DE2329198A1 - METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUAL ITEMS IN A COLLECTION - Google Patents

Description

“ATINTANWXITI

DR. E. WIEGAND DIPL-ING. W. NItMANN DR. M. KOHlER DIPL-ING. C. GERNHARDT

MÖNCHEN HAMBURG

TELEPHONE 55547 « 6000 MO NCHEN *,

TElIGRAMMEt KARPATENT MATHIlCENSTIiASSE 12

June 6, 1973 W. 41 469/73 Zi / Ul

Arthur G. Melmon

Bethesda, Maryland (V.St "A.)

Method and device for determining the number of contained in a collection, individual items

The invention relates to a method and a device for determining the number of accumulations in e5.ner contained, individual objects and relates in particular to a method and a device for use in biomedicine

In biomedicine there is often a need to determine the number of different, randomly distributed objects, such as To identify bacterial colonies, virus spots, blood cells and the like.For example, it is common practice to that the number of bacterial colonies is determined by a person who can visually recognize each colony and must register on a disk, with the number of

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Colonies can be on the order of a few hundred. Although a person is usually between colonies and artifacts can distinguish and recognize overlapping colonies, the counting process is time consuming. The natural human The tendency to boredom and fatigue inevitably leads to a reduced degree of efficiency in terms of time and to errors when many such plates have to be counted. The plate analysis procedure for measuring the While viral activity is generally recognized as the most accurate method currently used, it is seldom used on a large scale Hasstab is used because the manual counting of the plates takes a lot of time and money.

Devices for automatic counting of medical and similar items have been proposed in which the area containing the objects is scanned line by line. However, since the big one, the Changing the shape and the random distribution of the objects, the loose counting and totaling on the basis of the performs Line-by-line scanning does not lead to an exact determination of the number of objects having a different size in the examined area, de the individual objects invariably in the successive scanning lines recorded and therefore counted more than once. Means are already in place to overcome these difficulties have been proposed to ensure that each item is counted at least once, but only once. Such devices are described in US patents

2 791 377, 2 8o3 4o6, 2 948 47o, 2 936 953, 2 958 464,

3 o88 o36 and 3 4o8 485. These devices are, however, relatively complicated and expensive, since

Additional scan lines and / or delay lines must be used and driven to prevent a Item is counted that was previously at the same

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Position was detected in a previous scan line. Efforts to improve the accuracy of these devices have only resulted in more expensive and complex devices that meet the need for simple, accurate and fast-acting devices for determining the number of objects located in an area are not satisfactory.

It is therefore mainly the aim and purpose of the invention to reduce the number of objects in a collection with a simple one Device to be re-determined *

Furthermore, it is the aim and purpose of the invention to provide improved methods and devices with which on the number of objects in a collection can be determined in a simpler, more reliable and cheaper way, than is the case with the known methods and devices.

Furthermore, it is the aim and purpose of the invention to determine the number of objects in a collection by that the accumulation is scanned in a position-independent mode of operation by a single beam, without that delay or other timing circuits are used for multiple counting of the individual items to prevent.

Furthermore, it is the aim and purpose of the invention, the number of randomly distributed objects regardless of Size, size distribution, shape or change in shape as a result precisely determine that the area to be examined is scanned line by line and the number of those detected in a scan line Objects with the number of objects detected in the adjacent scanning line to determine the difference those located in adjacent scan lines

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Objects is compared and that the differences are added together in order to get an indication of the number of objects in the examined area.

Furthermore, the aim and purpose of the invention is the number of the objects in a collection without counting each object at least once, but only once

Furthermore, the aim and purpose of the invention is the number of the objects passing through a scanning field by determining the number of objects detected by the scanning field Objects are compared in successive time intervals to determine the difference and the differences can be added together to give an indication of the number of objects passing through the scanning line to obtain.

Finally, it is still the aim and purpose of the invention to reduce the corner overlap in the case of the position-independent scanning device automatically balance to determine the number of items in a cluster.

The invention is generally based on the fact that the number of objects detected in adjacent scan lines to determine the difference in the number of objects lying in the individual lines is compared and the differences are summed, where the sum of the total sample is the number of items in a cluster regardless of the number of times the same object is captured in different scan lines became. Because only the number of captured in each scan line Objects is used, are the positions of the previously detected objects in the individual scan lines for the The end result is irrelevant. According to the invention, therefore, no complicated time or delay circuit is required.

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in order to determine the positions in the scanning lines.

The invention generally provides an apparatus to determine the number of items in a cluster. The device according to the invention is characterized by scanning means for scanning the accumulation line by line; a detector for generating a Signal corresponding to the number of objects detected in each scan line; a storage device for storing the signal generated in each scan line; a comparison circuit for outputting the difference signals, which correspond to the difference in the number of objects detected in adjacent scan lines; and a Unisitioning means for summing the difference signals to give an indication of the total number of items in the cluster to obtain · The invention also provides a method for determining the number of Objects in a collection. The inventive method is characterized in that the accumulation line by line is scanned, generating a signal which corresponds to the number of objects detected in each scanning line, and that the signal generated in each scanning line is compared with a signal which corresponds to the number of in objects detected in an adjacent scan line to obtain a difference signal representative of the difference corresponds to the number of objects detected in adjacent scanning lines, and that the difference signals are converted to get the number of items in the cluster.

Some advantages of the invention over the prior art are that the device according to the invention it is simple and cheap that the mode of operation is not position-dependent along a scan line that the Corner overlap is automatically compensated for, the

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Number of logical operations to be performed and the number and intricate structure of the individual parts has been greatly reduced and that careful measurement or regulation the time interval is not required.

Further advantages of the invention emerge from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to FIG Drawings. In the drawings show:

1 shows a schematic, perspective illustration of the process when scanning an area according to FIG the invention

Pig. Figure 2 is a graph of the signals generated as a function of the in a scan line detected objects were generated

Pig. 3 is a block diagram of a logical device according to the invention

Pig. Figures 4 and 5 are block diagrams of modified sections the one in Pig. 3 shown device

Pig. 6 a typical diagram showing statistically the indicates the predictable number of objects with overlapping corners

Pig. Figure 7 is a block diagram of a circuit for balancing the corner overlap for use in the device according to the invention

Pig. 8 is a block diagram of a modification of the logic device according to the invention

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Figure 9 is a graph of the signals for use in the Pig embodiment. 8th

Pig. 1o is a block diagram of another embodiment the logic device according to the invention

Fig. 11 is a graph showing the signals in the Pig embodiment. 1o

Figure 12 is a block diagram of another embodiment the logic device according to the invention

13 is a graph of the signals in the Embodiment according to Pig. 12th

14 is a block diagram of an additional embodiment of the logic device according to the invention

Fig. 15 is a graph showing the signals in the Embodiment according to FIG. 14

16 is a block diagram of another embodiment the logic device according to the invention

Fig. 17 is a graph showing the signals in the Embodiment according to FIG. 16

Fig. 18 is a block diagram showing a modification of the scanning device 1 together with the device for recording the objects detected during scanning

