Before I'll get to your answers, I have another question. How do you suggest to maintain full USB 3.1 functionality including external displays, networking, data transfer and much more? Will this need to be routed through the battery module, increasing complexity and cost? Or do you suggest an additional USB-C connector on the phone, which increases complexity as well?
No
Currently the (replaceable) sub-pcb with the attached (replaceable) usb port is connected with a (replaceable) ribbon cable to the (replaceable) mainboard containing the chipset with the charging hardware. Considering routing the data connection to the battery's usb port, you'd unify four/five individually replaceable modules (battery, sub-pcb, ribbon cable, usb port, charging hardware on mainboard) into one single module. This reduces modularity which makes repairs less sustainable.
No need PCB in magazine,only charging IC,and connector
To my knowledge, the charging hardware is included in the chipset. This makes it so that it can't be removed without choosing another chipset without charging hardware. I doubt that the latter exists, but even if it does it requires a complete redesign of the phones internals. The other option is to not use the existing charging hardware (making it redundant) and adding a new one in your battery module. To me, this doesn't sound sustainable. Another option is to route the electricity from the port through the battery to the chipset and then back to the battery, in which case the battery wouldn't be able to charge outside the phone. How are you planning to handle this problem created by the modern integration of charging hardware into phone chipsets?
The core principle of my design is to integrate the already finalized external charging case and portable protective case integrate into a detachable plug-in battery magazine, further simplifying both the structure and the operational workflow→
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLATtfNxqoQ&t=1010s
Battery Magazine include:【battery cell,USB-C port,Power pass-through,data pass-through,Charging IC, BMS/NTC Chip(I considerate),connector/FPC】
Phone PCB include:【PMIC,Charging control,USB Controller,USB PHY,PD negotiation】
External Charging pathway: charger→usbc→charging IC→battery
Interlnal Charging pathway:charger→usbc→PMIC/charging IC→battery
Which increases the frame width and decreases the space for the battery.
Ans: Other brands Any phone increase battery size also decreases space for other components
Yes. And if you own two batteries or replace a battery you don't only pay for the battery but also for the fast charging hardware. Also as explained above, you can't simply move the charging hardware, since it is an integral part of the phones chipset. So you'd need to double the charging hardware
1.Any technology progressive will inevitably increase short-term costs,also increase some hardwares,Otherwise, we’d be heading back to the era of the Nokia 3310.
2.Besides allowing users to replace batteries more easily.The battery magazine concept undeniably adds a small amount of extra power management chips and transmission cable components. However, in comparison, it can reduce the excessive production and waste of external chargers, power banks, battery protection cases, phone back covers, and adapters. It can also extend the lifespan of smartphones, thereby contributing to sustainability and environmental protection.
3.the pouch battery inside the battery magazine can provide a larger capacity, it can reduce the need for carrying multiple spare batteries for outdoor workers and travelers, thereby reducing the over production and waste of battery cells. For example, outdoor workers or travelers who previously needed to carry three spare batteries may only need to carry one or two battery magazines in the future.
4.The SHIFT battery magazine is not intended solely to power SHIFT smartphones. If SHIFT establishes a universal standard in the future, the same battery magazine could also be a battery for drones, robots, labtop, AI hardware, surveillance systems, autonomous vehicles, and many other devices. This would create a more sustainable and environmentally friendly ecosystem. Moreover, it can instantly function as a power bank to charge other USB Type-C devices.
5.Extra battery magazines could also be shared or rented among other SHIFT users.
So a moving mechanism with custom parts is cheaper than mass produced screws?
You may refer to the previous LG G5 as an example.
I can respect that. Although, it'll make the already expensive sustainable SHIFTphone more expensive to the average user, making the entire concept less sustainable.
Thanks
Customers who want a buffet-style choice should have the freedom to choose it, rather than being forced by manufacturers to accept a fixed set menu.
Currently, all smartphone brands have taken away customers’ right to choose a buffet.
1.The value of modular products lies in giving customers the freedom to choose carte buffet, rather than forcing them to accept a fixed set menu. Of course, customers must also pay a higher price for the premium options they choose themselves.
2.Just like a buffet restaurant, we should not offer only low- to mid-range dishes. We must also provide high-value premium options and allow customers the freedom to choose.
I suggest we should not limit ourselves to only the low- and mid-end markets while giving up opportunities in the high-end market.
You are either suggesting, that the phones internals are exposed to the battery magazine slot, or you are neglecting, that the phone still has a back cover behind the battery. This comes down to the question if you see phone internals or the phone shell/cover when the battery is removed.
If you had exposed internals to the outside (battery magazine slot), then yes. But it will increase waste when replacing the battery, which is typically replaced before the phone is EOL. So overall increased waste.
1.I would design the bottom section using a softer and lighter plastic rather than the harder plastic used for the battery magazine, because the rear side of the bottom section sits directly against the display module.
All phone internals, chips, and PCBs would also be enclosed within the phone frame in order to achieve a high level of water resistance.
2.My goal is to make the smartphone usable for as long as possible, ideally without ever needing to be abandoned or replaced.
So worse and more expensive than current system? You pay a premium to add another (originally replaceable) module to each battery. With the current system you buy the hardware with the phone, with your system you buy the hardware with each battery you want to own, making it inferior because less sustainable and more expensive.
1.Basically, it depends on customer demand. If customers want features such as wireless charging, solar charging, or other additional functions, they could register through a future pre-order system and pay for customized configurations in advance, helping to reduce unnecessary waste and overproduction. If customers do not need those features, they can simply purchase the standard configuration instead.
