Electronics Dissections

For years, biology education has required the dissection of small animals to aid in understanding of physiology and anatomy. I believe dissection can aid the education of the engineer even more. A thorough understanding of the "anatomy" of an electronic product will help you in the analysis of electronics and embedded systems, but even more, it will help you in designing future products. The goal of this assignment is the complete dissection, analysis, and reassembly of a small consumer electronics product. You must select an affordable, widely-available consumer electronics product to dissect and analyze. The product should cost no more than US$15 and be available at retail outlets nationwide. Your product should contain digital electronics (ASIC, FPD, or processor) and be battery powered.

Dissection Photo Journal

Starting with a photo of the product in unopened, retail packaging, students dissect the product, taking photos at each step along the way. These photos will help others understand the manufacture and operation of the product. Furthermore, the photos will constitute a reassembly procedure.

Product Operation Analysis

Over the course of the dissection, students must determine the function of each product component. A high-level block diagram must be made for all electronic and mechanical subsystems. Details of electronics operation must be made as far as is possible. All the way to a circuit schematic with full BoM is ideal. Use case timing diagrams are required for each unique product operation mode.

Product Make-up Analysis

A photo inventory of each unique (and removable) part must made. Each mechanical part should be identified as to its composition and weighed. PCBs or other inpractical assemblies do not have to be dissasembled to each individual part. (However, each assembly should be inventoried and a complete list of components formed. Estimations of mass for each component should be made for undissected mechanical assemblies.)

Dissection Report

Web-based dissection report must contain (at least) the following pages:
  • Introduction
  • Product market and retail info
    • product history
    • MSRP and street-prices
    • retail outlets
    • rebranded/OEM versions
  • Dissection Photo Journal
  • Product Operation
    • human-machine interfaces
    • usage timing diagrams
  • Product Analysis
    • high-level product design diagram
    • detailed design block diagrams for electronic systems
    • tables showing electronic expected and extreme values during operation including frequencies, voltages, current, power consumption, and battery lifetime
    • complete component-level schematics
    • complete electrical BoM (including component costs breakdown)
    • thorough non-electrical BoM (including material costs breakdown)
  • Product reassembly (product must still work as initially designed, although it is desirable to remove cosmetic casings/packaging to allow inner workings to be visible).

