Abstract: An automatic analysis device has a light scattering photometer incorporated therein, and improved accuracy resulting from reducing the influences from external light. The automatic analysis device includes a scattered light measurement unit disposed inside the main-body casing, and openable/closable protective covers to cover the top face of the main-body casing. A first protective cover at the center includes a light-shielding part to block external light. The protective covers include see-through parts enabling viewing of the inside. The light-shielding part is configured to cover an area of the reaction disk at least corresponding to the area above the scattered light measurement unit, thus reducing external light leaking into the scattered light measurement unit, and thus removing influences from external light on the scattered light measurement. The protective cover may have a divided structure.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a nonvolatile memory, a controller configured to control an operation of the nonvolatile memory, a connector electrically connected to a host device, a power supply circuit configured to electrically connect the connector to the controller and the nonvolatile memory, and a power supply control circuit electrically connected to the connector and configured to control an operation of the power supply circuit in response to a first request sent from the host device. The power supply circuit cuts power supplies to the controller and the nonvolatile memory in response to the first request.

Abstract: An analyzer provides conditions suitable for a reagent for performing latex immunoassay with a high sensitivity using a method of measuring scattered light. Irradiation light having a wavelength in the range of 0.65 to 0.75 ?m is used, and scattered light generated from a reaction solution is received at a light-receiving angle of 15° to 35° with respect to the irradiation direction during the rotational movement of the reaction container. The reagent contains latex particles the average peak particle diameter of which ranges from 0.3 ?m to 0.43 ?m and to which antibodies are sensitized. The reaction solution contains latex particles at a concentration at which the absorbance to irradiation light having a wavelength of 0.7 ?m is 0.25 abs to 1.10 abs, and a change in the amount of scattered light caused by the aggregation of the latex particles through antigens in a sample is measured and quantified.

Abstract: The automatic analysis device measures time sequential data on a scattered light amount as reaction process data, and quantitatively determines the concentration of an analyte from a change in light amount. The automatic analysis device has a function of selecting reaction process data to be used for quantitative determination from the reaction process data obtained by measurement using a plurality of light receivers at different angles. As a result of using this function, data is selected from the reaction process data obtained by measurement using the plurality of light receivers at different angles in accordance with the concentration of the analyte and whether the priority is given to high sensitivity in the case where sensitivity is prioritized or a dynamic range, and the result of the quantitative determination is displayed.

Abstract: A first log indicating that a system is running is recorded in a second storage unit before a first difference log is recorded in the second storage unit after system startup, and a second log indicating that the system halts is recorded in the second storage unit following the difference log, at the time of normal system halt, and it is judged whether normal system halt has been performed or an incorrect power-off sequence has been performed last time, based on a recorded state of the first and second logs in the second storage unit, at the time of system startup, thereby detecting an incorrect power-off easily and reliably.

Abstract: A memory system comprising a volatile memory unit, a nonvolatile memory unit, and a controller that performs data transfer between a host system and the nonvolatile memory unit via the volatile memory unit stores management information including a storage position of the data stored in the nonvolatile memory unit during a startup operation into the volatile memory unit, and performs, while updating stored management information, data management in the volatile and nonvolatile memory units based on the stored management information. The nonvolatile memory unit includes a snapshot storing area storing a snapshot which is the management information stored in the volatile memory unit at a certain point, a main log storing area storing a main log which is an update information of the management information stored in the volatile memory unit, and a backup log storing area storing a backup log having contents same as contents of the main log.

Abstract: The invention provides an automatic analyzer having a scattered-light detecting optical system in which a light source is disposed at an angle with respect to a plane of a reaction vessel. This reduces the amount of a sample-reagent mix required for an analysis, thereby reducing the running cost of reagents as well, and also allows relatively free design of reaction vessels in terms of their sizes and shapes. The automatic analyzer includes: a reaction vessel in which a sample is caused to react with a reagent; a reaction disk on which to place reaction vessels in the form of a circle; a reaction disk rotating mechanism for rotating the reaction disk; a light source for radiating light to be measured onto one of the reaction vessels; and a photodetector for detecting transmissive light radiated from the light source and passing through a sample-reagent mix in the one of the reaction vessels.

Abstract: An automatic analyzing apparatus which can make an adjustment to a target temperature so as to stabilize the light intensity of an LED and also can make the adjustment to that temperature in a short time is provided. The automatic analyzing apparatus in which an LED is used for a light source 114 includes a temperature adjusting mechanism 201 for the LED, and the temperature adjusting mechanism 201 includes a metal member 202 provided with the light source 114, a pair of metal pipes (water-flowing pipes) 203 buried in the metal member 202 and allowing constant-temperature bath water to flow therein, and pins (small metal piece members) 204 bringing only a heat-generating lead 252 of the light source 114 into direct contact with the metal member 202. Therefore, the temperature adjusting mechanism 201 can make an adjustment to a target temperature so as to stabilize the light intensity of the LED, and the adjustment to that temperature can be made in a short time.

