# US 9,778,200 B2 · Method and apparatus for analyte measurement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,778,200 B2 - Document ID: US9778200B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/941,563 - Filed: 2013-07-15 - Published: 2014-06-19 - Granted: 2017-10-03 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-18 - Assignees: Ixensor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Ixensor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Tungmeng Tsai; Yenyu Chen; Chieh Hsiao Chen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9778200B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/78: producing a change of colour - G01N 21/8483: {Investigating reagent band (test-element handling not specific to a test method G01N33/4875; analytical elements specific to chemical analysis of biological material G01N33/52; autometer with reagent band G01N35/04)} - G01N 21/293: {with colour charts, graduated scales or turrets} - G01N 2201/0221: Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held - Y10T 436/12: Condition responsive control - 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) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method is provided for a portable computing device to read a reaction area on a test strip, which is located in a peripheral device placed over an image sensor and a light source of the portable computing device. Light is provided with the light source, which the peripheral device directs to the reaction area. An image including the reaction area is captured with the image sensor. An analyte characteristic is determined based on a color of the captured reaction area in the image. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for a portable computing device having an image sensor and a screen on a same side of the portable computing device to read a reaction area on a test strip, which is located in a peripheral device, the method comprising: providing light with a portion of the screen to the peripheral device, which is placed over the image sensor and the portion of the screen and directs the light from the portion of the screen to illuminate the reaction area in a manner that the image sensor on the same side is impinged by the light passing through the reaction area or by the light scattered or reflected from the reaction area; capturing an image with the image sensor substantially free from ambient light, wherein the image includes the reaction area; and determining an analyte characteristic based on a color of the captured reaction area in the image. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the screen comprises a touchscreen. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the portable computing device comprises a smart phone or a tablet computer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying on the screen a boundary within which to locate the reaction area by adjusting a placement of the peripheral device on the portable computing device; and displaying on the screen a live preview of what the image sensor will capture. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying on the screen an alignment marker for the peripheral device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the test strip includes a reference area and, prior to capturing the image including the reaction area, the method further comprises: determining an imaging condition based on the reference area; and adjusting an image sensor setting based on the imaging condition. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the reference area is a color chart, a gray card, or a purely black or white zone, and the imaging condition is a shutter speed, an f-stop, or a film speed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the test strip includes a color calibration area, the image includes the color calibration area, and the method further comprises determining the color of the captured reaction area based on the captured color calibration area in the image. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the color calibration area is a color chart, a gray card, or a purely black or white zone. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: changing the portion of the screen to a different color; and capturing another image including the reaction area, wherein determining an analyte characteristic is further based on another color of the captured reaction area in the other image. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the screen includes a touchscreen, and the method further comprises sensing areas on the test strip or the peripheral device contacting the screen. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: determining an arrangement of the areas, an orientation of the areas, or a combination thereof; and based on the arrangement of the areas, the orientation of the areas, or the combination thereof, determining an analyte type, a production batch number of the test strip, an orientation of the reaction area on the test strip, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 13 A method for a portable computing device to read a reaction area on a test strip, which is located in a peripheral device placed over an image sensor and a touchscreen of the portable computing device, the method comprising: sensing areas on the test strip or the peripheral device contacting the touchscreen, wherein the areas comprises conductive dots made of conductive rubber, conductive fiber, conductive cloth, or a combination thereof; determining an arrangement of the areas, an orientation of the areas, or a combination thereof; based on the arrangement of the areas, the orientation of the areas, or the combination thereof, determining an analyte type, a production batch number of the test strip, an orientation of the reaction area on the test strip, or a combination thereof; providing light with a portion of the touchscreen of the portable computing device, wherein the peripheral device directs light from the touchscreen to the reaction area; capturing an image with the image sensor, wherein the image includes the reaction area; and determining an analyte characteristic based on a color of the captured reaction area in the image. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the test strip or the peripheral device includes a visible code; the image includes the code; and the method further comprises determining an analyte type, a production batch number of the test strip, an orientation of the reaction area on the test strip, or a combination thereof based on the captured code. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the test strip includes a temperature sensor, and the method further comprises: electrically reading the temperature sensor to determine a temperature of the test strip; and correcting the analyte characteristic based on the temperature of the test strip. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the test strip includes a temperature indication area, the image further includes the temperature indication area, and the method further comprises correcting the specimen characteristic based on the captured temperature indication area in the image. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the screen includes at least a first part of a first intensity or a first color and a second part of a second intensity or a second color, and determining an analyte characteristic comprises determining the analyte characteristic based on colors or intensities of the first part and the second part of the captured reaction area in the image. ### Claim 18 A method for a portable computing device having an image sensor and a screen on a same side of the portable computing device to read a reaction area on a test strip, which is located in a peripheral device, the method comprising: providing light with a portion of the screen to the peripheral device, which is placed over the image sensor and the portion of the screen and directs the light from the portion of the screen to illuminate the reaction area in a manner that the image sensor on the same side receives the light passing through the reaction area or the light scattered or reflected from the reaction area; prior to capturing the image including the reaction area, determining an imaging condition based on a reference area on the test strip; adjusting an image sensor setting based on the imaging condition; capturing an image with the image sensor substantially free from ambient light and based on the image sensor setting, wherein the image includes the reaction area; and determining an analyte characteristic based on a color of the captured reaction area in the image.