IFL90 webcam or fingerprint reader pinout

Hi. I have a Compal IFL-90 based machine and as i doesn't need to store much data on it, I've brought a 32 gb USB 3.0 memory stick and installed the OS on. I want to place the memory stick inside the laptop and connect it up to either the webcam or, preferably, the fingerprint header on the mainboard. Does anyone here know the pinout for either connector?

The webcam connector is 5 pin and designated JP3 on the board, the fingerprint reader connector is 6 ping and designated JP4.

 

Sorry, no idea.

I guess you do not want to sacrifice a USB plug, or don't want something to stick-out of the body - like a usb stick.

Keep us updated on you project, sounds interesting.

Cheers

 

No idea about the pinout but it's in most cases very easy to reverse engineer by looking at the PCB. The GND connection is commonly connected to a ground plane, the +5V connection is usually wider than the data connections and the data connectors can be ordered in any way but often with the D+ closer to the GND and the D- closer to the +5V.

As you specifically write that the memory stick is USB 3.0 I have to make sure you understand that it will be used in USB 2 mode if used internally? Neither the camera nor the fingerprint reader are going to have USB 3.0 connections.

 

Yes, I want it completely internalized.

I guess I'll just have to dig out the ol' oscilloscope and start probing. I know from experience D+ and D- are interchangeable without damaging the device, although it won't work, and I can just listen to the fingerprint reader while booting.

The reason I chose a USB 3.0 stick is that it will deliver the steady 28 mb/s USB 2.0 is capable of, almost no matter what it's doing. Most USB 2.0 sticks aren't that fast at random writes, like applying system updates. In practice, it feels just as fast as a normal (as old as the laptop) harddrive in normal use, and it boots quite a lot faster. And it uses a lot less power on battery. Also, there plenty of room inside the FL-90, compared to other laptops, so it's easy to mount it.

This is my third FL-90. I guess I have a soft spot for the glossy screen, the overheating, the cheap plastic and how the single screw on the lower left of the laptop always breaks and makes it feel like it's breaking apart every time it lift it. Thinkpads doesn't have that much personality. Anyway, I brought it dirt cheap (less than the sum of it parts and 1/30 as what I paid for the first one) as I knew exactly what was wrong with it. Took it apart and baked the card and it's back up running. And with this little upgrade it's gonna spend the rest of it's days as spare laptop in my lab. Which probably won't be too long, before the MXM module fails again.

 

If you want to try something a little more risky but faster it's easy to check the power/signals while running Okay maybe much more risky if one isn't steady on the hands.
Some cameras runs on 3.3V BTW, forgot to mention that earlier. If so it should be possible to take power from a SATA connector (a memory stick doesn't consume much).