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.

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.

A controller unit for controlling an ultraviolet (UV) sensor may be excited by an excitation voltage that enables the UV sensor to detect incoming UV light. The UV sensor may provide UV detection events that may be related to the intensity of the incoming UV light. The control unit may include an excitation voltage generator, an event detector, and a controller configured to cause the excitation voltage generator to produce an excitation voltage for a cumulative excitation time that is less than 50% of the time, which may significantly increase the operational lifetime and/or reliability of a UV sensor.

An optical sensor arrangement has an integrator, a photodiode for providing a current corresponding to a first polarity, a comparator coupled to the integrator for comparing a voltage with a threshold voltage to provide a comparison output, a reference charge circuit and a control unit. The reference charge circuit is coupled to the integrator for selectively providing first charge packages of a first size or second charge packages of a second size. The control unit is configured to control operation in a calibration phase, in an integration phase and in a residual measurement phase. During the calibration phase, the reference charge circuit provides one of the first charge packages and one or more of the second charge packages to the integrator until the comparison output changes. A reference number is determined corresponding to a number of the second charge packages provided. During the integration phase, the photodiode is connected to the integrator and the reference charge circuit provides one of the first charge packages to the integrator in response to a respective change of the comparison output. An integration number corresponding to a number of the changes of the comparison output is determined. During the residual measurement phase that immediately follows the integration phase, the reference charge circuit provides one or more of the second charge packages to the integrator until the comparison output changes. A residual number corresponding to a number of the second charge packages provided is determined.

An optical sensor arrangement has an integrator, a photodiode for providing a current corresponding to a first polarity, a comparator coupled to the integrator for comparing a voltage with a threshold voltage to provide a comparison output, a reference charge circuit and a control unit. The reference charge circuit is coupled to the integrator for selectively providing first charge packages of a first size or second charge packages of a second size. The control unit is configured to control operation in a calibration phase, in an integration phase and in a residual measurement phase. During the calibration phase, the reference charge circuit provides one of the first charge packages and one or more of the second charge packages to the integrator until the comparison output changes. A reference number is determined corresponding to a number of the second charge packages provided. During the integration phase, the photodiode is connected to the integrator and the reference charge circuit provides one of the first charge packages to the integrator in response to a respective change of the comparison output. An integration number corresponding to a number of the changes of the comparison output is determined. During the residual measurement phase that immediately follows the integration phase, the reference charge circuit provides one or more of the second charge packages to the integrator until the comparison output changes. A residual number corresponding to a number of the second charge packages provided is determined.

In one example, an apparatus comprises: a photodiode configured to generate charge in response to incident light within an exposure period; and a quantizer configured to perform at least one of a first quantization operation to generate a first digital output or a second quantization to generate a second digital output, and output, based on a range of an intensity of the incident light, one of the first digital output or the second digital output to represent the intensity of the incident light. The first quantization operation comprises quantizing at least a first part of the charge during the exposure period to generate the first digital output. The second quantization operation comprises quantizing at least a second part of the charge after the exposure period to generate the second digital output.

In one example, an apparatus comprises: a photodiode configured to generate charge in response to incident light within an exposure period; and a quantizer configured to perform at least one of a first quantization operation to generate a first digital output or a second quantization to generate a second digital output, and output, based on a range of an intensity of the incident light, one of the first digital output or the second digital output to represent the intensity of the incident light. The first quantization operation comprises quantizing at least a first part of the charge during the exposure period to generate the first digital output. The second quantization operation comprises quantizing at least a second part of the charge after the exposure period to generate the second digital output.

A system, apparatus and method of improved measurement of the SPF factor of sunscreen compositions. In one embodiment, a method of measuring the protection of a sunscreen composition includes exposing skin to a known intensity of light, measuring the amount of remitted light from the skin, applying sunscreen to the skin, exposing the skin to which the sunscreen has been applied the known intensity of emitted light of the spectrum of light from which the sunscreen is intended to protect the skin, measuring the amount of light remitted from the skin, and calculating a UltraViolet-A Protection Factor (UVA-PF) of the sunscreen by comparing the amount of light remitted from the skin with the sunscreen to the amount of light remitted from the skin without the sunscreen.

A system, apparatus and method of improved measurement of the SPF factor of sunscreen compositions. In one embodiment, a method of measuring the protection of a sunscreen composition includes exposing skin to a known intensity of light, measuring the amount of remitted light from the skin, applying sunscreen to the skin, exposing the skin to which the sunscreen has been applied the known intensity of emitted light of the spectrum of light from which the sunscreen is intended to protect the skin, measuring the amount of light remitted from the skin, and calculating a UltraViolet-A Protection Factor (UVA-PF) of the sunscreen by comparing the amount of light remitted from the skin with the sunscreen to the amount of light remitted from the skin without the sunscreen.

A programmable controller for controlling an ultraviolet (UV) sensor may adjust an excitation voltage provided to the UV sensor based at least in part on a programmable sensitivity offset in order to produce an excitation voltage that results in a desired UV sensitivity for the UV sensor. The programmable sensitivity offset may be set for the UV sensor at the factory, set during commissioning of the UV sensor in the field, and/or automatically altered over time to help compensate for a degradation in sensitivity of the UV sensor.