Database Users

NFC Antenna (Back Cover) can be magnetized and will affect compass

So I've been noticing that my compass would always misbehave (in terms of accuracy, not stability a la Sky Maps). I would get a pretty large static error (30 to 40 degrees obviously not declination); rotations would not be consistent (IE, a 180 degree turn would yield 100 degrees change.); and the magnitude of raw measurements was not like that of the magnetometer I got from Sparkfun.
Turns out the neodymium magnets I had near my desk actually latched onto my phone and magnetized the NFC antenna. I tested this by removing the cover and putting the magnet near the antenna and it sticks. Without the cover on, the compass worked much better.
I've mostly demagnetized my NFC antenna now by doing some magnet sweeps and leaving it near the heater, but I've learned to keep the magnets away.
If anyone is having problems with the compass overall accuracy, removing the back cover may help.

chadrockey said:
Turns out the neodymium magnets I had near my desk actually latched onto my phone and magnetized the NFC antenna. I tested this by removing the cover and putting the magnet near the antenna and it sticks. Without the cover on, the compass worked much better.
I've mostly demagnetized my NFC antenna now by doing some magnet sweeps and leaving it near the heater, but I've learned to keep the magnets away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why did you have such strong magnets near your desk? lol
chadrockey said:
I've mostly demagnetized my NFC antenna now by doing some magnet sweeps and leaving it near the heater, but I've learned to keep the magnets away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Phones + magnets = bad same as with hard drives, but I guess at least you don't loose files with magnets and phones that would suck...

I use them to test various things, such as magnetic interference on magnetometers in phones/compasses/inertial measurement systems. The magnets used to hold doors closed are very powerful and affect compass heading. Rare earth magnets are also extremely cool.
That's mostly a myth with the hard drives. Floppy disks/cassette tapes sure. I think it takes something like .2 to .5 Telsa to actually start affect hard drives. My largest magnet is only something like .1. In large spinning drives, they all contain a neodymium magnet in the center.
Mostly I was surprised that the NFC antenna could be imprinted by a magnetic field. I was getting a pretty significant field too. The change was something like 10 uT.
Sources:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/116572/busting_the_biggest_pc_myths.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neodymium_magnet

chadrockey said:
I use them to test various things, such as magnetic interference on magnetometers in phones/compasses/inertial measurement systems. The magnets used to hold doors closed are very powerful and affect compass heading. Rare earth magnets are also extremely cool.
That's mostly a myth with the hard drives. Floppy disks/cassette tapes sure. I think it takes something like .2 to .5 Telsa to actually start affect hard drives. My largest magnet is only something like .1. In large spinning drives, they all contain a neodymium magnet in the center.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I took apart several old hard drives and found those magnets, so I knew about it but they are exceptionally strong! the two magnets are near impossible to pull away from each other when stuck, you have to slide them I have since lost them though

Thanks for the tip here! Removing the back cover does indeed bring my compass back to sanity. However, I have no idea how to demagnetize the NFC antenna. What are magnet sweeps? Any suggestions?

Didn't saw this thread either.
Thanks will check it later if compass works fine without the back cover

Tried without cover and it works ok!
Now need to find a way to de-magnetize thus damn cover :-\

If you figure out how please let us know.

Google how to demagnetize metal...
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda app-developers app

Magnet case with amoled screen question

Can a magnet have a negative effect on my phone screen? I just bought a case the features a magnet clasp.

My understanding is that the Super-AMOLED display is not affected by magnetic fields.

What about the compass?
Unless the magnetic field from the case isn't strong enough to distort it; not sure how much is needed

You will be fine.

Should have no effect unless the screen is operating, the magnet is 3 times the size of an MRI machine's permanent magnet, and the phone is moving through its field at 100 MPH... (the only effect you could get is electromagnetic induction, which would run a current through anything.)
I have the Samsung Galaxy S case, which has a magnetic clasp. It messes up my compass calibration almost every time I put it in, but that problem is quickly solved.

What is all this compass stuff I am hearing about, I just got the phone 2 days ago is the compass that important/ how would I fix a problem with it?

