Abstract: An image processing device includes: an image reception unit for receiving an input image; an image generation unit for generating an image for extracting a feature from the input image; a feature extraction unit for extracting a feature from the generation image generated by the image generation unit; an identification unit for identifying an object in the image using the feature output from the feature extraction unit; an output unit for outputting an identification result output from the identification unit; and a feature map generation unit for instructing the image generation unit generating a new generation image based on the feature output from the feature extraction unit, and generating a feature map indicating a feature extraction condition for the new generation image and output the generated feature map to the feature extraction unit. With this configuration, a target object in the image is identified quickly and accurately.

Abstract: There is provided an automatic analyzer and a method of storing reagents in an automatic analyzer, in which restrictions on installation of reagent packs are smaller than those of the device in the related art. The automatic analyzer includes a reagent storage 105 that stores reagent packs 201, 301 containing reagents. The reagent storage 105 includes: a first holding unit 403 capable of holding only an immune reagent pack 201 containing a first reagent among the reagents; a second holding unit 404 capable of holding only a biochemical reagent pack 301 containing a second reagent that is different from the first reagent; and a third holding unit 405 capable of holding both the immune reagent pack 201 and the biochemical reagent pack 301.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer capable of confirming the amount of sample aspirated by a sample dispensing unit is provided. An automatic analyzer that analyzes a sample includes an incubator which holds a reaction container in which a liquid mixture of the sample and a reagent is accommodated, a sample dispensing unit which dispenses the sample by aspirating the sample from a sample container in which the sample is accommodated and storing the aspirated sample in a storage portion and then discharging the sample to the reaction container, and a measurement portion which measures the amount of sample in the storage portion on the basis of a detected signal obtained by detecting light passing through the storage portion while irradiating the storage portion with light.

Abstract: A computing machine includes: a storage unit that stores learning data; a learning unit that executes learning processing for generating a classifier by using the learning data; and a generation unit that generates the learning data, and the generation unit calculates a feature amount vector handled by the classifier by using the learning data stored in the storage unit, analyzes the distribution ox the learning data in a feature amount space on the basis of the feature amount vector to specify a boundary where the classification result of the classifier changes in the feature amount space, and generates new learning data by using the learning data existing in the vicinity of the boundary.

Abstract: [Task] To provide an automatic analysis apparatus including a photomultiplier tube which controls a sensitivity of the photomultiplier tube without adjusting a high voltage value. [Solution] An automatic analysis apparatus according to the present invention includes a photomultiplier tube which detects light from a reaction vessel; a determination unit which determines an output signal of the photomultiplier tube in a case where the photomultiplier tube is irradiated with first light; and a control unit which irradiates the photomultiplier tube with second light to lower a sensitivity of the photomultiplier tube in accordance with a determination result by the determination unit.

Abstract: Provided are an automatic analyzer and an optical measurement method for correcting a variation in the multiplication factor of a photoelectric element with high accuracy. The automatic analyzer comprises: a photoelectric element which generates electrons by light and outputs a current signal; a voltage application unit which applies a voltage to the photoelectric element; and a processing unit which corrects a variation in the multiplication factor of the photoelectric element, wherein the photoelectric element outputs a pulse signal as the current signal, and the processing unit corrects the variation in the multiplication factor on the basis of the pulse area of the pulse signal.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer for making measurements for different analysis processes by a compact mechanism. The apparatus performs inspection for plural different analysis processes and includes: an incubator for holding plural reaction vessels on circumferential positions, first and second dispensing mechanisms each having a dispensing nozzle capable of arc-shaped movement around a rotational axis and vertical movement, in which a first locus of an arc-shaped movement of the dispensing nozzle of the first dispensing mechanism and a second locus of the arc-shaped movement of the dispensing nozzle of the second dispensing mechanism intersect the circumference of the incubator where the reaction vessels are arranged, while the first locus and the second locus do not intersect, the first dispensing mechanism is used in a first inspection having a first reaction period, and the second dispensing mechanism is used in a second inspection having a second reaction period longer than the first reaction period.

