Reader Internals 2.0 (pics!)

lint · 11-04-2006, 08:02 PM

Update: The pictures are back - you find them attached to this thread. -- Alex

Hey all, just thought I would share these with you. Taking this thing apart was pretty easy. The right side (plastic) silver bumper pops out after unscrewing the one screw on the back, then sliding a slim knife or screwdriver under it (careful, they are fragile!). The Left side bumper has 2 screws holding it in place under the SD card flap. Once those are undone you can pop it out in a similar fashion. There are 4 screw holes on each side of the reader now. Unscrew those as well as the two near the port at the bottom and lift off the back cover (it is hinged at the top). The internals are screwed to the front faceplate. I did not have the time to dissect it any further. Everything went back together the same way with no problems. I did not notice any unused ports or anything fun like that on the motherboard.

-lint

BobVA · 11-04-2006, 10:41 PM

Awesome. Looks like DIY battery changes will be pretty simple.

Thanks!!

Bob

lint · 11-04-2006, 11:44 PM

some additional photos...
Update: Find them now in the first post of this thread

-lint

NatCh · 11-05-2006, 12:16 AM

Yeah, if we can figure out what kind of battery that actually is ....

William Moates · 11-05-2006, 05:32 AM

That rug looks like a good source of static electricity. Next time, disassemble it on a table in the kitchen. The kitchen table and floor should be less likely to cause static buildup.

(I used to be a repair tech at a computer store, and they warned us about electrostatic discharge, a minor-but-not-insiginifcant problem.)

-William

diabloNL · 11-05-2006, 06:51 AM

Hè hè.... look at the power connector. Not enough room to place it on the original PCB Sony? Nice solution though.

Anyway, if we ever need to replace the battery you wouldn't be able to replace it by the original I think. It's a Sony battery so they will prevent selling these seperate. Of course there will be replacement batteries because there are enough online stores for replacement batteries. As long there will be need they will provide.

BobVA · 11-05-2006, 05:48 PM

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

diabloNL · 11-05-2006, 06:10 PM

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

Good theory!

NatCh · 11-05-2006, 06:30 PM

Looks more to me like it just didn't fit, BobVA.

Cthulhu · 11-05-2006, 07:38 PM

Thanks Lint--Very cool pics.

Wonder what the boys & girls at SONY think of you slicing open their baby.

Knowing that the shell can be opened like that, someone might conceive of some interesting hardware hacks

rothe957 · 11-06-2006, 06:25 AM

Thanks for the pics!
About the Li-Ion battery: could you give us the dimensions of it?
This would allow to guess the capacity and consider possible replacements.
Prismatic Li-Ion cells from different manufacturers tend to have similiar
dimension and capacity ratings, e.g. Panasonic OEM cells.

^_^

BobVA · 11-06-2006, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cthulhu

Knowing that the shell can be opened like that, someone might conceive of some interesting hardware hacks

Edge lighting with some SMT LED's anyone? Bueller? Anyone?

lint · 11-06-2006, 10:30 PM

i thought of painting the outer case (which is metal btw) but I think I will wait. I really wouldn't mind a nice texturized black case

I hope others more knowledgeable open their readers and give a better analysis of the internals. I really was only looking to contribute to the scene by opening the reader for pictures. I'm sure others will give more info in the future.

Zoot · 11-13-2006, 08:10 PM

Hmm. In the 5th of the "additional photos" is that two 64MB flash memory chips with an open spot for a third? Maybe some internal memory expansion would be possible (though with 1GB SD cards selling for around $20 now I'm not sure why anyone would want to).

Z.

rothe957 · 11-14-2006, 04:09 AM

Do you mean IC1112 & IC1113, with IC1114 missing?
These aren't flash memory chips, these are only simple lowly bus drivers

The flash chips are the large towel-shaped 48pin chips on the left edge of the same picture.

^_^

11-04-2006, 08:02 PM	#1
lint Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 76 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony Reader	Reader Internals 2.0 (pics!) Update: The pictures are back - you find them attached to this thread. -- Alex Hey all, just thought I would share these with you. Taking this thing apart was pretty easy. The right side (plastic) silver bumper pops out after unscrewing the one screw on the back, then sliding a slim knife or screwdriver under it (careful, they are fragile!). The Left side bumper has 2 screws holding it in place under the SD card flap. Once those are undone you can pop it out in a similar fashion. There are 4 screw holes on each side of the reader now. Unscrew those as well as the two near the port at the bottom and lift off the back cover (it is hinged at the top). The internals are screwed to the front faceplate. I did not have the time to dissect it any further. Everything went back together the same way with no problems. I did not notice any unused ports or anything fun like that on the motherboard. -lint Attached Thumbnails Last edited by lint; 11-16-2006 at 11:00 PM.