1 shows a device according to the invention for scanning an area 1o with individual objects 11

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shown, the number of which is to be determined · The invention This scanning device has a scanning device 12 for scanning the area 1o. The scanning device 12 can be, for example, a video camera or a light point scanner. In the illustrated embodiment, the Scanning device 12 is a conventional video camera which is modified to operate at predetermined time intervals repeatedly scans a single line while moving the area 1o across the scan line so that an image of the entire area 1o is scanned line by line. The area 1o is turned away from that of the scanning device 12 Illuminated side by a light source 14. The objects 11 are more or less translucent than the Underground of the area. The area 1o can also be kept stationary and the scanning device can be in conventional toeise a grid to scan the area line by line as shown in FIG. The scan lines need not be linear, but can be any describe a repetitive path. The term "line" as used here encompasses tracks with rectangular, curvilinear shapes or any other form. The scan lines can be in the form of scan fields of any suitable field or a suitable energy source, so that the objects, for example, magnetically, electrically, thermally, can be scanned optically or mechanically. It is just fundamental that one is repetitive Scan line or a repeating scan field is used to practice the invention.

The pulses that result from the scanning of the objects detected in a scanning line are shown in FIG. Line a shows three objects or points of different sizes detected in a scan line. the Line b shows signals from an optical detector circuit

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device were generated in the scanning device 12, and the scanned objects correspond to line a · Line c shows uniform pulses emitted by a in Pig. 3 are generated, which receives the signals of the line b from the scanning device 12. The pulses generated by pulse shaper 16 have the same amplitude and width as those generated by scanning device 12 incoming signals independently and all have uniform trigger characteristics. The pulse shaper 16 can be any have conventional circuit, such as a monostable multivibrator or a Schmitt trigger and a Control network to generate uniform pulses when an input signal exceeds a predetermined threshold. The characteristic of the signals of the line b in Fig. 2, which triggers the uniform pulses, the signal level, Signal width, rise time, or any desired combination of these. At the end of each scan line there is a A clear end-of-line signal is generated, such as a synchronization or blanking pulse from a keying circuit the scanner comes. The line end signal serves as a control signal for the logical operations to be carried out.

An embodiment of the logic device for determining the number of objects 11 in area 1o accordingly the signals coming from the scanning device 12 is in Pig. 3 shown. This embodiment has a writing register with the designation "writing register I" for storing the pulses coming from the pulse shaper 16, via an OR gate 17 to the input 0 for the clock ^ or Shift control of the shift register I are fed. The number of electrically neighboring detection points or levels of the writing register I is larger than the largest number of objects to be detected in a single scan line. It can be assumed that the writing register I before the

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Saving the data has been erased as described below so that each stage is in a logic state "zero" is. The data input D of the shift register I receives the output of a bistable Circuit 18, such as a flip-flop, which applies a logical "on" to the data input D of the writing register while the pulses coming from the pulse shaper 16 are being stored. Every time an object is detected in a scan line, a pulse is applied to input C for the shift control is applied to cause a logical "on" to be entered in the first level of the shift register, and to achieve that the data previously stored in the shift register are shifted by one step towards the data output Qu. At the end of a scanning line, the number of "one" stored in writing register I corresponds to the sum of the objects detected in a scan line.

At the end of each scanning line, an end-of-line signal or a synchronization pulse indicating the end of the line is fed to the bistable circuit 18 from the scanning device 12, so that the bistable circuit 18 the Changes states and the data input D of the writing register I supplies a logical "zero". The same, the end of the line The synchronizing pulse indicating the signal is fed to a clock source 2o, which sets the clocking in motion and generates "m" clock pulses, where "m" corresponds to the number of stages in the write register I. The clock pulses are sent via the ODEH -Gate 17 is supplied to the writing control input C of the writing register I, which receives the data stored in the writing register reads or shifts and resets all levels or positions of the writing register to the "zero" state. if "m" pulses have been generated by the clock generator, a preset computer 22 generates an output which stops the clock generator and the bistable circuit 18 in its position

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returns "on" and resets the calculator 22.

The data shifted by the writing register I are transferred to the data input D of a second writing register, the writing register II, which has the same number of stages as the writing register I. The shift control input C The clock pulses supplied to the writing register II ensure that these data get into the writing register II. Same" The data that were previously stored in the writing register II are timely and correspond to the number of pulses stored in a previous scan line from the write register II at the end ^ output Q removed to connect with the output of the writing register I. The outputs of the writing registers are fed to a comparison circuit 24- the output of which is fed to a terminal computer 26 (tally counter). The output A of the writing register II is the first input of an AND gate 2? fed via an inverter 28, while the output B of the writing register I dem second input of AND gate 27 is supplied via an AND getter 3o, which is also an input from the clock source receives. The pulses stored in the writing registers are compared bit for 3it synchronously and one pulse is output to the terminal computer 26 every time the writing register I has a data position "on" output and the writing register II has a "zero" output. The clock pulses read the write register and move the data at high speeds so that the comparison, the move of the data, and the reset operations can be performed while the scan line is being retraced. This means that after the end of a scan line, however, the above operations are performed before the start of the next scan line. According to the In accordance with the invention, it is not necessary that the data pulses from a scan line have the same position as the data pulses

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must have for the same item in an adjacent scan line.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, "positive" differences between the data of the successive Scan line from terminal computer 26 added. Of "positive" differences or is spoken of when the Terminal computer 26 supplied differential signals only show differences if the number of in a subsequent Objects detected in the scan line is greater than the number of objects scanned in a previous scan line. “Negative” differences can also be added by the end computer 26 by the comparison circuit 24 3 is replaced by the comparison circuit 24 'shown in FIG. Of "negative" differences or differences is spoken when the number of objects detected in a subsequent scan line is less than the number of objects scanned in a previous scan line. In the modification shown in FIG. 4, an inverter 28 'is connected between the output B of the Writing register I and the AND gate 27 interposed, while an AND gate 3o 'between the output A of the writing register II and the AND gate 27 is interposed.

The same results can also be achieved if, instead of the comparison circuit 24, the one shown in FIG. modified comparison circuit 24 ″ is used. The comparison circuit 24 * 'generates half the absolute Difference in the outputs of the writing registers. The output B of the writing register I is via the AND gate 3o a exclusive OR gate 32 is supplied, which also receives the output A of the writing register II. An exit of the exclusive OR gate 32 is fed to a circuit dividing by two whenever the

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final OR gate 32 incoming inputs are different.

When using those shown in FIGS. 3 »4 or 5 Device, the area 1o is scanned line by line, where the number of objects detected in each scan line corresponds to the pulses in the writing register I. get saved. At the end of each scanning line, the number of pulses stored in the writing register I is compared with the The number of objects recorded in the previous line, which were stored in the writing register II, was compared. The comparison circuit 24 generates signals which correspond to the differences between the number of objects detected in successive lines, regardless of the position. The difference signals are from the terminal computer 26, in the circuit according to Pig. 5 implemented by the divider circuit 34, so that the difference signals correspond to the number of objects 11 in the area 1o. Although the way of working is independent of the positions and positions of the objects recorded in the previous lines, one and the same Object in total not counted more than once, even if it has been detected in more than one scan line, since the Difference in the number of items recorded in consecutive lines to determine the total number of im examined area existing objects is used, the differences in the terminal computer 26 after scanning of the entire range 1o can be added.

