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ZapWizard Modifies a Cell phone

Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by ZapWizard, 12 Jun 2003.

  1. ZapWizard

    ZapWizard Enter the Mod Matrix

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    I wasn't going to post this until I was finished, but I can't hold it back :D

    (BTW, this is what I am doing while I am saving money for the plastics on my Media PC)

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    The phone is a Denso TouchPoint 2200 (For Sprint)
    It is actuly an old phone model I once had, and have switched back to.
    I bought this phone for $25 off of eBay.
    (Complete with second battery, and two chargers)

    I like this phone because it is durable, and has many features that you still cannot find in a single phone model.

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    The phones was not without its defects.
    The top layer of rubber simply peeled off, so that was easy to fix.
    The screen will need some polishing with novus.
    The scratches are really not bad.

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    [​IMG]

    First off, I ripped the phone down to it's guts.
    It has a LOT of parts, and is built VERY well, it took some time to gut.

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    First modification:
    Vinyl dye of course!
    I used a combination of both glossy, and flat dye in layers.
    It give the phone a very unique look.
    (Which you can't see on camera)
    The dye was applied very thick so that it can resist scratches.
    As I applied the base coats I literaly put down a thick layer, then instanly dried the thick layer with a hair dryer.
    The final layers we applied as normal to give the propper shine, and texture.

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    [​IMG] [​IMG]

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  2. ZapWizard

    ZapWizard Enter the Mod Matrix

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    Backlighting

    [​IMG]
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    Second modificaiton is the backlight, RED of course is needed.
    I didn't take a pic of the original backlight, but it was 6 ultra small surface mount LED's on a bar light PCB.

    I replace them with size larger Axial type LEDs that happened to perfectly fit into the divits in the light spreader.

    They are wired in parallel.

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    As you can see they worked out very well.
    (Oh and the flare on the left hand side was there before I modded it)
     
  3. ZapWizard

    ZapWizard Enter the Mod Matrix

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    Key-Hole-Light / Flash Light

    [​IMG]

    Next to be hacked: The antenna.
    The middle of the antenna has just enough space for a ultrabright LED.
    Perfect for a key-light, or flashlight, (Or torch for you UK'ers)

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    A small cut off the top, a drill down the center, and the LED is installed

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    Now to make a switch for the LED.
    As first I thought I would have to mod in some ghetto switch to the side.
    Well the cell phone has an external-antrenna jack right behind this rubber insert.

    Well I have no need for the jack at all, why not put a switch there?
    It is recessed, steathed and perfectly placed for a key-light switch.

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    You can see the jack at the right, and the switch in the middle.
    I ripped the switch off my media PC's wireless keyboard receiver.
    (I didn't need it there anyways)
    The black thing is the rubber cover.

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    The jack was soldered done VERY well, I had to use a mini-torch to get it off safely.
    But once removed, all i had to do was re-connect the now dis-connected antenna trace.

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    On top of this I glued the switch in place.
    Attached is a 100-ohm resistor, and it's lead extends to meet up with a trace connected to the LEDs' Ground wire.
    (Fully removeable, no hanging wires)
    When the swith is pressed the LED is connected to ground, and lights up.

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    Here is the connections to the LED.
    The silver pad at the upper left is the LEDs' ground connection.
    The resistor touches this pad

    The long copper trace connected the LED directly to the cell phone battery.

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    After some testing I found the battery's +voltage connection.
    (The image is of the PCBs spring loaded plug)

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    Now the LED had full power from the battery, without interfering with the cell phone.

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    With the switch wired up and the cover in place, the swith is totaly steathed.
    The only thing that gives it away is the hole in the rubber antenna cover,

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    [​IMG]

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    Press the button and vola, Bright, eve, Red LED light.
    Makes a great flashlight or key-hole-light.
    The LED is a 2000 MCD RED led.
     
  4. ZapWizard

    ZapWizard Enter the Mod Matrix

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    Nearly final shots of the cell phone:

    [​IMG]

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    What is next? Why those pesky green LEDs.
    (Red ones on order)
     
  5. Shepps

    Shepps Slacking off since 1986..

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    looking good :thumb: :dremel:
     
  6. :: Phat ::

    :: Phat :: Oooh shakalaka!

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    The LED in the arial is quite a cool idea! ;)

    Does it affect the signal at all?
     
