Make Your Own Smartwatch From An Old Cell Phone

Step 1

Scavenging Parts

What Iā€™d like to do for this crazy/ambitions project is turn an old cell phone into a smartwatch. So obviously an old cell phone is required. The primary reason for this project is simply that I had an old cell phone laying around and wanted to find a creative way to repurpose it. The one I had is a Nokia 1100, but most other old cell phones would work, so long as you can find the schematics for the LCD online. Taking apart the 1100, there werenā€™t too many scavenge-able parts to choose from. First and foremost, there was the LCD screen, then I was also able to extract a vibrating motor, a small speaker, as well as a protective cover for the LCD. What youā€™re able to scavenge really depends on what type of phone you have, and how old it is. The older the phone, the more scavenge-able parts you will find.

Make Your Own Smartwatch From An Old Cell Phone

Step 2

Figuring Out The LCD

Without a working LCD, we have no project, so I need to figure out how to get it working outside of the phone. The first step is to see if I can find a schematic for it online. Doing a search for ā€œNokia 1100 LCDā€, I was able to find out a ton of information about it. I found that the LCD model number is PCF8814. I was also able to find a schematic that listed the pinouts.This is a view from the back side of the LCD, so Pin 8 is on the far left when looking at the back. There are 9 pins, but one is unused, leaving 8.

  1. LED (Positive ā€“ 3.3v)
  2. VDD
  3. VDDI
  4. SCLK
  5. SDA
  6. GND
  7. CS
  8. RES

The pins on the LCD are very small, so in an effort to make them easier to connect to, I soldered wire from a ribbon cable to each pin, and then hot glued it all into place. So now I can connect each of the wires to a breadboard to make it easier to work with the LCD.

For More Details : Make Your Own Smartwatch From An Old Cell Phone


About The Author

Ibrar Ayyub

I am an experienced technical writer holding a Master's degree in computer science from BZU Multan, Pakistan University. With a background spanning various industries, particularly in home automation and engineering, I have honed my skills in crafting clear and concise content. Proficient in leveraging infographics and diagrams, I strive to simplify complex concepts for readers. My strength lies in thorough research and presenting information in a structured and logical format.

Follow Us:
LinkedinTwitter

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.