The terminal computer 26 can be connected to any suitable recording device be connected to produce a converted output equal to the number of existing in area 1o Objects. For example, the recorder can consist of a series of Nixie tubes or a printout device or the like. the

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in Pig. The device shown in FIG. 3 produces an output which corresponds to the number of objects in the examined area after the complete scanning of the area. Because of Due to the high speed of the scanning device or the logical device, the same area can be used several times are sampled, the resulting output being averaged at the terminal computer 26 by dividing the total output by the Number of total samples is divided, or the pulses coming from the comparison circuit by a divider circuit go through them before they are fed to the meter.

In the case of randomly scattered objects, a logical randomness error occurs when the lower edge of an object is detected in one scan line and the top of another object in the next following one Scan line is captured. Such a position is referred to as edge overlap. In this case, the new one Item not registered because of a net change in the number of consecutive scan lines detected Objects does not enter. The fraction of items lost due to corner overlap is:

here mean: y

P (n;> O »_Af £ _ » Poisson distribution

and A β total number of items contained in a cluster divided by the total number of scan lines · The first sum expression, also written as (l-e ~ ^) is a good first approximation to the break »

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part of the items that are lost. The first sum expression varies depending on the density of the objects and the number of scanning lines, which depends on the size of the objects or of the size distribution is independent. If you make a mistake in a tolerable order of magnitude allows, the device according to the invention can significantly Easier to be designed than traditional devices that try to ensure that every single item is counted at least once, but only once. However, the error can be reduced without limit by only the number of scanning lines is increased. Tables, diagrams, nomograms or other conversion devices can be used as required used to correct the number of items to the statistically probable number corresponds to the objects. When the objects are arranged systematically, for example in rows that are parallel run to the scanning lines, no logical error occurs.

The corner overlap is shown in FIG. The number of items lost during a line scan, is plotted on the ordinate, while the number of objects in the area to be examined is on are plotted on the abscissa. The resulting curve, which is dependent on the Poisson distribution, as from the Summary above to determine the number of items lost due to corner overlap is not linear, as shown by the solid line. A linear, proportional compensation, as shown by the dashed line, therefore, cannot be used to accurately indicate the corner overlap balance.

A scarf that can be used in the device according to FIG. 3 The device to compensate for the corner overlap is shown in Fig. 7.

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posed. This compensation circuit automatically corrects the difference signals from output C of the comparison circuit 24 are fed to the terminal computer 26. The equalization circuit has an OR gate 36 which the Receives signals from the output C of the comparison circuit and an output to a circuit 38 dividing by ten, like a calculator gives. The output of the divider circuit is sent to the end computer 26, a monostable multivibrator 4o and a circuit 42 dividing by five, such as a computer. The monostable multivibrator 4o has an output which outputs a signal to the load input L of a write register 44. The divider circuit 42 'gives one Output to a data input D of a writing register 46. The writing register 44 receives clock pulses from the clock source 2o of FIG. 3 at the data input D, the number of clock pulses received being equal to or greater than the number of Levels of the writing register is. The two writing registers 44 and 46 have the same number of stages. The writing registers For example, they can have 4 stages labeled A, B, C and D. The outputs of stages A, B and D of the shift register 46 are connected in parallel to the inputs of stages A, B and C of the shift register 44. The stage D of the writing register 44 has an output which is fed to the OR gate 36 via an AND gate 47. AND gate 47 also receives the clock pulses.

During operation, the monostable multivibrator 4o triggers the shift register 44, and its stages in parallel from the interconnected stages of the write register 46 after every tenth pulse that is received from the comparison circuit 24 is coming. An "on" is entered serially into the writing register 46 after every fiftieth pulse, the comes from the comparison circuit 24. At the end of each scanning line, the clock source sends 2o clock pulses to the

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register 44 to read the data. The data in the writing register 44 are, however, "zero" until at least 50 differential pulses at output 0 of the comparison circuit 24 have been generated · This means that the writing register 44 is not filled with an "on" as long as until the writing register 46 has received a pulse at its data input D. The data in the write register 46 becomes parallel given into the writing register 44 after every tenth differential pulse. After 5 © difference impulses, the "on" will appear in the Stage A of the shift register 46 inl the shift register 44 is given every ten differential pulses, so that after the first fifty Differential pulses with every tenth differential pulse a compensation pulse arrives at the OR gate 36. In the same way After one hundred differential pulses, the "on" in both stages A and B of the writing register 46 are in the writing register 44 brought, so that after the first one hundred differential pulses, two compensation pulses on every tenth differential pulse OR gate 36 arrive. After two hundred differential pulses, the "on" in stages A, B and D of the writing register 46 brought into the writing register 44, so that after the first two hundred differential pulses with every tenth differential pulse three compensation pulses arrive at OR gate 36

The circuit shown as an example in FIG. 7 for compensating for the corner overlap is provided for a device which scans each area ten times. Accordingly, the terminal computer 26 receives only one pulse every ten pulses, that of the comparison circuit 24 and the equalization circuit due to the dividing and averaging by ten, Divider circuit 38 arrive. Of course, the output of the OR gate 36 could be sent directly to the end computer 26 as desired. are supplied, the divider circuit 38 the pulses only the rest of the circuitry of the circuit to correct the corner overlap. In a similar way, any-

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a divider circuit can be connected in series between the OR gate 36 and the terminal computer 26 in accordance with the number of samples to be averaged.

The parallel connection of the levels of the writing registers and 46 enables any desired compensation function to be generated by the connection the outputs of the stages of the writing register 46 with the inputs of the writing register 44 is changed. In the exemplary embodiment given above, no equalizing pulses are generated during the first fifty differential pulses, while a compensating pulse for every tenth differential pulse between 50 and 100 differential pulses, 2 compensating pulses for every tenth differential pulse between 100 and 100 2oo differential pulses and three compensating pulses generated for every tenth differential pulse over 300 differential pulses · This format can of course be changed according to the statistically obtained curves to compensate for the corner overlap by making the connections between the shift registers 44 and 46 changes.

Another embodiment of the logic device for determining the number of objects in an area by scanning line by line is shown in FIG. The signals coming from a scanning device 12 are fed to a pulse shaper 16, which ensures uniform pulses which, for example, correspond to the pulses in line o in FIG. 2. The pulses emanating from the pulse shaper 16 are fed to a four-bit, binary “high” computer 50 and a four-bit, binary “low” computer 52 and an AND gate 54. The outputs of the four stages of the ^w high ^tl computer 5o are fed to the corresponding stages of the "low" computer 52, so that when a load signal is supplied to the input 54, the binary ^{counting in the n} Hooh "computer 5o is transferred in parallel to the" low "computer 52.

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will wear. A price signal is fed to the input 56 of the "high" computer 5o in order to reset the "high" computer or to delete. The "low" computer 52 has a loan output 6o (borrow output), which is an input of a bistable Rush circuit 58 is supplied. The bistable current surge circuit 58 also receives the line end pulses or Synchronization pulses at an input 62 and has an output 64, which is a second input of an AND getter 54 is fed.

During operation, the pulse shaper 16 incoming impulses, which correspond to the objects detected in a scan line, at the same time the "high" Computer 5o and the "low" computer 52 supplied. At the beginning of a scan line, the "high" computer must 5o through the release pulse be reset to zero while the "down" calculator 52 stores a binary count indicating the number of corresponds to objects detected in a previous scan line. The "high" calculator 5o is used for adding or for summing the pulses corresponding to the number of objects detected in a current scanning line. Everyone a pulse corresponding to a detected object is subtracted from the count in the "low" computer 52 in order to generate a radio, tion, which generates a comparison and difference signal. At the beginning of a scan line it becomes bistable Surge circuit 58 reset by the sync pulse, to disable AND gate 54, as shown in FIG. If the number of in a previous Objects detected in the scanning line is greater than the number of objects detected in the current line, the bistable current surge circuit 58 remains reset and the UlID gate 54 is not enabled to pass pulses. V / enn the number of times in a previous scan line detected objects is less than the number of

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objects recorded in the current line, the "low" Computer 52 drain when the number of pulses coming from the pulse shaper is equal to the number of pulses that were originally stored in the "low" computer 52 and the Pulses correspond to the previous line. As a result, a loan signal is fed to the input of the bistable circuit 58, which is set to “one”, in order to activate the bistable circuit 58 to set to "one" and make the AND getter 54 capable. This allows the successive, coming from the pulse shaper 16 pulses, which the difference in number corresponding to the objects detected in the successive lines, through the AND gate 54 and are fed to the end computer 26, which converts the pulses as an indication of the number of objects in the examined area.

The number determined by the computer 26 corresponds to the sum of the negative differences of ^η * ₊ ι "* ⁿ 4» where ^w n ^{n is} the number of objects recorded in the i-th line. This sum is equal to the total number of objects in the examined area , the total number being the statistically predictable number of objects in corner overlap less, as explained above with reference to Figures 6 and 7. If automatic corner overlap compensation is desired, the output of AND gate 54 of the in 7 to compensate for the corner overlap, so that the terminal computer 26 receives a number of pulses which corresponds exactly to the number of objects contained in the examined area.

At the end of each scan line, the sync pulse resets the bistable circuit 58 and the Load pulse in the "low" computer 52, the binary counting

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tion in the "high" computer 5o corresponds to the number of objects, that were recorded in the line just ended. Thereupon the "high" computer is 5o by the release pulse reset at entrance 56. The area to be examined 1o is thus scanned line by line, the "high" computer 5o adding a signal which corresponds to the number of in each Line detected objects is proportional and where the "high" computer 5o this signal to the "low" computer 52 transmits for comparison with a signal which corresponds to the number of objects in the subsequent scanning line.

Another embodiment of the logic device according to the invention for determining the number of objects in a region to be examined is shown in FIG. 1o. In this embodiment, the pulses coming from the pulse shaper 16 become the AND via a line 66 Gates 68 and 7o, the second inputs of which receive the outputs Q. and φ from a flip-flop 72. The J The output of the flip-flop 72 is fed back to the input D, and an end-of-line pulse or sync pulse from the scanner 12 is fed to a toggle input 74 of flip-flop 72. The outputs of AND gates 68 and 7o become The clock pulse inputs CP of the binary computers 8o and 82 are supplied via OR gates 76 and 78. The output Q ^ of the flip-flop 72 is fed to an enable input CL of the binary computer 82 via a NAND gate 84. Similarly, will the output Q of the flip-flop 72 is fed to the enable input CL of the binary computer 8o via a NAND gate 86. the Second inputs of NAND gates 84 and 86 receive a reset pulse over line 88. Clock pulses are from a clock source via a line 87 and the OR gates 76 and 78 to the clock pulse inputs of the binary computer 8o and 82 supplied. The clock pulses are also sent to an AND gate

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ter 9o which receives a second input from an exclusive OR gate 92. The exclusive OR gate 92 is in turn fed by the outputs of the binary computers 80 and 82. The output of the AND gate 9o is fed to the end computer 26 via a circuit 94 dividing by four and, as desired, via the circuit shown in FIG. 7 to compensate for the corner overlap.

During operation, the synchronization pulse from the scanning device 12 acts on the toggle flip-flop 72 and brings it into the opposite position at the end of a scanning line, so that the output Q of the flip-flop 72 is in the "on" position which the output φ of the flip- flop 72 is in the "zero" position, so that the UIID gate 68 is enabled to pass the pulses coming from the pulse shaper 16 via the line 66 via the OR gate 76 to the clock pulse input of the binary computer 8o. The AND gate 7o is prevented from preventing the pulses coming via the line 66 from passing through to the binary computer 82. The binary computer 8o therefore stores the pulses corresponding to the number of objects in this line when a first line is scanned. At the end of the scanning line , clock pulses are fed to the two binary computers 8o and 82 via the OR gates 76 and 78, the number of clock pulses being equal to the maximum counter of the binary computers. In the present exemplary embodiment , the number of clock pulses is 16. The clock pulses read the counts in the binary computers 82 and 82 and reset the binary computers to their original state before the clock pulses were applied. During the application of the clock pulses, any difference in the outputs of the computers 8o and 82 generates a pulse at the output of the exclusive OR gate 92, with the pulses at the AND gate 9o being synchronized with the clock pulses and via the divider circuit 94 depending on the request in Fig. 7th

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The circuit shown to compensate for the corner overlap and the terminal computer 26 are supplied. After the end of the clock pulses, a reset pulse is shown via line 88/11 and the DOG getter 84 is fed to the binary computer 82, that is to say the binary computer, which was not sent in the previous scanning line in order to reset the binary computer 82. After the reset pulse has been fed to the binary computer, the binary computer 8o stores the pulses which correspond to the number of objects detected in the previous scanning line. The pulses generated in the subsequent scanning line are fed to the binary computer 82 due to the tilting of the flip-flop 72 at the trailing edge of the sync pulse. The NiJND gates 84 and 86 ensure that the reset pulse only controls the binary computer that was not loaded in the last scan line.

The (fact is introduced by the leading edge of the sync pulse and includes a computer that is similar in The manner in which the computer 22 is arranged in FIG. 3 to control the number of clock pulses supplied to the binary computers and generate a reset pulse. The exclusive one OR gate 92 leaves both positive and negative differences in the number of adjacent rows detected Objects through. This, together with the outputs from the binary computers, makes it necessary for the pulses coming from the exclusive OR gate 92 to be divided by four before they are fed to the terminal computer 26.

