WP43 Bug Reports and Maintenance

This area is for discussion about these families of custom high-end Scientific Calculator applications for SwissMicros devices.
Post Reply
Thomas_ER
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2017 3:19 pm
Location: Germany

Re: 43S Bug Reports and Maintenance

Post by Thomas_ER »

Walter wrote:
Thu Nov 24, 2022 7:42 pm
Thomas_ER wrote:
Thu Nov 24, 2022 7:05 pm
I do not know if this has already been reported:
switching the WP43 off (g, EXIT) displays mostly an inverted OFFIMG, e.g. very low contrast.
edit: do you need a photo?
Not observed here. A photo would help certainly. Thanks in advance.
Below you will find 3 examples, one is ok. More are available.
In addition, I have noticed that the batteries run down very quickly.
20221124_01.jpg
20221124_01.jpg (133.8 KiB) Viewed 1113 times
20221124_02.jpg
20221124_02.jpg (85.82 KiB) Viewed 1113 times
20221124_03.jpg
20221124_03.jpg (86.18 KiB) Viewed 1113 times
[ HP48/49/50/42S/WP34/HP Prime/ DM42 (#00185+00318) ]
User avatar
Walter
Posts: 3070
Joined: Tue May 02, 2017 11:13 am
Location: On a mission close to DRS, Germany

Re: 43S Bug Reports and Maintenance

Post by Walter »

Hmmh. Looks like hardware. Reasoning: we have a b/w display, no grey pixels. Since you mention fast battery decay, can you supply voltage via USB and check you observe the same shortcomings? (BTW, the protective foil over the display can be dropped.)
WP43 SN00000, 34S, and 31S for obvious reasons; HP-35, 45, ..., 35S, 15CE, DM16L S/N# 00093, DM42β SN:00041
Thomas_ER
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2017 3:19 pm
Location: Germany

Re: 43S Bug Reports and Maintenance

Post by Thomas_ER »

Walter wrote:
Thu Nov 24, 2022 9:02 pm
Hmmh. Looks like hardware. Reasoning: we have a b/w display, no grey pixels. Since you mention fast battery decay, can you supply voltage via USB and check you observe the same shortcomings? (BTW, the protective foil over the display can be dropped.)
This pictures have been made with voltage supplied via USB.

edit: What to do next?
Mail to Michael @ swissmicros for refund?
[ HP48/49/50/42S/WP34/HP Prime/ DM42 (#00185+00318) ]
rprosperi
Posts: 1698
Joined: Mon Apr 24, 2017 7:48 pm
Location: New York

Re: 43S Bug Reports and Maintenance

Post by rprosperi »

Thomas_ER wrote:
Thu Nov 24, 2022 9:16 pm
Walter wrote:
Thu Nov 24, 2022 9:02 pm
Hmmh. Looks like hardware. Reasoning: we have a b/w display, no grey pixels. Since you mention fast battery decay, can you supply voltage via USB and check you observe the same shortcomings? (BTW, the protective foil over the display can be dropped.)
This pictures have been made with voltage supplied via USB.

edit: What to do next?
Mail to Michael @ swissmicros for refund?
Before resorting that (and being w/o device for some time) try adjusting/re-seating the the LCD cable.

1. Remove 2 screws on the back
2. LCD ribbon cable connects at the top
3. tabs on either side of the small ribbon cable should be gently pushed towards the bottom to loosen the connector that holds the ribbon in place
4. Remove the ribbon and clean both sides with alcohol
5. Push ribbon back in, gently but all the way until it stops going in
6. push the 2 tabs back to lock the ribbon in place
7. replace back with 2 screws

Check if contrast is improved.

If not, remove the film from the LCD and cycle through the off-screen images until you see the original SwissMicros image with the owl sleeping in the tree and take a photo of the device showing this image and send it to Michael, noting photo was taken with USB on and that you've cleaned the LCD ribbon cable. He may have other diagnostic tasks to suggest, but doing the above will save much time and get you a solution faster.

Good luck and please report back how this went.
--bob p

DM42: β00071 & 00282, DM41X: β00071 & 00656, DM10L: 071/100
Thomas_ER
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2017 3:19 pm
Location: Germany

Re: 43S Bug Reports and Maintenance

Post by Thomas_ER »

Thanks Bob,

I'll go through all the recommended steps carefully, (as soon as I'm really awake) and respond.
edited: you wrote: "Check if contrast is improved."
Contrast isn't allways reduced, only if switching off "fails", after a very short moment
the display disappears almost completely and seems to be inverted
(after the image was visible for a very short time).