11-04-2006, 11:44 PM	#3
lint Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 76 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony Reader	some additional photos... Update: Find them now in the first post of this thread -lint Last edited by lint; 11-16-2006 at 11:01 PM.

11-05-2006, 12:16 AM	#4
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,484 Karma: 31590 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: PRS600	Yeah, if we can figure out what kind of battery that actually is .... __________________ ΨΦ! "Torg, why do you have emergency pants?" -- Riff

11-05-2006, 06:51 AM	#6
diabloNL Gadget Force® Posts: 705 Karma: 2733 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Netherlands Device: Sony PRS-300 + Cybook with funny screen :P	Hè hè.... look at the power connector. Not enough room to place it on the original PCB Sony? Nice solution though. Anyway, if we ever need to replace the battery you wouldn't be able to replace it by the original I think. It's a Sony battery so they will prevent selling these seperate. Of course there will be replacement batteries because there are enough online stores for replacement batteries. As long there will be need they will provide. __________________ FORMAT C: WARNING. ALL DATA ON DRIVE C: WILL BE LOST! Proceed with format? (Y/Y)?

11-05-2006, 06:30 PM	#9
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,484 Karma: 31590 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: PRS600	Looks more to me like it just didn't fit, BobVA. __________________ ΨΦ! "Torg, why do you have emergency pants?" -- Riff

11-04-2006, 10:41 PM	#2
BobVA Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 652 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: PRS500 & 505 / Treo Centro	Awesome. Looks like DIY battery changes will be pretty simple. Thanks!! Bob

11-05-2006, 05:32 AM	#5
William Moates Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 19 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Greensboro, NC Device: Sony Librie / Sony Clie / Sony Reader	That rug looks like a good source of static electricity. Next time, disassemble it on a table in the kitchen. The kitchen table and floor should be less likely to cause static buildup. (I used to be a repair tech at a computer store, and they warned us about electrostatic discharge, a minor-but-not-insiginifcant problem.) -William

11-05-2006, 05:48 PM	#7
BobVA Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 652 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: PRS500 & 505 / Treo Centro	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

11-05-2006, 07:38 PM	#10
Cthulhu Technologist Posts: 485 Karma: 3919 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: I'm between Cities Device: SONY Reader PRS-500	Thanks Lint--Very cool pics. Wonder what the boys & girls at SONY think of you slicing open their baby. Knowing that the shell can be opened like that, someone might conceive of some interesting hardware hacks

11-06-2006, 06:25 AM	#11
rothe957 Ingenieur Posts: 8 Karma: 65 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Berlin - Germany Device: Sony PRS-500 / Hiebook / SonyEricsson P910i	Battery replacement Thanks for the pics! About the Li-Ion battery: could you give us the dimensions of it? This would allow to guess the capacity and consider possible replacements. Prismatic Li-Ion cells from different manufacturers tend to have similiar dimension and capacity ratings, e.g. Panasonic OEM cells. ^_^

11-06-2006, 10:30 PM	#13
lint Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 76 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony Reader	i thought of painting the outer case (which is metal btw) but I think I will wait. I really wouldn't mind a nice texturized black case I hope others more knowledgeable open their readers and give a better analysis of the internals. I really was only looking to contribute to the scene by opening the reader for pictures. I'm sure others will give more info in the future.

11-13-2006, 08:10 PM	#14
Zoot Connoisseur Posts: 89 Karma: 34 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: Amazon Kindle	Hmm. In the 5th of the "additional photos" is that two 64MB flash memory chips with an open spot for a third? Maybe some internal memory expansion would be possible (though with 1GB SD cards selling for around $20 now I'm not sure why anyone would want to). Z.

11-14-2006, 04:09 AM	#15
rothe957 Ingenieur Posts: 8 Karma: 65 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Berlin - Germany Device: Sony PRS-500 / Hiebook / SonyEricsson P910i	Memory chips Do you mean IC1112 & IC1113, with IC1114 missing? These aren't flash memory chips, these are only simple lowly bus drivers The flash chips are the large towel-shaped 48pin chips on the left edge of the same picture. ^_^

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
eBookWise eb-1150 hands-on review	rmeister0	Fictionwise eBookwise	120	05-17-2009 11:19 AM
The Sony Reader in our hands: MobileRead visits Sony Electronics	Bob Russell	Sony Portable Reader PRS-500/505	29	04-18-2009 03:15 PM
Sony Reader questions answered by Sony Reader Team	Alexander Turcic	Sony Portable Reader PRS-500/505	107	10-25-2007 12:21 PM
Sony Hosts MobileRead (and others) on "Blogger's Day"	NatCh	Sony Portable Reader PRS-500/505	24	05-08-2007 05:51 PM
Sony Reader in the press (huge round-up)	Bob Russell	Sony Portable Reader PRS-500/505	14	10-14-2006 08:46 AM