Method and apparatus for providing power management in data communication systems

Abstract

A blood glucose meter having a compact housing, a display unit disposed on the housing, the display unit including a display light source to illuminate the display unit, an input unit disposed on the housing, the input unit configured to provide input functions for the blood glucose meter, and a power source provided within the housing for providing power to the blood glucose meter, where the housing includes a port integrated on said housing configured to receive a blood glucose test strip, and corresponding methods of measuring blood glucose meter is provided.

1 . A blood glucose meter, comprising:
 a compact housing for a blood glucose meter;   a display unit disposed on the housing, the display unit configured to display information related to the blood glucose meter;   an input unit disposed on the housing, the input unit configured to provide input functions for the blood glucose meter; and   a power source provided within the housing for providing power to the blood glucose meter;
 wherein the display unit includes a light source to illuminate the display unit; and further 
   wherein the light source has a wavelength within approximately 450 to 780 nanometers.   
     
     
         2 . The meter of  claim 1 , wherein the wavelength is approximately 570 nanometers. 
     
     
         3 . The meter of  claim 1  wherein the light source includes white light. 
     
     
         4 . The meter of  claim 1  wherein the display unit includes one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a touch sensitive screen, or a plasma display unit. 
     
     
         5 . The meter of  claim 1  wherein the light source is configured to provide one or more of a backlight function or a flashlight function of the display unit. 
     
     
         6 . The meter of  claim 1  wherein the light source is configured to be pulsed at a frequency equal to or greater than approximately 0 Hertz. 
     
     
         7 . The meter of  claim 1  wherein the light source is configured to be pulsed at approximately 4 Khz. 
     
     
         8 . The meter of  claim 1  wherein the light source includes a light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         9 . The meter of  claim 8  wherein the LED is a yellow-green LED. 
     
     
         10 . The meter of  claim 1  including a lancing device operatively coupled to the compact housing. 
     
     
         11 . A blood glucose meter, comprising:
 a compact housing for a blood glucose meter;   a display unit disposed on the housing, the display unit configured to display information related to the blood glucose meter;   an input unit disposed on the housing, the input unit configured to provide input functions for the blood glucose meter; and   a power source provided within the housing for providing power to the blood glucose meter;
 wherein the display unit includes a light source including a light emitting diode (LED) that is configured to be pulsed at a frequency equal to or greater than 0 Hertz. 
   
     
     
         12 . The meter of  claim 11  wherein the light emitting diode is configured to emit light in the white light broad spectrum. 
     
     
         13 . The meter of  claim 11  wherein the light emitting diode includes one or more of a yellow light emitting diode, a green light emitting diode, or a yellow/green light emitting diode. 
     
     
         14 . The meter of  claim 11  wherein the display unit includes one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a touch sensitive screen, or a plasma display unit. 
     
     
         15 . The meter of  claim 11  wherein the display unit includes a light source to illuminate the display unit. 
     
     
         16 . The meter of  claim 11  wherein the light source is configured to provide a backlight function or a flashlight function of the display unit. 
     
     
         17 . The meter of  claim 11  including a lancing device operatively coupled to the compact housing. 
     
     
         18 . A blood glucose meter, comprising:
 a compact housing for a blood glucose meter;   a display unit disposed on the housing, the display unit configured to display information related to the blood glucose meter;   an input unit disposed on the housing, the input unit configured to provide input functions for the blood glucose meter; and   a power source provided within the housing for providing power to the blood glucose meter;
 wherein the housing includes a port on said housing configured to receive a blood glucose test strip; and further 
 wherein the port includes a light source, the light source configured to substantially illuminate the port to assist in one or more of insertion of the blood glucose test strip into the port or removal of the blood glucose test strip. 
   
     
     
         19 . The meter of  claim 18 , wherein the light source of the port is configured to illuminate a sample acquisition site. 
     
     
         20 . The meter of  claim 19  wherein the blood sample acquisition site is located substantially on the surface of a patient's skin. 
     
     
         21 . The meter of  claim 20  wherein the surface of the patient's skin is positioned substantially at a predetermined angle relative to the direction of illumination from the port light source. 
     
     
         22 . The meter of  claim 21  wherein the predetermined angle is less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         23 . The meter of  claim 19  wherein the sample acquisition site is illuminated only during a sample acquisition process. 
     
     
         24 . The meter of  claim 18  wherein the display unit is configured to illuminate upon detection of a glucose test strip insertion into the port. 
     
