# US 10,481,013 B2 · System and apparatus for determining ambient temperatures for a fluid analyte system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,481,013 B2 - Document ID: US10481013B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/196,689 - Filed: 2018-11-20 - Published: 2019-03-21 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-23 - Assignees: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG - Applicants: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG - Inventors: Mu Wu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481013B2 ## CPC - G01K 1/20: Compensating for effects of temperature changes other than those to be measured, e.g. changes in ambient temperature - A61B 5/14532: {for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement} - G01K 7/42: Circuits effecting compensation of thermal inertia; Circuits for predicting the stationary value of a temperature - G01K 7/427: {Temperature calculation based on spatial modeling, e.g. spatial inter- or extrapolation} - G01N 33/48785: {Electrical and electronic details of measuring devices for physical analysis of liquid biological material not specific to a particular test method, e.g. user interface or power supply} - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A system and method for rapidly determining ambient temperature in a fluid-analyte meter. The meter includes a housing defining an interior space and an area for receiving a fluid sample. A processor and a first temperature sensor are disposed within the interior space of said the housing. A second temperature sensor is disposed on the housing. One or more processors are configured to determine a first temperature value from temperature data received from the first temperature sensor. The processor(s) are also configured to apply a variable current to a temperature-adjustment source such that the second temperature sensor is adjusted to a predetermined steady-state temperature value different from the first temperature value. The processor(s) are further configured to determine an ambient temperature of an exterior space of the housing based on the applied variable current, pre-determined steady-state temperature, and received first temperature values. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable meter configured to rapidly determine ambient temperature, the portable meter comprising: a housing defining an interior space and an area for receiving a fluid sample; a controller and a first temperature sensor disposed within said interior space of said housing; and a second temperature sensor disposed on said housing; said controller being configured to: determine a first temperature value from temperature data received from said first temperature sensor, apply a variable current ranging between 1 mA to 200 mA to a temperature-adjustment source such that said second temperature sensor is adjusted to a predetermined steady-state temperature value up to about 10 degrees Celsius greater than said first temperature value, and determine an ambient temperature of an exterior space of said housing based on said applied variable current, said pre-determined steady-state temperature value, and said received first temperature value, wherein the ambient temperature is determined to within about ±1 degree Celsius of an actual ambient temperature. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The portable meter of claim 1, wherein said second temperature sensor and said temperature-adjustment source are a single element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The portable meter of claim 1, wherein said second temperature sensor is an RTD sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The portable meter of claim 1, wherein said second temperature sensor is embedded in an interior surface of said housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The portable meter of claim 1, wherein said second temperature sensor is embedded in an exterior surface of said housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The portable meter of claim 1, wherein said second temperature sensor is at least partially embedded in a heat conductive layer, said heat conductive layer being at least partially embedded in said housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The portable meter of claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board disposed in said interior space of said housing, said first temperature sensor and said controller being disposed on said printed circuit board. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The portable meter of claim 1, wherein a heat flux from said second temperature sensor to said interior space of said housing is approximately constant upon attaining said predetermined steady-state temperature value at said second temperature sensor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The portable meter of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to determine a total applied energy based on said applied variable current. ### Claim 10 A method for rapidly determining ambient temperature in a fluid-analyte meter, the method comprising: providing a portable meter including a housing defining an interior space and an area for receiving a fluid sample, a first temperature sensor disposed within said interior space of said housing, a second temperature sensor disposed on said housing, and a temperature-adjustment source disposed near said second temperature sensor; determining a first temperature value from temperature data received via said first temperature sensor; applying a variable current between 1 mA to 200 mA to said temperature-adjustment source such that said second temperature sensor is adjusted to a predetermined steady-state temperature value up to about 10 degree Celsius greater than said first temperature value; and determining an ambient temperature of an exterior space of said housing, said ambient temperature based on said applied variable current, said predetermined equilibrium temperature value, and said received first temperature value wherein the ambient temperature is determined to within about ±1 degree Celsius of an actual ambient temperature. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a printed circuit board disposed in said interior space of said housing, said first temperature sensor being disposed on said printed circuit board. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein said second temperature sensor is embedded in an interior surface of said housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein said second temperature sensor is embedded in an exterior surface of said housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein upon attaining said predetermined equilibrium temperature value at said second temperature sensor, a heat flux from said second temperature sensor to an interior space defined by said housing is approximately constant. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising determining a total applied energy based on said applied variable current. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein said second temperature sensor and said temperature-adjustment source are a single element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein said second temperature sensor is an RTD sensor.