Substrate or video controller or...? [images now added]

Dr. Drib · 12-01-2019, 12:25 PM

I have an original oasis in beautiful condition with a few vertical lines on the screen (from top to bottom) but only in a few areas. Text on the Oasis is about 90-95% readable.

It doesn't have that fractured, shifted-screen look so common to a cracked substrate.

(I'll get a photo up later.)

What do you think this could be? Any ideas?

JSWolf · 12-01-2019, 04:36 PM

It could be the screen controller. I had a line in the middle of my old 505 and it was readable, but eventually, have the screen stopped responding. It wasn't a broken substrate. I would say it was a screen controller issue with the 505.

Dr. Drib · 12-01-2019, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It could be the screen controller. I had a line in the middle of my old 505 and it was readable, but eventually, have the screen stopped responding. It wasn't a broken substrate. I would say it was a screen controller issue with the 505.

And I imagine the screen controller (on both devices) is/was buried somewhere on the motherboard?

JSWolf · 12-01-2019, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

And I imagine the screen controller (on both devices) is/was buried somewhere on the motherboard?

I never opened the 505, but yes, that's where the screen controller should be.

Dr. Drib · 12-02-2019, 06:33 AM

I guess I can say chow-chow-chow to a mint-looking (yes...yes, of course 'mint' refers to coins since they are minted and ebook readers are note - complainers!) merlot cover AND Oasis.

JSWolf · 12-02-2019, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I guess I can say chow-chow-chow to a mint-looking (yes...yes, of course 'mint' refers to coins since they are minted and ebook readers are note - complainers!) merlot cover AND Oasis.

You could always give Amazon a call and find out what they are willing to do.

NiLuJe · 12-02-2019, 02:01 PM

Badly seated flex cable?

Junket · 12-02-2019, 02:28 PM

^ Likely that.

I've fixed this exact problem on dozens of LCD screens and it is invariably a loose screen edge connector or poorly seated ribbon connector. Quite likely the same for an e-ink display as well.

NiLuJe · 12-02-2019, 02:42 PM

Yeah, that's usually a tell-tale on LCD screens, but I'll admit to not knowing whether that would trigger the same thing on an eInk screen

.

It's still driven by a TFT, so, prooobably, I guess?

(Not an engineer ;p).

JSWolf · 12-02-2019, 04:15 PM

Here is a teardown guide for taking the Oasis apart to get at the motherboard to fiddle with the screen connector.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Amazon+...lacement/99291

Junket · 12-02-2019, 04:26 PM

Yes, an e-ink module uses a TFT matrix layer to address the pixels. The ink layer and drive waveforms will be different but the addressing & connectors will be much the same as an a TFT LCD.

Dr. Drib · 12-02-2019, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiLuJe

Badly seated flex cable?

It's worth tearing down, if I can perhaps use my credit card to get in there and check. -- So thanks, everyone, for the suggestion.

Jon: Thanks for the tear-down info. This will be invaluable.

ADDED: Here are some images of the Oasis.

Junket · 12-03-2019, 01:37 AM

When checking for a loose or dislodged ribbon connector, also look for cracks or defects in the cable and I would suggest cleaning the contacts on the end of the cable & connector with an electrical contact cleaner to remove oxidation.

In a minority of cases it may be contacts on the perimeter of the display module that are not seating properly. You can see the effect of this when you press or clamp with moderate force on the display frame.

Dr. Drib · 12-04-2019, 05:01 PM

Well, I took it apart (not all the way, though) and disconnected two cables and one other thing, and then connected the cables back again - and additional lines appeared on the LEFT side of the screen where previously there had been nothing.

Then I disconnected them all again, then reconnected them again and those lines on the left, at least, were gone. The unit now looks exactly like it did before I took it apart.

At least it's not any worse than it was before. I'm convinced it's not the screen, but I don't think the unit can be repaired by someone like me - especially if a cable is bad. This is the first Oasis (2016) and it was ordered and purchased from an outfit here in Peru 3 years ago.

However, it looks like I'll have to say 'Goodbye' to using it.

12-01-2019, 12:25 PM	#1
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,748 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	Substrate or video controller or...? [images now added] I have an original oasis in beautiful condition with a few vertical lines on the screen (from top to bottom) but only in a few areas. Text on the Oasis is about 90-95% readable. It doesn't have that fractured, shifted-screen look so common to a cracked substrate. (I'll get a photo up later.) What do you think this could be? Any ideas?

12-04-2019, 05:01 PM	#14
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,748 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	Well, I took it apart (not all the way, though) and disconnected two cables and one other thing, and then connected the cables back again - and additional lines appeared on the LEFT side of the screen where previously there had been nothing. Then I disconnected them all again, then reconnected them again and those lines on the left, at least, were gone. The unit now looks exactly like it did before I took it apart. At least it's not any worse than it was before. I'm convinced it's not the screen, but I don't think the unit can be repaired by someone like me - especially if a cable is bad. This is the first Oasis (2016) and it was ordered and purchased from an outfit here in Peru 3 years ago. However, it looks like I'll have to say 'Goodbye' to using it. Last edited by Dr. Drib; 12-04-2019 at 05:07 PM.

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12-01-2019, 04:36 PM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,983 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	It could be the screen controller. I had a line in the middle of my old 505 and it was readable, but eventually, have the screen stopped responding. It wasn't a broken substrate. I would say it was a screen controller issue with the 505.

12-02-2019, 06:33 AM	#5
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,748 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	I guess I can say chow-chow-chow to a mint-looking (yes...yes, of course 'mint' refers to coins since they are minted and ebook readers are note - complainers!) merlot cover AND Oasis.

12-02-2019, 02:01 PM	#7
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,477 Karma: 26012494 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	Badly seated flex cable?

12-02-2019, 02:28 PM	#8
Junket Nil adsuetudine maius Posts: 278 Karma: 500000 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: US Device: PW4	^ Likely that. I've fixed this exact problem on dozens of LCD screens and it is invariably a loose screen edge connector or poorly seated ribbon connector. Quite likely the same for an e-ink display as well.

12-02-2019, 02:42 PM	#9
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,477 Karma: 26012494 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	Yeah, that's usually a tell-tale on LCD screens, but I'll admit to not knowing whether that would trigger the same thing on an eInk screen . It's still driven by a TFT, so, prooobably, I guess? (Not an engineer ;p).

12-02-2019, 04:15 PM	#10
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,983 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Here is a teardown guide for taking the Oasis apart to get at the motherboard to fiddle with the screen connector. https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Amazon+...lacement/99291

12-02-2019, 04:26 PM	#11
Junket Nil adsuetudine maius Posts: 278 Karma: 500000 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: US Device: PW4	Yes, an e-ink module uses a TFT matrix layer to address the pixels. The ink layer and drive waveforms will be different but the addressing & connectors will be much the same as an a TFT LCD.

12-03-2019, 01:37 AM	#13
Junket Nil adsuetudine maius Posts: 278 Karma: 500000 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: US Device: PW4	When checking for a loose or dislodged ribbon connector, also look for cracks or defects in the cable and I would suggest cleaning the contacts on the end of the cable & connector with an electrical contact cleaner to remove oxidation. In a minority of cases it may be contacts on the perimeter of the display module that are not seating properly. You can see the effect of this when you press or clamp with moderate force on the display frame.