XtaC318 said:
What about the compass?
Unless the magnetic field from the case isn't strong enough to distort it; not sure how much is needed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would wager it uses a fibre gyro compass. The odds of having moving parts inside the phone for the sake of a compass is pretty slim.
Gyro compasses use voltage fed sensors and that is why they (and our phones) need to be calibrated. They are not susceptible to magnetic interference.
I could be wrong, but I would be shocked if they put a magnetic compass in a phone so that it needs to be converted to digital output rather than just put a cheap no-moving-parts-to-break gyro in it that is already digital.

Superbovine said:
I would wager it uses a fibre gyro compass. The odds of having moving parts inside the phone for the sake of a compass is pretty slim.
Gyro compasses use voltage fed sensors and that is why they (and our phones) need to be calibrated. They are not susceptible to magnetic interference.
I could be wrong, but I would be shocked if they put a magnetic compass in a phone so that it needs to be converted to digital output rather than just put a cheap no-moving-parts-to-break gyro in it that is already digital.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the explanation =)

No problem. Here's some other reading on it if you're bored
Fibre optics: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibre_optic_gyrocompass
Different ways of obtaining North and their faults: http://www.seasupport.org/compass.htm

So the consensus is that I'm safe with the magnet case right?

Robman62 said:
So the consensus is that I'm safe with the magnet case right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. You'll be fine =)

Random tidbit: If you put a magnet against the camera lens, it will turn your phone on. I'm using a HD magnet but it might work with a weaker one.

othan1 said:
Random tidbit: If you put a magnet against the camera lens, it will turn your phone on. I'm using a HD magnet but it might work with a weaker one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This happens due to the the magnetic sensor used for the car dock that we never seemed to have gotten. It should keep your screen from going to sleep and, if you were to have the Car Dock application installed, would launch the application.

Discoloration
I bought a case with a magnet clip.
After only 1 week i got a brown-colored spot 1,5 cm in diameter just where the magnet was situated.
Now a couple of months later, the spot is still there.
Don't know how to get rid of it.

S-Pen Anatomy- What's Inside It

I just took a "scalpel and tweezers" to open the S-Pen and have prepared this image for you.
Check it out to see whats inside your great Galaxy notes' S-Pen!! All the parts are arranged in the picture in the right order as they are actually placed in the S-Pen.
Just to complete the label legends:
1: The Nib (The front end of the nib is what we see pointing out and use for writing/drawing etc. The other end of this nib has a "protrusion" that fits in the hole of the "cap" )
2: The Cap (as mentioned, one end of this cap has a small hole that fits in the nib, while the other end has a "protrusion" that fits in the "rubber ring"). I checked with a magnet and found its made of "iron".
3: The Ring (it is made of rubber and sits between the "cap" and the "coil" part of the electronic circuit.
4a: Coil: Its wounded on a little iron rod and connected with the "electronic circuit".
4b: Electronic circuit: It has a little button (thats where I have marked the arrow and labeled as 4b). This little button is what actually gets pressed when we press the "external button" of S-Pen.
5: The tail/terminal end of the S-Pen: This is what is needs to be pulled out to take out the entire circuitry and the little parts out of the S-Pen!!
6: The External Button: This is whats needs to be TWIZZED out, so that the entire circuitry and the little parts can slide out from the terminal end of the S-Pen!!
7: The main body: You can see this body and make out now how everything is fit-in properly!
I did not find any direct source of electricity in the S-Pen, and thus based on principles of electronics, its apparent that the small little movement (kinetic energy) produced by the "NIB" due to action of writing/drawing etc.must be exciting the electrons (electric energy) in the wounded COIL (magnetic influx), which is used by the circuit for appropriate action!! (Well, this is my own guess and I am welcoming appropriate suggestions.
So that's it!! I opened my S-Pen as it was not functioning properly after it fell down due to which I was required to "press the pen" a lot to write / draw. So I just opened and just "RE-PLACED" respective parts properly and my S-Pen is working fine now!!!
I guess this info can be useful if you have similar troubles!! Nevertheless, this ANATOMY is still helpful to SEE into this beautiful tool of this Superb Device!!!
And yesss... if you found this useful... a click at the THANKS BUTTON shall well be appreciated!!!

