MAINTAINING SETS OF CABLE COMPONENTS USED FOR WIRED ANALYSIS, CHARGING, OR OTHER INTERACTION WITH PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20160091549A1
• Filed: 09/29/2014
• Published: 03/31/2016
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,401,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 plurality of test ports operably connected to the controller; 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.

2. 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.

3. The cable system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of overcurrent-protection elements, wherein each of the overcurrent-protection elements is operably connected to one of the downstream-facing ports.

4. The cable system of claim 3 wherein the individual overcurrent-protection elements include automatically resettable fuses.

5. The cable system of claim 1, 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 5 wherein:

the first test port is a mini USB port; and

the second test port is a micro USB port.

7. The cable system of claim 5 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.

8. 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.

9. The cable system of claim 8 wherein:

the first test port is a mini USB port; and

the second test port is a micro USB port.

10. The cable system of claim 8 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.

11. The cable system of claim 8 wherein the first and second cables are rotatably mounted to a machine for processing electronic devices.

12. The cable system of claim 8 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.

13. The cable system of claim 12 wherein:

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

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

14. A machine for processing electronic devices, the machine comprising:

a housing; and

a cable system at least partially disposed within the housing, the cable system including—

a hub,

a plurality of cable components detachably coupled to the hub,

a drive mechanism operably connected to the plurality of cable components, the drive mechanism being configured to move the plurality of cable components and thereby cause a given one of the plurality of cable components to be staged for testing while another one of the plurality of cable components is not staged for testing,

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

a test port 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 plurality of cable components while the given one of the plurality of cable components is detachably coupled to the test port.

15. The machine of claim 14 wherein:

the cable components are rotatably connected to the housing; and

the drive mechanism is configured to rotate the cable components relative to the housing.

16. The machine of claim 14, further comprising a host computer at least partially disposed within the housing, the host computer being networked for electronic communication with the cable system.

17. The machine of claim 14 wherein:

the cable system includes an actuation mechanism operably connected to the controller; and

the instructions, when executed by the controller using the processing circuitry, cause the testing circuitry to test the given one of the plurality of cable components in response to operation of the actuation mechanism.

18. The machine of claim 17 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 plurality of cable components in response to operation of the second actuation mechanism.

19. A method for testing a plurality of cable components detachably coupled to a hub, the method comprising:

detachably coupling a first downstream-facing connector of a first one of the cable components to a first test port, the first test port having electrical contacts arranged in a first configuration;

after detachably coupling the first downstream-facing connector to the first test port, testing the first cable component;

detaching the first downstream-facing connector from the first test port after testing the first cable component;

moving the plurality of cable components to stage a second cable component of the plurality of cable components for testing;

detachably coupling a second downstream-facing connector of a second one of the cable components to a second test port, the second test port having electrical contacts arranged in a second configuration different than the first configuration; and

after detachably coupling the second downstream-facing connector to the second test port, testing the second cable component.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

extending a first flexible cord of the first cable component before detachably coupling the first downstream-facing connector to the first test port, the first downstream-facing connector being at a distal end portion of the first cord; and

automatically retracting the first cord after detaching the first downstream-facing connector from the first test port.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein testing the first cable component includes determining whether the first cable component is a correct type based on whether the first test port corresponding to the correct type.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein testing the first cable component includes determining whether the first cable component is capable of carrying data.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

serially testing two or more additional cable components of the plurality of cable components after testing the second cable component;

receiving a report on respective statuses of the first, second, and additional cable components after serially testing the additional cable components; and

replacing one or more of the first, second, and additional cable components based on the report.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving an indication of overcurrent in first cable component;

replacing the first cable component after receiving the indication of overcurrent; and

automatically resetting a fuse of an overcurrent-protection element operably connected to the first downstream-facing port after replacing the first cable component.