FlexView in an X40

[ThinkRob]

Fun fact: the HT12X21-351 panel (a Boe Hydis, AFFS) found in the X41 tablet is electrically compatible with the X40.

You won't be able to make the ThinkLight work without a custom cable (or a modification of the X41 or X40's cable set), but the panel itself will work (and look) just great.

More details on my X40 build to follow...

[ajkula66]

Another forum member previously modded a X32 with the same panel.

Have fun...and post pictures once you're done.

[ThinkRob]

A few updates:

1) This really needs to be done by someone who can fab a real custom cable. I am not such a person. As a result, the lid and case bow in a few places due to my makeshift cable (built from part of the cable from an X41 tablet). That, and the inside of the case looks like it was attacked by an angry monkey with a pair of pliers.

2) It looks gorgeous.

3) Putting it back together is a royal pain, since the panel lacks the screw mount points that the original IDTech panel had.

I'll take pictures later, but I'm exhausted now -- I'm still working on re-assembling the donor machines and cleaning up... well... the two rooms of my house that this project ended up littering with ThinkPad parts.

[ThinkRob]

Today, Rob learned a valuable lesson:

A full tear-down of two X40s (all screws removed), stripping and preparation of a X41 tablet panel, modification of an X40's case, cleaning an X40 planar, installing a new planar in an X40, and re-assembling an X40... these are all tasks that take some time to complete.

One should not attempt all of these tasks starting at 8:00 PM.

[Tasurinchi]

Congrats on your new screen!!!

One should not attempt all of these tasks starting at 8:00 PM

I did the same mistake around March this year, when "just" switching an broken X40 panel with another one. Was my first time and it took a couple of hours, it was a long night...

[Raceboy]

I was thinking about this mod for some time but couldn't locate X41T LCD panel for a reasonable price.

Can't you use orginal X40/X41 (non-T) LCD cable?

[ThinkRob]

Alright, here's my post-mortem:

1) You'll need to remove the digitizer and glass from the panel. Thankfully it's pretty easy to remove with a knife and a bit of patience. The foam/adhesive that edges the panel can also be peeled off cleanly (and will need to be removed if you want to get the bezel seated...)

2) The panel (as pulled from an X41 tablet) lacks screw holes on the sides for the hinge brackets. Instead, it has three plastic bumps/tabs on the side that will need to be cut (and sanded) off.

3) Since there is no way to screw the hinge brackets to the panel, you'll need to glue/tape them. This is clearly not optimal, but it seems to work fine if you do it carefully.

4) The cable is the Achilles heel of the mod. The HT12X21's controller board has the LVDS plug at a different location than on the X40's panel, thus the X40/X41 cable will not reach. This leaves two possibilities: a custom cable, or a modification of the cable from the X41 tablet. I don't have PCB/cable fab. materials, so I opted for the latter. Unfortunately, the tablet cable is a rounded bundle, not a ribbon cable. I was able to sand/cut down the inverter plug enough to fit within the space at the bottom of the screen, but alas, the cable was still too thich to allow the lid casing to close completely -- so there's now a gap at the bottom of the lid, held together with tape. It works, but it sure isn't pretty...

Lessons learned

The HT12X21 is an awesome panel. It looks gorgeous, and is electrically-compatible with the X40. Unfortunately, it is not physically-compatible, and the lack of suitable mount points makes it a poor candidate for use as an X40 upgrade.

If you do decide to hack it together, I recommend making (or getting someone to make) a custom cable, as I can't really see any other way to connect it up properly.

Personally, I'm considering this a failed experiment. Yes, it works, and yes it looks nice -- but let's face it: an eighth-inch gap in the lid casing isn't a sign of a workable solution. The lack of a ThinkLight and the inability to mount the hinge brackets seal the deal.

What next?

Fortunately, there are a number of panels out there that should (if the datasheets are to be believed) be drop-in upgrades for an X40. So, where next? To eBay, Alibaba, and my favorite .cn and .hk sources for electronics!

[Raceboy]

One way would be to fabricate the extension for the stock X40/X41 cable from the X41T cable if it is a set of bundled wires.

[ThinkRob]

One way would be to fabricate the extension for the stock X40/X41 cable from the X41T cable if it is a set of bundled wires.

Yep. If I had more patience and more interest in getting this particular panel to work, I'd do that.

As it stands, it's probably better to go for a different panel which will be a drop-in upgrade.

[Raceboy]

If you decide to get rid of this panel, I'd be first in line

[tomatenfisch]

Sorry for bringing this thread up again, but I felt I could contribute with a couple of remarks: Actually I did this mod twice (X40 and X41)

4) The cable is the Achilles heel of the mod. The HT12X21's controller board has the LVDS plug at a different location than on the X40's panel, thus the X40/X41 cable will not reach.

Don't worry, it will reach (but of course it doesn't have plenty of length). Flip the original cable over and carefully fold it. Thus, even the thinklight is still working. I fixed the cabled with tape at the backside of the panel (thus making sure, it can not disengage). This is definitely easier than modifying the tablet cable and the display bezel will properly fit.

The HT12X21 is an awesome panel. It looks gorgeous, and is electrically-compatible with the X40. Unfortunately, it is not physically-compatible, and the lack of suitable mount points makes it a poor candidate for use as an X40 upgrade.

