Hitachi-high-technologies Corporation

Ablic Inc.

Seiko Instruments Inc

Sii Semiconductor Corporation

Hitachi High-tech Corporation

Minoru Sano

Masato Ishizawa

Yoshiyuki Shoji

Shuhei Yamamoto

Kimikazu Sugiyama

Akihisa Makino

Chie Yabutani

Kohshi Maeda

Akiyuki Nemoto

Isao Yamazaki

Kazumi Sakumoto

Ryoji Inaba

Hironori Kaji

Kotaro Watanabe

Tatsuya Sakai

Michiru Fujioka

Naoto Suzuki

Rei Konishi

Yasunori Shoji

Akimasa Osaka

Manami Nammoku

Yuki Kikuchi

Chie Sugiyama

Hideo Kanno

Kazutoshi Onuki

Takehiko Hosoiri

Provided is an oscillation circuit including: a first current source circuit; a second current source circuit; a resistor between the output terminal of the first current source circuit and a second power source; a first capacitor; a second capacitor; a first comparator circuit having a first input terminal to which is a voltage across the resistor is applied as a reference voltage and a second input terminal to which a voltage of the first capacitor is applied; a second comparator circuit having a first input terminal to which is the reference voltage is applied and a second input terminal to which a voltage of the second capacitor is applied; an RS latch; a first and a second switches switching a destination, of an current supplied from the second current source circuit, selected from the first and the second capacitors.

Oscillation circuit

The constant current circuit includes a constant current generation circuit, a start-up detection circuit configured to detect start-up of the constant current generation circuit, and a clamp circuit configured to output a start-up voltage to the constant current generation circuit. The start-up voltage output from the clamp circuit is a voltage close to gate voltages that are higher than gate voltages of transistors that form a current mirror circuit of the constant current generation circuit, in a state where the constant current generation circuit is operating.

Constant current circuit

Provided is a constant voltage output circuit having an output terminal and configured to supply power to a crystal oscillator circuit connected to the output terminal, the constant voltage output circuit, having: a bias current control circuit subjected to negative feedback control by an output voltage which is supplied from the output terminal. As a result, variation in the constant voltage output caused by variation in current from a constant current source is reduced.

Constant voltage output circuit

A nucleic acid amplifier comprises a holderwhich is provided with a plurality of temperature control blockseach designed to hold at least one reaction vesselstoring a reaction solution. The temperature of the reaction solution in each reaction vesselis controlled individually by using temperature control devicesandarranged in each of the temperature control blocks. The temperature that is set in each temperature control blockand the timing for temperature changes are controlled independently of the temperatures of other temperature control blocks. This configuration makes it possible to provide a nucleic acid amplifier and a nucleic acid inspection device (employing the nucleic acid amplifier) capable of processing multiple types of samples differing in the protocol in parallel (parallel processing) and starting a process for a different sample even when there is a process in execution.

Nucleic acid amplifier and nucleic acid inspection device employing the same

A reference voltage generation circuit small in circuit scale and in power consumption is provided. The reference voltage generation circuit, including a stabilizing capacitor, outputting a voltage at both ends of the stabilizing capacitor as an output voltage, includes a voltage detection circuit, a reference voltage circuit, a stabilizing capacitor, a current source circuit, and a control circuit. The current source circuit generates a first current if the output voltage is lower than a detection voltage and a second current if the output voltage is higher than or equal to the detection voltage, the first current being larger than the second current. The voltage detection circuit includes one of a single transistor and transistors connected by cascode connection that is smaller in the number of stages than the cascode connection in the reference voltage circuit.

Reference voltage generation circuit

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic analysis device capable of efficiently performing a plurality of analyses, while reducing the footprint and cost of the device. Provided is an automatic analysis device characterized by being provided with containers for containing samples, one rack for placing the containers thereon, and a control unit, the control unit generating, with respect to the one rack, a plurality of registration patterns in which information of the positions where the containers are disposed, and information of the samples contained in the containers are correlated with each other, storing the registration patterns thus generated, applying, to the one rack, one registration pattern selected from among the registration patterns thus stored, and analyzing the samples. Also provided is an analysis method using the device.

Automatic analysis device

Provided is an automatic analysis apparatus for inspecting blood coagulation, which is capable of miniaturizing device configuration and reducing device costs. The automatic analysis apparatus includes: a reaction container in which a specimen and a reagent are mixed with each other and the mixed solution is reacted; a sample dispensing mechanism which dispenses the specimen into the reaction container; a blood coagulation time measuring unit in which the reaction container is mounted to measure a coagulation time of the mixed solution within the reaction container; a reaction container accommodating unit which accommodates a plurality of reaction containers provided to the blood coagulation measuring unit; a reaction container transfer mechanism which grasps the reaction container and transfers the reaction container to the blood coagulation measuring unit; and a control unit which controls the reaction container transfer mechanism.

