iFixit's iPhone 5s Teardown Reveals Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor, 'Invisible' M7 Chip

[SeaFox]

You ever taken a look at their name? "iFixIt"?

I can't tell you how many times their repair guides have saved me, my Macs and my wallet.

If you do it yourself instead of heading over to a local Genius Bar to pay a "professional" to fix it (or just swap the device), you're obviously too technically savvy and poor. Not the sort of customer Apple is looking for.

 

[SkyBell]

If you do it yourself instead of heading over to a local Genius Bar to pay a "professional" to fix it (or just swap the device), you're obviously too technically savvy and poor. Not the sort of customer Apple is looking for.

"Gentlemen; to fix this, "do it yourself" problem, we must make the internal layouts and assembly of our products those of unspeakable horrors and nightmares."

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

The vid. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzuRDujwb_A

 

[vito]

I think I might get Gold! Wasn't planning on it

 

[autrefois]

So this is where all the Gold iPhones are going...

Well at least it wasn't for "Will it blend?"...at least not yet.

 

[Glassman]

No way is the M7 part of A7. They wouldn't talk about it as a separate co-processor, otherwise they may point out the myriad purpose built co-processing units that already exist inside the SoC such as the ISP, audio DSP etc.

Remember the slide from the keynote showing M7 as a diminutive separate chip in front of the much bigger A7 in the background. Being that small, the silkscreen does not necessarily have to look the way they shown it on the slide. Could be the Apple 338S120L or it may easily be one of the smaller ICs that iFixit did not call out by name.

In any case, comparing to iPhone 5 this appears further integrated. No doubt a good choice to bring out 5c sharing the improvements made over the past year with 5s. The level of integration is frankly amazing.

 

[marcinsf]

Last Minute tweak? Who's pulling now?

[url=http://cdn.macrumors.com/im/macrumorsthreadlogodarkd.png]Image[/url]


iFixit has already taken apart the new iPhone 5s, currently on sale in Australia. It is the second significant teardown of the device, which was taken apart earlier by Australian iPhone repair firm iExperts. Unsurprisingly, there are no drastic changes from the iPhone 5 to the 5s, but there are some new internals like the Touch ID sensor that are worth examining.

Image​

In removing the front panel from the rest of the iPhone 5s, the iFixit team notes that a new cable that runs from the Touch ID sensor to the Lightning port assembly, meaning that extreme care must be taken when removing the screen to avoid damaging the cable.

iFixit did express some concern over the amount of glue used to attach the battery -- a 3.8V - 5.92Wh - 1560mAh unit, slightly larger than the iPhone 5's 3.8V 1440mAh battery -- to the casing, noting that the dramatic increase in glue compared to the iPhone 5 could make it exceptionally difficult to replace the battery. The company also wondered if the sapphire home button was enough to protect the sensitive CMOS Touch ID sensor over time.

Image​

Looking at the logic board, iFixit could not find a standalone M7 motion coprocessor chip, dubbing it "invisible". The team believes the M7 may be special silicon built into the A7 chip itself.
Apple's iterative design has allowed it to streamline and optimize internal construction of the 5s, including the loss of extemporaneous antenna interconnect cables "leaving one less thing to break or get disconnected".

Overall, iFixit gave the iPhone 5s a repairability score of 6 out of 10 (10 being the easiest to repair), which is one point fewer than the iPhone 5's 7 out of 10. Compared to the iPhone 5, the 5s battery no longer has a convenient pull tab for removal and the Touch ID cable could ripped out of its socket during front panel removal.

Article Link: iFixit's iPhone 5s Teardown Reveals Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor, 'Invisible' M7 Chip

I'm wondering if the finger print sensor wasn't a quick last minute "Oh ****" moment add-on because the 5s isn't much more than a mildly improved 5. The reason I wonder about this is that looking at the iFixit tear down, it really looks like someone just slapped on the fingerprint sensor without a lot of engineering design forethought. That is soooo not the Apple way - at least not over the past decade or so.

Apple has some catching up to do if it's going to get back to being the industry leader in creativity and usability. Giving production responsibility to competitors is doing nothing more than fueling the competition (think Samsung, LG, Sony, etc.). It's just a matter of time before they (competitors) refine and reproduce knock-offs that eak by the patent laws. It's already happening to some extent.

