blazing (Hanbit i-vu Handheld Web Computer)
Summary
This seems to be a device based on the Pepper Pad 3 which Hanbit also built. It lacks some features, and has some spec changes.
I'm not sure if i-vu is related to the home Carrier building management system. Maybe find out more when I image one of the disks.
Notes
- These don't have the video output like the Pepper Pad 3, but they left the hole there.
Hardware
| Make | Hanbit |
| Year | 2006 |
| Model | BLI-IvuVX-8 (Pepper Pad 3) |
| Chassis | |
| Power Supply | 12V 3A Hanbit DSA-35W-12 (3.5 x 1.35? mm center positive) |
| Processor | AMD Geode LX800 |
| Memory | 256MB SDRAM |
| Ports | USB A 2.0 |
| USB Mini B | |
| 3.5mm Headphone | |
| 3.5mm Microphone | |
| Infrared transceiver | |
| Graphics | |
| Storage | |
| Display | 800x480 TFT LCD |
| Int. Peripherals | Atheros AR2413A 802.11b/g WiFi |
| 640x480 Camera | |
| Ext. Peripherals | |
| Dimensions | |
| Length/Depth | 14.9 cm |
| Width | 29.2 cm |
| Height/Thickness | 2.4 cm |
| Weight | 0.915 kg (2 lbs 0.2 oz) |
Software
| Operating System | |
| Unique applications |
Links
Log
A rough Pepper Pad
This device was in a little rough condition, but the seller showed it booting Windows, and the price was right. It seems like the same build as the Pepper Pad 3, but mine only has Hanbit branding.
The unit's condition:
- Kickstand missing
- Four case screws missing
- Crack in the corner of the back case panel
- DC jack cover missing
- Audio/Video jack cover missing
- Video output jack absent (maybe never installed?)
- A dozen or so nicks in the screen
- Dirty
The machine boots XP embedded, but it hides the taskbar. Then it eventually shows a screen that says "Sorry, this unit is currently out of order", and the machine reboots.
The resistive touch screen is working, but calibration is off. The whole time it was running it made electrical whining noises.
I opened the small back panel, and it was weirdly stuck on to some adhesive layer. It seems to just be the battery compartment, but half was stuffed with foam, and there was just a relatively small Varta Microbattery pack.
When I was looking at the Hanbit site I found this photo of a cool RAM/Flash module (see right-most object).
Some teardown
I took it apart some. The back cover is also clipped in 4 places, and requires a bit of finagling. One clip was probably already broken since I didn't find the pieces. I think I also bent the IR transmitter LED. Have to be careful around there.
I like that it uses an internal steel frame.
Here's some close-ups:
The video output was definitely never installed. I also found the empty location for the CH7023A video encoder, and there are a lot of components missing so it's probably not feasible to add it back.
The Varta MicroBattery is completely dead, and I damaged the pouch trying to see what it was. I believe it said PoLiFlex. It is just a 2-pin connector, and the tablet is outputting 8.4V.
I looked for a replacement pack, and found pouch cell packs are a bit hard to get. I'm avoiding ordering from China due to potential tariff mess at the moment. I found a couple potential candidates from portable DVD player replacement packs. Eventually I found some airsoft batteries that fit the space, and ordered one.
My plan is to fuse the input, add a quick disconnect for running from AC adapter, and only charge it under supervision.
The hard drive is a ZIF connector 1.8" Samsung SpinPoint HS030GB. That seems to be an upgrade over the Pepper Pad 3's 20GB drive. I ordered a ZIF mSATA adapter so I can make it solid state.
Some battery
I got an airsoft battery pack because it was the right size and voltage. It doesn't have any balance circuitry though. Instead there is just an extra charging connector with the battery midpoint exposed.
It comes as two 125mm stick cells, about 20mm wide each. That gives me some room to add extra circuitry and a fuse.
I'll probably order a balance circuit board so I can charge it internally.
That's another one
New battery and testing second unit
- Battery build
I got my first battery assembled. I ended up getting these little round Alinan HX-2S-A2 2S 5A 7.4V 8.4V battery protection BMS circuit.
- BMS board and components
The BMS has two 4406A mosfets. In the product photo they have Alpha & Omega logo, but mine are unbranded.
It also has Fine Made FM7021 dual-cell lithium battery protection IC. It is in a SOT23-6 package, and marked FM7021CB (also different from the product photo).
From the datasheet it appears this does not do any balancing. It discusses separate charge and discharge mosfets which to me indicates there isn't any individual cell control. I have to manually balance them.
The battery pads are on the back side. They used little free-floating metal pads that are soldered to the board. It made attaching the wires a little finicky.
- Battery assembly
Before I started, I checked the board for shorts, and verified only the B+ was directly connected to the power connections.
I cut the high current leads off the airsoft battery, and attached the charge wires one at a time to the BMS. Then I used some heavy glue heatshrink to seal the board and wiring up. Finally some blue plastic heatshrink to hold everything together.
- Install and quick power up
The battery pack fits a bit loose in the unit. I'll have to fit some foam or something to keep it in place. I removed part of the graphite shielding that was blocking the battery bay since I want it to be easy to remove.
These units feel kind of hacked together with the missing ports, non-fitting battery, and blocked access. Looking forward to figuring out what software they run.
I did see a battery icon in the system tray after booting. It didn't offer an estimate because it needs to go through a charge cycle. I haven't tried charging the pack from the unit yet.
- BMS board and components
- Second unit test
I also powered up the second unit. It has the same Varta Microbattery. I didn't disassemble it to check, but assume it is dead. I just used the AC adapter.
The machine powers fine, and boots to the same red screen. I was able to tap the start menu before it loaded, and saw something called "Acquire Premier Player".
This machine is very noisy with a high pitch whine.
I'm still keeping an eye out for another airsoft battery with separated cells, but I plan to build it pretty much the same way.
