DELL XPS 15" 9500 KB FPC lever

[abajor]

The topic says it all. We have an XPS 9500 the keys started failing so we ordered a new top lid assembly.
When we tried to open it up to make the swap we discovered the connector to the MB had a broken lever.

Does anybody have access to the BOM or parts lists. Or have any idea where I can order a handful of the connectors, since I'm probably going to break a few? As far as I can tell its a .5mm pitch 22pin connector. I can't quite find a matching part on digikey or mouser, or anything with the proper diagrams to verify dimensions.

It would really suck if this one lever kills the entire motherboard keyboard interface.

[mon2]

Share the silk screen markings of your board. Better to post pics of the same and this keyboard connector. At 0.5 mm pitch they are very common but dainty. We are using a 0.3mm pitch in a new product and hate it. Need to know the full number of contact pins.

[abajor]

Share the silk screen markings of your board. Better to post pics of the same and this keyboard connector. At 0.5 mm pitch they are very common but dainty. We are using a 0.3mm pitch in a new product and hate it. Need to know the full number of contact pins.

Here are photos of the motherboard connector end and the keyboard connector end.

It's 22 pin. The total connector width is 1.5cm or 15mm
The spacing looks like its a little off from .5mm but there's no way its .35

[abajor]

Nobody recognize that component manufacturer?
Digikey and Mouser have limited offerings for a back lever 22pin .5mm connector.

[mon2]

We know tons of offshore mfrs of these parts. Can you confirm the exact width of this part? This pin pitch does vary from 0.3mm / 0.5mm / 0.8mm / 1.0mm. You are measuring with a micrometer?

Let me check some datasheets.

[mon2]

Is this keyboard connector on a daughterboard or on the main logic board?

What is the LA-**** number posted on their silk screen? Is it LA-J191P ?

Also, believe there is a misunderstanding on how to count these connector pins.

Yes, there are 22 long pins on this SMD connector but there are also the recessed shorted SMD pins on the same connector, inbetween the long pins. So the total # of pins is > 22 pins.

To confirm, remove the FFC (flat cable) out of this ZIF / FPC connector and share a clear pic of the contacts on this KBC cable.

From there we should be able to count out the true # of contacts = # of pins on this connector. Even with my eyeglasses, going cross-eyed and believe there are 44 pins or close to onboard.

[abajor]

Is this keyboard connector on a daughterboard or on the main logic board?

What is the LA-**** number posted on their silk screen? Is it LA-J191P ?

Also, believe there is a misunderstanding on how to count these connector pins.

Yes, there are 22 long pins on this SMD connector but there are also the recessed shorted SMD pins on the same connector, inbetween the long pins. So the total # of pins is > 22 pins.

To confirm, remove the FFC (flat cable) out of this ZIF / FPC connector and share a clear pic of the contacts on this KBC cable.

From there we should be able to count out the true # of contacts = # of pins on this connector. Even with my eyeglasses, going cross-eyed and believe there are 44 pins or close to onboard.

Cool it looks like 45 pins

It's one sided and provided is a bonus picture of the connector with a metric ruler.

I see nothing on the silk screen indicating a connector number.

Looking at the ribbon it looks like the pins must be, ~0.35mm

[abajor]

Is this keyboard connector on a daughterboard or on the main logic board?

What is the LA-**** number posted on their silk screen? Is it LA-J191P ?

Also, believe there is a misunderstanding on how to count these connector pins.

Yes, there are 22 long pins on this SMD connector but there are also the recessed shorted SMD pins on the same connector, inbetween the long pins. So the total # of pins is > 22 pins.

To confirm, remove the FFC (flat cable) out of this ZIF / FPC connector and share a clear pic of the contacts on this KBC cable.

From there we should be able to count out the true # of contacts = # of pins on this connector. Even with my eyeglasses, going cross-eyed and believe there are 44 pins or close to onboard.

A couple more bonus items just noticed all this information on the ribbon.

[mon2]

Just found this amazing item on AliExpress. Check it out! US $29.98 | Original Verbinder Board Connector for DELL XPS 15 9500 fdq50 fdc55 LS-H822P Test OK
https://a.aliexpress.com/_msWN5eW

still searching.

[abajor]

Just found this amazing item on AliExpress. Check it out! US $29.98 | Original Verbinder Board Connector for DELL XPS 15 9500 fdq50 fdc55 LS-H822P Test OK
https://a.aliexpress.com/_msWN5eW

still searching.

LOL Phew might be a last resort 30$ hail Mary and hope I don't crack the one lever.
Thanks a lot for helping out.

Now that we know it's a ~45pin .35 maybe easier to locate?
Correction .30mm ?

[rogfanther]

Is the fix for you or a customer ? If for you, and you do not find/want to spend in that board, could use a piece of other flat cable as a wedge to help secure the keyboard cable inside the connector. A little ghetto, but sometimes it is the way ....

[mon2]

Agreed. They call it a 'stiffener' in the FFC world. You could probably even use one of those 'playing card style' plastic spudger tools which are very inexpensive. We use those often to create the 'V' shape cutout for isolating the battery connector from a glued down battery on ipads. Find the thinnest one for the job and insert it above the FFC brown kbc cable to create a friction fitting.

[abajor]

Ohh cool idea guys. Yes its for a customer.

I like the idea of the trying to use an extra ribbon cable piece. The big question if I used the extra flat ribbon cable. Would that wedge in on top of the ribbon since it's a bottom trace? Or would I slide it in between the top lock pins and bottom pins like the back lock lever pushes the back of the top pins up to lever them to clamp the ribbon down?

Instead of using one of the spudger credit card things. There are a lot of types of thin guitar picks. I might even have a few of these weird large triangle acetate guitar picks. The sides aren't curved they're flat. Thin enough picks could be cut and shaped.

Using the card / pick would those be used to slide between the rear pin rows, to lever the upper row?

[mon2]

Guitar picks are too thick. Credit card wedge may be more appropriate. Test with a donor board and see if you can locate other ffc to review the task. This extra wedge will be placed on top of the cables existing stiffener on the top of the cable but inside the fpc connector. You are trying to create a tighter friction fit onto the present contacts. That is what the missing piano blade bar was doing.

[abajor]

Guitar picks are too thick. Credit card wedge may be more appropriate. Test with a donor board and see if you can locate other ffc to review the task. This extra wedge will be placed on top of the cables existing stiffener on the top of the cable but inside the fpc connector. You are trying to create a tighter friction fit onto the present contacts. That is what the missing piano blade bar was doing.

I don't think you've seen how thin, thin guitar picks get, much thinner than an of the credit card spudgers I've seen.

Ok on top of the stiffener. I have an extra identical cable ribbon cable I'll give that a try first.

[abajor]

Having to give up on this one. I was able to get some of the keyboard working by sliding the second ribbon on top of the original, but no track pad. It also puts a bit of stress on the connector to add the second ribbon.

Fragile lever defeats motherboard.