Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Box

ntAs of this writing, Verizon is selling the Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock for $299.99 (US).
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Opening the box

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Box contents

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

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

ntThe 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.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Top

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

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Cradle

ntThe 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).

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Bottom

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Power connector and USB ports

ntAlong the Lapdock’s back edge are the power connector and two USB 2.0 ports.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Battery charge level indicator

ntA battery level indicator is located along the Lapdock’s front edge.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption 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

ntThe 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.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

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

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Removing rear, hidden screws

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

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntWith 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.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Removing the rear case cover

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

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption 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

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

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Removing the cradle hinge screws

ntA few screws hold the cradle’s hinges to the Lapdock’s frame.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption 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

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

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Removing the main PCB screws

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

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Removing the main PCB

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

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Removing the LCD hinge screws

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

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Removing the LCD

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

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: LCD

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

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: LCD and rear components removed

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Removing the speaker screws

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

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

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

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

ntAfter removed the upper case’s screws, I could pop the case loose.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Speakers

ntThe Lapdock’s speakers attached to the motherboard via a single connecotor.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

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

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

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Disconnecting the trackpad connector

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

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Battery and lower case cover

ntThe 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.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Keyboard and trackpad assembly

ntThe trackpad and keyboard are permanently attached the upper half of the Lapdock’s case.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption 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

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

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Motherboard - Bottom

Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock Teadown: Realtek RTD2472D ACC91A1 GB26E

ntUnfortunately, 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.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption 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

ntThe 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

ntCracking 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.

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

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler