Cantaloupe has been granted a patent for a serial device system that detects when serial communications are prevented due to a disconnected cable. The system includes a host device and a peripheral device connected via a serial communications cable, with the host device measuring power consumption to determine cable disconnection. GlobalData’s report on Cantaloupe gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.

According to GlobalData’s company profile on Cantaloupe, Contactless transaction authentication was a key innovation area identified from patents. Cantaloupe's grant share as of February 2024 was 95%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.

Power consumption monitoring for detecting disconnected serial communication cables

Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Credit: Cantaloupe Inc.

A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11914542B2) discloses a serial device system that includes a host device and a peripheral device connected via a serial communications cable. The host device is equipped with a mechanism to measure the electrical power consumption of its serial communication transceiver, enabling it to detect when serial communications are disrupted due to cable disconnection. By comparing the enabled and disabled power consumption levels, the system can determine if the cable is disconnected based on predefined thresholds. This innovation allows for efficient monitoring of the serial connection status without the need for manual intervention.

Furthermore, the patent details the specific implementation of the system, including scenarios where the host device can identify which communication line is disconnected based on the power consumption of the transmitter and receiver components. The use of a charge pump for signal level conversion and pulse-width modulation for power measurement adds technical depth to the design. The system's application in vending machines or kiosks highlights its potential for use in various commercial settings. Overall, the patent showcases a novel approach to ensuring reliable serial communication by proactively detecting cable disconnections through power consumption analysis, enhancing the system's robustness and reliability.

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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.