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A system and method is described for rapid charging and power management of a battery for a meter. A charger component is operably associated with the meter and is capable of executing a rapid charge algorithm for a rechargeable battery. The algorithm includes monitoring for a connection to an exter

A system and method is described for rapid charging and power management of a battery for a meter. A charger component is operably associated with the meter and is capable of executing a rapid charge algorithm for a rechargeable battery. The algorithm includes monitoring for a connection to an external power source and implementing a charging routine of a battery at a first charge rate and then at a second charge rate. The second charge rate is lower than the first charge rate. A temperature rise in the rechargeable battery due to the first charge rate has a negligible heat transfer effect on the fluid sample. The meter can also include a power switch for controlling current flow to a battery fuel gauge. The power switch is open when the meter enters into a sleep mode. The state of battery charge is determined after the meter exits the sleep mode.

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1. 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 to receive at least a portion of a test sensor; andone or more processors disposed within said housing, s

1. 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 to receive at least a portion of a test sensor; andone or more processors disposed within said housing, 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 charging routine for rapid charging of said battery at a first charge current until a first predetermined event occurs followed by charging said battery at a second charge current until a second predetermined event occurs, said second charge current being lower than said first charge current,wherein implementation of said charging routine causes a negligible temperature rise in said rechargeable battery due to said first and second charge currents, thereby limiting heat transfer effects within said housing. 2. The battery-powered meter of claim 1, wherein said negligible temperature rise is a temperature rise of less than one degree Celsius. 3. The battery-powered meter of claim 1, wherein said first charge current is about 1C. 4. The battery-powered meter of claim 1, wherein said second charge current is less than 1C. 5. The battery-powered meter of claim 1, wherein said second charge current is from about 0.5C to about 0.6C. 6. The battery-powered meter of claim 1, wherein said first charge current is from about 2C to about 5C. 7. The battery-powered meter of claim 1, wherein at least one of said one or more processors is part of an integrated circuit. 8. The battery-powered meter of claim 1, wherein said first predetermined event is a lapsing of a predetermined time period. 9. The battery-powered meter of claim 8, wherein said predetermined time period is about one minute or less. 10. The battery-powered meter of claim 1, wherein said first predetermined event includes exceeding a predetermined charge voltage for said rechargeable battery. 11. The battery-powered meter of claim 1, wherein said first predetermined event is exceeding a threshold temperature value within said meter housing. 12. The battery-powered meter of claim 1, wherein said external power source is a port on a computing device. 13. A method of rapidly charging a battery in a meter having a port configured to receive at least a portion of a test sensor, said meter configured to determine a fluid analyte concentration of a fluid sample disposed on said test sensor, said method implemented on a processor associated with said meter, the method comprising the acts of: receiving an input identifying a connection to an external power source;in response to receiving said input, implementing via said processor a rapid charge routine for charging said battery at a first charge current until a first predetermined event occurs; andfollowing the occurrence of said first predetermined event, implementing via said processor or another processor a normal charge routine for charging said battery at a second charge current over a second predetermined time period, said first charge current being greater than said second charge current,wherein implementation of said rapid and normal charge routines causes a negligible temperature rise in said battery due to said first and second charge currents, thereby limiting temperature effects in determining fluid analyte concentrations. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein said first predetermined event is at least partially based on achieving a threshold charge voltage. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein said first charge current and second charge current are generally constant. 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising implementing a human-perceivable signal following said first predetermined event. 17. The method of claim 1, further comprising implementing a termination charge routine following said second predetermined event, said termination charge routine charging said battery at a third charge current until another predetermined event occurs, said third charge current being lower than said second charge current. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said third charge current is continuously decreasing. 