Ravindra9 said:
I did not find any direct source of electricity in the S-Pen, and thus based on principles of electronics, its apparent that the small little movement (kinetic energy) produced by the "NIB" due to action of writing/drawing etc.must be exciting the electrons (electric energy) in the wounded COIL (magnetic influx), which is used by the circuit for appropriate action!! (Well, this is my own guess and I am welcoming appropriate suggestions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure it's magnetic resonance not kinetic motion used to generate the power for the s-pen. That's what the coil is for. When the pen get's close enough to the screen's surface, the small magnetic field that is emitted by the screen is picked up by the coil and hence power is transferred wirelessly. Normally AMOLED displays do not generate any significant magnetic fields, so this is something that specifically needs to be done on the Note with Faraday grid either behind the screen or integrated into the screen itself. Basically it's a way of very accurately and actively tracking the s-pen's location.
I think this is also the reason that the Note specifically has warnings about keeping it away from any other strong magnetic fields; it could interfere or permanently damage the magnetic nature of the s-pen's functionality.

Jade Eyed Wolf said:
I'm pretty sure it's magnetic resonance not kinetic motion used to generate the power for the s-pen. That's what the coil is for. When the pen get's close enough to the screen's surface, the small magnetic field that is emitted by the screen is picked up by the coil and hence power is transferred wirelessly. Normally AMOLED displays do not generate any significant magnetic fields, so this is something that specifically needs to be done on the Note with Faraday grid either behind the screen or integrated into the screen itself. Basically it's a way of very accurately and actively tracking the s-pen's location.
I think this is also the reason that the Note specifically has warnings about keeping it away from any other strong magnetic fields; it could interfere or permanently damage the magnetic nature of the s-pen's functionality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I get your point.

I would love to try this with my pen and see if it fixes it, I have to press VERY hard to get anything to happen with it but being in the US its not worth dealing with a warranty for how little I use the pen.
Can you give some more details on how you actually got the pen open? I cant seem to figure out where to start.

Jade Eyed Wolf said:
I think this is also the reason that the Note specifically has warnings about keeping it away from any other strong magnetic fields; it could interfere or permanently damage the magnetic nature of the s-pen's functionality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just had a thought, could this explain the offset problems some users have reported? Since all of the Notes are imports, perhaps some subset of s-pens were subject to enhanced scanning/x-raying that exposed them to damaging magnetic fields.

Thank you, this was really interesting. I was wondering whats inside the S-pen everytime I take it out

Is it really work due to detection or interference of magnetic field on screen surface? Its sound more like ordinary reaction same like when we use our finger on the capacitive touch screen.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touchscreen
But why when i try the S pen on other capacitive touch screen and its did not work and cant be use except only on my SGN? I heard our S pen is actually are inductive pen! Not capacitive pen!
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA App

Are the 2 metallic components, to the right of the button, potentiometers?
If they are then we probly can adjust them to fine tune the offset of the pen on the screen and maybe the pressure sensitivity

Thxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It's a Wacom digitizer
The pen works on my tablet PC, just as my laptop's pen works with my Note. In fact, the eraser on my tablet's pen works on my Galaxy Note.

Jade Eyed Wolf said:
I'm pretty sure it's magnetic resonance not kinetic motion used to generate the power for the s-pen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, as manhattan212 mentions, it's a Wacom digitizer. Almost any Wacom digitizer pen will work with it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wacom#Technology
Wacom tablets use a patented electromagnetic resonance technology.[22] Since the tablet provides power to the pen through resonant coupling, no battery or cord is required for the pointing device. As a result, there are no batteries inside the pen (or the accompanying puck), which makes them slimmer.
Under the tablet's surface (or LCD in the case of the Cintiq) is a printed circuit board with a grid of multiple send/receive coils and a magnetic reflector attached behind the grid array. In send mode, the tablet generates a close-coupled electromagnetic field (also known as a B-field) at a frequency of 531 kHz. This close-coupled field stimulates oscillation in the pen's coil/capacitor (LC) circuit when brought into range of the B-field. Any excess resonant electromagnetic energy is reflected back to the tablet. In receive mode, the energy of the resonant circuit’s oscillations in the pen is detected by the tablet's grid. This information is analyzed by the computer to determine the pen's position, by interpolation and Fourier analysis of the signal intensity. In addition, the pen communicates other vital information, such as pen tip pressure, side-switch status, tip vs. eraser orientation, and the ID number of the tool (to differentiate between different pens. mice, etc.). For example, applying more or less pressure to the tip of the pen changes the value of the pen's timing circuit capacitor. This signal change can be communicated in an analog or digital method. An analog implementation would modulate the phase angle of the resonant frequency, and a digital method is communicated to a modulator which distributes the information digitally to the tablet. The tablet forwards this and other relevant tool information in packets, up to 200 times per second, to the computer.​
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

eug said:
Yup, as manhattan212 mentions, it's a Wacom digitizer. Almost any Wacom digitizer pen will work with it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wacom#Technology
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Well explained. This is exactly how tablet pens like Thinkpad X220t work...

