Hardware

Cracking Open the Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock

By // October 11, 2011, 2:50 PM PST // billdetwiler

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  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown

    In September 2011, Verizon added a fourth device to its growing lineup of 4G LTE smartphones--the Motorola Droid Bionic. Like the Motorola Atrix, released in April, the Bionic support the Motorola Lapdock accessory.

    The Lapdock is basically a large docking station complete with keyboard, LCD screen, and trackpad. It's nearly identical to the Atrix Lapdock, but the two are not compatible as they have docking connectors designed specifically for each phone.

    After cracking open the Bionic, I was interested to examine the hardware inside the Lapdock. From the outside, it looks like and ultrathin laptop. Would the internal hardware, also be similar to a laptop's? Find out, as I crack open the Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Box

    As of this writing, Verizon is selling the Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock for $299.99 (US).

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Opening the box

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Box contents

    Along with actual Lapdock accessory, you also get a power cable and adapter, bag (for the power adapter and cable), and product documentation.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • The Droid Bionic Lapdock offers a fullsize keyboard, trackpad, and 11.5-inch (diagonal) LCD screen. It weighs around 2.4 pounds. If you didn't know if was a smartphone accessory, you might think it was just another laptop.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Top

    With the lid and phone cradle closed, the Droid Bionic Lapdock looks like an ultrathin notebook.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Cradle

    The Lapdock's phone cradle flips up to accept the Droid Bionic. As I noted earlier, the Bionic's version of the Lapdock is not compatible with the Atrix (and vice versa).

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Bottom

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Power connector and USB ports

    Along the Lapdock's back edge are the power connector and two USB 2.0 ports.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Battery charge level indicator

    A battery level indicator is located along the Lapdock's front edge.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Lapdock next to 11-inch MacBook Air

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Lapdock and 11-inch MacBook Air on top

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Removing the external case screws

    The first step in disassembling the Lapdock, is to remove the exposed screws located on the bottom cover. I was able to remove all the Lapdock's external and internal screws with a Phillips #00 screwdriver.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Removing the front, hidden screws

    A pair of screws are hidden under the inner set of rubber feet.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Removing rear, hidden screws

    A second pair of screws are also hidden under the two back feet.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Popping loose the rear case cover

    With all visible and hidden screws removed from the bottom of the Lapdock's case, I used a thin metal blade to pry the rear cover off.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Removing the rear case cover

    A ribbon cable connects the dock battery indicator LED to the motherboard. I gently disconnected it before completely removed the rear cover.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Rear case cover removed

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Dock battery indicator LED

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Disconnecting the cradle connector

    Using a black, plastic spudger, I disconnected the phone cradle's connector from the Lapdock's motherboard.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Removing the cradle hinge screws

    A few screws hold the cradle's hinges to the Lapdock's frame.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Cradle removed

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Removing the cradle screws

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Inside the cradle

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Disconnecting the main PCB connectors

    With the phone cradle removed, I turned my attention to the motherboard. Using our plastic spudger, I detached all the cables from their connectors.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Removing the main PCB screws

    Using our Phillips #00 screwdriver, I removed the screws holding the motherboard in place.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Removing the main PCB

    With the screws removed and cables disconnected, I lifted the motherboard away from the Droid Bionic Lapdock's case.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Removing the LCD hinge screws

    After removing the Lapdock's motherboard, I removed the screws that hold the lid hinges to the lower case.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Removing the LCD

    With the hinge screws removed, I lifted the lid and LCD screen away from the Lapdock's case.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: LCD

    The Lapdock has an 11.5-inch (diagonal) LCD.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: LCD and rear components removed

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Removing the speaker screws

    The Lapdock contains a pair of stereo speakers. They are attached to the lower case with screws.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Removing the keyboard/trackpad assembly screws

    Before removing the speakers, I had to remove the screws holding the upper half of Lapdock's case (which includes the keyboard) in place.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Popping loose the keyboard/trackpad assembly

    After removed the upper case's screws, I could pop the case loose.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Speakers

    The Lapdock's speakers attached to the motherboard via a single connecotor.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Removing the keyboard/trackpad assembly

    With the speakers removed, I lifted up the upper case and keyboard.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Disconnecting the trackpad connector

    Before completely removed the keyboard and upper case, I detached the trackpad ribbon cable.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Battery and lower case cover

    The Lapdock's battery pack contains no identifiable markings and is glued to the lower case with strong adhesive. I feared removing the batteries would likely damage them.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Keyboard and trackpad assembly

    The trackpad and keyboard are permanently attached the upper half of the Lapdock's case.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Keyboard Compal PK130KL1A00

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Trackpad

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: 3898-MZDH D1T053 1122 D0SA trackpad controller

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Motherboard - Top

    Given that the Lapdock doesn't have a CPU, RAM, or a storage unit, its motherboard is incredibly small.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Motherboard - Bottom

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Realtek RTD2472D ACC91A1 GB26E

    Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find much information on this Realtek RTD2472D IC. At the time of this writing, the company produces an HDMI LCD Monitor Controller with the product number RTD2482D. Given the similar markings, it is likely the Droid Bionic Lapdock's screen controller.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Macronix MX25L1005A CMOS serial flash

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: ANPEC APA2031 Stereo 2.6W Audio Amplifier

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Texas Instruments BQ24726 1-4 Cell Li+ Battery SMBus Charge Controller

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Texas Instruments M430F5522 Mixed Signal Controller

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Parade 7408 BV1N19

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Texas Instruments TVL2556 12-Bit, 200 KSPS, 11 Channel, Low Power, Serial ADC with Internal Reference

    The chip with markings 2566 TI 1 14A2 is likely a Texas Instruments TVL2556 12-Bit, 200 KSPS, 11 Channel, Low Power, Serial ADC with Internal Reference.

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Unknown chip with markings 24C16K S12020

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Fairchild FDMC 7200

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Unknown chip with markings EM DC 10S

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Holtek HT82K94E USB Multimedia Keyboard Encoder

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Unknown chip with markings N161 G547F1

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: SMSC USB2517 USB 2.0 Hub Controller

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Unknown chip with markings PJ1196 SX34H

  • Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Completely disassembled

    Cracking open the Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock was a relatively straightforward process. All the screws could be removed with a standard Phillips #00 screwdriver and the internal components were easily accessible. Unfortunately, the battery, keyboard, and trackpad are all permanently attached to the Lapdock's outer case.

    Provided you could get replacement parts, repairing a broken Lapdock shouldn't be difficult for anyone with experience fixing laptops.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown

In September 2011, Verizon added a fourth device to its growing lineup of 4G LTE smartphones--the Motorola Droid Bionic. Like the Motorola Atrix, released in April, the Bionic support the Motorola Lapdock accessory.

The Lapdock is basically a large docking station complete with keyboard, LCD screen, and trackpad. It's nearly identical to the Atrix Lapdock, but the two are not compatible as they have docking connectors designed specifically for each phone.

After cracking open the Bionic, I was interested to examine the hardware inside the Lapdock. From the outside, it looks like and ultrathin laptop. Would the internal hardware, also be similar to a laptop's? Find out, as I crack open the Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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About Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Managing Editor of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop supp...