This automatic analysis apparatus is provided with: an analysis port comprising a reaction container holding part that holds a reaction container storing the liquid mixture of a sample and a reagent, a light source that emits light to the liquid mixture stored in the reaction container held by the reaction container holding part, and a detector that detects light generated when the light from the light source is emitted to the liquid mixture; and a control unit that controls the analysis port, and analyzes the sample on the basis of information about the detected light. The automatic analysis apparatus is characterized in that: the surface of an inner wall of the reaction container holding part is configured to reflect at least a portion of the light emitted from the light source; and the control unit executes control so as to emit the light from the light source in a state where the reaction container is not held by the reaction container holding part, to detect the light reflected on the surface of the inner wall of the reaction container holding part by the detector, and to not use the analysis port for analysis when the result of the detection shows that the detected light is less than a first value determined in advance.

An earphone includes an audio transmitter, a housing, a sound passage pipe, a radiator, and a light receiver. The audio transmitter transmits sound. The housing has an internal space for containing the audio transmitter. The sound passage pipe guides sound produced at the audio transmitter into an external auditory canal. The radiator radiates light into the external auditory canal. The light receiver is disposed in the internal space of the housing. The light receiver converts the light into a signal, the light having been reflected off the external auditory canal and passed through an internal space of the sound passage pipe. The housing, the sound passage pipe, and the radiator are disposed in this order.

Improved fallback mechanisms for auto white balancing are presented. In at least one embodiment, white balance correction factors produced by a first white balance technique are blended with white balance correction factors produced by a second white balance technique based on a confidence level in the white balance correction factors produced by the first white balance technique.

Improved fallback mechanisms for auto white balancing are presented. In at least one embodiment, white balance correction factors produced by a first white balance technique are blended with white balance correction factors produced by a second white balance technique based on a confidence level in the white balance correction factors produced by the first white balance technique.

A sensitivity parameter storing portion stores, as known sensitivity parameters owned by a flame sensor, reference received light quantity, reference pulse width, probability of regular discharge, and probabilities of non-regular discharge in advance. The discharge probability is calculated based on the number of drive pulses applied to the flame sensor and the number of discharges determined to have occurred in the flame sensor having received the drive pulses. The calculated discharge probability and the known sensitivity parameters are used to calculate the received light quantity per unit time received by the flame sensor.

A sensitivity parameter storing portion stores, as known sensitivity parameters owned by a flame sensor, reference received light quantity, reference pulse width, probability of regular discharge, and probabilities of non-regular discharge in advance. The discharge probability is calculated based on the number of drive pulses applied to the flame sensor and the number of discharges determined to have occurred in the flame sensor having received the drive pulses. The calculated discharge probability and the known sensitivity parameters are used to calculate the received light quantity per unit time received by the flame sensor.

A method of distinguishing effective pulses from test pulses in a scintillation detector that generates measurement light pulses includes providing a regularly-pulsed test light source that produces individual test light pulses having a time-dependent course of relative light intensity, which differs from a time-dependent course of relative light intensity of the measurement light pulses. The test light pulses are provided to a light detector for measurement of the test light pulses. The time-dependent courses of the relative light intensities of the test light pulses are analyzed. The measured pulses are separated into the test light pulses and the measurement light pulses according to the different time-dependent courses of the relative light intensities. The detector includes a scintillator, a light detector, a regularly-pulsed test light source that is adapted provide test light pulses to the light detector for measurement, and an electronic measuring circuit.

A method of distinguishing effective pulses from test pulses in a scintillation detector that generates measurement light pulses includes providing a regularly-pulsed test light source that produces individual test light pulses having a time-dependent course of relative light intensity, which differs from a time-dependent course of relative light intensity of the measurement light pulses. The test light pulses are provided to a light detector for measurement of the test light pulses. The time-dependent courses of the relative light intensities of the test light pulses are analyzed. The measured pulses are separated into the test light pulses and the measurement light pulses according to the different time-dependent courses of the relative light intensities. The detector includes a scintillator, a light detector, a regularly-pulsed test light source that is adapted provide test light pulses to the light detector for measurement, and an electronic measuring circuit.

Embodiments of the present invention generally describe systems, devices, and methods for directly measuring pulse profiles during pulse delivery. In some embodiment, the pulse profiles may be measured while the pulse is delivered to ablate a material. Embodiments, may calculate ablation spot parameters based on the pulse profiles and may refine one or more subsequent laser pulses based on deviations from the calculated ablation spot parameters from desired ablation spot parameters. In some embodiments, a fluence profiler is provided. The fluence profiler may measure a pulse profile of a laser pulse from a portion of the laser pulse. The fluence profiler may utilize a UV radiation energy sensor device and a camera-based imager. The measurements from the UV radiation energy sensor device and the camera-based imager may be combined and scaled to provide a measured pulse profile that corresponds to the delivered pulse.

Embodiments of the present invention generally describe systems, devices, and methods for directly measuring pulse profiles during pulse delivery. In some embodiment, the pulse profiles may be measured while the pulse is delivered to ablate a material. Embodiments, may calculate ablation spot parameters based on the pulse profiles and may refine one or more subsequent laser pulses based on deviations from the calculated ablation spot parameters from desired ablation spot parameters. In some embodiments, a fluence profiler is provided. The fluence profiler may measure a pulse profile of a laser pulse from a portion of the laser pulse. The fluence profiler may utilize a UV radiation energy sensor device and a camera-based imager. The measurements from the UV radiation energy sensor device and the camera-based imager may be combined and scaled to provide a measured pulse profile that corresponds to the delivered pulse.