Radio Frequency Interference in Cell Phone

[eclorian]

I'm trying to find out what material might best block or limit radio frequency interference (or at least I think that's the problem, as I understand it).

I have a phone, the antenna inside the phone is next to a chip that controls a touch button. Whenever the phone boosts the signal to connect to the cellular network, the touch button goes crazy. I have seen a fix for this that includes two layers of duct tape and a piece of aluminum foil covering the chip, but I'm curious to know if there is a solution that will work better. Perhaps using a piece of copper instead of aluminum, or a type of tape that will work better than duct tape to cover the chip in question.

Thanks!

 

[davenn]

Hi there
welcome to PF is this a new phone ?
has it always had this problem?
is it still under warranty ?
is it under a contract ( if so that may automatically include warranty)

DAve

 

[eclorian]

It's not a new phone, and is no longer under any warranty. Through my own research I know the issue is in fact the antenna being too close to the chip that controls the touch button. The solution I found was to place a small piece of duct tape over the chip, then a piece of aluminum foil, followed by another piece of duct tape. This appears to work just fine, but I'm rarely satisfied with a fix that I feel may benefit from some small changes. So essentially, I want to make sure when I cover this chip, I won't have to go back and adjust it later.

That said, I'm not very familiar with electronic interference and what materials might block it best. For the tape portion, I wonder if there is something that may be more effective than duct tape, something that will help create some sort of shielding, in addition to a flexible piece of metal that might assist. For instance, many types of wiring employ shielding to block out interference, from coax to network cables. I'm just trying to find the most effective way to create shielding around that chip.

 

[berkeman]

I'm trying to find out what material might best block or limit radio frequency interference (or at least I think that's the problem, as I understand it).

I have a phone, the antenna inside the phone is next to a chip that controls a touch button. Whenever the phone boosts the signal to connect to the cellular network, the touch button goes crazy. I have seen a fix for this that includes two layers of duct tape and a piece of aluminum foil covering the chip, but I'm curious to know if there is a solution that will work better. Perhaps using a piece of copper instead of aluminum, or a type of tape that will work better than duct tape to cover the chip in question.

Thanks!

It's not a new phone, and is no longer under any warranty. Through my own research I know the issue is in fact the antenna being too close to the chip that controls the touch button. The solution I found was to place a small piece of duct tape over the chip, then a piece of aluminum foil, followed by another piece of duct tape. This appears to work just fine, but I'm rarely satisfied with a fix that I feel may benefit from some small changes. So essentially, I want to make sure when I cover this chip, I won't have to go back and adjust it later.

That said, I'm not very familiar with electronic interference and what materials might block it best. For the tape portion, I wonder if there is something that may be more effective than duct tape, something that will help create some sort of shielding, in addition to a flexible piece of metal that might assist. For instance, many types of wiring employ shielding to block out interference, from coax to network cables. I'm just trying to find the most effective way to create shielding around that chip.

If that fix works, go with it. The only potential improvement would be to ground the shield to the circuit board's ground. But without a schematic and PCB layout information, it would be difficult to find a ground to connect to. If you did want to connect the shield to ground, you would use copper tape instead of aluminum foil, since you can't solder to aluminum foil.

 

[alphy]

I can understand your frustration with the radio frequency interference (RFI) in your cell phone. RFI is a common problem in electronic devices, and it can be caused by various sources such as nearby cell towers, power lines, or even other electronic devices.

In order to block or limit RFI, there are a few materials that could potentially be effective. One option is using a conductive material such as copper or aluminum, as you mentioned. These materials can act as a shield and block the RFI from reaching the chip. However, the effectiveness of these materials may vary depending on the strength and frequency of the RFI.

Another option is using a material specifically designed to block RFI, such as a ferrite bead or a conductive fabric. These materials are often used in electronic devices to reduce RFI and can be found in the form of stickers or sleeves that can be placed over the affected area.

In addition to using a specific material, the placement of the material is also important. Placing it as close as possible to the chip can increase its effectiveness in blocking RFI.

It is also worth noting that RFI can be affected by the overall design and layout of the electronic device. Therefore, it may be beneficial to consult with the manufacturer of your phone or a professional in the field of RFI mitigation for a more tailored solution.

In conclusion, while the duct tape and aluminum foil workaround may provide some relief, there are other materials and techniques that may be more effective in blocking or limiting RFI in your cell phone. I hope this information helps in finding a better solution to your problem.