Handheld Analyte Meter With Recharging Control For Improved Analyte Testing
First Claim
1. A handheld analyte meter with recharging control for regulating self-heating to improve analyte testing, comprising:
- a housing having a circuit board carried inside the housing and a test strip port;
a cable connector carried in the housing with a first end exposed outside the housing for connection to a charging source and a second end coupled to the circuit board;
a rechargeable battery carried inside the housing and coupled to the circuit board and coupled to the cable connector second end;
a main processor carried on the circuit board and coupled to the rechargeable battery, the main processor having memorya display coupled to the circuit board and the main processor;
a first temperature sensor carried on the circuit board near the main processor and rechargeable battery for measuring a first temperature inside the housing prior to beginning a charging session that is compared to a first temperature range;
a measurement module carried on the circuit board near the test strip port and coupled to the main processor;
a second temperature sensor carried on the circuit board near the measurement module for measuring a second temperature inside the housing prior to beginning an analyte test that is compared to a second temperature range;
a strip connector carried on the circuit board near the test strip port, the strip connector coupled to the measurement module and configured to receive a test strip;
a battery charger carried on the circuit board and coupled to the cable connector that charges the rechargeable battery up to a maximum charging current until the rechargeable battery reaches a predetermined charge level; and
a charging control carried on the circuit board and coupled to the battery charger that prior to the beginning of a charging session selects the maximum charging current that does not change during the charging session,if the first temperature is within the first temperature range, the charging control selects a high maximum charging current for the maximum charging current, andif the first temperature is outside the first temperature range, the charging control selects a reduced maximum charging current for the maximum charging current.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A handheld analyte meter, such as a blood glucose meter, has a measurement module, a rechargeable battery and a charging control to select a maximum charging current to regulate self-heating during recharging that can interfere with analyte tests. Self-heating by the meter can bias temperature measurements made inside the meter that are used to determine whether the temperature is acceptable for testing. Prior to beginning a charging session, the charging control selects the maximum charging current that does not change during the charging session based capacity of a charging source along with a first temperature measured near the battery that is compared with a first temperature range. By selecting the maximum charging current in this manner, the risk of the measurement module preventing a test under high lock-out conditions and the risk of the measurement module allowing a test when low lock-out conditions that are masked is reduced.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A handheld analyte meter with recharging control for regulating self-heating to improve analyte testing, comprising:
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a housing having a circuit board carried inside the housing and a test strip port; a cable connector carried in the housing with a first end exposed outside the housing for connection to a charging source and a second end coupled to the circuit board; a rechargeable battery carried inside the housing and coupled to the circuit board and coupled to the cable connector second end; a main processor carried on the circuit board and coupled to the rechargeable battery, the main processor having memory a display coupled to the circuit board and the main processor; a first temperature sensor carried on the circuit board near the main processor and rechargeable battery for measuring a first temperature inside the housing prior to beginning a charging session that is compared to a first temperature range; a measurement module carried on the circuit board near the test strip port and coupled to the main processor; a second temperature sensor carried on the circuit board near the measurement module for measuring a second temperature inside the housing prior to beginning an analyte test that is compared to a second temperature range; a strip connector carried on the circuit board near the test strip port, the strip connector coupled to the measurement module and configured to receive a test strip; a battery charger carried on the circuit board and coupled to the cable connector that charges the rechargeable battery up to a maximum charging current until the rechargeable battery reaches a predetermined charge level; and a charging control carried on the circuit board and coupled to the battery charger that prior to the beginning of a charging session selects the maximum charging current that does not change during the charging session, if the first temperature is within the first temperature range, the charging control selects a high maximum charging current for the maximum charging current, and if the first temperature is outside the first temperature range, the charging control selects a reduced maximum charging current for the maximum charging current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for controlling handheld analyte meter recharging to regulate self-heating for improved analyte testing, comprising:
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connecting a cable coupled to a charging source to a cable connector on the handheld analyte meter and turning the analyte meter on if the analyte meter was off when the cable is connected to the cable connector; sensing the cable is connected to the cable connector and disabling the analyte meter from conducting an analyte test for safety; identifying the charging source capacity by the analyte meter; measuring a first temperature in the analyte meter with a first temperature sensor located inside the analyte meter housing near the rechargeable battery prior to the beginning of a charging session; determining whether the first temperature is within a first temperature range; selecting a high maximum charging current for a maximum charging current prior to the beginning of a charging session that does not change during the charging session based upon capacity of a charging source and if the first temperature is within the first temperature range; selecting a reduced maximum charging current for the maximum charging current prior to the beginning of the charging session that does not change during the charging session based upon capacity of the charging source and if the first temperature is outside the first temperature range; recharging a rechargeable battery of the analyte meter at up to the maximum charging current selected; disconnecting the cable from the analyte meter and enabling the analyte meter to perform an analyte test; inserting a test strip into a strip port on the analyte meter; measuring a second temperature with a second temperature sensor located inside the analyte meter housing near a measurement engine; determining whether the second temperature measurement is within a second temperature range to conduct an analyte test; and performing the analyte test if the second temperature is within the second temperature range. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification