What are the symptoms of a bad video chip and/or cable?

Dr. Drib · 08-17-2015, 10:27 AM

I'm getting ghosting from normal page turns on my Kobo Aura HD, a unit which I really like but one that I now choose not to read on due to this issue.

It's not unreadable, just disturbing and bothersome to me, enough so that I've retired it from active reading.

The black lines are horizontal and occur a bit slower during the page turn, as if it's a lingering afterimage. Maybe that's the best description: A kind of afterimage. This is extremely hard to explain. I have my refresh rate to change with every page turn, by the way. (My Kobo Glo does not exhibit this; that's my go-to epub reader and genre reader. My Kindle Paperwhite is for Literary works.)

I can only say that something is not quite right with my wonderful little 6.8 inch Kobo Aura HD.

In going forward (or backward), the letters are sometimes degraded, most often occurring in the top half of the screen.

If it's the video controller, is this a separate chip soldered onto the mother board?

Is there a video cable, one that could have come partly loose?

If you look closely, you can see the font degradation. The black, horizontal lines are barely visible [see second image], but extremely visible during the page turn.

I guess part of my question involves whether or not this is a correctable solution, or if I should just toss it into the garbage (after stepping on it so that I can quickly take out the battery), so as to remove any fire hazard.

Any help or advice is appreciated.

frostschutz · 08-17-2015, 10:47 AM

There is a [usually yellow/gold/flat] cable and you could pull it (very carefully) out of its socket and re-seat it, but it's not very likely that it'll help. There is some kind of controller chip and other elements baked into the cable itself, or that's how it is with most e-Ink devices.

Display errors can also happen due to ageing battery, there's a possibility the system itself will still run but the voltage not be what the display requires. I had this in my old Story HD and stopped occuring after replacing the battery. It almost looks like a broken display: stripes and very faint text. Basically display started drawing a new page but voltage or whatever was lost halfway.

Attachment is a Kobo Touch

Dr. Drib · 08-17-2015, 10:56 AM

I just now posted some images.

Did you get a chance to see those? (We were posting at the same time.)

Dr. Drib · 08-17-2015, 11:06 AM

Thanks for hints on this issue, frostschutz.

About the battery issue, I actually had my Kobo Glo one year before I purchased the Kobo Aura HD, and the Glo exhibits none of this.

Also, the Kobo Aura HD seems to take a charge very well, and lasts for a week or so (heavy use). This was before I decided not to read on it anymore.

Nevertheless, perhaps you're right: The battery may be the culprit.

I appreciate your help and advice.

Thank you.

Ken Maltby · 08-17-2015, 11:33 AM

The Aura HD uses a zif connector for the ribbon cable to the display.

Luck;
Ken

The black bar with the holes, lifts to release the ribbon cable, IIRC.

filmo · 08-17-2015, 01:33 PM

I would open the reader and disconect screen wires and reconnect to circuit board then check if screen improves before crushing or sell it for parts.

Dr. Drib · 08-17-2015, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by filmo

I would open the reader and disconect screen wires and reconnect to circuit board then check if screen improves before crushing or sell it for parts.

I'm going to take it apart.

If that doesn't fix the problem, then I'll just donate to someone or take out the vitals. I would never actually crush it. I'll let the forth uploaded photo do that!

robko · 08-17-2015, 07:08 PM

Any chance it's temperature related? I know there have been reports in past of people with that kind of symptoms related to high temperatures.

davidfor · 08-17-2015, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

If that doesn't fix the problem, then I'll just donate to someone or take out the vitals. I would never actually crush it. I'll let the forth uploaded photo do that!

And here was me hoping for some video

meeera · 08-17-2015, 10:51 PM

I know this is a very basic question, but since you didn't mention it - do you have it set to refresh every page?

robko · 08-17-2015, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meeera

I know this is a very basic question, but since you didn't mention it - do you have it set to refresh every page?

Easy to miss, but he did say he did in 3rd para, 4th sentence.

meeera · 08-17-2015, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robko

Easy to miss, but he did say he did in 3rd para, 4th sentence.

And I read it twice, too!

Dr. Drib · 08-18-2015, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robko

Any chance it's temperature related? I know there have been reports in past of people with that kind of symptoms related to high temperatures.

I first noticed this in the Summer. It's Winter now and the problem is the same.

Unfortunately.....

Dr. Drib · 08-18-2015, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meeera

I know this is a very basic question, but since you didn't mention it - do you have it set to refresh every page?