Consumer electronic devices dissected by the ECE4723/6723 Embedded Systems classes at Mississippi State University
SemesterNameProductUniversal Product Code"Awards" (as selected by students)
Fall 2011Amos ChristiansenCoin Counting Jar0 82382 03553 5
Fall 2011Bruce GrovesWater Peeble7 85552 99101 2
Fall 2011Daniel HoslerFisher-Price Laugh & Learn Soccer Ball0 27084 96363 2
Fall 2011Troy HuguetLoopz M37 46775 11444 2
Fall 2011Josh HumphreysDigital Multimeter0 42173 03300 3
Fall 2011Sam KnightLeap Frog Chat and Count Cell Phone7 08431 19145 7
Fall 2011Michael McCoyReliOn micro Blood Glucose Monitoring System6 05388 55825 1
Fall 2011Chris NicholasSlime Digital Tire Gauge7 16281 00160 4
Fall 2011Sean OwensBell F12 Cyclocomputer0 35011 87907 9"Best Market Analysis"
Fall 2011Tim PittsElectronic Catch Phrase0 14397 01852 4"Best Photo Journal" & "Best Overall"
Fall 2011Donnie PollitzPocket Smart String7 93573 82528 5
Fall 2011Chad PumphreyHex-bug Crab8 07648 01652 9"Best Aesthetics"
Fall 2011Nick RobinsonAlphaberry0 62243 22463 6
Fall 2011Jason WarrenReliOn Confirm Glucose Monitor6 05388 86016 3
Fall 2010Candace AllgoodLeap Frog Alphabet Pal7 08431 19106 8"Best BoM" & "Best Aesthetics"
Fall 2010Kristopher BlackwoodRadioShack’s Count Up/Down Timer0 40293 02200 6
Fall 2010Brantley BrokawRadica Electronic Blackjack Game0 27084 68520 6
Fall 2010Mike BrokhoffTechnoSource Sudoku Electronic Puzzle8 01561 20700 2"Best Product Design Analysis"
Fall 2010Joshua CaldwellZhu Zhu Pet Rocco the Raccoon8 77799 00579 6
Fall 2010Casey CookKung Zhu Pets Special Forces Hamster8 77799 00595 6
Fall 2010Steve CullenAccu-rite wireless rainfall gauge0 72397 00896 9
Fall 2010Kenneth GustineGarden Treasures Window Thermometer0 71589 04179 1"Amazing Photo Journal" & "Best Overall"
Fall 2010Evans HallBarbie Digital Camera0 92298 91085 7
Fall 2010Joseph JacobsMultifunction Hiking Companion0 40293 89526 6
Fall 2010Jeremy LewisLogitech M100 optical USB mouse0 97855 06395 3"Best Market Analysis"
Fall 2010Brian LuckMy Life Digital Photo Keychain8 83594 02606 5
Fall 2010Jaron MartinSlimline Caller ID Phone6 80079 55170 4
Fall 2010Jonathan MoorheadTexas Instruments TI-503SV calculator0 33317 06605 6
Fall 2010Dennis NarcisseAcu-Rite Indoor Humidity Monitor0 72397 00613 2
Fall 2010Daniel SimpkinsNike+ iPhone Running Sensor8 85909 27057 6
Fall 2010Zach ThorntonBicycle Illuminated Touch Screen FreeCell8 01561 30453 4
Fall 2010John TimsBarbie Digi-Play MP3 Player0 92298 91099 4
Fall 2010Jonathan Van HooserAres 3-in-1 digital camera0 49022 42694 8
Fall 2010Gary WeaselMainstays Digital Timer0 72397 00535 7
Fall 2009William ClevelandVtech Dial & Discover phone0 50803 63300 4
Fall 2009Jacob EdwardsTech Gear Multi-Voice Changer0 85761 01381 0"Best BoM"
Fall 2009David JamesRadio Shack multifunction travel alarm clock0 49293 01444 5
Fall 2009Zach JordanKorg GA-30 Guitar/Bass Tuner6 03384 02188 5
Fall 2009Rebecca OwensRubik's Revolution Titanium Edition8 01561 03050 1"Best Aesthetics"
Fall 2009Brad ReavesNeiko 6" digital caliper8 37013 01407 2
Fall 2009Andrew TurnerMFJ-132RC Radio Controlled ClockNo known UPC"Best Market Analysis"
Fall 2009Ryan WoodPhilips Universal Remote6 09585 15664 7"Best Product Usage"
Fall 2008Jason AycockGuitar Idol handheld game7 78988 77599 8
Fall 2008Jeff BrantleyCVS Oral Thermometer0 50428 01814 9"Best Photo Journal"
Fall 2008Jacob BowenHM Digital Z-Tester (TDS-4)1 88781 00016 4
Fall 2008Jonathan Bryant*Robot Coin Bank7 04768 04004 8
Fall 2008Ted CopelandThirstyLight plant moisture sensor 8 91335 00201 8"Best BoM"
Fall 2008Matt CrymbleDigital Kitchen Timer0 72397 00533 3
Fall 2008Thomas Donaldson*GB Instruments 5 Function Multimeter0 32076 04321 6
