PRS-500 Reader Internals 2.0 (pics!) - Page 2

Nightwing · 11-14-2006, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobVA

Looks like a pretty standard Li-poly battery. There's a bunch of outfits that sell similar ones for the iPod and PDA replacement markets, so I'm betting they will show up eventually for the Reader.

Be tough to sell them right now though. The usual usual sales pitch (and what made me replace the battery in my Palm T3) is longer run time

I think the power jack layout may be a "feature." A significant cause of early gadget mortality is walking off with it still connected to the power cord. If you're lucky, it just pops out the plug, if you're not, it snaps the jack off the board internally. If the jack is on the main board, this means big bucks.

The way this is laid out, it would just trash the little sub-board, which would be a very easy and cheap repair.

Or maybe it didn't fit

Cheers,
Bob

I fix laptop broken power connectors as one of my tallents.

At least the higher end Sony laptop do not mount the power connector on the main board. Thank goodness! SO seeing this as daughter board is not too surprising... Actually makes a lot of sense.

Nightwing · 11-14-2006, 05:11 AM

Here is an idea...

On the Cowon A2.. The audio jack has 3 rings and a tip... A std Stereo jack has 2 + tip. They use one of the rings as a remote control line... Uses resistors values from ground to that ring to control the unit. 1K = Fwd, 2k = REV, 20K etc...

If a extra ring jack could be added then...

1) A simple nothing hookup between the 4 ring and ground to bring out the next page button. Simple and the one needed the most so to speak.

2) Like the A2 have a small PIC chip read the resistance places across ring 4 and ground to control the various functions. Prv/Fwd Audio Up/Dwn etc...

Mouser have those weird jacks and plugs... But could the Reader be retrofitted? Or put a small jack on a side or bottom.

Or if room try this....

RS is blowing out a wireless 3&4G iPod remote... The board is very tiny... Take from 3v to about 3.6 volts.... Uses PIC cpu's.... It would give 5 switches so to speak. Have not looked at it to see if possible to extract directly the control before it turns the command stream into its data to feed into a iPod. Benn working on adding a serial to control line PIC converter chip to remotely control my A2.

If want can post a photo of this board...

NatCh · 11-14-2006, 11:30 AM

If you're going to go to all that trouble, why not just glom onto the contacts for the existing buttons, and bring that to a jack somewhere? It shouldn't be too tough to add extra wires to the buttons' existing soldier contacts.

I've thought about doing this myself, but the remote just isn't that personally important.

Nightwing · 11-14-2006, 11:39 AM

Huh... I though I said that...

Would it be nice to have a key ring rf remote for it?

NatCh · 11-14-2006, 11:57 AM

Hmm, okay, I thought you were talking about adding another small board, as opposed to just tapping the existing contacts and running them to a new set of buttons.

In that case, it looks like we're on the same page, so it must be a good idea, huh?

Nightwing · 11-14-2006, 12:10 PM

Thats it. ^_^ Thinking alike!

It makes sense. Not a full remote but a simple button.

I thinking it may be possible to replace the current audio jack with one having an extra ring... The only remote function people are think on from reading here would be a NEXT button. Would also be nice if people put sheet music on the reader. Use a floor switch to turn the pages.

Need to look a bit closer at the pix. See what is there...

If room then adding that little RF circuit scrounged would be nice.

The other way would be do a hijack of one of the audio lines leaving the standard connector along by some means.

If I get a chance today will look at that circuit board and see if I can pull strait control signals off of it without adding to it. If so its a 10 dollar item now.

diabloNL · 12-14-2006, 05:44 AM

Does anybody know why the battery has only got 2 wires. Doesn't Li-ion need a third one for data?

rothe957 · 12-19-2006, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diabloNL

Does anybody know why the battery has only got 2 wires. Doesn't Li-ion need a third one for data?

The third terminal is only 'data' on battery packs with integrated charge monitoring electronics, i.e. Sony InfoLithium or Notebook battery packs. Simple battery packs (i.e. for mobile phones or camcorders) usually have an integrated temperature sensor (simple passive NTC resistor) connected to the third terminal. This is intended for monitoring battery temperature during charging. Non-changeable internal Li-Ion batteries usually only have 2 terminals, because the device manufacturer usually puts the temperature sensor somwhere in the battery compartment and connects it directly to the charging circuit.

^_^

PierUEAU · 06-04-2007, 11:31 AM

I have a problem with my sony reader pr-500. The LCD don't work very well, because the contrast of LCD is wrong. Tomorrow I will send a photo of LCD.

Thanks

diabloNL · 06-04-2007, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PierUEAU

I have a problem with my sony reader pr-500. The LCD don't work very well, because the contrast of LCD is wrong. Tomorrow I will send a photo of LCD.

Thanks

Hi PierUEAU, welcome to MobileRead.com!

You can adjust the contrast yourself but you need to open the Reader to do so. If you have guarantee I wouldn't mess with it yourself.

Check the following thread for more info:

Click

mogui · 06-04-2007, 11:13 PM

Is the power switch LED run by the processor under program control? Or is it run by the charging circuitry?

I am trying to accumulate hard data for understanding the symptoms of a dead reader for diagnostic purposes.

Thanks in advance

diabloNL · 06-05-2007, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mogui

Is the power switch LED run by the processor under program control? Or is it run by the charging circuitry?

I am trying to accumulate hard data for understanding the symptoms of a dead reader for diagnostic purposes.

