Flash – Experimental Engineering

Posted on January 3, 2016 by The Engineer — 2 Comments

Roku LT Teardown

Here’s another retired piece of tech that we used to route media from the NAS to the main TV. It was retired since it’s inability to support XBMC/Kodi & having some crashing issues.

After attacking the case with the screwdriver (Torx in this case), the main board comes out. The CPU in this looks *very* familiar, being a PoP device. There are unpopulated places for an ethernet interface & USB port here.

After a little digging is turns out the CPU in this device is a BCM2835, with 256MB of RAM stacked on top. It’s a Raspberry Pi! Even the unpopulated part for Ethernet is the same SMSC LAN9512!
There’s 32MB of Flash for the software below the CPU.
On the far right of the board is a Broadcom BCM59002IML Mobile Power Management IC.

On the bottom of the PCB is the WiFi chipset, a Broadcom BCM4336, this most likely communicates with the CPU via SDIO. There’s also a section below for a Bluetooth chipset.

Posted on July 12, 2011 by The Engineer — Leave a comment

Sigma Mini Keychain LCD Photoframe

This is a cheap Sigma branded keychain photoframe. User buttons for power & selecting photos are on the left.
There are two white LEDs on the bottom edge that function as a torch as well.

Front of the unit removed, showing the LCD module. The USB jack is bottom left, next to the pair of white LEDs & above that is the 32kHz watch crystal that the CPU uses for timekeeping.

Here the back has been removed showing the 3.7v Li-Ion cell used to provide power.

Here the display has been removed from the PCB exposing the chipset.

Here the CPU blob-top chip & a flash memory IC are visible. The CPU is a Sitronix ST2205U.

Posted on February 20, 2011February 10, 2011 by The Engineer — Leave a comment

Garmin eTrex

Pocket sized GPS navigator. Here is shown the greyscale dot matrix LCD.

Serial interface on the back of the unit. Pinout from left is +3v, Rx, Tx, GND.

PCB Removed from the casing. RTC backup battery in the centre of board, CPU & flash ROM on the left. GPS chipset is under the shield on the right.

Front of the PCB, GPS antenna on the right, LCD panel left.

LCD folded back from the PCB. Driver IC can be seen attached to the ribbon.

LCD Panel backlight. Requires 200v AC at 20kHz to glow green.

GPS chipset with the shield removed.

Posted on September 23, 2010 by The Engineer — Leave a comment

USB Flash Drive

Here is a cheap chinese made flash drive given out for free by Westlaw UK. Capacity 512MB

Here is the PCB removed from the casing, USB connector on the left, followed by the clock crystal for the flash controller, a CBM2092, which is a Chipsbank part. 512MB flash memory IC, unknown maker. Access LED on far right of the board.

Posted on August 26, 2010 by The Engineer — Leave a comment

Motorola V360v

Here is a more modern phone, the Motorola V360v. Features include Dual screens, 640×480 VGA camera, full col

our TFT Main LCD, SD-Micro slot.
Here on the back the grey scale LCD can be seen, with the camera lens to the right of the Motorola logo

Here the phone is opened showing the keypad & the full colour TFT LCD display.

Here the battery is removed from the unit, showing the SIM connector. The antenna cover is still on at the bottom.

The antenna cover has been removed in this shot, the antenna is the white section at the bottom, With the loudspeaker & the external antenna connector hidden at the right.

Here is the main PCB. Parts from left are the Bluetooth module at the top, supplied by Broadcom, the SD Card socket at the bottom. Main CPU next to that is the Freescale SC29343VKP. Above right of the CPU is the Freescale SC13890P23A Charger, Power & Audio IC. Below is the SIM card socket. Under the main CPU is the Intel Flash memory IC. ICs inside the shields are the RF sections for transmit & receive.

Rear of the display unit showing the monochrome LCD. The camera module on the bottom left. Ear speaker on the far right of the unit.

Main colour TFT LCD.

Camera module removed from the LCD unit.

The vibration motor attached to one of the LCD looms.

Posted on August 5, 2010 by The Engineer — Leave a comment

HP Photosmart 375

This is a HP PhotoSmart 375 portable photo printer. With built in card reader, screen & PictBridge.
Top of the printer showing the UI Buttons & Screen.

Front of the unit, card reader slots at the top, Pictbridge USB connector at top left. Paper out slot at bottom. Cartridge door is on the right.

Here the cartridge door is open. Takes HP 95 Tri-Colour Inkjet Cartridge.

Battery compartment on the bottom of the unit. A Li-Ion battery pack can be installed here for mobile photo printing.

Specifications label.

Power adaptor & USB connection for PC use.

Rear door opened. Showing the paper feed tray.

Rear door has been removed in this shot. Paper feed roller & platen roller can be seen here.

Paper holder attached to rear door.

Bottom of the top cover, with connections for the buttons & LCD panel.

This is the main PCB of the unit. Controls all aspects of the printer. CPU in center, card reader sockets are along bottom edge. various support circuitry surrounds the CPU.