wes5
join:2004-10-20
Atlanta, GA
| [Cingular] Magnetic closures on cellphone cases
the case in question: $14.99 from WallyMart |
Just solved a problem with the SGH-d807. Whenever I removed it from my case, the slider's _switch_ would toggle state.
That is, the phone would go from open-state to closed-state rapidly as I removed it from the case (quite annoying if you are removing it to answer a call and it hangs up on your caller).
Local sales reps and the service center handling warranty repairs were pretty patient, but told me that my problem was isolated. Now I truly believe them.
It was the magnetic closure on my cell-phone case! I flipped the phone over in the case for a few days (that is, screen down inst/of up), and the problem went away. I further tried moving the phone in different angles over the magnet, and have been able to reproduce this 'switch toggling'.
I have no reason to believe that the phone has been adversely affected by exposure to the magnet, but I can confirm that the magnet was causing the problem. So, a note! If you have a cell-phone _case_ with magnetic closure, it _may_ have some effect on the electronics, though fairly benign.
I'm sure this is a fairly isolated case (so to speak). I don't think you have anything to fear from magnet-closure cases. Phones shouldn't really be affected by a nearby magnet, but do be mindful if your credit cards are in the same pocket or purse! ; )
The problem recalls a basic electrical experiment where a magnet is moved over a conductor.
As a friend reminded me, when you pass a magnet over a wire, some current is induced into the wire. (maybe you've seen those 'shake-able' flashlights which contain a magnet that slides back and forth through a coil?)
It reasons out, then, that perhaps moving the phone past this strong magnet in the case (less than a millimeter from the phone's already slender housing), could induce a current in the signal line from the phone's slide mechanism.
That's my wild-assed theory, at least. We welcome yours. : )
wes |
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HolmanGT
Premium
join:2001-11-20
Saint George, UT
 ·Baja Broadband
2 edits | "It reasons out, then, that perhaps moving the phone past this strong magnet in the case (less than a millimeter from the phone's already slender housing), could induce a current in the signal line from the phone's slide mechanism.
That's my wild-assed theory"
wes,
Close I think but almost all sliders and flip phones use a reed relay that is actuated by a magnet in the flip/slide or visa versa. Anyway the reed relay contacts are magnetic polarity sensitive. One being held close can easily be opened by an opposing slightly stronger magnet passing closed by. The chance of doing any electrical damage as in an induced voltage in your phone from the magnet in the case is very slim but if you pass the reed relay past the case magnet the chanches of bumping (tripping) it are pretty good. Reed relays are used because the are very sensitive and very fast acting.
Two Cents |
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spamd
Premium
join:2001-04-22
Rockford, IL
·Insight Communicat..
| Not sure about your "switch toggling" problem.
Take note that all Blackberries have a feature called "In holster" mode or profile. The magnet in the holster forces the phone to switch to a different ring/vibrate profile. This is useful for situations when you don't want the ringer to go off, instead it will vibrate. This was designed for business users who don't want the ringer to go off during a meeting. On a Blackberry you can also set it to answer when you take it out of the pouch. The magnet answers the phone when removed from the pouch.
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When everything is coming your way, you are in the wrong lane. |
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HolmanGT
Premium
join:2001-11-20
Saint George, UT
·Baja Broadband
| spamd,
I was not aware the Blackberries had such a feature. That puts a wrinkle in the magnetic holster selection that I would not even want to mess with.
Sounds like if you own a BB you had better buy a case certified for use with a BB or you could find yourself having a lot of strange problems. |
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HolmanGT
Premium
join:2001-11-20
Saint George, UT
·Baja Broadband
1 edit | reply to wes5
wes,
On this Magnetic thing... thanks you just cost me a bundle. 
I got to checking my Magnetic KRZR K1 case last night and guess what, not all the time but often enough that I will no longer use it when pulling the phone in and out maybe 1 out of 10 times the phone thought it had been opened and closed. That is way too often for me.
I apologize to anyone that has read any of my past post defending Magnetic closures sitting the fact that Motorola would not sell a case with a magnet if they caused any kind of problem. Obviously I don't know my back-side from a golf course!
So "wes" as I said earlier thanks for costing me a small fortune because I am on my way to the trash with all and any phone cases that have Mag latches. I do not need or want strange phone behavior that leads me to think a very expensive phone is acting up when in reality it is some 15 cent magnetic latch causing the problem.
Regards
And a serious thank you.. I might have gone a very long time before (if ever) I discovered this fact on my own, not to mention steer other people down the garden path to magnetic He11. 
PS - Caveat: Now what does one do ... have you ever had Velcro grab a $80 dollar pair of pants or a $30 dollar tie? If you have then you probably have the same like for Velcro closures as I do. Guess that leaves slip in holster! |
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Descent
Wrap It Up
Premium
join:2000-11-10
WDC Suburb
| reply to HolmanGT
said by HolmanGT  :spamd, I was not aware the Blackberries had such a feature. That puts a wrinkle in the magnetic holster selection that I would not even want to mess with. Sounds like if you own a BB you had better buy a case certified for use with a BB or you could find yourself having a lot of strange problems. Thank fully, blackberry sells all their models with their own magnetic cases / clips specially designed for such purpose 
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