Chipworks

The Nook Color

 Having torn down many tablets lately, like the iPad 2 and Motorola XOOM, we decided that the only cure to our tablet fever was more tablets. So next on our list was the Barnes and Noble Nook Color. Although its predecessor, the Nook, was exclusively just for e-reading, the Nook Color allows users do much more like surf the web, check e-mail, listen to music, etc.

Reports state that Barnes and Noble sold well over 500,000 units this past Christmas and B&N has stated that they are manufacturing 18,000 units a day, so it’s been a pretty good seller for them.Additionally, the VividView™ color touch screen enhances the visual experience and allows for magazines, newspapers, and children’s books to be read in rich color. Despite all the fun we could have had with this e-reader we still tore it down and found out what silicon inside were making these features possible.

Memory The SanDisk SDIN4C1 8G NAND flash memory was found on the circuit board, making it possible for the Nook to hold up to 6000 eBooks, as mentioned on barnesandnoble.com. Package markings present on the device were: SanDisk/ SD1N4C1 – 8G/ TAIWAN/ 04556Y160. Inside are two Sandisk/Toshiba 32-Gb memory dies, together with the controller chip (diemark shown). Hynix provides 512MB of mobile DRAM, comprised of 2 x 256 MB die, with package markings HYNIX/ H8MBX00U0MER/ 06M 051A/ VTJG7911Q.

Touch Screen Controller The silicon controlling the Nook Color’s 7-inch touch screen is the CYP658756 by Cypress. Package markings on this device are: 8GTMA340/ 48LQ1-01/ 1049 D 04/ CYP658756/ PHI.

Accelerometer The Kionix KXTF9 accelerometer was also present in the Nook Color. This device also had design wins in Motorola’s XOOM tablet and ATRIX smart phone. Package markings on this device were: KXTF9/ 10612/ 3810.

Texas Instruments has scored a few key wins: TI’s TPS6521B power management IC with package markings: TPS65921B/ OCAOK5W $4/ GI The OMAP3621 microprocessor by TI is the operating heart of the e-book, using an ARM Cortex A8 core and Imagination POWERVR 3D graphics accelerator, similar to Apple’s A4 chip. Package markings are: LOGO/ OMAP TM/ 3621BCYN/ 800/ OBZF7C9 $N/ G1 A D/A converter, the TLV320DAC3100 by TI, with package markings: DAC3100/ TI 0BK/ CV7N G4

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011 at 5:47 pm and is filed under Computer / Tablet. Both comments and pings are currently closed.