Abstract: Provided are an automatic analyzer and an optical measurement method for correcting a variation in the multiplication factor of a photoelectric element with high accuracy. The automatic analyzer comprises: a photoelectric element which generates electrons by light and outputs a current signal; a voltage application unit which applies a voltage to the photoelectric element; and a processing unit which corrects a variation in the multiplication factor of the photoelectric element, wherein the photoelectric element outputs a pulse signal as the current signal, and the processing unit corrects the variation in the multiplication factor on the basis of the pulse area of the pulse signal.

Abstract: In preparation for a case in which the time at which a first reagent probe comes into contact with cleaning liquid and the time at which a second reagent probe comes into contact with cleaning liquid are the same, an automated analyzer is provided with a charge accumulation unit that is provided between a supply port comprising a conductive material that is electrically connected to the cleaning liquids and a device housing and has a capacitance that is greater than or equal to that of the first reagent probe and second reagent probe. As a result, it is possible to prevent interference between the liquid-surface contact determination units of a plurality of probes.

Abstract: [Task] To provide an automatic analysis apparatus including a photomultiplier tube which controls a sensitivity of the photomultiplier tube without adjusting a high voltage value. [Solution] An automatic analysis apparatus according to the present invention includes a photomultiplier tube which detects light from a reaction vessel; a determination unit which determines an output signal of the photomultiplier tube in a case where the photomultiplier tube is irradiated with first light; and a control unit which irradiates the photomultiplier tube with second light to lower a sensitivity of the photomultiplier tube in accordance with a determination result by the determination unit.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer which accurately detects a liquid volume of a reagent irrespective of a shape of a reagent container is provided. The invention is directed to an automatic analyzer including: a reagent container that contains a reagent; an emission unit that is provided outside the reagent container and emits light so as to pass inside the reagent container; a light receiving unit that is provided outside the reagent container and receives the light emitted from the emission unit; and a determination unit that, based on the light received by the light receiving unit, detects a liquid level inside the reagent container, and determines whether a liquid volume in the reagent container becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value from the liquid level. A wavelength of the light is determined based on a material of the reagent container and a type of the reagent.

Abstract: In preparation for a case in which the time at which a first reagent probe comes into contact with cleaning liquid and the time at which a second reagent probe comes into contact with cleaning liquid are the same, an automated analyzer is provided with a charge accumulation unit that is provided between a supply port comprising a conductive material that is electrically connected to the cleaning liquids and a device housing and has a capacitance that is greater than or equal to that of the first reagent probe and second reagent probe. As a result, it is possible to prevent interference between the liquid-surface contact determination units of a plurality of probes.

Abstract: A signal detected by a photomultiplier tube is pre-amplified and converted into a digital signal. A time average value of signal components, each of which has a voltage lower than a predetermined base threshold value, is calculated as a base voltage. A signal that has been subjected to base correction processing is subjected to threshold value processing and to base correction processing in a non-incident state in which light is not incident on the photomultiplier tube. An output signal thereof is subjected to dark current calculation processing; and a light emission signal amount is calculated by subtracting, from the signal component of the detection light obtained by the threshold value processing, a time average value of the signal components of the dark current. As the result, discriminating the dark current pulse from floor noises enhances the accuracy of the base voltage, and thus the accuracy of light detection.