Automatic analysis apparatus

An electronic timepiece includes a first switch connected to a signal line, a second switch, and a one-shot pulse signal generation circuit. The first switch is inserted into the signal line. One end of the second switch is connected to the signal line at a rear stage of the first switch, and the other end of the second switch is connected to a power source. The one-shot pulse signal generation circuit generates a one-shot pulse signal by using a reference clock signal, and the second switch is controlled by the one-shot pulse signal. The timepiece device can reduce currents flowing in a pull-down resistor or a pull-up resistor when a crown switch is turned on.

Electronic timepiece

When taking in outside air with a fan to control the temperature inside a covered portion where a specimen is installed, the internal temperature may change depending on an environment temperature to cause a difference in temperature control. The wind generated by the fan may blow against a reaction container depending on its loading position and it may influence the temperature control over individual specimens and lead to problems with temperature accuracy, temperature rise speed, and temperature drop speed. A reaction container avoiding these problems has a covered portion which performs temperature control on the reaction container and in which a cover and a fin cover have a heat insulating structure. A heat source is provided for controlling an internal temperature of an internal covered space. The internal temperature is kept constant and the influence of the environment temperature over the temperature control of the reaction container is minimized.

Nucleic acid amplification/detection device and nucleic acid inspection device using same

A device for detecting nucleic acid amplification in a sample, comprising: a loading unit (thermoregulation unit) which is provided with a plurality of holes for loading reaction containers and capable of arbitrarily controlling a measurement unit for measuring samples in the containers that are loaded in the holes. The loading unit and the measurement unit, which are placed opposite to each other, can be operated independently from each other. In a transfer operation, the operation speeds of the thermoregulation unit and measurement unit are controlled so that the sum of these speeds amounts to an arbitrary constant value.

Method for detecting nucleic acid amplification in sample and device therefor

An object of the present invention relates to providing a nucleic acid analyzer capable of testing a plurality of test items in parallel, and of obtaining high efficiency of specimen processing even if the test item or a measuring object is changed. The present invention relates to an analyzer including a carousel rotatable about a rotation axis, a plurality of reaction containers held along a circumferential edge of the carousel, and at least one detector having a light source for irradiating the reaction container with excitation light and a detection element for detecting fluorescence from a reaction liquid in the reaction container. The detector is removable. By attaching a desired detector, it is possible to perform fluorescence measurement in response to the test item. According to the present invention, it is possible to test a plurality of test items in parallel, and even if the test item or the measuring object is changed, the high efficiency of specimen processing can be obtained.

Analyzer

Provided is a CR oscillator circuit that achieves a small occupied area and good oscillation frequency accuracy while having small current consumption. The CR oscillator circuit includes: a reference voltage circuit configured to switch and output a reference voltage; a first constant current source configured to charge a capacitor; a second constant current source configured to discharge the capacitor; a voltage comparator configured to compare voltages of the reference voltage circuit and the capacitor; and a logic circuit. The logic circuit is configured to switch between the reference voltage circuit and the constant current source simultaneously in response to an output signal of the voltage comparator.

Oscillator circuit

A genetic testing method and an apparatus therefor are provided, in which temperatures of a plurality of reaction tubes are independently controlled using a thermostat, a temperature detecting device, and a heating and cooling device provided on each of the reaction tubes, the reaction tubes each accommodate an amplification liquid and a component necessary for amplification, temperature is controlled at individual positions to hold the reaction tubes and at a predetermined temperature set at the individual positions according to an analysis and testing protocol predetermined at individual positions of the reaction tubes, a controlled temperature value is monitored in a reaction tube unit and a corrected value of controlled temperature is computed and stored on a reaction tube unit, a temperature of the reaction tube is controlled based on the computed value, and light emission of the amplification liquid accommodated in the reaction tube is measured.

Genetic testing method and testing apparatus

According to a conventional technique, when a calibrated temperature measuring probe is used for correcting the temperature absolute values of individually temperature-controllable thermal control blocks, a temperature difference of a maximum of 0.5&#xb0; C. remains between the thermal control blocks. According to the present invention, the melting temperature of a temperature calibration sample housed in a reaction vessel corresponding to each of the temperature control blocks is measured as a measured melting temperature. The measured melting temperature corresponding to each of the thermal control blocks and the reference melting temperature of the temperature calibration sample are compared, and the temperature absolute value of each of the thermal control blocks is corrected based on respective difference values.

Growing community of inventors

Hitachinaka, Japan

Minoru Sano