As far as I know there are only the HT12X21 as Flexview/IPS/AFFS XGA panels. If you want Flexview in a X40/41 you have to stick to those tablet panels. For the hinges, tape does a great job, I had no problem with that. The annoying part is the mod of the panel frame, e.g. cutting off the tabs and especially cutting the frame thinner at pouch (for proper fit). It's all about practice (I bricked one panel out of three). Removing the frame first from the panel itself did the trick for me. The metal frame is quite tough and hard to distort. Once you have taken it off the panel, it is easy to work on.

Fortunately, there are a number of panels out there that should (if the datasheets are to be believed) be drop-in upgrades for an X40. So, where next? To eBay, Alibaba, and my favorite .cn and .hk sources for electronics!

In fact, every HT12X21 panel should work. I pulled the panels from HP TC4200 Displays (HT12X21-220 and -221), which are an affordable source.

Thomas

[topmahof]

tc-4400 panels are all over ebay cheap, will they work?

Dave

[tomatenfisch]

tc-4400 panels are all over ebay cheap, will they work?

They will.

Thomas

[topmahof]

Thanks, your post makes it sound doable. I'll try one.

Dave

[RealBlackStuff]

A word of warning: when you cut off/remove the eyelets/screwholes on the short sides of the LCD, be careful to use e.g. a Dremel, do not try wire cutters or a knife.
If you do, you may damage some of the row/column drivers.
I did, and I ruined an otherwise perfect IPS X41t LCD

[topmahof]

Thanks for the heads up, I wouldn't have tried it without a dremel.

Dave

[ThinkRob]

I may try this mod again. The parts are cheap enough...

[ThinkRob]

So this has got me thinking of the ultimate (IMO) X40 subnotebook: SLC SSD, FlexView display, 5W ULV planar.

And I'll be darned if I don't have all the parts except for the screen...

[topmahof]

I got 2 x40s sitting here with bad screens and I just got a complete tc4400 screen off fleabay for 25 bucks. I think one of them is going to be a candidate for this. I'll probably mess with this next week. That is, if this 25 buck screen is okay.

Dave

Edit: Darn, I'm missing the ssd!

[mike20030405]

Sorry for bringing this thread up again, but I felt I could contribute with a couple of remarks: Actually I did this mod twice (X40 and X41)

4) The cable is the Achilles heel of the mod. The HT12X21's controller board has the LVDS plug at a different location than on the X40's panel, thus the X40/X41 cable will not reach.

Don't worry, it will reach (but of course it doesn't have plenty of length). Flip the original cable over and carefully fold it. Thus, even the thinklight is still working. I fixed the cabled with tape at the backside of the panel (thus making sure, it can not disengage). This is definitely easier than modifying the tablet cable and the display bezel will properly fit.

The HT12X21 is an awesome panel. It looks gorgeous, and is electrically-compatible with the X40. Unfortunately, it is not physically-compatible, and the lack of suitable mount points makes it a poor candidate for use as an X40 upgrade.

As far as I know there are only the HT12X21 as Flexview/IPS/AFFS XGA panels. If you want Flexview in a X40/41 you have to stick to those tablet panels. For the hinges, tape does a great job, I had no problem with that. The annoying part is the mod of the panel frame, e.g. cutting off the tabs and especially cutting the frame thinner at pouch (for proper fit). It's all about practice (I bricked one panel out of three). Removing the frame first from the panel itself did the trick for me. The metal frame is quite tough and hard to distort. Once you have taken it off the panel, it is easy to work on.

Fortunately, there are a number of panels out there that should (if the datasheets are to be believed) be drop-in upgrades for an X40. So, where next? To eBay, Alibaba, and my favorite .cn and .hk sources for electronics!

In fact, every HT12X21 panel should work. I pulled the panels from HP TC4200 Displays (HT12X21-220 and -221), which are an affordable source.

Thomas

Thank you Thomas, very good sharing.
Just got one question: Does the LVDS plug on HT12x21 have reverse pins as the X40/X41 factory panel?

just bought a HT12x21-240 from ebay, $22
Lots of work ahead
replace the 1.8" HD with msata+adapter
replace the screen hinge
replace the LCD

[tomatenfisch]

Just got one question: Does the LVDS plug on HT12x21 have reverse pins as the X40/X41 factory panel?

Yes, the pins are inverted. That means you have to modify th plug, slightly. As far as I remember (it's nearly 3 years ago now) the plug is coded an will not fit vice versa without a little bit of modification: You have to remove the plastic flanges (?) at both edges of the cables plug. Fix the plug then with tape to keep it in its position.

I had both machines in daily use until last december and they worked like a charm. Never had any problem with the panels or the cables.

Good luck, Thomas

[mike20030405]

Just got one question: Does the LVDS plug on HT12x21 have reverse pins as the X40/X41 factory panel?

Yes, the pins are inverted. That means you have to modify th plug, slightly. As far as I remember (it's nearly 3 years ago now) the plug is coded an will not fit vice versa without a little bit of modification: You have to remove the plastic flanges (?) at both edges of the cables plug. Fix the plug then with tape to keep it in its position.

I had both machines in daily use until last december and they worked like a charm. Never had any problem with the panels or the cables.

Good luck, Thomas

Thank you Thomas, very good experience.
My ordered LCD is on the way, hopefully the display cable will work as your instruction.

A little details added here for others(who are also interested).
The two LCD panel, SAMSUNG LTN121XA-L01 and BOE Hydis HT12X21-240
the signal interface LVDS pin configurations are same LVDS-20P1C6B-070A
The first panel interface model is DF19KR-20P-1H
The second panel interface model is DF19L-20P-1H
The two plugs have inverted pin layout.