Category: Teardown

I teared down a D-Link Router, and here is what I found:

Frame was attached together with two screws that were hidden in the bottom and behind two plastic covers. I broke the antenna and there was a wire inside it. There was a boardband inside the case which has these components:

• LAN and WAN ports which we can see from the outside and that’s where we plug it in. There was also a tiny switch that was the reset button. They were attached to the board and I couldn’t separate them.
• Three Isolation transformers. I found out that they are used to transfer the electrical power from the source to the device in a way that protect us from electrical shock.
• There are multiple elements that are responsible for power supply.
• Chip AR7240 which is a Network Processor
• Chip A3560ETP Which is a SDRAM

*Figure 4 and 5 were under a metal cover.

 

• Chip AR9285 which is a wireless adapter and it’s under a metal cover
• ON/OFF switch which is next to a LED
• 7 activity LEDs

What I found Interesting:

LAN and WAN ports were attached to the board by two plastic parts that were very small but the way they were designed made the ports very secure on the board.

Also, it was interesting how the actual switch was very small and simple but had a more complicated or more aesthetic figure on the exterior.

The whole exterior looked like it was made from three parts, I think they designed it like this to make it look less boxy, but it was actually only two piece that were attached together by screws and ridges that went together like a puzzle.

I began with a whole but broken iPhone 6. I used a suction cup to pull of the screen, a plastic prying lever, and several small screw drivers: a flat head, a Phillips head and a small torx head for the first two bolts on next to the lightening port. 

 

I proceeded to slowing peal away the layers.

 

There are so many parts in the iPhone it is hard to say it is made from one primary material. Clearly, when holding on I phone we can readily identify the CNC’ed aluminum receiver and the LCD touch screen. Once inside there is the battery which takes up a 50% of the real estate inside the receiver. Surrounding it is a complicated network of connections between chips, plugs and buttons.

There were several chips with numbers on them:

• dtv44434 j5jfyphay
• 1AA1C7H44872 02AG16QAY
• QUALCOMM MDM9625M OBA B4Y882.0 H244403: this is a mobile data modem
• AVAGO A8020 KA1444 JR172 OB00M: power amplifier
• AVAGO A8010 KA1444 JP157 OT00M: power amplifier
• 77356-8 08161.1 1446MX:power amplifier
• 77802-23 6411573.1 1446 MX: power amplifier
• 77803-20 6415705P 1447 MX: power amplifier
• APPLE A8: processor

Two design design elements I found interesting were the polished logo on the back of the receiver and the shock absorbing corners. The log was interesting because it was a separate piece from the receiver that fit into holes cut into it. I tried to pry it out but I was unable to The corners showed how the receiver cleverly hid shock absorption into the phone.

 

This is the toy sounds pad, push the button and the surface will brighten and play the music.

 

Element 1: The back mask of the toy sounds pad, and there is the battery slot on it, and it could put the batteries inside it.

Element 2: Four separate front masks, and there is the aluminum sheet on it to attach the frame and make it conduct electricity.

Element 3:  The whole body of the front mask, and in the middle there is the space to put the logic board and the speaker module in it. Besides the shape is suitable for all of the elements to put inside, there is some adhesive on it to attach it nicely.

Element 4:  This is the only one element attach on the back mask, I think it is the small logical board for the monitor, and this is the 3001-06-7501897 model.

Element 5: The speaker module makes the toy sounds pad play the music.

Element 6: It is the small monitor it attaches on the surface and shows some information.

Element 7: This is the 3001-06-1501894 logical board, and there are lots of frames attached by adhesive on it.

Element 8: Lots of optical frame in order let the four separate front masks brighten

Element 9:  The mask of the battery slot.

 

Interesting things

1 The first interesting element is the speaker module. After I open the case and did not tear down it yet, I still could feel the vibrate and sound when I push the button, it is weird but amazing feeling. This element is really small and not that big as I thought.

2 And the small monitor is really interesting, I never thought that there is the monitor small like this one. And how the mechanical work inside this small monitor is really interesting for me.

 

 

(Overview map)

(Front view)

 

(Side view &  Vertical view)

(Back view)

What is it?

This is a megaphone toy. In the back of toy, there is a toggle switch. It can be played a sound that seem like the sound of fire engines when you push the toggle up. If you turn the toggle down, this sound will be closed.

How I broke it apart:

(Open the battery cover)

Step 1:

I used the floral screwdriver to turn on the screw.

Then remove the battery cover.

Finally, I find two battery to power.

(Open the megaphone toy)

Step 2:

I used the floral screwdriver to turn on the six screws. This six screws is distributed in the front, middle, back, down in order to fasten down shall of model.

When I turn on the middle of screw, there is a gasket to reduce worn and torn.