  7. ZapWizard

    ZapWizard Enter the Mod Matrix

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    Actualy while doing that mod I totaly ripped the Antenna traces off. Cutting the signal down to nearly zero. (When it should be at full power)

    So to repair it I put in a spiral of copper traces (The same stuff used to wire to the battery)

    This gave me a little better signal but not 100%.
    only after TONS of work was I able to get the original antenna to re-solder.

    Now it actualy get a better signal than my wifes phone.
    (Which is nearly the same)
    At full power, the DEBUG screen reads the signal stregth as 72, while my wifes phone reads 78. (Smaller is better)

    So after some work I actualy get a slightly better signal.

    Now one thing I did do to ensure the LED doesn't mess with the signal was to NOT run a ground up the LED.
    The LED is at +3.7volts potential, and is only grounded when powered on.
    So it does not interfere with the signal.
     
  8. p3n

    p3n What's a Dremel?

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    ooo red ;P
     
  9. ZapWizard

    ZapWizard Enter the Mod Matrix

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    A little more modding done in 15 minutes.

    This was Bards idea, who got it from another website, but I'll give Bard Credit.

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    Bard installed a piece of paper behind his LCD that shows his name through the screen.

    I tried paper, but it dimms the LED's too much, so I choose clear plastic.

    [​IMG]

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    Logo installed behind the light spreader.

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    The logo viewed from straight on, hardly visible, just as you want it.
    (You only want to see the text)

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    [​IMG]

    But when viewed at an angle you can see the logo completly.
    It is blurred slightly due to the defuser and LCD screen.
    But it works, and when it sits on my charger I can see the logo clearly.

    Once I can get some brighter LEDs I will do this again on paper, so that it will be darker.
     
  10. mookie

    mookie very nawty<br><img src="http://mookie.org/i/avatar

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    Nothing is safe from Zap. Everything must be modded.

    Way to go, looks sweet. :clap:
     
  11. kiwi-x

    kiwi-x What's a Dremel?

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    the best thing i find to put within the screen is a small piece of transparency sheet.... i've been making/ puting graphics in cell phone for almost 5 years now...


    it's nice to see things travel (i've been doing this for so long I never thought to mention it.... it's become quite basic to me)
     
  12. Sc0rian

    Sc0rian Here comes the farmer

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    lol, I agree:D
     
  13. sinizterguy

    sinizterguy Dark & Sinizter

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    Nice one.

    I especially like the light in the antenna.
     
  14. BringItDown

    BringItDown What's a Dremel?

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    Wow!....thats extremely sweet. Awesome work man. I like it a lot. What about a lazer pointer in the antenna??? That would be secksi, but that led is kewl also. Very nice work:rock:
     
  15. bard

    bard Modding isn't what it used to be

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    When I did my watermark mod, using 80g/m3 paper, it didn't dim the LEDs at all (well, not noticeable). But that might be because the LEDs in my phone are placed differently from those in yours.
    You could try using some overhead foil, though. It's much thinner than the plastic you used, and it lets all the light through. [EDIT] I see that kiwi-x has said that already. [/EDIT]
    Great work on the phone, and I can't wait to see the keys getting a new color (are you making them red too?). I want to make my phone's orange LEDs red or blue too, just have to get some of those SMD LEDs. If you have the time, don't be afraid to go into detail when it comes to soldering of the key LEDs. ;)
     
  16. the_secret

    the_secret What's a Dremel?

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    -> nice work as always zap :thumb:
    -> glad to see people modding phones other then nokia's
     
  17. Atomic

    Atomic Gerwaff

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    That's crazy, never seen a phone with a red lighted screen... certyainly looks cool.

    I'm gonna be modding my T68i after i get my new phone (anyone say P800? :D)
     
  18. Lynx

    Lynx What's a Dremel?

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    Probably looks incredible but being colour blind Red realy does look realy dark to me. What colour did you vinil dye it because it looks black to me
     
  19. Atomic

    Atomic Gerwaff

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    Yep you right there, went to black from a dark blueish...
     
  20. jingersoll

    jingersoll What's a Dremel?

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    I have a Panasonic TX320 that has a red backlight, along with yellow, green, blue, purple, and teal (you can select what color you want). Red does indeed look good.
     

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