System for electrically testing mobile devices at a consumer-operated kiosk, and associated devices and methods
A system for recycling a mobile device. A system configured in accordance with one embodiment of the present technology includes an electrical connector and testing electronics. The electrical connector is configured to be electrically connected to a mobile device, and the testing electronics are configured to produce an electrical measurement by measuring an electrical attribute associated with a hardware component of the mobile device over the electrical connector. The system is further configured to valuate, identify, and/or authenticate the mobile device based at least in part on the electrical measurement.
1. A system for recycling a mobile device, wherein the mobile device has an electronic hardware component, the system comprising:
an electrical connector configured to be electrically connected to the mobile device;
testing electronics configured to produce an electrical measurement by measuring an electrical attribute associated with the hardware component over the electrical connector;
a processor; and
a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored therein that are executable by the processor to valuate, identify, and/or authenticate the mobile device based at least in part on the electrical measurement;
wherein the testing electronics include:
a first power line configured to provide a test voltage to the hardware component;
a current measuring circuit configured to measure an electrical current drawn by the hardware component in response to the test voltage;
a voltage source coupled to the first power line; and
a power switch configured to switchably connect the first power line to a second power line of the mobile device, and further configured to disconnect the voltage source from the electrical connector when the electrical current exceeds a threshold.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a display screen, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
determine an appropriate purchase price of the mobile device based at least in part on the electrical measurement; and
display the purchase price to a user of the system via the display screen.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the electrical attribute is an electrical current drawn from the hardware component of the mobile device.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the hardware component is a charging circuit.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile device has a battery, and wherein the electrical attribute is a charge current drawn by the mobile device to charge the battery.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the testing electronics further include one or more data lines, and wherein the testing electronics are further configured to:
send a control signal over the electrical connector to activate the hardware component; and
measure an electrical response on the power line in response to the control signal.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the processor and the testing electronics is further configured to produce a test result by comparing the electrical measurement to at least one reference quantity.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein at least one of the processor and the testing electronics is further configured to select the at least one reference quantity from a look-up table based on a make and/or a model of the mobile device.
9. The system of claim 7 wherein the at least one reference quantity includes:
a quantity corresponding to a maximum allowable electrical current; and
a quantity corresponding to a minimum allowable electrical current.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
look up at least one reference quantity in a database associated with a make and/or model of the mobile device;
compare the electrical measurement to the at least one reference quantity;
produce a test result based on the comparison; and
determine an appropriate purchase price of the mobile device based at least in part on the test result.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein the testing electronics further include:
a data switch coupled to the electrical connector; and
a controller configured to—
switchably couple itself to the hardware component via the data switch, and
control the hardware component while producing the electrical measurement.
12. A method for recycling mobile devices, the method comprising:
sending a test signal to a mobile device over an electrical connector coupled to the mobile device;
measuring a response to the test signal to produce a measurement of an electrical attribute associated with a hardware component of the mobile device;
at least one of valuating, authenticating, or identifying the mobile device based at least in part on the measurement;
wherein—
the measurement includes a measurement of electrical current drawn by the mobile device; and
sending the test signal includes—
connecting a power line of the mobile device to a voltage supply upstream from the mobile device; and
opening a switch connected between the power line and the voltage supply when the electrical current exceeds a threshold.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the hardware component is a charge circuit.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein the test signal is a test packet.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein sending the test signal includes sending a stream of random test packets.