Thanks in advance

I presume it is on the processor level, because it turns orange when loading after reset and won't charge (turn red) unless it sees the USB drivers installed on your PC.

mogui · 06-05-2007, 12:55 AM

There are three threads that deal with "bricked" Sony Readers. There are no clear troubleshooting guidelines, though many people have suggestions. Here are three types of behavior that can be seen if the screen is not working:

1/ The power LED changes. Under what circumstances?
2/ The "mark" button elicits a blue LED.
3/ The Connect software can "see" the reader.

These behaviors can be observed systematically to determine whether the Reader's processor is dead or alive, or whether it is in a non-functional loop.

PierUEAU · 06-06-2007, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diabloNL

Hi PierUEAU, welcome to MobileRead.com!

You can adjust the contrast yourself but you need to open the Reader to do so. If you have guarantee I wouldn't mess with it yourself.

Check the following thread for more info:

Click

This is a photo of the LCD. I opened the Reader, and I adjasted the contrast, but there wasn't any effect.

diabloNL · 06-06-2007, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PierUEAU

This is a photo of the LCD. I opened the Reader, and I adjasted the contrast, but there wasn't any effect.

Why did you take out the whole screen? The variable resistor is direct reachable without taking it apart completely. Are you sure you played with RV1601 like in the following picture?

11-14-2006, 05:11 AM	#17
Nightwing Addict Posts: 303 Karma: 541 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Cowon A2 Dell x3i, Sony Reader & Eee PC!	Here is an idea... On the Cowon A2.. The audio jack has 3 rings and a tip... A std Stereo jack has 2 + tip. They use one of the rings as a remote control line... Uses resistors values from ground to that ring to control the unit. 1K = Fwd, 2k = REV, 20K etc... If a extra ring jack could be added then... 1) A simple nothing hookup between the 4 ring and ground to bring out the next page button. Simple and the one needed the most so to speak. 2) Like the A2 have a small PIC chip read the resistance places across ring 4 and ground to control the various functions. Prv/Fwd Audio Up/Dwn etc... Mouser have those weird jacks and plugs... But could the Reader be retrofitted? Or put a small jack on a side or bottom. Or if room try this.... RS is blowing out a wireless 3&4G iPod remote... The board is very tiny... Take from 3v to about 3.6 volts.... Uses PIC cpu's.... It would give 5 switches so to speak. Have not looked at it to see if possible to extract directly the control before it turns the command stream into its data to feed into a iPod. Benn working on adding a serial to control line PIC converter chip to remotely control my A2. If want can post a photo of this board... Last edited by Nightwing; 11-14-2006 at 05:15 AM.

06-04-2007, 11:31 AM	#24
PierUEAU Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2007 Device: PRS-500	LCD contrast I have a problem with my sony reader pr-500. The LCD don't work very well, because the contrast of LCD is wrong. Tomorrow I will send a photo of LCD. Thanks

06-04-2007, 11:13 PM	#26
mogui eNigma Posts: 503 Karma: 1335 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Philippines Device: HTC G1 Android FBReader	Power switch LED Is the power switch LED run by the processor under program control? Or is it run by the charging circuitry? I am trying to accumulate hard data for understanding the symptoms of a dead reader for diagnostic purposes. Thanks in advance

06-05-2007, 12:55 AM	#28
mogui eNigma Posts: 503 Karma: 1335 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Philippines Device: HTC G1 Android FBReader	Observable Reader behavior when the screen dies There are three threads that deal with "bricked" Sony Readers. There are no clear troubleshooting guidelines, though many people have suggestions. Here are three types of behavior that can be seen if the screen is not working: 1/ The power LED changes. Under what circumstances? 2/ The "mark" button elicits a blue LED. 3/ The Connect software can "see" the reader. These behaviors can be observed systematically to determine whether the Reader's processor is dead or alive, or whether it is in a non-functional loop.

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11-14-2006, 11:30 AM	#18
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	If you're going to go to all that trouble, why not just glom onto the contacts for the existing buttons, and bring that to a jack somewhere? It shouldn't be too tough to add extra wires to the buttons' existing soldier contacts. I've thought about doing this myself, but the remote just isn't that personally important.

11-14-2006, 11:39 AM	#19
Nightwing Addict Posts: 303 Karma: 541 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Cowon A2 Dell x3i, Sony Reader & Eee PC!	Huh... I though I said that... Would it be nice to have a key ring rf remote for it?

11-14-2006, 11:57 AM	#20
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Hmm, okay, I thought you were talking about adding another small board, as opposed to just tapping the existing contacts and running them to a new set of buttons. In that case, it looks like we're on the same page, so it must be a good idea, huh?

11-14-2006, 12:10 PM	#21
Nightwing Addict Posts: 303 Karma: 541 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Cowon A2 Dell x3i, Sony Reader & Eee PC!	Thats it. ^_^ Thinking alike! It makes sense. Not a full remote but a simple button. I thinking it may be possible to replace the current audio jack with one having an extra ring... The only remote function people are think on from reading here would be a NEXT button. Would also be nice if people put sheet music on the reader. Use a floor switch to turn the pages. Need to look a bit closer at the pix. See what is there... If room then adding that little RF circuit scrounged would be nice. The other way would be do a hijack of one of the audio lines leaving the standard connector along by some means. If I get a chance today will look at that circuit board and see if I can pull strait control signals off of it without adding to it. If so its a 10 dollar item now.

12-14-2006, 05:44 AM	#22
diabloNL Gadget Force® Posts: 705 Karma: 2733 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Netherlands Device: Sony PRS-300 + Cybook with funny screen :P	Does anybody know why the battery has only got 2 wires. Doesn't Li-ion need a third one for data?