     
         25 . The meter of  claim 24  wherein the display unit is configured to remain illuminated until the test strip is removed from the port. 
     
     
         26 . The meter of  claim 18  wherein the input unit includes an on/off switch. 
     
     
         27 . The meter of  claim 18  including a lancing device integrated in the compact housing. 
     
     
         28 . A blood glucose meter, comprising:
 a compact housing for a blood glucose meter;   a display unit disposed on the housing, the display unit including a display light source to illuminate the display unit;   an input unit disposed on the housing, the input unit configured to provide input functions for the blood glucose meter; and   a power source provided within the housing for providing power to the blood glucose meter;
 wherein the housing includes a port integrated on said housing configured to receive a blood glucose test strip, and further 
 wherein the display light source is configured to be pulsed at a frequency equal to or greater than 0 Hertz. 
   
     
     
         29 . The meter of  claim 28  herein the frequency is approximately 4 KHz. 
     
     
         30 . The meter of  claim 28  wherein the display unit includes one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a touch sensitive screen, and a plasma display unit. 
     
     
         31 . The meter of  claim 28  wherein the display light source is configured to provide at least one of a backlight function or a flashlight function of the display unit. 
     
     
         32 . The meter of  claim 28  wherein the display light source includes a light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         33 . The meter of  claim 28  including a lancing device integrated in the compact housing. 
     
     
         34 . A blood glucose meter, comprising:
 a compact housing for a blood glucose meter;   a display unit disposed on the housing, the display unit including a display light source to illuminate the display unit;   an input unit disposed on the housing, the input unit configured to provide input functions for the blood glucose meter; and   a power source provided within the housing for providing power to the blood glucose meter;
 wherein the housing includes a port integrated on said housing configured to receive a blood glucose test strip; and further 
 wherein the display light source has a wavelength within approximately 450 to 780 nanometers. 
   
     
     
         35 . The meter of  claim 34 , wherein the wavelength is approximately 570 nanometers. 
     
     
         36 . The meter of  claim 34  wherein the light source includes white light. 
     
     
         37 . The meter of  claim 34  wherein the display unit includes one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a touch sensitive screen, or a plasma display unit. 
     
     
         38 . The meter of  claim 34  wherein the display light source is configured to provide one or more of a backlight function or a flashlight function of the display unit. 
     
     
         39 . The meter of  claim 34  wherein the display light source includes a light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         40 . The meter of  claim 34  including a lancing device integrated in the compact housing. 
     
     
         41 . A blood glucose meter, comprising:
 a compact housing for a blood glucose meter;   a display unit disposed on the housing, the display unit including a display light source to illuminate the display unit;   an input unit disposed on the housing, the input unit configured to provide input functions for the blood glucose meter; and   a power source provided within the housing for providing power to the blood glucose meter;
 wherein the housing includes a port on said housing configured to receive a blood glucose test strip; and further 
 wherein the port includes a port light source, the port light source configured to substantially illuminate the port to assist in the insertion and/or removal of the blood glucose test strip. 
   
     
     
         42 . The meter of  claim 41  wherein the display unit includes one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a touch sensitive screen, or a plasma display unit. 
     
     
         43 . The meter of  claim 41  wherein the display light source is configured to provide one or more of a backlight function or a flashlight function of the display unit. 
     
     
         44 . The meter of  claim 41  wherein the display light source includes a light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         45 . The meter of  claim 41  wherein the port light source is integrated with the display light source. 
     
     
         46 . The meter of  claim 41  wherein the display unit is configured to illuminate upon detection of a glucose test strip insertion into the port. 
     
     
         47 . The meter of  claim 46  wherein the display unit is configured to remain illuminated until the test strip is removed from the port. 
     
     
         48 . The meter of  claim 41  wherein the port light source is configured to illuminate a sample acquisition site. 
     
     
         49 . The meter of  claim 48  wherein the sample acquisition site is located substantially on the surface of a patient's skin. 
     
     
         50 . The meter of  claim 49  wherein the surface of the patient's skin is positioned substantially at a predetermined angle relative to the direction of illumination from the port light source. 
     
     
         51 . The meter of  claim 50  wherein the predetermined angle is less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         52 . The meter of  claim 48  wherein the sample acquisition site is illuminated only during sample acquisition process. 
     
     
         53 . The meter of  claim 41  including a lancing device integrated to the compact housing.