Another embodiment of the logic device to determine the number of objects in an area to be examined is in Tig. 12 shown. The embodiment according to FIG. 12 corresponds to the embodiment according to Fig. 3, but instead of writing registers computers

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be turned. The pulses coming from the pulse shaper 16 are fed via a line 98 and an OR 1o2 to a clock pulse input CP of a binary computer 1oo. The OR gate 1o2 in turn receives JPa'ktimpulse via a line 1o4 in order to feed the clock pulse input of the binary computer 1oo. Release signals are fed to a release input CL of the binary computer 1oo. The binary computer 1oo has 4 levels A, B, C and D, the outputs of which are connected to the corresponding levels of a binary computer 1o6. The binary computer 1o6 has a clock pulse input CP which receives the clock pulses from the line 1o4. The output D _{Q of the} binary computer loo leads an AND gate 1o8 to an input. The AND gate 1o8 also receives clock pulses via a line 11o. The output of AND gate 1o8 is fed to an AND gate 112 as an input. The AND gate 112 receives the output D of the binary computer 1o6 via an inverter 114. The output of the AND gate 112 feeds the circuit shown in FIG. The pulses stored in the binary computer 1oo are transferred to the binary computer 1o6 in parallel by a signal which is fed to the load input L of the binary computer 1o6.

When a line is scanned, the pulses corresponding to the detected objects are transmitted via line 98 to the Clock pulse input of the binary computer 1oo supplied so that the binary computer 1oo stores the pulses that correspond to the number correspond to the objects detected in a single scan line. The binary computer 1o6 has the Pulses stored corresponding to the number of objects detected in the previous line. If the ongoing Line is scanned, the synchronizing pulses initiate the action of the clock source that of the clock source in FIG corresponds to the binary computers 1oo and 1o6 feed a number of clock pulses, the number of possible

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Total count corresponds to the binary calculator. With the one shown Embodiment 16 clock pulses are generated · The clock pulses are supplied via computers 1oo and 1o6 in the same way as was described with reference to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1o, the outputs that

at D of the computer 1oo and at D of the computer 1o6 subscribed ο °

are fed to a comparison circuit which operates in a manner similar to the comparison circuit 24 of FIG Fig. 3 is constructed so that the pulses from the AND gate correspond to the differences in the number of objects recorded in successive lines. If the comparison has been completed, the load signal is fed to the binary computer 1o6 to the count of the binary computer 1oo parallel to the Enter binary computer 1o6. Then the release signal is fed to the release input of the computer 1oo to the computer postpone.

Another modification of the logic device according to the invention for determining the number of objects in a region to be examined is shown in FIG. With this modification, the impulses are from Pulse shaper 16 is supplied via a line 116 to a binary computer and an AND gate 12o. The binary calculator 118 receives an enable signal at input CL and has four stages, the outputs of which with corresponding stages of a storage register 122 are connected. The pulse data stored in the binary computer 118 are transferred to the storage register 122 input as a function of a load signal at input L of the memory register. The outputs of the stages of the storage register 122 will be one side of a comparator 124, too Called comparison device, supplied and the outputs of the stages of the binary computer 118 are the other side of the comparator 124 is supplied. If the number of pulses stored in the binary computer 118 is greater than the

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number of pulses stored in the memory register 122, the Eomperator 124 leads via its output 126 to the AND gate 12o a signal to · The pulses passing through the AND gate 12o are sent to the terminal computer 26 and as far as desired to the circuit shown in Pig * 7 to compensate for the corner overlap.

At the beginning of a scanning line, the binary computer 118 is enabled and the storage register 122 contains a large number of pulses which correspond to the number of objects detected in a previous line. As long as the current line is scanned, the pulses which correspond to the scanned objects are fed via the line 116 to the binary computer 118 and the AND gate 12o. If the number of pulses that the binary computer 118 has received via the line 116 is equal to the number of pulses stored in the storage register 122, so that the output of the binary computer 118 is greater than or equal to the output of the storage register 122, the comparator 124 generates am Output 126 a "on" to enable AND gate 12o and to allow further pulses from pulse shaper 16 to pass through during the line scan, so that the ⁿ i ₊ χ ~ ⁿ i (> °) pulses are added to terminal computer 26. At the end of the scan line, a load pulse is fed to the storage register 122 in order to load the storage register with the data from the binary computer 118 in a parallel manner. After loading, the binary computer 118 is supplied with an enable signal in order to reset the computer and make it available for the next scan line.

Another embodiment of the logic device according to the invention for determining the number of objects in an area to be examined is shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the pulses from the pulse shaper 16 via a line 128 on the one hand one

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Clock input CP of a binary computer 132 via an OR gate 1Jo and, on the other hand, directly to a clock input CP of a Binary computer 134 supplied. The binary computer 134- has four stages, the outputs of which with corresponding stages of a binary computer 136 are connected · The binary computer 136 receives from a clock source similar to the Pig · 3 via a line 137 at the clock input CP clock pulses, which are also the clock input of the binary computer 132 are supplied via the OR gate 13o. A load signal is sent to input L of the binary computer 136 is supplied in order to input the data present in the computer 134 into the computer 136 in parallel. The exits Q, the computer 132 and 135 are fed to the toggle inputs T of the JK flip-flops 138 and 14o. I'm on a line 142 applied release pulse is on the one hand the release inputs CL of the computers 132 and 134 and on the other hand the Reset inputs R of flip-flops 138 and 14o supplied · ■ The output φ of the flip-flop 138 is fed to an AND gate 144, which also has the output Q of the flip-flopS 14o and receives the clock pulses from line 137. The output of the AND gate 144 is the terminal computer 26 and, if desired, fed to the circuit shown in FIG. 7 to compensate for the corner overlap.

At the beginning of a scan line, computers 132 and 134 and flip-flops 138 and 14o are reset while the binary computer 136 contains a series of pulses which correspond to the number of objects detected in a previous line correspond. As long as the current line is scanned, the pulses from the pulse shaper 16 are the binary computers 132 and 134 supplied. The task of the binary computer 134 is primarily only to store the pulses, which correspond to the objects recorded in the current line, so that the pulses stored in the binary computer 134 by a signal at the load input L parallel to the binary

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computer 136 can be entered · At the end of the scanning line, the clock source is set by the synchronization pulse, so that clock pulses are fed via the OR gate 13o to the binary computer 132 and the binary computer 136 in order to read the pulses stored therein, which correspond to the number of the The output pulses from the computers 132 and 136 flip-flops 138 and 14o when 16 - n ^ clock pulses have arrived at the binary computer 132, which is used for reasons of comparison, and when 16 - n ^^ clock pulses have arrived at the binary computer 136. In tilted flip-flop, the AND gate 144 can be n -. N _ ^ (^ pulses through which are fed to the Endrechner 26 When the AND gate 144 to the Q output of flip-flop 138 and the output φ of the flip.. Flops14o were fed, m - n. _ ^ (> 0) pulses at AND gate 144 would pass through.

