I-Phone Cameras

[BATMAN]

I have thirty years worth of old cell phones I am about to take to the recycle centre. Looking at some of the I-phones has got me wondering if I can dismantle them and somehow use the camera(s) on the layout. I could have cameras all over the layout without being noticed.

So can the phones be dismantled and camera part removed without destroying the camera?

[BigDaddy]

BATMAN

So can the phones be dismantled and camera part removed without destroying the camera?

They can, but you could have a problem using the camera unless you are a wizard. 

The Iphone 7 camera looks like it has a flat cable and a pin connector.  If Tim Cook would be nice enough to tell you what the pins do, you still need to replicate the electronics to make the camera work, store the picture and access the pictures.

 

[BATMAN]

Thanks, Henry, I like the triangle opening tool, it looks like a guitar pick and I have plenty of those. I wonder how much they sell them for?

[HeavyFeather]

Not sure about the cameras. But lots of people are using the speakers. 

[BigDaddy]

There's not a lot of options with the connections to a speaker. 

The transition from film to digital has been challenging to me.  Do iphones vary the exposure and the F stop?  Does turning the image into a picture file happen in that little square of a camera, or somewhere else in the Iphone?

[mlehman]

We don't dispose of old phones. We recycle them into wireless throttles via JMRI. There are several more proprietary wireless systems out there, also, which may be able to do this also (anyone know?)

While I like having my bulletproof NCE 04 and the required (to program things) hammerhead, I can't see buying more with a typical cost starting around $150 when I get a nearly-new free one every few years from my wife (I don't use 'em like actual phones.)

[RR_Mel]

BATMAN

I have thirty years worth of old cell phones I am about to take to the recycle centre. Looking at some of the I-phones has got me wondering if I can dismantle them and somehow use the camera(s) on the layout. I could have cameras all over the layout without being noticed.

So can the phones be dismantled and camera part removed without destroying the camera?

 

I doubt if it will come out easily.  The newer micro type construction isn’t made to be worked on, they are considered through away.  At best you probably would need a SMT soldering station to remove it.

 

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[BigDaddy]

Mel look at the video, you will be surprised

Plugs smaller than Mel Plugs

[Overmod]

BATMAN

Looking at some of the I-phones has got me wondering if I can dismantle them and somehow use the camera(s) on the layout. I could have cameras all over the layout without being noticed.

There has been an enormous literature built up 'over the years' on the construction, teardown, adaptive repair and components in the sequential generations of iPhones, as well as how to kludge some of the circuitry.  In addition, I believe at least some of the "cameras" were second-sourced as 'cores' from parts manufacturers and some information might be available for that.

My suspicion is that most of the circuitry used to support the CCD is proprietary and integrated in the phone's main board, as would be the memory to store the image and then save it after processing, and of course the circuitry to access, view, and if necessary convert the image or stream.  While you could perhaps figure out how to cut away the portions of the board not needed, you're still going to have considerable 'real estate' to support the camera, which would almost certainly be closely adjacent to the board ('extension cabling' probably not worth the exercise even if timing or electrical considerations permit).

I'd advise sticking to the idea of using them 'as phones' -- there are a number of programs 'out there' that convert old phones to security cameras, and you could relatively easily hack one of those to provide both streaming video and the ability to control camera functions remotely. 

[RR_Mel]

Great Video Henry.

 

I worked in Public Safety Communications for almost 50 years and watched the electronics go from huge finger burning tubes to surface-mount technology (SMT) during my watch.

 

When I retired in 2007 the mobile communications equipment was almost down to disposable devices when one wouldn’t work because of the SMT knowledge needed and super high cost of the tools to work on them.

 

We bought a close to $10K SMT rework workstation and sent two techs for training.  As time went by the difficulty continued getting worse with every new model.

 

The cost of field maintenance is constantly increasing to the point of tossing them as the go bad and just replacing them.

 

I got pretty good using the SMT workstation but even with that I wouldn’t attempt to repair any of the electronics now, even if I wasn’t Old Shaky Mel.

 

I would say if you want a miniature camera buy one off eBay for a couple of bucks.  You can buy a 1280 x 960 camera ready to go for under $10 on eBay.  I have several, one with WiFi in a recessed flat car and a wireless 24gHz in a E8A that is about 10 years old that still works great.  The WiFi camera cost $8 free S&H last summer.

 

 

I can pan the flatcar camera 180° by Bluetooth with a pair of Arduinos while using a 7” tablet on my control panel as a viewfinder.  I have less than $80 tied up in the flatcar cam.

 

 

My control panel is still under going a major overhaul and I don’t want to embarrass myself taking a picture until I get it finished.  The good old Bakersfield heat and my arthritis has dinged my working in our garage on my layout.  It has finally started to cool off so maybe I will be able to post some pictures of my finished control panel by the end of the month.

 

 

  

 

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[Track fiddler]

My old phone got crushed into Oblivion and replace with a new iPhone.

I have to honestly say.... I hate my new iPhone compared to my old phone.  It doesn't take near the quality pictures as my old phone did.

 

 

TF

[SeeYou190]

RR_Mel

I would say if you want a miniature camera buy one off eBay for a couple of bucks.  You can buy a 1280 x 960 camera ready to go for under $10 on eBay. 

.

Yes. Buy an actual dedicated miniature camera, and send the phones to the recycler. Much more work than it will ever be worth.

.

-Kevin

.

[rrinker]

 The cameras used in the phones are most likely Sony parts. Apple doesn't make the camera. So you can POSSIBLY find a data sheet that tells you how to use it. Hint: it won't be easy, it's not putting out a nice simple little video signal you can then record or broadcast.

 Better to follow Kevin's advice - just get a cheap camera made to be a video camera that is ready to use.

                                 --Randy