Tim Cook is a financial wizard in many people's eyes. He has done some very needed revenue streamlining and refinement at Apple. However, it takes more than dollars to be innovative. As he just said in his interview, we should not forget Nokia and it's recent dilemma (paraphrased). And remember the cash pile Yahoo had as it sat around pondering its greatness while Google was eating Yahoo's pie. Does anyone "Yahoo" anymore?

I suspect this lull in creativity is being born out in the stock price too. There appears to be overall concern that Apple's next creative genius is yet to be crowned. Is it Jony Ive? Is it someone as yet unknown? I remember the similar floundering when Sam Walton passed leaving the Walmart corporation (and no I am not comparing Apple to Walmart but rather the loss of the pinnacle leader of the corporation). I also remember when Steve Jobs was asked to leave Apple and the floundering and almost bankruptcy that occurred. Steve has one again departed. All be it in a much more organized and planned manner. However, the bottom line is still very visible and clearly is saying that Steve Jobs was the unique personality that pulled Apple through thick and thin. Who's pulling now? Tim Cook is definitely pushing. But, Who will rise to pull?

 

[subsonix]

No way is the M7 part of A7. They wouldn't talk about it as a separate co-processor, otherwise they may point out the myriad purpose built co-processing units that already exist inside the SoC such as the ISP, audio DSP etc.

"No way" seems like a strong assertion for something you know nothing about. What's the difference, a System On a Chip, or a system of chips in separate packages connected with copper. The 338S120L part could also be a controller for the lightning connector, given it's physical location for example.

 

[topper24hours]

I just assumed that the M7 was built into the A7.

That was Anand's take as well!
You appear to be fairly perceptive, sir... =)

 

[iapplelove]

So... have iPhones become easier to repair with sucessive models? I remember them being very "repair un-friendly" around the 3G/3GS era if I'm not mistaken...

the article just said the 5s scored lower than the 5, so no they are not getting easier to repair.

----------

I'm wondering if the finger print sensor wasn't a quick last minute "Oh ****" moment add-on because the 5s isn't much more than a mildly improved 5. The reason I wonder about this is that looking at the iFixit tear down, it really looks like someone just slapped on the fingerprint sensor without a lot of engineering design forethought. That is soooo not the Apple way - at least not over the past decade or so.

Apple has some catching up to do if it's going to get back to being the industry leader in creativity and usability. Giving production responsibility to competitors is doing nothing more than fueling the competition (think Samsung, LG, Sony, etc.). It's just a matter of time before they (competitors) refine and reproduce knock-offs that eak by the patent laws. It's already happening to some extent.

Tim Cook is a financial wizard in many people's eyes. He has done some very needed revenue streamlining and refinement at Apple. However, it takes more than dollars to be innovative. As he just said in his interview, we should not forget Nokia and it's recent dilemma (paraphrased). And remember the cash pile Yahoo had as it sat around pondering its greatness while Google was eating Yahoo's pie. Does anyone "Yahoo" anymore?

I suspect this lull in creativity is being born out in the stock price too. There appears to be overall concern that Apple's next creative genius is yet to be crowned. Is it Jony Ive? Is it someone as yet unknown? I remember the similar floundering when Sam Walton passed leaving the Walmart corporation (and no I am not comparing Apple to Walmart but rather the loss of the pinnacle leader of the corporation). I also remember when Steve Jobs was asked to leave Apple and the floundering and almost bankruptcy that occurred. Steve has one again departed. All be it in a much more organized and planned manner. However, the bottom line is still very visible and clearly is saying that Steve Jobs was the unique personality that pulled Apple through thick and thin. Who's pulling now? Tim Cook is definitely pushing. But, Who will rise to pull?

it's not tim cooks job to be innovative, regardless of his predecessor .

 

[Glassman]

"No way" seems like a strong assertion for something you know nothing about. What's the difference, a System On a Chip, or a system of chips in separate packages connected with copper. The 338S120L part could also be a controller for the lightning connector, given it's physical location for example.

I'm missing an audio codec/amp which was a similarly sized package to 338S120L on iPhone 5 (338S1117), so it's very well possible that's what it is. Still I expect one of the smaller ICs that can barely be identified from their packages due to size to be the M7. Have to wait till Chipworks are done digging.

