Patent Abstract:
a handheld analysis device for examining a sample of body fluid , such as blood to analyze blood glucose , has a setting mode for changing various device settings to improve the changing of device settings . the handheld analysis device comprises a measurement unit , a microprocessor , a segment display , and an operating element . when the operating element is actuated , the device is placed in a selection mode and further actuation of the operating element , then in one of several setting modes , the user can efficiently change device settings by inputting data and / or control commands .

Detailed Description:
fig1 illustrates in a flow diagram the steps that need to be carried out to change a device setting of a handheld analysis device according to the invention . an exemplary embodiment of a handheld analysis device according to the invention is not shown , since the visible components thereof correspond to those of commercial handheld analysis devices . the handheld analysis device for examining a sample of a human or animal body fluid has a measuring unit for carrying out a measurement on a sample , a microprocessor for controlling the measuring unit , a display 4 shown in fig2 for displaying measurement results , an acoustic signal device which , in operation , generates an acoustic reminder signal at predetermined points in time as a reminder of carrying out a measurement , and three operating elements 1 , 2 , 3 that are shown in conjunction with arrows in various places in the flow diagram shown in fig1 . actuation of the respective operating element 1 , 2 , 3 leads to the next position in the flow diagram in the direction of the arrow . the operating elements 1 , 2 , 3 can be keys such as keys for five operating elements 1 , 2 , 3 , or such as key for three operating elements 1 , 2 , 3 . when the operating element 1 is actuated by being pressed for at least three seconds , the handheld analysis device transitions to a selection mode in which the device can be put , by means of the operating elements 1 , 2 , 3 , in one of several setting modes f 1 , f 2 , f 3 , f 4 , in which a user can change device settings by inputting data and / or control commands . when the device is in the selection mode , any one of the setting modes f 1 , f 2 , f 3 , f 4 can be selected . initially , setting mode f 1 is selected by default after activation of the selection mode in the exemplary embodiment shown . by actuating the operating element 1 , the device is put in the currently selected setting mode . according to the flow diagram shown in fig1 , the handheld analysis device therefore transitions to the selection mode upon sustained pressing of the operating element 1 , whereby the setting mode f 1 is selected initially by default . by actuating the operating element 1 again , the device is put in the selected setting mode ( e . g . f 1 ). in setting mode f 1 , a time of day and a date can be input in common manner by means of the operating elements 1 , 2 , 3 in order to set a clock that is integrated in the device and in order to facilitate display of the date . for this reason , the first setting mode f 1 is called the time setting mode . after the time and date are set , actuating the operating element 1 again , the handheld analysis device is put in an operating or resting mode . in order to change another device setting , the operating elements 2 , 3 can be actuated in the selection mode to change the setting mode f 1 , f 2 , f 3 , f 4 that is being selected . in this context , actuating the operating element 3 leads to the next higher setting mode being selected from a list of setting modes f 1 , f 2 , f 3 , f 4 that is stored in the device . in simultaneous manner , actuating the operating element 2 leads to the selection of the corresponding preceding setting mode f 1 , f 2 , f 3 , f 4 from the list . if the first setting mode f 1 of the list is selected , actuating the operating element 2 leads to exiting from the selection mode , which is shown in fig1 by the symbol , “ end ”. actuating the operating element 1 then causes the device to transition to an operating or resting mode . accordingly , actuating the operating element 3 leads to exiting from the selection mode if the last setting mode f 4 of the list is selected . the second setting mode f 2 serves to put the device in an acoustic mode , in which measurement results can be displayed by means of acoustic signals for people with impaired vision . for this reason , the second setting mode f 2 is called acoustic setting mode . acoustic user guidance can be activated in the second setting mode f 2 , in which acoustic information , in particular in the form of speech , is put out as an operating aid . in order to activate the acoustic user guidance , the on 1 state needs to be set in setting mode f 2 . in addition , the acoustic mode can also be activated completely in setting mode f 2 such that measurement results are also put out acoustically by setting the on 2 state . if no acoustic output is desired , the off state can be set in setting mode f 2 such that there is neither an acoustic output of measurement results nor acoustic user guidance . if the third setting mode f 3 is activated , limit values can be programmed that can be used by the microprocessor to compare measurement values , that are to be determined by the measurement unit , to and to actuate the signal device if a measurement value exceeds an upper limit value or fails to reach a lower limit value such that an acoustic warning signal is generated by the signal device if either case occurs . for this reason , the third setting mode f 3 is called limit value setting mode . if the handheld analysis device is in the fourth setting mode f 4 , reminder times can be programmed at which the signal device is actuated by the microprocessor and generates a reminder signal in order to remind a user to carry out a measurement . for this reason , the fourth setting mode f 4 is called alarm clock setting mode . each of the setting modes f 1 , f 2 , f 3 , f 4 has a symbol assigned to that is displayed on display 4 when the device is in the selection mode and the respective setting mode f 1 , f 2 , f 3 , f 4 is selected . particularly well - suited for use as symbols for the various setting modes are combinations of a letter and a number since symbols of this type can be shown with little effort on an lcd display 4 , in particular , symbols of this type can be shown on a reasonably - priced segment display 4 as the one shown in fig2 . although a segment display 4 having a fixed segment display has fewer graphical options as compared to a dot matrix , it is also substantially more reasonably - priced . the segment display 4 can be configured for displaying not only measurement results and symbols of the setting modes f 1 , f 2 , f 3 , f 4 , but also simple graphical symbols as operating aid , for example a bell 5 symbolizing that the reminder function is activated and a reminder time is set . the handheld analysis device can be operated independently from the power grid and is provided , for this purpose , with an electrical grid independent power supply , for example batteries of solar cells . thus , embodiments of the hand - held analysis device having different setting modes are disclosed . one skilled in the art will appreciate that the teachings can be practiced with embodiments other than those disclosed . the disclosed embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation , and the invention is only limited by the claims that follow 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