Patent ID: 8703057

Claim:
A device for analyzing aqueous solutions, comprising: a portable hand-held housing; a test element for testing a plurality of different chemical characteristics of an aqueous solution, the test element comprising a plurality of test pads, and each test pad is associated with and responsive to a respective different chemical characteristic of an aqueous solution received on the test pads, and the plurality of test pads are attached to one side of a substrate that does not transmit light; a radiation-transmissive test element placement member attached to an underside of the housing in juxtaposition with a slot of the housing an receiving the test element against its radiation-transmissive exterior surface, the aqueous solution separated from an interior of the housing, by the test element placement member and housing; a test element receiving port formed in the housing comprising the test element placement member and the slot whereby the test element receiving port receives the test element, onto the test element placement member within the slot, with the substrate that does not transmit light entirely uniformly covering the plurality of test pads within the slot; a plurality of measurement circuits arranged inside the housing and configured to produce a corresponding plurality of measurement signals indicative of the chemical characteristic associated with each respective test pad and relating to the aqueous solution received on the test element when the test element is placed onto the test element placement member; a control circuit arranged inside the housing for executing instructions to process each of the plurality of measurement signals to determine the corresponding plurality of different characteristics of the aqueous solution including the chemical characteristic associated with each respective test pad; and, a display on the housing providing an indication of the determined plurality of characteristics.