Kiosk for recycling electronic devices
AssigneeecoATM, LLC
InventorsMark Vincent Bowles, Thomas L. Tullie, John Andrew Beane, Jeff Ploetner, John Miller, Neil Vesco
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A recycling kiosk for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of an electronic device such as a mobile phone is disclosed herein. The recycling kiosk includes electrical connectors and an inspection area with an upper chamber, a lower chamber, a transparent plate and at least one camera in order to perform a visual analysis and an electrical analysis of the electronic device for determination of a value of the electronic device. The recycling kiosk also includes a processor and a display for user interaction.
Claims21
A kiosk for processing a used electronic device, the kiosk comprising:
- a housing;
- a user interface operably coupled to the housing and configured to receive a first identifier associated with the electronic device;
- an inspection area within the housing;
- a door movable to control access to the inspection area;
- a transparent plate within the inspection area, wherein the transparent plate is configured to support the electronic device within the inspection area;
- a camera positioned within the housing and configured to obtain an image of the electronic device while the transparent plate supports the electronic device within the inspection area, wherein the image includes a second identifier associated with the electronic device;
- and
- a binning mechanism positioned within the housing and operable to move the electronic device away from the inspection area.
A system for recycling a used electronic device, the system comprising:
- a kiosk, wherein the kiosk includes—
- a housing,
- a display coupled to an exterior surface of the housing,
- a user interface operably coupled to the housing and configured to receive a first identifier associated with the electronic device,
- an inspection area within the housing,
- a transparent plate within the inspection area, wherein the transparent plate is configured to support the electronic device within the inspection area,
- a camera positioned within the housing and configured to obtain an image of the electronic device while the transparent plate supports the electronic device within the inspection area, wherein the image includes a second identifier associated with the electronic device, and
- one or more processors operably associated with the kiosk;
- and
- one or more computer-readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
- receive, via the user interface, the first identifier;
- prompt, via the display, a user of the kiosk to position the electronic device on the transparent plate;
- receive, via the camera, the second identifier;
- determine, based at least in part on the first identifier and the second identifier, a price for the electronic device;
- and
- offer, via the display, the price to the user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.