Abstract: An information distribution apparatus includes an obstacle identification apparatus that identifies an obstacle to a vehicle traveling in an area and then outputs obstacle information related to the position of the obstacle, a road database representing the positions of roads, and an impassable-road determination means that determines a road through which the vehicle cannot pass, based on the obstacle information outputted from the obstacle identification apparatus and the road database, and then outputs impassable-road information. A narrow-area automatic driving system is provided with the information distribution apparatus and the vehicle that travels from a departure point to a target point, along a route formed based on information outputted from the information distribution apparatus.

Abstract: A liquid chromatograph and chromatography which can perform analysis at a higher speed with clearer separation between peaks. The liquid chromatograph comprises a separation column (10), a buffer pump (7) for feeding a plurality of buffers 1, 2, 3 and 4 into the separation column (10), a sampler (9) disposed in a flow path between the buffer pump (7) and the separation column (10) for introducing a sample to be analyzed into the flow path, and a reaction coil (14) for mixing and then reacting amino acids separated by the separation column (10) with a ninhydrin reagent. The separation column is sized so that a ratio (L1/R) of its length L1 to its inner diameter R is not more than 10. The particle size of an ion exchange resin filled in the separation column (10) is selected to be not more than 4 .mu.m.

Abstract: A reference sample having a known concentration is injected into a chromatograph system before an unknown sample is analyzed. This is for the purpose of checking the deterioration of system performance or in other words for the purpose of checking system suitability. In the present invention, the chromatographic characteristic of the check sample at the time of deterioration of the system suitability is expected and stored in a memory in advance to be related to factors of deterioration of system suitability. A factor of deterioration is deduced by comparison between the actually analyzed chromatographic characteristic of the check sample and the relational data stored in the memory. A guidance required for removing the factor is displayed. Disclosed are preferred embodiments of a chromatograph system suitable for analyzing catecholamine or glycated hemoglobin.

Abstract: A method and an instrument for separating and analyzing a very small quantity of constituents to be inspected contained in an analyte such as a class of catecholamines by liquid chromatography after labeling. The entire processes of analytical operations include principally three processes, a preparing process, an impurity elimination process and a separation process. When one sample is perceived, the sample is processed in these three processes. In this case, while one sample is being processed in an impurity elimination process, a sample preceeding the one sample is processed in a separation process, and a succeeding sample is processed in a preparing process. In other words, these three processes are performed essentially in parallel. With this, it is possible to remarkably reduce analysis time as compared with individual single sample analysis.

Abstract: A chromatograph system with improved automation is provided. In the chromatograph system of one embodiment, a regression line is set between retention times of predetermined peaks measured at each run in the past for a standard sample having known components. Referring to this regression line, the peak identifying condition, i.e., time window, is corrected. In another embodiment, there is provided a chromatograph apparatus having a function of estimating a limited life time of a system component. The analyzed results of the chromatograph system can thus be improved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chromatography analysis method and a system employing the same which are capable of automatically determining an constituents to be detected contained in the unknown sample based on results on measuring a standard sample. The standard sample is first separated to obtain its chromatogram. The system extracts the necessary information from the chromatogram to identify the peaks corresponding to the constituents to be detected to set widths of time windows for the peaks. Then, the time windows thus set are applied to the chromatograms obtained by the separation of the unknown sample to identify the constituents contained in the unknown sample. By employing the present invention, it is unnecessary for an operator to input the retention time of each constituent to the system.

Abstract: Physiologically active substances contained in a biological sample not subjected to deproteinization can be converted to their derivatives at a high efficiency without being adversely affected by the protein present in the sample, and accordingly the analysis of said physiologically active substances in the form of said derivatives can be performed at a high precision.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid chromatographic analyzer for analyzing a sample containing components for analysis by reacting the sample with a pre-labeling reagent to obtain a reaction mixture containing labeled components, concentrating the reaction mixture and separating the labeled components from each other, and detecting the separated labeled components by a detector, the steps of analysis being controlled to concurrently proceed by a control unit, thereby shortening the time for analysis per sample which analyzer includes: (a) a unit for storing samples containing components for analysis and a pre-labeling reagent for the components at a constant temperature, (b) a unit for reacting the sample with the pre-labeling reagent at a constant temperature to obtain a reaction mixture containing labeled components, (c) a unit for transferring one of the samples and the pre-labeling reagent from unit (a) to unit (b), (d) a unit for concentrating the reaction mixture and separating the labeled component

Abstract: A method for analyzing amino acids in biological liquids wherein a buffer liquid including unknown components to be analyzed is introduced to a separation column for separating amino acids. After reaction of the buffer liquid in a reactor, the amino acids are detected by a photometer. The flow rate of the buffer liquid is maintained at a predetermined value until the asparagine, glutamine acid and glutamine are separated from the separation column and the flow rate of the buffer liquid is varied stepwise or in linear gradient after separation of the above three components from the separation column.

Abstract: In a fiber optic rate sensor employing a Sagnac ring circuit wherein an ocal source launches an optical signal which is divided into two equals signals which are coupled in opposite directions through a multi-turn fiber optic coil to provide two counter-propagating optical signals. The two counter-propagating optical signals are coupled to a photodetector after passing through the multiturn fiber coil. The signals detected at the photodetector have traversed identical optical paths between said source and said photodetector and have undergone a Sagnac phase shift directly related to the rate of rotation of the fiber coil about its axis in inertial space. The two counterpropagating signals are phase modulated by a phase modulator at one end of the fiber optic coil and the output of the photodetector undergoes signal processing in a signal processor to produce a rate output directly related to the rate of rotation of the fiber coil.