There is a good reason for certain functional blocks to be implemented as a separate ICs. Different functionality calls for a different silicon process. In case of M7 it would be a low leakage, low power but rather low performance process ensuring that even while running continuously and interacting with the sensors, it will not take it's toll on battery. The high performance small geometry process used for the A7 SoC is not the ideal one for this particular duty.

Besides, just following what was revealed to us by Apple themselves and some logic, it's quite clear it is not part of A7. How about the secure enclave they pinpointed for Touch ID inside the A7? Why would they not do the same if M7 was indeed part of the SoC?

 

[subsonix]

Besides, just following what was revealed to us by Apple themselves and some logic, it's quite clear it is not part of A7. How about the secure enclave they pinpointed for Touch ID inside the A7? Why would they not do the same if M7 was indeed part of the SoC?

I don't know, possibly because it's not a processor. The remaining question is why iFixit didn't find the part, if we apply some logic then the remaining option is that it's part of the SoC.

 

[macs4nw]

Of course they rip open the hardest colour to find....

And probably the 64GB version……

 

[everything-i]

I just assumed that the M7 was built into the A7.

That would be the obvious conclusion, why would anyone think it would be a completely separate chip in separate package anyway. That would make no sense at all in a device where space is at a premium.

 

[locust76]

No way is the M7 part of A7.

It makes far more sense to integrate the M7 into the A7 package than not. The M7 can't possibly be so complex, so having a huge die size requiring a separate chip is probably not necessary.

Besides, integration of discrete processing units into a SoC package like the A7 goes a long way to increase performance and decrease latency and power draw.

 

[neilmacd]

That would be the obvious conclusion, why would anyone think it would be a completely separate chip in separate package anyway. That would make no sense at all in a device where space is at a premium.

IMO, the M7 almost seems like its in the 5s as a data gathering/dummy run to optimise the chip for iWatch.

For that to happen I'd imagine it'd be a separate chip. So I was quite surprised to see its part of the SoC.

 

[prowlmedia]

IMO, the M7 almost seems like its in the 5s as a data gathering/dummy run to optimise the chip for iWatch.

For that to happen I'd imagine it'd be a separate chip. So I was quite surprised to see its part of the SoC.

Um, Well. As a watch would need a CPU too... Makes perfect sense to stick it on the same piece of silicon. Could be completely separate operating unit in the same chip - same as the secure fingerprint enclave.

Just saves on space, with connectors / pins etc.

Maybe we will find out with the Chip X-rays that will inevitably come in the next few days.

 

[TroyBoy30]

Mate you're COMPLETELY missing the point. iFixit is scoring the self (hobbyist) repairability. Hence the hobbyist perspective. Its a fricken hobbyist website.

Sure Apple may replace the battery/phone if it fails early. But what do you do when the phone is out of warranty? What do you do if the warranty is void?

I honestly cannot count how many times iFixit has helped me repair a phone.

you buy a new one

 

[iSayuSay]

you buy a new one

You know what they say.. "There's a sucker born every minute"

 

[apolloa]

iFixit's iPhone 5s Teardown Reveals Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor, 'Invisible' M7 Chip

Gosh! You mean to tell me their is ACTUALLY a REAL TouchID finger print scanner and a chip called the M7 in there? Wow!!

 

[kdarling]

There is a good reason for certain functional blocks to be implemented as a separate ICs. Different functionality calls for a different silicon process. In case of M7 it would be a low leakage, low power but rather low performance process ensuring that even while running continuously and interacting with the sensors, it will not take it's toll on battery. The high performance small geometry process used for the A7 SoC is not the ideal one for this particular duty.

Also, such low power parts could easily make their way into a smartwatch, where wrist motions and gestures can be important input.

Phone designers using low power coprocessors for detecting motion and ambient conditions, include:

• Apple, which says the M7 processes motion data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass.
  
  
• Motorola uses a super low power TI MSP430 MCU which monitors at least the accelerometer, gyro, and ambient light sensor data in their Moto X phone.
  
