Maintaining sets of cable components used for wired analysis, charging, or other interaction with portable electronic devices

• US 10,401,411 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2014
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecoatm Incorporated (Coinstar Asset Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Ecoatm Incorporated (Coinstar Asset Holdings, LLC)
• Inventors: Snook, James Andrew, Segil, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): Koval, Melissa J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Trung
• Application Number:
  US14/500,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20160091549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,800 Days
• Field of Search: 324500, 324543, 324664, 324694, 324658, 324548, 324678, 324686, 324765, 324768, 324600, 324 7611, 324522, 324539, 32475426, 324713, 324 84, 324403, 324412, 324200, 324222, 705 2, 705 51, 705 16, 705 1437, 705 11, 705308, 235381, 235382
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/08 Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2844 using test interfaces, e.g. adapters, test boxes, switches, PIN drivers G01R31/2889 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/58 Testing of lines, cables or conductors testing of electric windings G01R31/72

Abstract

A machine for processing electronic devices in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present technology includes a cable system at least partially disposed within a housing. The cable system can include a hub, a plurality of cable components detachably coupled to the hub, and a drive mechanism operably connected to the plurality of cable components. The drive mechanism can be configured to cause a given one of the plurality of cable components to be staged for testing. The cable system can further include a controller and a test port. The controller can include memory, processing circuitry, and testing circuitry. The memory can store instructions that, when executed by the controller using the processing circuitry, cause the testing circuitry to test the staged cable component while the staged cable component is detachably coupled to the test port.

Claims

1. A cable system, comprising:

a controller including memory, processing circuitry, and testing circuitry, the memory storing instructions;

a plurality of downstream-facing ports operably connected to the controller;

a cable-status indicator operably connected to the controller; and

a plurality of overcurrent-protection elements, where each of the overcurrent-protection elements is operably connected to one of the downstream-facing ports,

wherein the instructions, when executed by the controller using the processing circuitry, cause—

the testing circuitry to test a cable component having a first end portion detachably coupled to one of the downstream-facing ports, and

the cable-status indicator to indicate a status of the cable component based on the test.

2. The cable system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of test ports operably connected to the controller.

3. The cable system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of test ports includes:

a first test port having electrical contacts arranged in a first configuration; and

a second test port having electrical contacts arranged in a second configuration different than the first configuration.

6. The cable system of claim 2 wherein:

the plurality of test ports is configured to be simultaneously electrically connected to the plurality of downstream-facing ports via a first electrical connection and via a separate second electrical connection while the testing circuitry tests the cable component;

the first electrical connection includes the testing circuitry; and

the second electrical connection includes the cable component.

7. The cable system of claim 1 wherein the individual overcurrent-protection elements include automatically resettable fuses.

8. The cable system of claim 1, further comprising an actuation mechanism operably connected to the controller, wherein the instructions, when executed by the controller using the processing circuitry, cause the testing circuitry to test the cable component in response to operation of the actuation mechanism.

9. The cable system of claim 1, further comprising a hub including a support structure, wherein the support structure carries the plurality of downstream-facing ports.

10. The cable system of claim 9 wherein the individual downstream-facing ports are parallel to one another in a first plane.

11. The cable system of claim 9 wherein the individual downstream-facing ports are circumferentially distributed around a periphery of the support structure.

4. A cable system, comprising:

a controller including memory, processing circuitry, and testing circuitry, the memory storing instructions;

a plurality of downstream-facing ports operably connected to the controller;

a plurality of test ports operably connected to the controller, wherein the plurality of test ports includes;

a first test port having electrical contacts arranged in a first configuration; and

a second test port having electrical contacts arranged in a second configuration different than the first configuration; and

a cable-status indicator operably connected to the controller,

wherein the instructions, when executed by the controller using the processing circuitry, cause—

the testing circuitry to test a cable component having a first end portion detachably coupled to one of the downstream-facing ports and a second end portion detachably coupled to one of the test ports, and

the cable-status indicator to indicate a status of the cable component based on the test.

5. The cable system of claim 4 wherein the plurality of test ports includes a third test port having electrical contacts arranged in a third configuration different than the first and second configurations.

29. The cable system of claim 4 wherein:

the first test port is a mini USB port; and

the second test port is a micro USB port.

12. A cable system, comprising;

a controller including memory, processing circuitry, and testing circuitry, the memory storing instructions;

a plurality of downstream-facing ports operably connected to the controller;

a plurality of test ports operably connected to the controller;

a cable-status indicator operably connected to the controller; and

an actuation mechanism operably connected to the controller,

wherein the instructions, when executed by the controller using the processing circuitry, cause—

the testing circuitry to test a cable component having a first end portion detachably coupled to one of the downstream-facing ports and a second end portion detachably coupled to one of the ports,

the cable-status indicator to indicate a status of the cable component based on the test; and

the testing circuitry to test the cable component in response to operation of the actuation mechanism.

13. A cable system, comprising:

a hub including—

a support structure,

a first downstream-facing port carried by the support structure, and

a second downstream-facing port carried by the support structure;

a first test port operably associated with the hub, the first test port having electrical contacts arranged in a first configuration;

a second test port operably associated with the hub, the second test port having electrical contacts arranged in a second configuration different than the first configuration;

a first cable component detachably coupled to the hub, the first cable component including—

a first upstream-facing connector detachably coupled to the first downstream-facing port,

a first flexible cord having a proximal end portion downstream from the first upstream-facing connector and a distal end portion downstream from its proximal end portion, and

a first downstream-facing connector at the distal end portion of the first cord; and

a second cable component detachably coupled to the hub, the second cable component including—

a second upstream-facing connector detachably coupled to the second downstream-facing port,

a second flexible cord having a proximal end portion downstream from the second upstream-facing connector and a distal end portion downstream from its proximal end portion, and

a second downstream-facing connector at the distal end portion of the second cord,

wherein—

the first cable component has—

an operational state in which the first downstream-facing connector is detached from the hub, and

a test state in which the first downstream-facing connector is detachably coupled to the first test port, and

the second cable component has—

an operational state in which the second downstream-facing connector is detached from the hub, and

a test state in which the second downstream-facing connector is detachably coupled to the second test port.

14. The cable system of claim 13 wherein:

the first test port is a mini USB port; and

the second test port is a micro USB port.

15. The cable system of claim 13 wherein:

the hub includes a third downstream-facing port carried by the support structure;

the cable system further comprises a third cable component detachably coupled to the hub, the third cable component including—

a third upstream-facing connector detachably coupled to the third downstream-facing port,

a flexible third cord having a proximal end portion downstream from the third upstream-facing connector and a distal end portion downstream from its proximal end portion, and

a third downstream-facing connector at the distal end portion of the third cord; and

the third cable component has—

an operational state in which the third downstream-facing connector is detached from the hub, and

a test state in which the third downstream-facing connector is detachably coupled to either the first test port or the second test port.

16. The cable system of claim 13 wherein the first and second cables are rotatably mounted to a machine for processing electronic devices.

17. The cable system of claim 13 wherein the hub includes:

a first overcurrent-protection element operably connected to the first downstream-facing port such that the first overcurrent-protection element responds to overcurrent in the first cable component; and

a second overcurrent-protection element operably connected to the second downstream-facing port such that the second overcurrent-protection element responds to overcurrent in the second cable component.

18. The cable system of claim 17 wherein:

the first overcurrent-protection element includes an automatically resettable first fuse; and

the second overcurrent-protection element includes an automatically resettable second fuse.

19. The cable system of claim 13, further comprising:

a drive mechanism operably connected to the first and second cable components, wherein the drive mechanism is configured to move the first and second cable components and thereby cause a given one of the first and second cable components to be staged for testing while the other one of the first and second cable components is not staged for testing; and

a controller including memory, processing circuitry, and testing circuitry, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the controller using the processing circuitry, cause the testing circuitry to test the given one of the first and second cable components while the given one of the first and second cable components is in its test state.

20. The cable system of claim 19 wherein the drive mechanism is configured to rotate the first and second cable components and thereby cause the given one of the first and second cable components to be staged for testing while the other one of the first and second cable components is not staged for testing.

21. The cable system of claim 19, further comprising an actuation mechanism operably connected to the controller, wherein the instructions, when executed by the controller using the processing circuitry, cause the testing circuitry to test the given one of the first and second cable components in response to operation of the actuation mechanism.

22. The cable system of claim 21 wherein:

the actuation mechanism is a first actuation mechanism;

the cable system includes a second actuation mechanism; and

the instructions, when executed by the controller using the processing circuitry, cause the drive mechanism to move the first and second cable components in response to operation of the second actuation mechanism.

23. A cable system comprising:

a controller including memory, processing circuitry, and testing circuitry, the memory storing instruction;

a plurality of downstream-facing ports operably connected to the controller;

a plurality of test ports operably connected to the controller,

a hub including a support structure, wherein the support structure carries the plurality of downstream-facing ports; and

a cable-status indicator operably connected to the controller,

wherein the instruction, when executed by the controller using the processing circuitry, cause—

the testing circuitry to test a cable component having a first end portion detachably coupled to one of the downstream-facing ports and a second end portion detachably coupled to one of the test ports, and

the cable-status indicator to indicate a status of the cable component based on the test.

24. The cable system of claim 23 wherein the support structure carries the plurality of test ports.

25. The cable system of claim 24 wherein:

the individual downstream-facing ports are parallel to one another in a first plane; and

the individual test ports are parallel to one another in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane.

26. The cable system of claim 24 wherein:

the support structure includes a motherboard and a daughterboard;

the support structure carries the plurality of downstream-facing ports at the motherboard; and

the support structure carries the plurality of test ports at the daughterboard.

27. The cable system of claim 26 wherein the daughterboard is detachable from the motherboard and replaceable to change a lineup of port types among the test ports without necessitating replacement of the motherboard.

28. The cable system of claim 23 wherein the individual downstream-facing ports are circumferentially distributed around a periphery of the support structure.