A recording device used in each of the above-described embodiments is shown in FIG. The recorder includes a cathode ray tube (CRT) 148 for visual Reproduction of the scanned area and the objects contained in the area. A video camera 15o for line by line Scanning the area 1o with a grid, in which the area 1o remains stationary, can also be done with each of the embodiments described above can be used. The video camera 150 transfers the cathode ray tube 148 a line 152 horizontal synchronization signals or end-of-line signals and, via a line 154, vertical stop and start signals. A video signal is transmitted on line 156 of the Cathode ray tube 148 and pulse shaper 16 are fed to uniformly limited and shaped pulses for logic of the embodiments according to Figures 3, 4, 5 »8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 to be generated, the horizontal synchronizing

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signals are also fed to the logic, as has already been described above. The pulses from the pulse shaper 16 are also fed to cathode ray tube 148 via line 158. A suitable circuit is connected to cathode ray tube 148 to either receive one or the other of the signals on lines 156 or or to receive the signals on lines 156 and 158 at the same time in order to achieve a reproduction of the entire area 1o, with the detected objects are lighter than the background. In the first case, the suitable circuit can, for example, be a one-pole or two-pole switch and in the second case be a mixer or a mixer with a delay so that the bright records of the Different objects.

Objects of different shapes can rait the help of coherent, optical (spatial) correlation filters are counted. In this process, the objects are made with a selected shape is projected onto an image scanning plane in the form of points of light while from the objects no light is projected with other shapes. The spatially filtered image can be scanned for each object shape to be counted and the number of items of each shape can be added up independently. The principle of such coherent, optical correlation techniques are well known. In this context it can for example be based on A. Vander Lugt, IEEE Transactions on Information Theory I.T.-10 139 (1964) ". A distinction of the form of the objects to be counted is important in the practical application of the invention, for example, when a distinction must be made between bacteriophage spots, which may appear as full disks or as rings, or when certain selected items are to be counted in aerial photographs.

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- 3ο -

Coherent, optical techniques can also be used to differentiate can be used according to the size. An electronic differentiation of the scanning signal by the pulse length or Pulse height is also possible for this purpose.

Objects with different colors in one and the same field can either be used at the same time with eiper! or can be counted independently of one another with the help of different scans, using suitable color filters in the optical path can be used. A distinction according to the Optical density can be achieved by using the well known techniques for differentiating the pulse height used to count the items of different density in the consecutive rows su. It can also several circuit aider in Figures 3 »4,5f8,1o, 12, 14 · or 16 can be used simultaneously, each circuit having a threshold with a different Pulse height used. Multiple circuits can also be used to distinguish any other parameters of interest be used.

The present invention can besides the above Biomedical field can also be used for many other purposes, such as determining the number the holes in punch cards, to determine the number of ticked answer boxes on one of several answers to choose from offering questionnaire and to determine the number of randomly distributed objects on a conveyor belt or in a flowing medium such as gas or liquid, to name just a few examples.

The term "scanning" used in this specification means scanning an area or one line by line Collection of objects, either being a single one

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horizontal scan line is provided and the area or the collection of objects being moved past the scan line or wherein the flow of objects is continuous is moved past a scanning line, which in this case is designed as a scanning field. The present invention can thus be used for many purposes, in which the number of objects in a collection thereby it must be determined that the cluster is either being scanned or moving past a scan line or field which is built up for predetermined periods of time.

The logic device according to the invention, as they based on the exemplary embodiments of Figures 3 »4, 5» 8, 1ο, 12, 14 and 16 is not limited to the fact that any logical device having means for Storing a signal corresponding to the number of objects detected in a line and having devices for Comparing the stored signal with a signal generated in an adjacent row can be used, to carry out the present invention. Finally, it is stated that in the embodiments according to FIGS. 8 and 14 the comparison is carried out with a current scanning line, while in the remaining exemplary embodiments the comparison is made after the end of a scan line. It can be a signal that the The number of objects detected in a scanning line corresponds to being stored until the entire area or the entire raster image is scanned, after which the stored signals, which correspond to the adjacent scanning lines, be compared with each other. Although those described above and shown in the drawings Embodiments of the invention are directed only to a digital implementation of the invention, the method and the device of the invention also on an analog

409807/0329

On a log basis, energy storage devices, such as capacitors, are used store an analog signal proportional to the number of objects detected in successive scan lines is. The analog signals can be compared with one another in order to generate differential signals. The expression "generate a signal which corresponds to the number of objects detected in an old test line" and a Similar terminology used in the description and in the claims also relates to pulses, which are the number of the objects captured for digital operations, as well as linear signals that represent the number of objects detected for analog operations proportionally are · If one wants to perform logical comparison operations in a time span greater than the time span between the successive scan lines, another storage device can be used to store the data of the current scan line during the compare operation.

The invention thus provides various methods and devices for determining the number of objects in a cluster using a fill-independent mode of operation, the cluster being scanned line by line and a pulse is generated for each object detected in a scanning line and the number of in the successive scan lines generated pulses is compared to generate difference pulses which the difference in the number of items in the consecutive Lines correspond, and where the difference pulses are summed to the number of items in the Indicate accumulation. Various modifications of the methods and apparatus use calculators and registration circuits to save and compare the number of in

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pulses generated across the scanning lines. Furthermore, a circuit is provided which automatically compensates for the corner overlap.

The invention can be modified in many ways. The exemplary embodiments described above and shown in the drawings therefore serve only for explanation of the invention and are not to be understood in a limiting sense.

- patent claims -

409807/0329

Claims (1)

