larger particles in the sample. The basic component is fed to a feedback circuit which so controls the light source as to maintain such component substantially constant. The intensity of the light source then provides a measure of the turbidity. A second detector counts the number of pulses above a certain threshold magnitude. In addition, this second detector can momentarily (during the occurrence of such a pulse) open a switch to prevent the feedback circuit from receiving the output signal of the first detector and hence avoid its reacting to the pulse.

Abstract: Red cell samples are passed through a zone of focused illumination, and a scatter vs. time pulse is obtained for each. Each pulse is analyzed for pulse width, pulse area, and pulse shape. These parameters are respectively collected, and three coefficients of variation are obtained for each such collection. In addition to these three abnormality factors, the mean of the pulse shape collection constitutes a fourth. The four are respectively subject to statistical criteria, and are combined in predetermined fashion for a single red cell morphology index.

Abstract: During a predetermined measuring time there are generated electrical pulses in a detector arrangement, each of these electrical pulses corresponding to a respective particle which is to be counted. The pulse amplitude of the electrical pulses corresponds to the particle size. In a discriminator circuit the electrical pulses are compared with a threshold value. Those pulses, the pulse amplitude of which exceeds the threshold value, are inputted to a counter circuit and a time measuring circuit for measuring the total time duration of the electrical pulses. All of the electrical pulses are delivered to a further counter circuit and a time measuring circuit. The digital values derived from both counter circuits and both time measuring circuits are infed to a digital computer in which there is computed according to the equation Z.sub.T *=(Z.sub.S -Z.sub.E).multidot.T.sub.S /(T.sub.S -T.sub.E) a count result Z.sub.T * for the pulses, the pulse amplitude of which does not exceed the threshold value.

Abstract: A particle size distribution analyzer includes a detector adapted to detect particles by electrical or optical differences from a medium containing the particles in dispersion and generate signals proportionally to the sizes of the detected particles, a threshold circuit adapted to remove noises or fragmental signals from the detected signals so as to obtain pulse widths at a constant position, a gate circuit adapted to decide the passage or non-passage of the particles through the threshold circuit, a counter circuit adapted to count the number of the particles fed from the gate circuit, a memory connected to the counter circuit, an arithmetic circuit connected to the memory and the detector, a controller circuit connected to the gate circuit, the memory and the counter circuit, and means for displaying or recording the data stored in the memory.

Abstract: A particle size distribution analyzer comprising a particle detector adapted to produce signals in response to the sizes of particles by electrical or optical differences between a liquid and the particles dispersed therein, a plurality of comparators connected in parallel to said particle detector for producing pulses in correspondence with said signals, counters connected to each of said comparators for counting said pulses, a data input/output unit connected to each individual counter, whereby said input/output circuit receives signals sent in parallel from said counters, a keyboard unit connected to said input/output circuit operative to enable various conditions to be input from the outside, a central processing unit circuit, a read only memory and, a random access memory connected to said later input/output unit for statistically processing the pulse received, and a data output unit connected to said data input/output unit, said data output unit including at least a recorder.

Abstract: An electron dosimeter system which measures the length of time that an individual, or object, is exposed to discrete strength levels of a stimulating medium. The dosimeter device is comprised of a sensing device with associated electronics, a converter and a processing circuit. The sensing device/electronics produces an electrical output, representing the strength level of the stimulating medium, which is converted to electrical pulses. The output of the converter is comprised of electrical impulses whose frequency or repetition rate represents the strength of the stimulating medium. The output of the converter is then processed in a circuit having a plurality of storage devices, each of which represent a discrete strength level of the stimulating medium. The processor produces a plurality of timed interval pulses which are addressed to the particular storage device representing that strength level of the stimulating medium.

Abstract: A plurality of thin, conductive wires are stretched across the open center of a frame through which the liquid drops to be measured will fall. Adjacent wires are maintained at a potential difference with respect to each other so that when the wires are momentarily connected by a passing conductive drop, the potential of one rises while that for the other falls. The wires are connected to circuitry which detects the change in potential in each individual wire and stores an indication of such change for later use. By counting the number of adjacent wires whose potential has changed, and knowing the dimensions of the wires and the spacing between them, it is possible to calculate drop size to accuracies dependent upon the design dimensions chosen for the device.