Systems, devices, and methods for energy efficient electrical device activation

1. A method of preparing a sensor control device for continuous analyte monitoring for a user, comprising:

removing a cover from an applicator housing the sensor control device; and

exposing an optical activation sensor to optical light such that the optical activation sensor initiates activation of a processor in the sensor control device,

wherein the optical activation sensor is housed within the sensor control device adjacent to a transparent or semi-transparent window structure in a housing of the sensor device, and

wherein the sensor control device comprises a surface covered with adhesive for coupling the sensor control device to the user, a portion of the surface being free of adhesive to permit passage of optical light through the window structure.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cover is an end cap.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising verifying initiation of the processor using a reader device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein upon exposure to optical light, the optical activation sensor permits a power supply to supply power to activate the processor.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the processor, when activated, bypasses the optical activation sensor to maintain supply of power to electronics of the sensor control device.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using the sensor control device to monitor a glucose level of a user.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the sensor control device comprises an in vivo analyte sensor adapted to monitor the glucose level of the user, the method further comprising: transmitting the monitored glucose level of the user according to a Bluetooth Low Energy protocol from an antenna coupled with an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) housed within the sensor control device, wherein the ASIC comprises analog front end circuitry for the in vivo analyte sensor, communication circuitry, the processor, power management circuitry, and memory, and wherein the ASIC is a single semiconductor chip.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor control device comprises an activation circuit comprising the optical activation sensor, the method further comprising: causing, by the activation circuit upon exposure of the optical activation sensor to optical light, connection of a power supply to the processor.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

performing, by the processor, an initiation routine upon connection of the power supply to the processor.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

causing, by the processor, the activation circuit to bypass the optical activation sensor to continue receipt of power from the power supply.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the sensor control device comprises a Bluetooth transmitter.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

applying the sensor control device to the user with the applicator; and

removing the applicator leaving the sensor control device on the user.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the sensor control device is housed within the applicator and the cover covers an opening in the applicator through which the sensor control device is deployable.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the optical light is ambient optical light, and wherein removing the cover from the applicator housing the sensor control device in the presence of the ambient optical light causes exposure of the optical activation sensor to the ambient optical light such that the optical activation sensor initiates activation of the processor in the sensor control device.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the sensor control device to the user with the applicator comprises:

applying the sensor control device to the user such that the surface covered with adhesive attaches to skin of the user.