2.The vision of future Industry 4.0 or 5.0 is to enable a demand-driven model led by customer needs.I hope so...
The pouch cell studies apply to both your and shifts battery. Both are pouch cells surrounded by some hardware and casing. Although you are increasing the hardware and casing in your design. The original battery needs only minimal casing, because it is protected within the phone, your design needs much more robust casing protecting the battery.
My original design concept was this: since smartphones from other brands already use pouch batteries, and their casings whether metal, glass, or hard plastic are already capable of protecting those pouch cells, I can simply repurpose part of the phone’s outer casing into a protective shell for the battery magazine to protect the battery cell itself. The section removed from the phone casing would then be replaced by the battery magazine casing, allowing one structure to serve two purposes.
This means, you reconfigure the phones internals (if possible) and add a mechanism (rails, buttons, and retaining clips) into the same space, which would leave less space for the battery? Also you create expensive new hardware, replacing about 50% of the phone (frame, sub-pcb, antennas, antenna cables, usb port, speaker, microphone, battery, back cover, wireless charging, nfc coils), which makes the old parts electronic waste?
How many would buy the new system for legacy phones? The RnD for it would be quite expensive and needs funding.
It's also misleading to call one battery prismatic and the other pouch, when both contain a battery pouch in a casing with hardware. What I see in your concept is starting from the same battery system but than adding more casing, more hardware, and a more complex mechanism, requiring relocation of lower antennas, the speaker, the microphone, and the vibration motor.
1.Currently, every smartphone brand develops completely new parts for each new generation. At our SHIFT as well, from SHIFTphone 4.2 to 8.1, every generation has required newly developed components. Even Fairphone is the same :from FP2 to FP6, the parts cannot be reused or made fully compatible with older devices.
This is also one of the main reasons why I designed the “Project of SHIFT LIFE.” I hope that in the future, under my Project of SHIFT LIFE plan, new modules will be able to work with older phones, allowing users to upgrade existing devices instead of replacing the entire phone, thereby reducing electronic waste. →
https://forum.shiftphones.com/threads/project-of-shift-life.7951/
2.Rather than being afraid of electronic waste, it would be better to establish a proper modular recycling system.
Last year, I was already thinking about some possible solutions. For example, in the future, if customers want to purchase a new module, they may first need to recycle an old module. After the recycling company or department confirms the returned module, it could send a verification code to SHIFT. SHIFT would then issue a new authorization code to the customer, which would either allow the new hardware module to be activated or grant permission to purchase a new module. At that point, we can decide whether the authorization code should be linked to the online store account or bound directly to the hardware SoC.
This already applies to the current battery module.
1.our 6m 4242 mAh battery unable using in 8.1
2.8.1 battery need "adaptor" to 6m or 6mq (By your logic, adapters could also contribute to electronic waste)
3.Besides the battery, the camera module from the SHIFTphone 8 or 8.1 also cannot be installed on the SHIFT6m
4.Additionally, I would like to ask you: if the physical size of the current SHIFTphone 8 battery remains unchanged in the future, what technologies could be used to increase its capacity to more than 5000mAh?
Does not address my concerns with increased supply chain complexity. Everything you say applies to the current battery as well.
1.as for other module:I suggest establishing a universal "SHIFT standard" in the future, integrating with third party companies, and moving toward an open source hardware and customizable hardware ecosystem.
2.As for batteries:almost smartphone brands currently use pouch batteries, so obtaining pouch cells or more advanced battery technologies from the supply chain side would be much easier for us.
I'm considering, that every user will buy an average of two battery modules. One with the phone and one replacement later on. This means all hardware included in the battery module would be bought twice.
As I mentioned before, our advantage is giving customers the freedom to choose their own “buffet” configuration.
- Customers could freely choose to purchase Frame Module A with the phone and only one battery magazine, without needing to buy additional spare battery magazines.
- Customers could also freely choose to purchase Frame Module B, which is compatible with the original Prismatic cell batteries used in devices( such as the SHIFT6m and SHIFTphone 8.1. Battery size)
The average user also removes the battery a single digit or low double digit amount of times during the phones lifetime. Imho this means, that the battery module should contain as little hardware as possible and the mechanism should be rather resourceful than fancy.
However, you also need to consider users who work outdoors, users who cannot reliably access charging, or users in emergency situations such as military personnel, police officers, medical staff, and other professionals who may be unable to charge their phones for extended periods of time. For them, fast swappable batteries are extremely important.
For example, a few years ago, our Taiwan experienced a major earthquake disaster. People were trapped, and fortunately the swappable battery design of SHIFT phones allowed us to quickly restore power when our phone batteries were depleted. This enabled our phones to continue functioning, until police and rescue teams to locate us. The SHIFT swappable battery system helped protect and save our lives.
If swaping the battery becomes more difficult, our brand and values will lose attractiveness and uniqueness.
Users who need swappable batteries should also be respected.
Edit: Parts of your text seem AI-written, which doesn't add credibility to your idea. There are clear indications like changes in writing style, unnecessary abbreviations and overly fancy words, and the famous "–", for which LLMs are known.
I am not AI, but I belive in the future AI can help us solve many of the challenges related to modular smartphones, allowing their quality and functionality to continuously improve over time.For example, issues related to weight, thickness, module compatibility, and many other challenges.
