Granted Patent B2

US 12,340,425 · App. 18/442,067 · Granted Jun 24, 2025

Inventors: Mark Vincent Bowles (San Diego, CA); Thomas L. Tullie (Rancho Santa Fe, CA); John Andrew Beane (San Diego, CA); Jeff Ploetner (San Diego, CA); John Miller (San Diego, CA); Neil Vesco (San Diego, CA)

Assignee: ecoATM, LLC

G06Q50/00G06Q10/00G06Q10/30G06Q30/00G06Q30/0278G06Q30/08G07F7/06H04M1/0287H04M1/24Y02W90/00

Abstract

Claims (54)

1. 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.

2. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the first identifier is associated with a make, a model, and/or a unique number of the electronic device.

3. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the first identifier includes a machine-readable code.

4. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the first identifier is a barcode.

5. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the second identifier is associated with a make, a model, and/or a unique number associated with the electronic device.

6. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the second identifier includes a machine-readable code.

7. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the second identifier includes an IMEI number of the electronic device.

8. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the camera is configured to obtain an image of a display screen of the electronic device while the display screen displays the second identifier.

9. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the camera is a first camera positioned above the transparent plate, and wherein the kiosk further comprises a second camera positioned below the transparent plate.

10. The kiosk of claim 9 wherein the first camera is operable to obtain a first image of a first side of the electronic device and the second camera is operable to obtain a second image of a second side of the electronic device opposite the first side.

11. The kiosk of claim 10 wherein the inspection area includes white walls positioned at least partially adjacent to the transparent plate.

12. The kiosk of claim 1 , further comprising a storage receptacle configured to receive the electronic device from the inspection area.

13. The kiosk of claim 12 wherein the binning mechanism is configured to move the electronic device from the inspection area toward the storage receptacle.

14. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the binning mechanism includes:

a first member configured to move the electronic device in a first direction relative to the housing; and

a second member configured to move the electronic device in a second direction relative to the housing, the second direction different than the first direction.

15. The kiosk of claim 14 , further comprising an electronic device storage receptacle positioned within the housing and operably associated with the inspection area, wherein:

the first direction is toward the second member; and

the second direction is toward the electronic device storage receptacle.

16. 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.

17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising a binning mechanism positioned within the housing and operable to move the electronic device away from the inspection area.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein—

the binning mechanism includes—

a first member operable to move the electronic device in a first direction relative to the housing, and

a second member operable to move the electronic device in a second direction relative to the housing, the second direction different from the first direction; and

the one or more processors are further configured to—

move, via the first member, the electronic device in the first direction, and

move, via the second member, the electronic device in the second direction.

19. The system of claim 16 , further comprising an electronic device storage receptacle configured to receive the electronic device from the transparent plate.

20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising a binning mechanism positioned within the housing and operable to move the electronic device from the transparent plate toward the electronic device storage receptacle.

21. The system of claim 16 wherein the camera is a first camera positioned above the transparent plate and operable to image a first side of the electronic device, wherein the kiosk further comprises a second camera positioned below the transparent plate and operable to image a second side of the electronic device, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

capture, via the first camera, a first image of the first side of the electronic device, and

capture, via the second camera, a second image of the second side of the electronic device opposite the first side.

Assignments (3)

Continuity (12)

References Cited (400)