Deconstructing my Blu R1 Phone
magus55
Entry ID #: 4063
Created: Wed, Jan 11, 2017 10:14 PM
For this project, I chose to look at an old android phone. I looked at a Blu R1 phone. I don’t think this device contained any Texas Instruments semiconductors. I decided to look at this because I was fascinated by the myriad of functions that a seemingly simple device can perform. Even though I don’t even expect to be able understand why the functions happen, looking at this device sheds a new light on my previously held conception: it can’t be that hard to just add one more function to a phone. When looking at the battery of the phone, I was fascinated by the large portion of the phone that it took up. Also, I was interested in understanding how a little strip can regulate the power to the entire battery. First, the C4 conductor connects the battery delivering power to the battery to charge and power to the motherboard to run the phone. This conductor leads to the C3 conductor and later the C2 and C1 conductors. These conductors deal with the charging function for the battery delivering power from the micro-usb port. Also, next to the C4 is the R1 which gets power from Q1, U1, and R2 to deal with powering the motherboard of the phone to allow for all the magnificent functions on the phone to be performed. Lastly, there is a T1 conductor which grounds the phone with connection to the P1 node on the bottom of the circuit board. Looking at the camera of the phone, there is what I assume to be an RX200 microcontroller likely allowing the digital camera to function properly. This microcontroller could also be used as a sensor or self-diagnostic technique, but based on the location, it is probably used for the time function of the camera peripheral or as a small computer processing unit for the camera. It is designed to have low battery life allowing the camera to function on less battery life. Also, the TX semi-conductor probably helps translate the data taken from the image processing unit from the camera. It exports the data via a RS-232 serial port. Finally, the camera unit itself is very surprising by its size. Based on the back of the phone, I would assume the camera to be a honking addition on the back of the phone, but rather it is only a small module that is supported by surrounding semi-conductors. Looking at the speaker module, there is a small P6601AE_SUB semi-conductor to allow for the data given from the data ports in the phone to be converted into the speed for which the magnet should turn on and off to generate compressions in the air or sounds. I was also surprised by how the speaker for the device seemed like it was only an electromagnet and electricity given information though the motherboard translated via the small semiconductor. This is not the only function this could have; it could also possibly act as a subwoofer for the device.
