More about Counters

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Counters are used to monitor and tally a wide range of signals, either in digital or analog format. In many cases, counters are also used on PC boards and similar electronics for high-speed counting. Among the types of counters available are hour meters, electric motor meters, adding counters, and pulse counters. These devices can register readings in LCD or with electromechanical readouts, and provide a wide range of digit possibilities, from three or four places to more than a dozen (registering numbers into the trillions).

A number of different counter types are produced by manufacturers, including preset, totalizing, batch and rate. Generally, both AC and DC powered units are available in a wide range of power settings, as are manually operated counters. Model sizes vary, although compact designs are generally the most sought after. Uses for these counters include laboratory research, bulk and vending tallies, medical counting (such as blood cell totaling) and currency and coin counting. Laboratory and scientific applications cover everything from oceanographic studies to botany.

The internal function of a counter can be based on a number of possible designs, such as synchronous and asynchronous, decade and shift register. Timers and distance meters are also types of counters, but they are specialized and often referred to by their normal function. Odometers, for example, are counters used in vehicles to tally the distance the vehicle has traveled. Most meters, timers and counters are essential components of any given type of machinery, as they often determine automated performance issues, as well as assist in evaluation of the effectiveness of the system.

Various mounting options are available, including wall and panel mounts, and counters are produced in a wide assortment of shapes and sizes. Manual counters normally operate through a button punch, which adds a single unit onto the number tally. More complex manual counters, with multiple buttons and tallies, are also produced.