Abstract: A signal detected by a photomultiplier tube is pre-amplified and converted into a digital signal. A time average value of signal components, each of which has a voltage lower than a predetermined base threshold value, is calculated as a base voltage. A signal that has been subjected to base correction processing is subjected to threshold value processing and to base correction processing in a non-incident state in which light is not incident on the photomultiplier tube. An output signal thereof is subjected to dark current calculation processing; and a light emission signal amount is calculated by subtracting, from the signal component of the detection light obtained by the threshold value processing, a time average value of the signal components of the dark current. As the result, discriminating the dark current pulse from floor noises enhances the accuracy of the base voltage, and thus the accuracy of light detection.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer uses probes for detecting liquid levels based on a capacitance detection method. Erroneous detection of liquid levels due to interference caused by the frequency difference of oscillators is reducted. When frequencies f1 and f2 of respective detector oscillators, which are originally equal to each other, are different by approximately several Hz from each other due to a manufacturing variation, oscillation waveforms are added to liquid level detection voltages, causing a premature determination that the probes have contacted the liquid surface before actual contact therewith. By setting the difference between the frequencies f1 and f2 of the detector oscillators to be in the range of several kHz, an oscillation waveform corresponding to the difference between the frequencies is added to the detection voltages, but the amplitude values of the high-frequency components are attenuated by high-frequency attenuators, thereby ensuring accuracy in the liquid level detection.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer uses probes for detecting liquid levels based on a capacitance detection method. Erroneous detection of liquid levels due to interference caused by the frequency difference of oscillators is reducted. When frequencies f1 and f2 of respective detector ocillators, which are originally equal to each other, are different by approximately several Hz from each other due to a manufacturing variation, oscillation waveforms are added to liquid level detection voltages, causing a premature determination that the probes have contacted the liquid surface before actual contact therewith. By setting the difference between the frequencies f1 and f2 of the detector oscillators to be in the range of several kHz, an oscillation waveform corresponding to the difference between the frequencies is added to the detection voltages, but the amplitude values of the high-frequency components are attenuated by high-frequency attenuators, thereby ensuring accuracy in the liquid level detection.

Abstract: The automatic analyzer detects a trace amount of reaction solution at a high S/N with stability. The analyzer allows a photomultiplier to detect light from the reaction solution containing a luminescent substance through an optical window. To process the output from the photomultiplier to analyze the amount of the luminescent substance contained in the reaction solution, an optical transmission system is interposed between the optical window and the photomultiplier. The optical transmission system includes a light inlet opposed to the optical window; a light outlet opposed to the light-receiving surface of the detector; and a reflector on which an incident beam of light from the light inlet is reflected to propagate to the light outlet. This configuration allows the effects of temperature-dependent noise from a flow cell to be reduced while preventing a drop in the amount of light from the luminescent substance, thereby implementing analysis at a high S/N.

Abstract: The automatic analyzer uses a marker that is to be attached to a measurement object. The marker is made of a substance that becomes excited when irradiated. The automatic analyzer has a function of varying irradiation intensity, and controls the intensity of light emitted from an item marker by adjusting the irradiation intensity for each analysis item or for each analysis vessel. Further, the automatic analyzer has a function of controlling the at least one of the position and angle of an analysis vessel during irradiation, and controls the amount of radiation to the measurement object by adjusting at least one of the distance and angle between an irradiation light source and analysis vessel for each analysis item. Furthermore, the automatic analyzer has a function of varying the integration time of photometric means and controls the integration time for each analysis item or for each analysis vessel.

Abstract: To increase the direct light received by the detector and decrease reflections from the detection component support structures, the luminescent substance is placed as close to the detector as possible. More specifically, the apparatus is configured so as to slide out a structure shielding the detector from light and at the same time slide in the vessel containing the luminescent substance therein until the vessel comes right under the detector. The invention can detect trace luminescence from a small-volume sample by maximizing the amount of direct light received from the sample and minimizing the decay of indirect light received from the sample attributable to interactions with the vessel for containing the sample therein, the structure for collecting light, and the structure for supporting other detection components.

Abstract: A conventional automated analyzer has a mechanism for performing a stirring operation and a mechanism for performing a pipetting operation. The mechanisms are independent of each other. The time interval between the stirring operation and the pipetting operation is at least several seconds. A solid particle starts to settle out at the time of termination of the stirring operation. In the pipetting operation, an operation for suctioning a liquid is performed during a transient period of the process in which the solid particle settles out. The suction of the liquid containing a solid particle during the transition period of the process may cause a variation in the number of solid particles contained in the liquid pipetted. The problem is solved by means for simultaneously performing an operation for stirring a liquid reagent containing a solid particle and an operation for maintaining the reagent.