Fall 2008Patrick Duckworth"Easy-Park" detection system6 89076 42614 5
Fall 2008Frank HollandBarnyard Basics Shake n' Go Chicken0 27084 42794 3
Fall 2008Paul JangEasy Park sensor8 13132 00111 7
Fall 2008Alan PritchardAcu-rite Digital Window Thermometer0 72397 00799 3
Fall 2008Gene SandbergLife Fitness Deluxe Digital Pedometer0 50428 11568 8
Fall 2008Matt SteinerHasbro Jive Pod6 53569 26133 9
Fall 2008Andrew ThigpenBrinks Digital Outlet Timer0 39208 97093 8
Fall 2008Kevin VuTargus Secure Digital Card Reader/Writer8 71436 00538 5
Fall 2008Daniel WilsonVicks Digital Thermometer3 28785 50900 7
Fall 2008Josh WilsonVR3 1.4" LCD photo keychain0 23034 08726 7"Best Aesthetics"
Fall 2007Ravi C. Alapati20Q Mind Reader7 45938 74012 2
Fall 2007Andrew BraceyNERF N-Strike Tech Target0 76930 45518 0
Fall 2007Khanh BuiRoadmaster Wireless FM Modulator0 23034 08664 2
Fall 2007Larita Coppruee-Chess Express7 55482 41024 2
Fall 2007Daniel CranfordBase8 DG-32 Calculator7 44120 91976 2
Fall 2007Wesley HollandElectronic Hand-Held Connect Four0 32244 04634 6
Fall 2007Joshua LasseigneWild Times Lighted Spinning Globes6 58382 19140 5
Fall 2007Brandon LeatherwoodSpygear XP-6 Spy Watch7 88668 70081 3
Fall 2007Joshua LunnDual-View Thermometer with Hygrometer0 71589 03538 7
Fall 2007Brian McCallebbMy Lil' Reminder PDVR7 40275 00054 0
Fall 2007Tyler PoschelProgrammable Message Fan0 49022 35079 7
Fall 2007Jimmy RapierSunbeam Digital Scale0 80006 10950 1
Fall 2007Bryan ReeseDigi Pets Electronic Virtual Pet Game7 59594 22005 8
Fall 2007James SakalaukusSchwinn 12 Function Cycle Computer0 02659 97107 2
Fall 2007Nashlie SephusAnimated Candy Bowl0 86786 25367 0
Fall 2007Joey WardElectronic Hand-Held Yahtzee0 32244 04511 0
Fall 2007Michael WeirGOWalking digital stopwatch0 95121 28323 4
Fall 2007Scott WilsonElectronic Hand-Held Hangman0 32244 04632 2
Fall 2006Chris BrownRadio Shack Bilingual Talking Tire Gauge0 40293 01335 6"Best Aesthetics" (tie)
Fall 2006Rianto ChandraStanley Intelli-sensor Stud Finder type 77-1100 76174 77110 7"Best Photo Journal"
Fall 2006John DillinghamTechnoSource Super Racing8 01561 20011 9
Fall 2006Stephanie FormanSpringfield Precise Temp Digital Humidity and Temperature Monitor0 71589 03935 4"Best Aesthetics" (tie)
Fall 2006Ryan IrwinBell Night Shield0 35011 00088 6
Fall 2006Javier LaraStrait-Line Sonic Laser Tape 500 24721 02863 1
Fall 2006Johnathan ParnellGE Call Waiting Caller ID Model 29096GE10 44319 00349 9
Fall 2006Taffa PorterReliOn Ultima Blood Glucose Monitor0 93815 70055 5
Fall 2006John RobbinsLight Show Coasters6 04020 02828 2
Fall 2006Ridzky RiyadiTalking Road Whiz by Ultradata0 34046 00751 8"Best BoM"
Spring 2006Kyle CullenGlade Wisp air freshener0 46500 22628 1"Best Product Design Analysis"
Spring 2006Evan DozierAcu-Rite digital thermometer0 72397 00888 4
Spring 2006Jeff Fairley YOUniverse Amazing Money Jar7 30320 13411 5
Spring 2006Nick LaPorteGOWalking pedometer by Sportline0 95121 34503 1
Spring 2006Michael LindseySpace Intruders LCD handheld game by Technosource8 01561 20012 6"Best Product Market Analysis"

"Best Aesthetics"

"Best Overall Dissection"

Spring 2006Benjamin PaymentSimon handheld game by Hasbro0 76930 49000 6"Best Product Usage Analysis"
Spring 2006Craig SaurageDoor Alarm with Programmable Keypad by Smith & Wesson0 44321 05010 8"Best BoM"

"Best Photo Journal"

Spring 2006David WarrenSMS Text Messenger0 21331 74468 5
Spring 2006Brett WisingerSmartSet? Dual Alarm Clock Radio0 25806 03233 8
(BTW: If you enter an Universal Product Code (UPC) into Google, it will search for internet references for that product.)

Some External Dissections to Examine