1. A device for determining the presence or amount of an analyte in a sample, comprising:
a first cup comprising an interior for holding a liquid sample, a top, one or more sidewalls, and a bottom;
a second cup having a top, one or more sidewalls, and a bottom;
the first cup rotatably disposed within the second cup and having first and second positions within the second cup;
at least one reservoir for containing an aliquot of sample located between the first and second cups, the first cup further comprising an aperture venting from the interior of the first cup into the at least one reservoir when the first cup is in the first position, and the aperture being closed when the first cup is in the second position;
a valve assembly interfacing with the at least one reservoir for regulating communication of the aliquot of sample from the interior of the first cup to the reservoir;
one or more test elements comprising a sample application zone, for determining the presence or amount of an analyte in the liquid sample;
a passageway connecting the at least one reservoir and the sample application zone, the passageway being closed when the first cup is in the first position and open when the first cup is in the second position; and
a lid that comprises at least one key element, and wherein the first cup comprises at least one key hole.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the valve assembly seals the reservoir from liquid communication with the interior of the first cup when the valve member is in the first position.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one key element is inserted into the at least one key hole when the lid is placed onto the first and second cups.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein when the first cup is in the second position the valve assembly seals the at least one reservoir from liquid communication with the interior of the first cup, and liquid communication occurs between the reservoir and the test elements.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein the one or more test elements are lateral flow test elements.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein the one or more test elements are test strips.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein the one or more test strips produce a calorimetric signal when an analyte of interest is present.
8. The device of claim 7 wherein the first and second positions are located about 90 degrees radially apart.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein the valve assembly is comprised on the bottom of the second cup.
10. The device of claim 9 wherein the passageway is open when the first cup is in the second position.
11. The device of claim 1 wherein the lid is rotatably sealable about the top of the second cup.
12. The device of claim 1 further comprising a seal located at a base of the at least one reservoir.
13. The device of claim 12 wherein the seal is an O-ring, which seals the reservoir to prevent liquid communication between the reservoir and the test elements when the first cup is in the first position.
14. The device of claim 13 wherein liquid communication occurs between the reservoir and the one or more test elements, through the passageway, when the first cup is in the second position.
15. A device for determining the presence or amount of an analyte in a sample, comprising:
a first cup comprising an interior for holding a liquid sample, a top, one or more sidewalls, and a bottom;
a second cup having a top, one or more sidewalls, and a bottom;
the first cup rotatably disposed within the second cup and having first and second positions within the second cup;
at least one reservoir for containing an aliquot of sample located between the first and second cups, the first cup further comprising an aperture venting from the interior of the first cup into the at least one reservoir when the first cup is in the first position, and the aperture being closed when the first cup is in the second position;
a valve assembly interfacing with the at least one reservoir for regulating communication of the aliquot of sample from the interior of the first cup to the reservoir wherein the valve assembly is comprised on the bottom of the second cup;
one or more test elements comprising a sample application zone, for determining the presence or amount of an analyte in the liquid sample;
a passageway connecting the at least one reservoir and the sample application zone, the passageway being closed when the first cup is in the first position and open when the first cup is in the second position.
16. A device for determining the presence or amount of an analyte in a sample, comprising:
a first cup comprising an interior for holding a liquid sample, a top, one or more sidewalls, and a bottom;
a second cup having a top, one or more sidewalls, and a bottom;
the first cup rotatably disposed within the second cup and having first and second positions within the second cup;
at least one reservoir for containing an aliquot of sample located between the first and second cups, the first cup further comprising an aperture venting from the interior of the first cup into the at least one reservoir when the first cup is in the first position, and the aperture being closed when the first cup is in the second position;
a valve assembly interfacing with the at least one reservoir for regulating communication of the aliquot of sample from the interior of the first cup to the reservoir;
one or more test elements comprising a sample application zone, for determining the presence or amount of an analyte in the liquid sample;
a passageway connecting the at least one reservoir and the sample application zone, the passageway being closed when the first cup is in the first position and open when the first cup is in the second position;
and a seal located at a base of the at least one reservoir.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A linear charger comprising:
a power input terminal to receive an input voltage;
a power output terminal to provide an output voltage;
a charging NMOSFET having a drain coupled to the power input terminal, a source coupled to the power output terminal, and a gate controlled by a driving voltage to generate a charging current;
a sensing NMOSFET common gated with the charging NMOSFET;
a current settingsensing circuit coupled between the power output terminal and a source of the sensing NMOSFET, to virtually short the power output terminal to the source of the sensing NMOSFET, to thereby have the charging NMOSFET and sensing NMOSFET applied with a same gate-source voltage, for the sensing NMOSFET to reflect the charging current on its drain-source current to provide a current sensing signal accordingly;
a loop controller coupled to the current settingsensing circuit, to generate a control signal according to the current sensing signal;
a driver coupled to the loop controller and the gate of the charging NMOSFET, to supply the driving voltage according to the control signal; and
a voltage generator coupled to the driver, the voltage generator supplying a voltage to the driver to generate the driving voltage, wherein the voltage generated by the voltage generator is higher than the output voltage.
2. The linear charger of claim 1, wherein the sensing NMOSFET has a drain coupled to the power input terminal.
3. The linear charger of claim 1, wherein the supply voltage generated by the voltage generator is constant.
4. The linear charger of claim 1, wherein the voltage generator is coupled to the power output terminal to generate the supply voltage varying with the output voltage.
5. The linear charger of claim 1, wherein the current settingsensing circuit comprises an operational amplifier having two input terminals coupled to the power output terminal and the source of the sensing NMOSFET respectively, to virtually short the power output terminal to the source of the sensing NMOSFET.
6. A method for controlling a charging current, comprising the steps of:
coupling a drain and a source of a charging NMOSFET to a power input terminal and a power output terminal respectively;
applying an input voltage to the power input terminal;
generating a control signal;
supplying a driving voltage according to the control signal;
applying the driving voltage to a gate of the charging NMOSFET to generate the charging current;
virtually shorting the power output terminal to a source of a sensing NMOSFET common gated with the charging NMOSFET, to thereby have the charging NMOSFET and the sensing NMOSFET applied with a same gate-source voltage, for the sensing NMOSFET to reflect the charging current on its drain-source current;
providing a current sensing signal according to the drain-source current of the sensing NMOSFET to determine the control signal; and
generating a supply voltage higher than an output voltage on the output terminal to generate the driving voltage.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising coupling a drain of the sensing NMOSFET to the power input terminal.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the supply voltage varies with the output voltage.