Samsung Focus

The Samsung Focus runs Windows Phone 7 and is available from AT&T Wireless for $199 US (with a 2-year contract).

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Technical Specifications

The Samsung Focus has a 1.0GHz Snapdragon QSD8250 processor, 512MB RAM, 8GB of on-board storage, a microSD slot, and a 4-inch touch-sensitive display.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Removing the back cover

The first step in disassembling the Samsung Focus is removing the battery cover from the back of the phone. The Samsung focus has a 1500mAh Lithium-ion battery.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Back cover

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Removing the external case screws

Luckily, Samsung used standard Phillips screws on the Focus’ case. I removed the seven screws with a Phillips #000 bit.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Back half of case removed

Once the seven external screws are removed, you can use a thin metal blade or plastic case opening tool to pop the back half of the case loose from the Samsung Focus. You should be able to gently work your way around the case without breaking at of the back half’s small plastic tabs.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Back half of the case

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Metal headset gasket

A small metal gasket is set within thin slots at the top of case. This gasket sits behind the hole in the case for the headphone jack. Take care when removing the back half of the case from the rest of the Samsung Focus as this gasket is not secured to the case.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Back half of the case removed

Removing the Volume Up/Down button

The Samsung Focus’ volume up/down button is not attached to either half of the case.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Headphone bracket

A thin metal bracket overlaps the Samsung Focus’ headphone jack. A single Phillips screws holds the bracket in place.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Headphone jack bracket removed

Either after or before removing the headphone jack bracket, you’ll also need to pry loose its connector from the main PCB. The headpone jack appeared to be attached to the case with strong adhesive. As leaving it in place wouldn’t stop me from removing the main PCB, I decide not to pry it loose.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Removing the 5.0MP camera

To remove the Samsung Focus’ 5.0MP camera you’ll need to pry loose its connector from the main PCB.

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Camera removed

With the camera disconnected from the main PCB, you can easily lift it out of the Samsung Focus.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Camera - NEC MC-10170 image processor

The Samsung Focus’ camera assembly uses the NEC MC-10170 image processor. This is the same IC used on the Samsung Galaxy S camera.?

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Antenna cable

We’ll need to disconnect this antenna cable before removing the main PCB.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Disconnect remaining cables

Next, we’ll need to disconnect the three remaining cables attached to the Samsung Focus’ main PCB. The two large connectors (shown on the left) should pop loose without much force.

A much smaller ribbon cable (shown on the right) connects the speaker assembly to the small PCB that sit on top of the main PCB. To release the cable, gently lift up on the connector’s locking gate.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Removing the speaker

With the ribbon cable disconnected, you can pry the speaker loose from the rest of the Samsung Focus. It’s not secured with adhesive, but it does fit very tightly.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Speaker - Front

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Speaker - Back

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Removing the upper PCBs

With all the cables disconnected, you can gently pry both the main PCB and smaller PCB (still attached to the main) away from the Samsung Focus. Take great care when doing this. As the next photo shows, the PCBs are still connected to the front case panel by the contacts for the volume up/down button.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Upper PCBs lifted away from the case

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Volume up/down button contacts

The volume up/down button contacts are attached to the display assembly with adhesive. We’ll need to pry them loose to further dissect the PCBs.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Prying loose the volume up/down button contacts

Using a thin metal blade, I was able to very gently pry the volume up/down button contacts away from the display assembly.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Upper PCBs removed

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Upper PCB assembly - Top

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Upper PCB assembly - Bottom

We’ll need to remove the metal EMI shields to see the chips underneath.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Disconnect the small PCB connector

You’ll need to pop loose this connector before separating the small PCB from the main PCB.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Small PCB removed

The small, upper PCB is glued to the top of a metal EMI shield. Using a thin metal blade, you can pop the EMI shield (and small PCB) away from the main PCB.

With the small PCB and shield removed, we get our first glimpse of the chips on the main PCB.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

SIM slot and microSD card slot

The small PCB contains the Samsung Focus’ SIM slot, microSD card slot, and the contacts for the volume up/down button.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Small, upper PCB - Bottom

As I previously noted, the small, upper PCB is attached to a metal EMI shield.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Qualcomm QSD8250 1.0GHz Snapdragon processor

The Samsung Focus has a 1.0GHz Qualcomm QSD8250 Snapdragon processor.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

?PM7540 PM7540? ?Qualcomm PM7540 power management IC

Qualcomm PM7540 power management IC

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Micron chip

Micron Technology chip with markings:

OUA98 JW500 TQND

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SiliconBlue iCE65L04 Ultra Low-Power FPGA

SiliconBlue Technologies iCE65L04 Ultra Low-Power FPGA

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Avago Technolgies ACPM-5251

Avago Technolgies ACPM-5251, 4×5 UMTS Band I & Band V Dual-Band Power Amplifier Module with Integrated Coupler

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A5202 K1035 A47V6

Chip with markings:

A5202 K1035 A47V6

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Skyworks SKY77336 Power Amplifier Module

Skyworks SKY77336 Power Amplifier Module

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Fairchild Semiconductor FSA9280A USB 2.0 switch

Fairchild Semiconductor FSA9280A USB 2.0 Accessory Detection Switch w/ 28V FET

According to the company’s website:

“These switches allow the sharing of a common USB port to pass audio, USB data / charging, as well as factory programmability. In addition, the FSA9280A / FSA9288A integrate detection of accessories, such as headphones, headsets (MIC / button), car chargers, USB chargers, and UART data cables with the ability to use a common USB connector.”

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Miscellaneous chips

More Miscellaneous chips located below the processor.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Main PCB - Bottom

After working our way through the chips on the top of the main PCB, let’s turn our attention to the chips on the bottom.

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SanDisk SDIN4C2-8G 8GB NAND flash RAM

SanDisk SDIN4C2-8G 8GB NAND flash RAM

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Qualcomm RTR6285 UMTS/GSM/EDGE cellular transceiver

Qualcomm RTR6285 UMTS/GSM/EDGE cellular transceiver

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Texas Instruments TPS65023B 6-channel Power Management IC

Texas Instruments TPS65023B 6-channel Power Management IC

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Miscellaneous chips

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More miscellaneous chips

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Avago AFI037 1512BB

Avago AFI037 1512BB

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Display assembly and front panel

The screen and display assembly are attached to the front panel with strong adhesive. As I want to reassemble this Samsung Focus in working order, I’m going to leave these components connected.

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Atmel mXT224 224-node touchscreen microcontroller

Atmel mXT224 224-node touchscreen microcontroller

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Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Samsung Focus completely disassembled

The Samsung Focus was surprisingly easy to disassemble. It has standard Phillips screws and several easily-removable internal components. Unfortunately, the display assembly is held in place with strong adhesive. A heat gun or hair dryer could be used to loosen the glue during repair, but it should be a last resort.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler