Patent ID: 8441363

Claim:
A battery-powered meter adapted to determine an analyte concentration of a fluid sample, the meter comprising: a housing defining an area for receiving a rechargeable battery and a port sized for receiving at least a portion of a test sensor; a temperature sensor disposed within said housing; and one or more processors disposed within said housing, at least one of said one or more processors configured to implement a rapid charge process associated with said rechargeable battery, said process comprising the acts of: (i) monitoring for a connection to an external power source; and (ii) in response to receiving identifying information of said connection to said external power source, implementing a charge routine for rapid charging of said battery at a first charge current until a threshold temperature value determined using said temperature sensor is exceeded and thereafter charging said battery at a second charge current that is lower than said first charge current, wherein implementation of said charge routine causes a negligible temperature rise in said rechargeable battery due to said first and second charge currents, thereby limiting temperature effects in determining fluid analyte concentrations.