sportedwood said:
I would love to try this with my pen and see if it fixes it, I have to press VERY hard to get anything to happen with it but being in the US its not worth dealing with a warranty for how little I use the pen.
Can you give some more details on how you actually got the pen open? I cant seem to figure out where to start.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To open your S-Pen you may follow these steps (Ok, let me assure you, its really easy!!):
1: Procure these: a Tray or a container to operate/open your S-Pen , A scalpel or a knife to tweez out the external button, a pair of Forceps to collect/handle the fine parts.
2: Take the scalpel and tweez out the external button.
3: Pull out the "The tail/terminal end of the S-Pen" that is the part labeled as 5 in the attachment of Post 1. ( IMPORTANT: Please remember, you MUST NOT TWIST, just PULL OUT STRAIGHT the "tail/terminal end of the S-Pen", because there is a groove/slot that fits in the electronic circuit and if you TWIST the "The tail/terminal end of the S-Pen", it might BREAK the groove/slot.)
4: Now turn your S-Pen upside down into the tray and all the respective parts will slide down.
5: To fix the things back, just follow the order as explained in the original post. I found it easy to use the forceps to place the "rubber ring" on the top of the "Coil", then on this I placed the "CAP" in appropriate direction such that the protrusion of the cap sits in the ring, and then on this cap I placed the "Nib"in appropriate direction such that the protrusion on the rear side of the Nib sits in the groove of the Cap. Now carefully, take the Main Body (labeled as 7 in post 1) and slide it DOWN slowly on the "arrangement" and when it reaches the end, take the "Tail/terminal end of the S-Pen" and match the groove/slot carefully and push it UP properly. Now just place the "external button" by matching the correct ends such that the little protrusion sits EXACTLY on the "electronic button".
That's it and you are DONE!!
Enjoy the surgery...

Wireless Energy in Galaxy Note
Amazing just how much technology is surrounding the Note. Even in places where you don't immediately expect.
I was wondering how S Pen functioned from first sight, considering that it had button that send signal to Note, but no mention about the battery anywhere and no opening for it in the pen. It's superb to use Tesla's wireless energy transmission methods to power S Pen!
Samsung could have earned extra credit if they spoke about this technology in the marketing, but I guess they did not want to make it sound too sophisticated. Which is probably right strategy for majority of users.

Astrum said:
Amazing just how much technology is surrounding the Note. Even in places where you don't immediately expect.
I was wondering how S Pen functioned from first sight, considering that it had button that send signal to Note, but no mention about the battery anywhere and no opening for it in the pen. It's superb to use Tesla's wireless energy transmission methods to power S Pen!
Samsung could have earned extra credit if they spoke about this technology in the marketing, but I guess they did not want to make it sound too sophisticated. Which is probably right strategy for majority of users.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you know how tesla wanted to make tesla coils as weapons so they disintegrate soldiers and vehicles that was in the path/range of it. You would don't want to advertise it too.
Welcome to C&C Timberian Sun.
Long live KAIN
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA App

linking a few videos about the spen having a wacom digitiser and about other pens with erasers working on the note. see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2fzC3JVSUs and also see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKeb3j2K4WM&list=FL_ScoWWHNIr3zWwO7CPPapg&feature=mh_lolz
edit: looks like samsung is readying larger tablets with pen input also see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jj6zHpFmYg

Wow, here is a nice explanation by @steveblue on how this beautiful tool works...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1439369
(thanks @steveblue yet again

Samsung S-Pen water resistance
Thanks for the teardown. I was very happy to find this article.
Does anyone have a sense of how water resistant the S-Pen is? I managed to squeeze a Galaxy Note into the DC-13 Dry Case for use in and around . The pen works great through the case but I'm left wondering how likely the circuitry might corrode if dropped in accidentally.
Does the little rubber ring seem to seal out water somewhat? How tight did the cap feel? Also, did the electronics appear to have a slight glaze over it as if dipped or sprayed with a thin barrier? Most modern electronics have a basic coating to prevent corrosion from humidity, etc. I have to wonder if they have a water indication sticker in there to void the warrantee.
My guess is anyone getting in one wet might get lucky just as a often do with mobile phones. It'd be a but I imagine one could open the cap, blow air through it, and use a desiccant like rice in the freezer. Any have any success or horror stories to share?
Regardless, they don't look too expensive. Probably won't be long until Liquipel will accept these popular devices.