Claims 1 / Device for determining the number of in a collection contained, individual objects, characterized by a device for line-by-line scanning of the accumulation; detector means for generating a signal indicative of the number of objects detected in each scan line is equivalent to; memory means for storing the signal generated in each scanning line; a comparison device, which is connected to the memory device and emits difference signals which indicate the difference correspond in number to objects detected in adjacent scan lines; and a converter, which receives and sums the difference signals and provides an output corresponding to the total number of items in the Accumulation corresponds. 2 · Device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the detector means detected means for generating a pulse for each in each scan line Has object and that the memory device has a device for storing these pulses 3 · Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the storage device has a first and a second Computing device, from which the first computer device receives the pulses from the detector device are generated in the current line and from which the second computer device stores the pulses, which were generated la of the previous scan line. 409807/0329 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that that the comparison device has a device which the pulses generated in a current scanning line the second computer device, and that the first computer device generated in a current scan line Pulses stores and the second computer means the pulses generated in the current scanning line from the subtracts pulses stored in the second computing device, and that the second computer device has an output which feeds a signal to the converter device, when the number of pulses received from a current scan line is greater than the number from the previous one Scanning line received pulses which are stored in the second computer device. 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the relocating device has a gate device, Many the output signal from the second computing device and that from the detector device during a running Scanning line receives generated pulses, and that the gate device by the signal from the second computer device is enabled to pass the pulses generated in a current scan line, and that a terminal device receives the impulses from the gate device 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 »characterized in that the scanning device at the end of each scanning line an end-of-line pulse is generated and control means responsive to the end-of-line pulse are provided to the pulses stored in the first computer device ^ to bring into the second computing device and the first To release the computer device. 409807/0329 7. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the first and second computer devices each have one Have an output that is connected to the comparison device, and the comparison device has a reading device which reads the data stored in the first and second computer devices Feeds pulses to the comparison device. 8 · Device according to claim 7 »characterized in that that the scanner, which at the end, of each line generates an end-of-line pulse, and the reading means comprise a clock device responsive to the end-of-line pulse, to supply the clock pulses to the first and second computing devices. 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that that the first computing device has a plurality of levels and the second computing device the same number of stages and the stages of the first computer device with the corresponding stages of the second computer device are connected and a responsive to the line end signal control device is provided to control the in input of the first computer device stored pulses into the second computer device and the first computer device to free. 10. The device according to claim 9 »characterized in that that the first computer device has a comparison computer generating the output and a memory computer, and the stages of the storage computer are connected to the stages of the second computer device and the comparison device a bistable device which has the output from the comparison computer and the output from the second Computer device receives and responds to the counts of the comparison computer, and that the second Reebnerein- 409807/0329 direction is read from the clock pulses to produce pulses equal to the difference between the counts. 11. The device according to claim 1o, characterized in that the bistable device d ^ ss a first bistable circuit with a toggle input which receives the output from the comparison computer and a second bistable Has a circuit with a toggle input which receives the output from the second computer device and that the comparison device comprises a gate device which receives the outputs from the first and second bistable circuits and receives the clock pulses and the gate direction is enabled to pass the clock pulses after the state of the first or second bistable circuit has changed depending on the reading clock pulse of the comparison computer and the second computer device. 12. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the storage device has a first and a second Having a storage device, and a control device is provided, which the detector device in a first scan line generated pulses of the first memory device and the detector device in a second, the first line following scanning line generated pulses supplies the second memory device, and that the Comparison device has a device which stores the data stored in the first and second storage devices Pulses at the end of each scan line, and the first memory means stores the pulses which the Number of objects detected in the first scanning line, and the second memory device at the end of the first scan line stores the pulses corresponding to the number of objects in one of the first line 409807/0329 previous scan line have been detected, and that the second storage device stores the pulses which correspond to the number of objects detected in the second scanning line, and the first memory device at the end of the second scanning line stores the pulses which correspond to the number of objects detected in the first scanning line correspond. 13. The device according to claim 12, characterized in that that the first storage device is a computer and the second storage device is also a computer. 14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that that the scanning device generates an end-of-line pulse at the end of each scanning line and the control device generates a bistable circuit comprises which one the line end pulse receiving toggle input, a first and second additional output, and a first and second gate device which receive the first and second additional output of the bistable circuit and from which each ßatter device receives pulses from the detector device, and that the first and second gate means have outputs which are fed to the first and second computers, and that the first and second gate means alternately enable by toggling the bistable circuit will. 15. The device according to claim 14, characterized in that the reading device comprises a clock pulse source responsive to the line end pulse and the comparison device has a third and fourth gate device which receive the clock pulses and the first and second additional output of the bistable circuit, and that the third and fourth gate device have outputs _} 409807/0329 which are fed to the first and second computers, and the third and fourth gate devices are enabled alternately by toggling the bistable circuit, and that on the one hand the first and fourth gate means simultaneously and, on the other hand, the second and third gate means simultaneously be empowered. 16. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the storage device is a first storage device and a second memory device, of which the first memory device is that of the detector device receives pulses generated in a current line and the second memory device controls the pulses which the Correspond to the number of objects detected in a scan line preceding the current line, and that the first and second memory devices have outputs which are fed to the comparison device, and the comparison device comprises a gate device which the from the detector device receives pulses generated in the current line, and that the gate device is enabled, to let the pulses through when the output of the first memory device matches the output of the second memory device exceeds. 17. The device according to claim 16, characterized in that the first storage device has a plurality of stages and the second storage means has the same number of stages and each stage of the first storage means is connected to a corresponding stage of the second storage device and the scanning device at the end an end-of-line pulse generated for each scanning line and a control device responsive to the end-of-line pulse is present in order to feed the pulses stored in the first memory device into the second memory device. 409807/0329 - 4ο - give and free the first storage device. 18. Device according to claim 17, characterized in that that the first storage device is a binary computer and the second storage device is a storage register. 19 · Device according to claim 2, characterized in that that the memory device has a first memory device and a second memory device, of which the first memory means receives the pulses generated by the detector means in a scan line and one of the Has an output fed to the comparison device and of which the second storage device also stores an output h8t fed to the comparison device and stores the pulses, which correspond to the number of objects detected in a previous scanning line, and that the scanning device an end-of-line pulse is generated at the end of each scanning line and a control device responsive to the end-of-line pulse is present, the pulses stored in the first and second storage means at the outputs for the supply to be read from the comparison device. 2o. Device according to claim 19, characterized in that that the second storage device has an input which receives the output of the first storage device, wherein the second memory device is supplied with the pulses which correspond to the number of those detected in the last scanning line Objects correspond. 21 · Device according to claim 2o, characterized in that that the control device comprises a source of clock pulses which the first and second storage devices in Depending on the line end pulse. 409807/0329 22. The device according to claim 21, characterized in that the first storage device and the second storage device Writing registers are. 23. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transfer device is a terminal device for Having summing the difference signals. 24. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the comparison device generates differential signals only if the number of objects detected in a subsequent scan line is greater than the number in one previous scan line detected objects. 25 · Device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the comparison device only generates difference signals if the number of in a subsequent scan line objects detected is smaller than the number of objects detected in a previous scan line. 26. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the comparison device is absolute difference signals generated when the number of objects detected in a subsequent scan line is larger and smaller than the Number of objects detected in a previous scanning line, and that the relocating device is a dividing device to divide the difference signals by two. 27..A device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the conversion device has a terminal computer device which receives the difference signals from the comparison device receives and the relocating device also has a device for compensating for the corner overlap and that? 409807/0329 the device for compensating for the corner overlap the difference signals receives from the comparison device and the terminal device depending on the value of the difference signals Supplies compensation signals. 28. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the detector means a pulse for each in each Scan line generated and the scanning device is a video device, the horizontal and vertical Has control signals and generates a video output, and that a playback device in the form of a cathode ray tube which receives the horizontal and vertical control signals, the video output and that of The impulses generated by the detector device visually reproduce the accumulation and the objects detected during scanning 29. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that that the difference signals are pulses and the conversion device, a terminal device and a device for Compensating for the corner overlap, the terminal computer device receiving the difference signals from the comparison device receives and the means for compensating for the corner overlap receives the difference signals from the comparison means and the terminal computer device supplies compensating pulses as a function of the number of pulse difference signals, generated by the comparison device. 30. The device according to claim 29 »characterized in that that the device for compensating for the corner overlap has a first shift register device and a second shift register device of which the first shift register means has a plurality of stages and a data pulse for each first predetermined number of pulse difference signals, and one of which the second shift register means 409807/0329 also has a plurality of stages and a load pulse for every other predetermined number of pulse difference signals receives and has an output for supplying the compensation pulses to the terminal computer device, and that the stages of the first index device are connected to the stages of the second index device, to the data pulses in the first writing register device in the second writing register device depending on to enter each load pulse which is fed to the second shift register device, and that the device to compensate for the eccentric overlap has a device for reading the pulses, which is entered in the second shift register device were entered in order to send the final computer device the compensation pulses at the output of the second shift register device to feed. 31. The device according to claim 3o, characterized in that that the reading device has a clock source which feeds the clock pulses to the second writing register device, and that the just predetermined number of pulses is greater than the second predetermined number of pulses. 32. Device for determining the number of objects located in an area, characterized by a first and second digital storage devices, a sampling device for generating signals as a function of the objects detected, a device for periodic and sequential inputting of the signals corresponding to the digital data in the first storage device in as many electrically adjacent locations as there are objects are present, and means which, at the end of the input operation, are responsive to the input means for converting the contents eject the first and second storage device and transfer the contents of the first storage device to the second 409807/0329 ching means, and characterized by means for counting the ejected from the memory means Bits and a device arranged between the storage device and the counting device, which device is one of a selected memory device only brings the bit ejected to the counting device if the corresponding, bits electrically adjacent and opposite binary values ejected from the first and second storage means to have· 33 · Device according to claim 32, characterized in that the between the storage device and the counting device arranged means generates an output for summing the items when positive differences between the bits lying in series are present in the successive lines. 34 ·. Device according to claim 32, characterized in that that the device arranged between the storage device and the counting device has an output for summing the items generated when negative differences between the serially located bits in the successive rows available. 35 · Device according to claim 32, characterized in that the between the storage device and the counting device arranged device has a dividing circuit by two, which has an output for summing the Items generated when positive or negative differences between the bits in series in the consecutive ones Lines are present. 36 · Method for counting the number of objects present in an area, characterized in that the 409807/0329 rich is scanned in successive paths and the signals generated periodically by the objects in a first of a first and second memory device are input in electrically adjacent memory positions and the the contents of the first and second storage devices present in series ejected at the end of a scanned path and at the same time the contents of the first storage device in the second storage means are input, and the ejected contents of the first and second storage means be compared and a bit ejected from a selected memory device is only counted when the ejected contents have opposite binary values. 37 · The method according to claim 36, characterized in that that a signal is generated at the end of each scanning path, and the ejected contents before scanning the next Web can be compared. 38. The method according to claim 37, characterized in that that the first storage device is reset when the contents are entered into the second storage device 39. The method according to claim 36, characterized in that that positive differences in the content of successive traces scanned are counted. 40. The method according to claim 36, characterized in that negative differences in the content of successive scanned webs are counted. 41. The method according to claim 36, characterized in that that the total difference in the content of consecutive 409807/0329 traced paths are calculated and the total difference two is shared. 42. A method for determining the number of objects contained in a collection, characterized in that, that the accumulation is scanned line by line and a signal is generated which corresponds to the number of objects detected in each scan line, and that the signal generated for each scan line is compared with a signal, that is proportional to the number of objects detected in an adjacent scan line, by a difference signal that corresponds to the difference in the number of objects detected in adjacent scan lines and that the difference signals are converted to represent the number of items in the cluster 43. The method according to claim 42, characterized in that that during the process of comparing ^ a difference signal is only generated if the number of objects detected in a subsequent scanning line is greater than that Number of objects detected in a previous adjacent scan line. 44 · The method according to claim 42, characterized in that that during the process of comparing ^ a difference signal is only generated if the number of objects detected in a subsequent scanning line is less than the number of objects detected in a previous adjacent scan line. 45 · The method according to claim 42, characterized in, that during the process of comparison, an absolute difference signal is generated if the number of objects detected in a subsequent scanning line is smaller and larger 409807/0329 is than the number of in a previous neighboring Scanning line detected objects, and that in the process of relocating the difference signals are divided by two. 46. The method according to claim 42, characterized in that in the process of converting signals to compensate for the Corner overlap are generated depending on the value of the differential signals and the differential signals and the signals to Compensation for corner overlap can be summed to represent the number of items in the cluster. 47. The method according to claim 42, characterized in that that each scan line is displayed visually on a cathode ray tube. 48. The method according to claim 42, characterized in that when generating a signal which corresponds to the number of in corresponding to objects detected in each scan line, a pulse is generated for each object detected in each scan line and that in the process of comparing difference pulses are generated which correspond to the difference in number correspond to the objects detected in adjacent scanning lines, and that the difference pulses during the transfer process can be summed up. 49. The method according to claim 48, characterized in that the generated pulses are stored in a first storage device when scanning each line «are stored and the stored pulses after comparing a second one Storage device are transferred and the first storage device is reset. 50. The method according to claim 48, characterized in that that the generated pulses from a previous sampling 409807/0323 line are stored in a computer and that in the process of comparing the generated pulses of a neighboring previous scan line can be subtracted from the stored pulses in the computer in order to generate the difference signals. 51. The method according to claim 42, characterized in that that the collection is scanned several times and the number of objects represented by the implementation by the Number corresponding to the number of samples. 52. Device for determining the number of in an area existing objects, characterized by a device for line-by-line scanning of the area and generation one pulse for each object detected in each scan line; storage means for storing the number the number of pulses generated in each scan line; a device for generating differential pulses in each scanning line a gate device receiving the generated pulses and a comparison device which receives the generated pulses receives and is connected to the memory device to match the number of pulses generated with the number of stored To compare pulses, wherein the comparison device enables the gate device to the generated pulses as Pass differential pulses after a number of generated pulses has arrived equal to the number of stored pulses is; and a converter, \ * elche receives and sums the difference pulses to give the total number of items in the area. 55. Device according to claim 52, characterized in that that the comparison device has a computer which stores a count which the number of in an adjacent corresponds to the pulses generated in the previous scanning line, and the pulses generated in the current line 409807/0329 subtracts from the count. 54. Device for determining the number of in one Area existing objects, marked by a Means for scanning an area line by line and generating a pulse for each in each scan line detected object and for generating a line loop pulse επί end of each scan line; one first, one Output having memory means for storing the number of those generated in a previous scan line Impulses; a second memory device having an output to store the number of pulses in a subsequent line adjacent to the previous line were generated; a comparison device which receives the outputs of the first and second memory devices and Differential pulses are generated, which is the difference between the number of stored in the first and second memory device Impulses correspond; control means responsive to the end-of-line pulse to control those in the first and zv / eiten memory device to remove stored pulses and to supply the stored pulses to the comparison device; and computing means for summing the Differential pulses and display of the number of objects in the area. 55- device according to claim 54, characterized in, that the control device has a clock source for supplying the clock pulses to the first and second storage device to read the stored pulses. 409807/0329