Another pure speculation: could it be that the processor wakes up "a little" again after a very short time, controls the display, and is also no longer in the "deep sleep" mode?
In case of an error, the display shows the correct OFFIMG for a very short time before switching to the slightly gray, inverse image, as if the display is controlled again.
Lso, when the OFFIMG sometimes is presented correctly, the battery drain seems to be much less. (no measurements of current).
--------------------------------
Hello Bob,
I did all the steps that you have suggested carefully, but nothing changed.
Afterwards I recorded a small video.
Link: https://owncloud.thomas-schirmer.de/ind ... JenEiW7CX6
[ HP48/49/50/42S/WP34/HP Prime/ DM42 (#00185+00318) ]
rprosperi
Posts: 1698
Joined: Mon Apr 24, 2017 7:48 pm
Location: New York

Re: 43S Bug Reports and Maintenance

Post by rprosperi »

It's hard to say, but indeed there could be an issue.

One more thing that is easy to try is to load DM42 f/w, which is more refined and better understood; running this and verifying if there is / is not similar behavior should be quite easy. If you are not already a DM42 user, examine the DM42 keyboard layout and menus before you start as using a keyboard layout that is different from the printed keyboard may be confusing.
--bob p

DM42: β00071 & 00282, DM41X: β00071 & 00656, DM10L: 071/100
Thomas_ER
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2017 3:19 pm
Location: Germany

Re: 43S Bug Reports and Maintenance

Post by Thomas_ER »

rprosperi wrote:
Fri Nov 25, 2022 3:09 pm
It's hard to say, but indeed there could be an issue.

One more thing that is easy to try is to load DM42 f/w, which is more refined and better understood; running this and verifying if there is / is not similar behavior should be quite easy. If you are not already a DM42 user, examine the DM42 keyboard layout and menus before you start as using a keyboard layout that is different from the printed keyboard may be confusing.
Very helpful hint!
I tried DM42 firmware (I'm also a DM42 user :-)), {previously I had to re-format the flash disk}:
same behavior, sometimes the OFFIMG is barely visible, onla flashing for a short moment.
Seems really to be an hardware failure ..
[ HP48/49/50/42S/WP34/HP Prime/ DM42 (#00185+00318) ]
rprosperi
Posts: 1698
Joined: Mon Apr 24, 2017 7:48 pm
Location: New York

Re: 43S Bug Reports and Maintenance

Post by rprosperi »

Indeed, seeing this with DM42 f/w confirms it must be a h/w issue of some kind.

It's a stretch, and I don't think it was discussed, but have you tried installing a new battery? Even though the issue occurs with USB connected, it's not impossible that a (very) bad battery can still interfere with expected behavior. I'm just trying to think of all possibilities that may help you to be without your machine for some time.
--bob p

DM42: β00071 & 00282, DM41X: β00071 & 00656, DM10L: 071/100
Thomas_ER
Posts: 192
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2017 3:19 pm
Location: Germany

Re: 43S Bug Reports and Maintenance

Post by Thomas_ER »

rprosperi wrote:
Fri Nov 25, 2022 8:28 pm
Indeed, seeing this with DM42 f/w confirms it must be a h/w issue of some kind.

It's a stretch, and I don't think it was discussed, but have you tried installing a new battery? Even though the issue occurs with USB connected, it's not impossible that a (very) bad battery can still interfere with expected behavior. I'm just trying to think of all possibilities that may help you to be without your machine for some time.
Yes, battery #3 is new, voltage is OK (near 3V).
The behavior is the same with battery and with USB.
Maybe (depending on the decision of SM) I can replace the board myself.
[ HP48/49/50/42S/WP34/HP Prime/ DM42 (#00185+00318) ]
User avatar
Walter
Posts: 3070
Joined: Tue May 02, 2017 11:13 am
Location: On a mission close to DRS, Germany

Re: 43S Bug Reports and Maintenance

Post by Walter »

Thomas_ER wrote:
Fri Nov 25, 2022 9:30 pm
rprosperi wrote:
Fri Nov 25, 2022 8:28 pm
Indeed, seeing this with DM42 f/w confirms it must be a h/w issue of some kind.

It's a stretch, and I don't think it was discussed, but have you tried installing a new battery? Even though the issue occurs with USB connected, it's not impossible that a (very) bad battery can still interfere with expected behavior. I'm just trying to think of all possibilities that may help you to be without your machine for some time.
Yes, battery #3 is new, voltage is OK (near 3V).
The behavior is the same with battery and with USB.
Maybe (depending on the decision of SM) I can replace the board myself.
A battery being new is necessary but not sufficient for being good. Details were discussed elsewhere in this subforum.
WP43 SN00000, 34S, and 31S for obvious reasons; HP-35, 45, ..., 35S, 15CE, DM16L S/N# 00093, DM42β SN:00041
Post Reply