  
• Samsung's Galaxy S4 has accelerometer, RGB light, digital compass, proximity, gyro, humidity, barometer and gesture sensors. According to a press release last May, it uses an Atmel picoPower Sensor Hub MCU that "gathers and processes data from all the connected sensors in real-time."

.

 

[Glassman]

Also, such low power parts could easily make their way into a smartwatch, where wrist motions and gestures can be important input.

Phone designers using low power coprocessors for detecting motion and ambient conditions, include:

• Apple, which says the M7 processes motion data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass.
  
  
• Motorola uses a super low power TI MSP430 32-bit MCU which monitors at least the accelerometer, gyro, and ambient light sensor data in their Moto X phone. I think the Atrix did too.
  
  
• Samsung's Galaxy S4 has an accelerometer, RGB light, digital compass, proximity, gyro, humidity, barometer and gestures. According to a press release last May, it uses an Atmel picoPower Sensor Hub MCU that "gathers and processes data from all the connected sensors in real-time."

.

Actually, MSP430 is a 16-bit MCU and one of the lowest power on the market. Apple use these occasionally for housekeeping on Mac logic boards. The Atmel can well be based on their 16-bit XMEGA low power core. If Apple were to design their own, they would likely reach for something like ARM Cortex-M0/3/4, but they may as well let some MCU vendor spin a customized version of their MCU or outright use an of-the-shelf one like the others.

You could argue other manufacturers go for discrete coprocessor because they don't design their own SoC and that Apple can integrate it straight into A7 and save space. I don't think that is the reason - there are technical as well as practical reasons to go separate.

 

[dugbug]

I'm wondering if the finger print sensor wasn't a quick last minute "Oh ****" moment add-on because the 5s isn't much more than a mildly improved 5. The reason I wonder about this is that looking at the iFixit tear down, it really looks like someone just slapped on the fingerprint sensor without a lot of engineering design forethought. That is soooo not the Apple way - at least not over the past decade or so.

Like totally. Hey we bought this company for a fingerprint patent a few years ago, can we like mad-rush this thing in? Just stick it on somehow. I have a box of sapphire covers in the corner we could use. And edit the powerpoint of the A7 chip slide to say 64-bit. I know it takes years of meticulous engineering and foundry planning and a dedicated chip design group but we have a keynote to do and the 5S is just so not innovative. A blog said so.

 

[iSayuSay]

Also, such low power parts could easily make their way into a smartwatch, where wrist motions and gestures can be important input.

Phone designers using low power coprocessors for detecting motion and ambient conditions, include:

• Apple, which says the M7 processes motion data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass.
  
  
• Motorola uses a super low power TI MSP430 32-bit MCU which monitors at least the accelerometer, gyro, and ambient light sensor data in their Moto X phone.
  
  
• Samsung's Galaxy S4 has accelerometer, RGB light, digital compass, proximity, gyro, humidity, barometer and gesture sensors. According to a press release last May, it uses an Atmel picoPower Sensor Hub MCU that "gathers and processes data from all the connected sensors in real-time."

.

There's nothing with S4 except they can't market it as a desirable object. As always iPhone is not the best phone ever made but it does what people mostly needs.

Fingerprint sensor for unlocking our phones, making Store purchases, and even possibility for making payments and passbook later. Not necessarily the first, but it's perfectly applicable.

Air gesture .. Smart Stay .. they're no less fancy but hmm .. no real world usage. Just like parallax motion sensing on iOS 7, complete garbage you'll fiddle around for 5 minutes and forget afterward. Waste of space, feature, and tiring long list on marketing brochure

 

[kdarling]

Actually, MSP430 is a 16-bit MCU and one of the lowest power on the market.

Thanks for the 16-bit correction. Edited. That's what I get for posting while cooking breakfast for my daughter

Apple (...) may as well let some MCU vendor spin a customized version of their MCU or outright use an of-the-shelf one like the others.

Yeah, Apple does that pretty often, sourcing things like audio / power / touch etc chips from other companies, with custom Apple markings.

You could argue other manufacturers go for discrete coprocessor because they don't design their own SoC and that Apple can integrate it straight into A7 and save space. I don't think that is the reason - there are technical as well as practical reasons to go separate.

I agree, but we'll hopefully find out if/when Chipworks does an internal study of the 5S chips.

.