Cortana chip - microSD card reader - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: M.Stallnig
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 09, 2015, 03:26:03 pm
content: Hello peopleI have been working on a real life version of this:http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gjbxXiSqZi0/VJgxew-_UiI/AAAAAAAAFOw/W9Txu0auFYM/s1600/halo-xbox-one3.pngFor those who don't know, that is a memory unit for an AI called Cortana, from the videogame series "Halo". This is the new version of the chip seen in the E3 trailer for Halo 5:GuardiansIn game, the device features a holografic display in the center ring that can project a 3D image of the AI.I want my version of this thing to be a functional USB memory device, and have a ring of LED's in the center.I want to make the dimensions as accurate as possible, and I want to make at least the parts that look metallic out of metal.Here's a follow up on the project so far:I have modeled the chip in CAD.Since I work in a company that processes sheetmetal, eventually I will try to make all the cover pieces my self out of sheet metal,except for the rectangular Copper looking one, which I choose to be the USB port. For that I wanted to use a standard male USB-plug at first,whichs housing can be chopped to the right length. It would have been perfect in looks and size, except it being a male plug,which can't be plugged into a female port, because it isn't sticking out of the device. I so resorted to a female port, which looked awful.I then went to a female micro-USB port, and wanted to use the housing of the Standard male plug as cover mantle and somehow fill in the gaps.With the width and thickness of the plughousing, the measurements of the device were given around 60x40x6mm.The main body part would therefor be 3mm thick, which is insanely limitating, and with the huge hole in the middle, it will make the device a bit fragile.Because of that, and because all the electronics still have to fit inside that, I figured, it would be best to make the main piece entirely out of PCB,since it is rather sturdy compared to most plastics and the wiring can be directly embedded. I choose to make it of 3 Layers of 1mm PCB,which leaves possible space of exactly 1mm inside. I have come to the conclusion that it would be best to use a microSD card as the memory unit,since it is thin and the capacity and usage of the device would be flexible.Making my own cardreader with USB interfac seem to be insane. So I bought the 4 smallest cardreaders I found (3xUSB 2.0, 1xUSB3.0),hoping they might fit inside my device, or at least might be simple in design, so I could reverse engineer them and recreate them on my own PCBs.After dismanting all of them it became clear, that, though they're all tiny (see pictures), none of them fit into my device.First and second are way too thick and feature a COB and are so compact, it is impossible for me to figure out their schematics.The third one is actually only 1mm thick in total (incl. SD-card), thin enough to fit in the gap, but is too large in area. It also has a COB...The PCB with SMDs of the fourth one would be thin enough, and its other dimensions small enough, to fit inside the device, but only without pins and card on top.There also would be too little space for the card to sit next to the PCB, so its still no fit. The good thing though, all the components on this PCB are visible and recognisable.So reverse engeneering this is my best shot. (Also it is the fastest and most compatible cardreader available, for cards up to at least 128GB! which is very, very sexy,and I wished to use a 3.0 reader from the very beginning)I already bought some female micro USB 3.0 ports, and made abuse of a male miniHDMI housing for a covering mantle. (it's a squeeze, but I can make it work.)So that's about the current state of my project.The next step is now to recreate the schematics of the 4th cardreader.I'll probably need to remove the pin frame for that, so I'm gonna buy a soldering iron for SMD electronics first. (Will need one anyway. And yea I'm actually quite new to electronics)In the mean time, does anyone know what those pin strips that make contact to the SD-Card are called? (I only find breadboard pin strips on google)If anyone sees a problem I might trip over, feel free to notify my. Any constructive input is appreciated.I'll give updates when there is progress. Might post some drawings and stuff in the near future.

author: M.Stallnig
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 15, 2016, 07:19:12 am
content: Just wanted to update this since it's been about a year.So I bought some tools and parts and invested lots of hours on research, but as to be expected, haven't gotten anywhere.The SMD Cirquits are too small and solidly assembled for cheap tools in the hand of an inexperienced fool to be even taken appart without damaging the PCB.I still tried to at least partially draw up the cirquit print in CAD as far as I could without taking of the pieces. (Chips: GL3233 IC; G1506 IC)Also I wasn't able to come up with a smooth, easy, cheap way to make the casing with the methods and parts at my disposal, since the dimensions are too arbitrary.The smallest SD-Adapter I found was SD-Socket112K-TBA0-RA1, I would have had to resort to 4 layers to make it fit.I didn't even come to bother with USB interfaces...I have modeled some versions, but non of them are really manufacturable.So yea, I guess it's time to burry this Idea. I have lots of others waiting to be tackled.For those interested here are at least some visual results: