ok, i assume, there no solution except &:
use switch(counter)..case...
in simple way one could build this for 10 leds easily counting up to 10 objects
more tricksy to do this "digital" means &:
switch(counter)
case = 1
..LED1
case = 2
LED1+LED2
case > 3
LED1+LED2+LED3
case > 7
LED1+LED2+LED3+LED4
case > 15
LED1+LED2+LED3+LED4
and so far..this way one could count up to 2 ^ 10 = 1024 objects
what i want to do is counting cars on special range of model-railway
i.e. to check out situations in a tunnel or underground station
if we limit the amount of cars i.e. to 15 we need only 5 LED's
this way could check up to 3 different ranges =15 LED's
what Arduino could handle easily..
some other ideas ?