The system enables one to securely recycle an electronic device in a publicly accessible location. In particular, the embodiment described may be used by a mobile phone owner to submit his/her mobile phone for recycling via an electronic kiosk and receive compensation in some form. The compensation might be dispersed via cash, voucher, credit or debit card, or other magnetic or electronic transaction methods.

Secondary market and vending system for devices

A method of fabricating an infrared detector, a method of controlling the stress in a polycrystalline SiGE layer and an infrared detector device is disclosed. The method of fabricating includes the steps of forming a sacrificial layer on a substrate; patterning said sacrificial layer; establishing a layer consisting essentially of polycrystalline SiGe on said sacrificial layer; depositing an infrared absorber on said polycrystalline SiGe layer; and thereafter removing the sacrificial layer. The method of controlling the stress in a polycrystalline SiGe layer deposited on a substrate is based on varying the deposition pressure. The infrared detector device comprises an active area and an infrared absorber, wherein the active area comprises a polycrystalline SiGe layer, and is suspended above a substrate.

Method of fabrication of an infrared radiation detector and infrared detector device

A recycling kiosk (100) for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of a mobile telephone (150) is disclosed herein. The recycling kiosk (100) preferably includes an inspection area (106) with a plurality of white walls (115) in order to perform a visual analysis of the mobile telephone (150) for determination of a value of the mobile telephone (150). The visual analysis inspects the LCD screen (153) of the mobile phone (150) to determine if the LCD screen (153) is damaged. The recycling kiosk (100) also includes a processor (160), a display (119) and a user interface (118).

Apparatus and method for recycling mobile phones

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.

Kiosk for recycling electronic devices

Software application systems and associated methods for recycling, purchasing, and/or performing other processes with mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, and/or other electronic devices at a kiosk are described herein. In various embodiments, the present technology includes systems and methods associated with an electronic device to facilitate a consumer-operated kiosk processing (e.g., purchasing) the electronic device. In some embodiments, the present technology includes using a mobile app to identify an electronic device, evaluate the electronic device, resolve device issues to enable purchase of the electronic device, etc. Various other aspects of the present technology are described herein.

Application for device evaluation and other processes associated with device recycling

A dual mode illumination system for optical inspection of products for surface defects and defects in holes in the product includes a first light source for providing illumination along an axis of one or more holes in the product to be inspected, the first light source being positioned on a first side of the product, a second light source providing illumination of the surface of the second side of the product to be inspected, a beam splitter for redirecting light from the second light source to a light sensor while passing light from the first light source to the light sensor. The second light source may be located adjacent to a second side of the product to be tested with the axis of illumination parallel to a major plane of the product. The light sensor may be a video camera connected to a data processing and display system.

Dual mode illumination system for optical inspection

An optical inspection system is provided in which the background video component of an analog video source which limits imaging integrity is removed enhancing the system's ability to process a wider range of image sources with increase digitizing sensitivity. The overall effects of background and background variations are nulled stabilizing the effective signal to noise ratio, thereby increasing inspection capability of the system and improving the system's process window for effective and efficient inspection.

Analog video processing apparatus and method for eliminating background levels in the analog signal

An optical imaging surface inspection system and method are provided. The system comprises an illumination source for illuminating an image pattern on a surface to be inspected, a video camera for detecting a portion of the light reflected from the surface and outputting an analog video signal, a dynamic thresholding circuit for converting the analog video signal into a digital representation of the image pattern, and means to compare a known accurate digital representation of the image pattern to the digital representation provided by the dynamic thresholding circuit. The method includes the steps of illuminating the surface, scanning the surface with the video camera, separating the video signal into a black level signal component and a white level signal component, detecting successive peak levels in the white level signal component and outputting a corresponding variable peak voltage. A variable threshold voltage is determined by selecting a percentage of the variable peak voltage. This variable threshold voltage is then compared with a delayed portion of the analog video signal to provide the digital representation of an image pattern on the surface being inspected.

Todd C. Fellows

Papers

Dual mode illumination system for optical inspection

Analog video processing apparatus and method for eliminating background levels in the analog signal

Optical inspection system utilizing dynamic analog-to-digital thresholding