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 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . An analyte meter, comprising:
 a housing;   a strip port coupled to the housing and configured to receive a blood sample for analyte measurement;   a light source coupled to the housing; and   a power source coupled to the housing and configured to provide power to the light source;   wherein the analyte meter is configured to pulse the light source at a predetermined frequency and predetermined duty cycle, the predetermined frequency sufficiently fast for the light source to appear continuously on and without perceivable flicker to a human eye.   
     
     
         26 . The analyte meter of  claim 25 , wherein the predetermined frequency is greater than 100 Hz. 
     
     
         27 . The analyte meter of  claim 25 , wherein the predetermined frequency is within a range of 3 kHz to 7 kHz. 
     
     
         28 . The analyte meter of  claim 25 , wherein the analyte meter is configured to provide substantially as much light output as when the light source is continuously on. 
     
     
         29 . The analyte meter of  claim 28 , wherein the analyte meter is further configured to provide approximately 80% output power for the light source. 
     
     
         30 . The analyte meter of  claim 29 , wherein the analyte meter is further configured such that the 80% output power corresponds to the predetermined duty cycle being approximately 50%. 
     
     
         31 . The analyte meter of  claim 25 , wherein the light source is one or more LEDs. 
     
     
         32 . The analyte meter of  claim 25 , wherein the light source is configured to illuminate the strip port. 
     
     
         33 . The analyte meter of  claim 25 , wherein the light source is configured to illuminate a display unit coupled to the housing. 
     
     
         34 . The analyte meter of  claim 33 , wherein the display unit includes an LCD display. 
     
     
         35 . The analyte meter of  claim 33 , wherein the display unit includes a touchscreen display. 
     
     
         36 . The analyte meter of  claim 33 , wherein the display unit includes a plasma display. 
     
     
         37 . The analyte meter of  claim 25 , wherein the light source is an LCD display used to provide backlighting. 
     
     
         38 . The analyte meter of  claim 25 , wherein the analyte meter is further configured to provide light output at a first and a second intensity. 
     
     
         39 . The analyte meter of  claim 25 , wherein the predetermined duty cycle is approximately 10%. 
     
     
         40 . The analyte meter of  claim 39 , wherein the predetermined frequency is within a range of 3 kHz to 7 kHz. 
     
     
         41 . The analyte meter of  claim 25 , wherein the analyte meter is a glucose meter. 
     
     
         42 . The analyte meter of  claim 41 , wherein the predetermined frequency is within a range of 3 kHz to 7 kHz. 
     
     
         43 . The analyte meter of  claim 42 , wherein the predetermined duty cycle is approximately 10%. 
     
     
         44 . An analyte meter, comprising:
 a housing;   a strip port coupled to the housing and configured to receive a blood sample for analyte measurement;   a light source coupled to the housing and configured to illuminate the strip port;   a display unit coupled to the housing and configured to display a determined analyte measurement, the display unit including a touchscreen display;   a power source coupled to the housing and configured to provide power to the light source;   wherein the analyte meter is configured to pulse the light source at a predetermined frequency and predetermined duty cycle, the predetermined frequency sufficiently fast for the light source to appear continuously on and without perceivable flicker to a human eye.   
     
     
         45 . The analyte meter of  claim 44 , wherein the analyte meter is a glucose meter.