(Detail)

(Detail)

 

(Buzzer)

Step 5:

A buzzer or beeper is an audio signaling device, which may be mechanical, electromechanically, or piezoelectric (piezo for short). In this megaphone, the buzzer is embedded in the model and secured with a plastic strap.

 

(Toggle Switch)

Step 6:

This is a toggle switch. When you push the toggle up, the linear spring will touch the copper line to form a closed circuit.

 

 

(Voice Record)

Step 7:

The voice module is the central processor for the entire toy.It is used to store audio and drive sound.There are two resistors on the back of the board. Resistance is the purpose of the protection circuit will not be an excessive current in the power circuit board burned moment.

(Copper Sheet)

Step 8:

The current inside the battery is led out through the copper sheet.

(Detail)

Tools Used: Screw drivers

Select two design elements that interest you and describe why you think the designer(s) made it that way.

• The position of the handle is mounted on the battery because the battery is heavy. The position of the battery in the handle allows the weight of the megaphone to go down.This is convenient for the user to put in his hand.
• The switch is fixed at the position on both sides of the middle because the user will not accidentally touch the switch when using it.

 

 

 

 

 

I tore down my old kindle fire reader tablet. Here is what I found: The entire thing was physically encased and only required me to pry it open with a slim edge. The lithium ion battery was secured to the back with some sort of tape. The motherboard was secured with a blue thermal pad that had the consistency of silly putty. Everything else was secured with small screws and could be taken apart with a screwdriver. Also noticed the RU mark on batteries and boards.

1. Motherboard: Part number 31KC1MB0090 The motherboard was right below the battery and included some sort of blue sticky material to keep it attached
2. Lithium ion battery: Vintrons battery for Amazon: The battery was the first thing you see and was also secured with some sort of tape.
3. Front cover for screen: The screen protector which I cracked earlier on but later. Manufactured by Amazon.
4. LG display manufactured by LG. Part number 6091L-1965B. The only part that I think wasn’t manufactured by Amazon.
5. Back Cover. No screws were involved. It was just kind of clasped together.
6. Sound device/speaker. These were screwed on to the bottom of the device.
7. Not sure what this is. Part number: E157925. It may be a logic board.
8. Wifi Antenna: Part number wgt kc1_wl Manufactured by Amazon
9. Battery Holder
10. Display LCD Panel and E ink holder. The panel that talks to the motherboard. Also manufactured by LG.

 

Design Elements that interested me

1. The first design element that interested me was the thickness and heaviness of the screen protector. I always assumed what I was touching was the actual screen but instead it was a thick piece of glass that added quite a bit of weight to the overall tool. Which was one of the reasons I stopped using it in the first place.
2. The second design element that interested me was how easy it was for me to open the tablet. I liked that it was easy enough to not require any extra tools because I can make changes like adding an sd card.

 

Figure 01: Packaging

The packaging is constructed with cardboard and transparent plastic.

Figure 02: Toy out of Packaging

When pressing the button the toy will light up and make noise. Louie can sing up to 30 different kind of music!

Figure 03: Back of Toy

The back of the toy consist of 4 screws that needed to be unscrewed to start the disassembly.

Figure 04: Start of Dissembling

The plush arms and legs  are connected to the plastic body by snap on fit and the head has a plastic right around its neck to fit in slit on the plastic body.

Figure 05: Speaker Module

This is the speaker in which is use to broadcast all the music Louie sings. It is connected from the power source (AAA lithium batteries) too the chip board.

Figure 06: Button Modules

The buttons fits into cutouts of the body and is not adhere to it.

Figure 07; Section A: Chip Board

The chip contains silicon knobs where the buttons are located so  when pushed down, it initiates the chip to light up.

Figure 08: Electrolytic Capacitor 100uf

On the back of the circuit board there is two capacitors.

Figure 09: Parts Dissembled

The material and manufacturing process of the parts:

;Section Letter, Name, Material, Process

; Section A: Buttons (2), ABS Plastic, Injection moulded

; Section B: Back Panel, ABS Plastic, Injection moulded

; Section C: Chip Board, glass-fiber reinforced and copper foil, reflow oven and Chip Shooter

; Section D: Front Panel, ABS Plastic, Injection moulded

; Section E: Butt Panel, ABS Plastic, Injection moulded

Two Design element that Interested me:

1. It was interesting to me how the plush parts were attached to the plastic body. At first I thought it would be all sewed together or glued onto the body. I think the designer did it this way for easy assembly and not a lot of additional material is need to attach the parts to the body.
2. Another design element that interested me is the silicon knobs used on the circuit board. I like the feeling of the material and I think the designer chose to use this material because it easier for the exterior button to be secure onto the silicon and follow the pushing down motion to initiate the music and lights.

Board with Buttons: MODEL:T1210-KEY

LCD Board: MODEL:T1210-LED

Power Board: MODEL:T1210-POWER