Abstract: A plurality of free-block management lists for respectively managing a logical block with a same bank number, a same chip number, and a same plane number as a free block, and a free block selecting unit that selects a required number of free-block management lists from the free-block management lists to obtain a free block from the selected free-block management lists are provided.

Abstract: There is provided a data processing method that reduces influences of air bubbles and dirt while maintaining changes in light amounts. Two scattering light photoreceivers are disposed in the forward direction. A photoreceiver 33a closer to the optical axis is taken to be a main angle photoreceiver, and a photoreceiver 33b further from the optical axis is taken to be a sub-angle photoreceiver. Noise is estimated based on the reaction process data of the sub-angle photoreceiver, and noise is reduced by subtracting the estimated noise from the reaction process data of the main angle photoreceiver.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a free blocks included in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory are classified into a plurality of free block management lists. When a free block is acquired at normal priority, the free block is acquired from the free block management list in which a number of free blocks is larger than a first threshold. When a free block is acquired at high priority, the free block is acquired from the free block management list irrespective of the first threshold.

Abstract: A memory system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a log overflow control unit configured, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, to prohibit a recording operation of a log and to cause a log recording unit only to perform an updating operation of a management table, and when a commit condition is satisfied after the predetermined condition has been satisfied, to prohibit a commit operation by a log reflecting unit and to cause a snapshot storing unit to perform a snapshot storing operation.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer includes a B/F separator including a reaction vessel holding unit provided with magnets disposed around a reaction vessel held on the reaction vessel holding unit and a rotating device for rotating the reaction vessel holding unit holding the reaction vessel about an axis of rotation aligned with the center axis of the reaction vessel or an axis of rotation parallel to and separated by a distance from the center axis of the reaction vessel. Both magnetic force and centrifugal force are exerted simultaneously on a specimen contained in a reaction vessel to capture magnetic particles contained in the liquid contained in the reaction vessel at a high capturing efficiency.

Abstract: A plurality of free-block management lists for respectively managing a logical block with a same bank number, a same chip number, and a same plane number as a free block, and a free block selecting unit that selects a required number of free-block management lists from the free-block management lists to obtain a free block from the selected free-block management lists are provided, thereby improving writing efficiency.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a free blocks included in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory are classified into a plurality of free block management lists. When a free block is acquired at normal priority, the free block is acquired from the free block management list in which a number of free blocks is larger than a first threshold. When a free block is acquired at high priority, the free block is acquired from the free block management list irrespective of the first threshold.

Abstract: A first log indicating that a system is running is recorded in a second storage unit before a first difference log is recorded in the second storage unit after system startup, and a second log indicating that the system halts is recorded in the second storage unit following the difference log, at the time of normal system halt, and it is judged whether normal system halt has been performed or an incorrect power-off sequence has been performed last time, based on a recorded state of the first and second logs in the second storage unit, at the time of system startup, thereby detecting an incorrect power-off easily and reliably.

Abstract: A fuser roller surface is cleaned immediately before and or after the fusing operation. The separate cleaning sequence assures that the fuser roller surface is substantially free from residual toner that has accumulated from previous fusing operation. A number of image-transfer sheets is counted, and the cleaning sequence is also optionally activated after a number of detected image-transfer sheets has reached a predetermined number.

Abstract: A memory system according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a log overflow control unit that, when a third condition in which a second log accumulated in a log storage area exceeds a set value is satisfied, stops a recording operation of the second log in the log storage area by a log recording unit and causes a log recording unit to perform an update operation of a second management table in a master table and a recording operation of a first log in the log storage area, and that, when a first condition is satisfied next time, prohibits a commit operation by a log reflecting unit and causes a snapshot storing unit to perform a snapshot storing operation.

Abstract: A memory system comprising a volatile memory unit, a nonvolatile memory unit, and a controller that performs data transfer between a host system and the nonvolatile memory unit via the volatile memory unit stores management information including a storage position of the data stored in the nonvolatile memory unit during a startup operation into the volatile memory unit, and performs, while updating stored management information, data management in the volatile and nonvolatile memory units based on the stored management information. The nonvolatile memory unit includes a snapshot storing area storing a snapshot which is the management information stored in the volatile memory unit at a certain point, a main log storing area storing a main log which is an update information of the management information stored in the volatile memory unit, and a backup log storing area storing a backup log having contents same as contents of the main log.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device in which a cleaning mechanism for collecting toner left on a heat roller is arranged. When a preselected number of prints are output after the end of a printing job, a cleaning operation for cleaning the heat roller is executed. When a power-supply OFF request arrives while the cleaning operation is under way, a power-supply OFF operation is postponed until the cleaning operation ends.