Yes, it's set to refresh every page. I played with that option. Actually, that was the first thing I checked, thinking that maybe during a firmware upgrade the device had somehow reset to refresh every 6 pages.

Dr. Drib · 08-18-2015, 11:17 AM

A credit card will not open it, and a sharpened knife (very carefully inserted) will also not open the bevel. (I'm afraid to push any further on it.)

I'm going to buy a guitar pick and try that. I want to minimize any cosmetic damage, if possible.

I'll let everyone know what transpires....

08-17-2015, 10:27 AM	#1
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,441 Karma: 59592133 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	What are the symptoms of a bad video chip and/or cable? I'm getting ghosting from normal page turns on my Kobo Aura HD, a unit which I really like but one that I now choose not to read on due to this issue. It's not unreadable, just disturbing and bothersome to me, enough so that I've retired it from active reading. The black lines are horizontal and occur a bit slower during the page turn, as if it's a lingering afterimage. Maybe that's the best description: A kind of afterimage. This is extremely hard to explain. I have my refresh rate to change with every page turn, by the way. (My Kobo Glo does not exhibit this; that's my go-to epub reader and genre reader. My Kindle Paperwhite is for Literary works.) I can only say that something is not quite right with my wonderful little 6.8 inch Kobo Aura HD. In going forward (or backward), the letters are sometimes degraded, most often occurring in the top half of the screen. If it's the video controller, is this a separate chip soldered onto the mother board? Is there a video cable, one that could have come partly loose? If you look closely, you can see the font degradation. The black, horizontal lines are barely visible [see second image], but extremely visible during the page turn. I guess part of my question involves whether or not this is a correctable solution, or if I should just toss it into the garbage (after stepping on it so that I can quickly take out the battery), so as to remove any fire hazard. Any help or advice is appreciated. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Dr. Drib; 08-17-2015 at 10:55 AM.

08-17-2015, 10:47 AM	#2
frostschutz Linux User Posts: 2,282 Karma: 6123806 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Device: none	There is a [usually yellow/gold/flat] cable and you could pull it (very carefully) out of its socket and re-seat it, but it's not very likely that it'll help. There is some kind of controller chip and other elements baked into the cable itself, or that's how it is with most e-Ink devices. Display errors can also happen due to ageing battery, there's a possibility the system itself will still run but the voltage not be what the display requires. I had this in my old Story HD and stopped occuring after replacing the battery. It almost looks like a broken display: stripes and very faint text. Basically display started drawing a new page but voltage or whatever was lost halfway. Attachment is a Kobo Touch Attached Thumbnails

08-17-2015, 11:33 AM	#5
Ken Maltby Wizard Posts: 4,466 Karma: 6900052 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Heart of Texas Device: Boox Note2, AuraHD, PDA,	The Aura HD uses a zif connector for the ribbon cable to the display. Luck; Ken The black bar with the holes, lifts to release the ribbon cable, IIRC. Last edited by Ken Maltby; 08-18-2015 at 02:14 PM.

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08-17-2015, 10:56 AM	#3
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,441 Karma: 59592133 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	I just now posted some images. Did you get a chance to see those? (We were posting at the same time.)

08-17-2015, 11:06 AM	#4
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,441 Karma: 59592133 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	Thanks for hints on this issue, frostschutz. About the battery issue, I actually had my Kobo Glo one year before I purchased the Kobo Aura HD, and the Glo exhibits none of this. Also, the Kobo Aura HD seems to take a charge very well, and lasts for a week or so (heavy use). This was before I decided not to read on it anymore. Nevertheless, perhaps you're right: The battery may be the culprit. I appreciate your help and advice. Thank you.

08-17-2015, 01:33 PM	#6
filmo Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 1077205 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kobo Touch, Sony T1, Kobo Mini	I would open the reader and disconect screen wires and reconnect to circuit board then check if screen improves before crushing or sell it for parts.

08-17-2015, 07:08 PM	#8
robko Wizard Posts: 2,454 Karma: 5469320 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kobo	Any chance it's temperature related? I know there have been reports in past of people with that kind of symptoms related to high temperatures.

08-17-2015, 10:51 PM	#10
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,814 Karma: 68407974 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	I know this is a very basic question, but since you didn't mention it - do you have it set to refresh every page?

08-18-2015, 11:17 AM	#15
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,441 Karma: 59592133 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	A credit card will not open it, and a sharpened knife (very carefully inserted) will also not open the bevel. (I'm afraid to push any further on it.) I'm going to buy a guitar pick and try that. I want to minimize any cosmetic damage, if possible. I'll let everyone know what transpires....

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