19. A non-transitory computer-readable memory medium having stored thereon an instruction set for directing a rapid charge of a battery for a meter operable to determine an analyte concentration of a fluid sample received via a test sensor port of said meter, said instruction set being configured to cause, upon execution by a processor, acts comprising: monitoring for a connection to an external power source;receiving identifying information of said connection to said external power source;in response to receiving said identifying information, implementing a rapid charge routine for charging said battery at a first charge current until a first predetermined event occurs;following said occurrence of said first predetermined event, implementing a normal charge routine for charging said battery at a second charge current until a second predetermined event occurs, said first charge current being greater than said second charge current; andmonitoring a temperature rise of said battery, said monitoring occurring at one or more predetermined time intervals,wherein implementing said rapid and normal charge routines is configured to cause a negligible temperature rise in said battery due to said first and second charge currents, thereby limiting temperature effects in determining analyte concentrations. 20. The non-transitory computer-readable memory medium of claim 19, wherein said negligible temperature rise is a temperature rise of less than one degree Celsius. 21. The non-transitory computer-readable memory medium of claim 19, wherein said first charge current is approximately 1C. 22. The non-transitory computer-readable memory medium of claim 19, wherein the second charge current is from about 0.5C to about 0.6C. 23. A portable meter having a circuit configured with a battery to provide power to a sensing element for determining analyte concentration of a fluid sample, the meter comprising: a processor powered by said circuit, said processor configured to operate said meter in an active mode and a sleep mode;a fuel gauge powered by said circuit, said fuel gauge configured to track state of battery charge data received from said battery during said active mode of operation of said meter;an interface configured to transfer state of battery charge data from said fuel gauge to said processor; anda switch for controlling current flow to said fuel gauge, said switch configured to be open and closed by said processor, said processor signaling said switch to an open position to disconnect said fuel gauge from said circuit if said meter enters into said sleep mode and said processor signaling said switch to a closed position if said meter enters into said active mode. 24. The portable meter of claim 23, wherein said processor is configured to determine a state of battery charge after said meter enters into said active mode. 25. The portable meter of claim 23, wherein said fuel gauge continuously tracks state of battery charge during said active mode of operation of said meter. 26. The portable meter of claim 23, wherein the fuel gauge is an integrated circuit. 27. The portable meter of claim 23, further comprising a display coupled to said processor, said display configured to display a present state of battery charge. 28. The portable meter of claim 23, wherein said processor is a microcontroller. 29. The portable meter of claim 23, wherein said battery is a rechargeable battery. 30. The portable meter of claim 29, wherein said portable meter enters into said active mode when a primary power source is charging said battery. 31. A method of power management in a battery-powered blood glucose meter that is configured to operate in an active mode and a standby mode, said blood glucose meter including a battery fuel gauge powered by a power distribution circuit and a microcontroller, said method comprising the steps of: receiving, via said microcontroller, a first request to enter a standby mode;entering said meter into said standby mode, wherein power to said battery fuel gauge is switched off in said standby mode thereby disconnecting said battery fuel gauge from said power distribution circuit; andreceiving, via said microcontroller, a second request to exit said standby mode and enter said active mode, wherein power to said battery fuel gauge is switched on in said active mode. 32. The method of claim 31, furthering comprising determining a state of battery charge after said meter enters into said active mode. 33. The method of claim 32, further comprising, if said meter is in said active mode, updating a state of battery charge using battery charge data received by said microcontroller from said battery fuel gauge. 34. The method of claim 33, wherein said updating is continuous. 35. A non-transitory computer-readable memory medium having stored thereon an instruction set for managing the power of a battery-powered meter operable in an active mode and a sleep mode, said battery-powered meter including a battery fuel gauge powered by a power distribution circuit, said instruction set being configured to cause, upon execution by a processor, acts comprising: receiving a first request to enter into a sleep mode;entering said meter into said sleep mode, wherein power to a battery fuel gauge is switched off in said sleep mode thereby disconnecting said battery fuel gauge from said power distribution circuit; andreceiving a second request to exit said sleep mode and enter said active mode, wherein power to said battery fuel gauge is switched on in said active mode. 36. The non-transitory computer-readable memory medium of claim 35, the acts further comprising determining a state of battery charge after said fuel gauge is switched on.