AquaeAtrae said:
Thanks for the teardown. I was very happy to find this article.
Does anyone have a sense of how water resistant the S-Pen is? I managed to squeeze a Galaxy Note into the DC-13 Dry Case for use in and around . The pen works great through the case but I'm left wondering how likely the circuitry might corrode if dropped in accidentally.
Does the little rubber ring seem to seal out water somewhat? How tight did the cap feel? Also, did the electronics appear to have a slight glaze over it as if dipped or sprayed with a thin barrier? Most modern electronics have a basic coating to prevent corrosion from humidity, etc. I have to wonder if they have a water indication sticker in there to void the warrantee.
My guess is anyone getting in one wet might get lucky just as a often do with mobile phones. It'd be a but I imagine one could open the cap, blow air through it, and use a desiccant like rice in the freezer. Any have any success or horror stories to share?
Regardless, they don't look too expensive. Probably won't be long until Liquipel will accept these popular devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks AquaeAtrae. I am glad that you liked the article!
Although not sure how water resistive the S-Pen (or its circuit) is, however to answer your few queries I can opine that if dropped accidentally in water, the circuit should not necessarily "corrode" as noticeably there does not seem any corrosive elements used in the circuitry (or the S-Pen's "outer shell"). I also believe that if dropped accidentally in water, the S-Pen should still work fine if dried properly. And it is so, primarily because there is no battery/power source and thus any water-accident would not adversly impact the electrical conductance, as is the case with similar accidents in case of usual pen-drives.
In my opinion, the little rubber ring would not seal out water, as it is rather loosely fit. The plastic cap is indeed tightly fit, which may help seal out water. I did not find any noticeable "glaze" or enamel or lacquer coat over the circuit.
As you must be already aware, the S-Pen is similar to any Wacom digitizer, with similar properties. Water-proofing the same may not be a bad idea though as it would enhance the perceived value without any significant impact on the cost!!

Interesting article, thanks! I never would've thought there was so much "stuff" in that little pen.

Wobbly and lose s pen tip

I noticed that my s pen tip for the galaxy note 2 is wobbly and loose compared to the s pen tip for galaxy note 1. Any of you having the same issue?
Is that a design or defective part?

Yeah, mines exactly the same.

It's part of the pressure sensitivity.

Bongo2k said:
It's part of the pressure sensitivity.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm thinking the same.

Does it feel like it might fall out? Like when pulling out of your pocket?
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2

yes me too, but i love the sensitivity of it . very sensitive compared to note 1

I've had a replacement N7100 handset and this second pen has a wobbly tip also. If you shake the pen, can you hear the tip/ spring inside shaking which stops when you hold the tip?

DraconianGothic said:
I've had a replacement N7100 handset and this second pen has a wobbly tip also. If you shake the pen, can you hear the tip/ spring inside shaking which stops when you hold the tip?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The tip should be loose or else it can't detect the pressure. It won't fall out.

Overloaded said:
The tip should be loose or else it can't detect the pressure. It won't fall out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some galaxy note 1 owners had problems with the tip getting jammed/stuck, and the pen forever thinking they are drawing..
I suspect that's part of the 'loosening' of the tip.
- Frank

Overloaded said:
The tip should be loose or else it can't detect the pressure. It won't fall out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
I appreciate it has to detect pressure but it's as though the nib drops freely out of the pen by 1mm and then when pressure is applied, this 1mm is taken back up leaving the very end part to actually offer and resistance against the pressure. This is the second one I've had (first faulty handset replaced) and i'm almost certain the first S Pen didn't rattle like this one does. It also moves from side to side slightly.

hi, dun want to open a new thread, just a quick question for those who own both note 1and 2
i noticed gn1 pen slot is more secure like when u put the pen into the slot it gives a audible click, while on my gn2, no click only some friction, both pens feel secure when they r in the slot but gn1 one is more solid, is urs the same?
DraconianGothic said:
Hi
I appreciate it has to detect pressure but it's as though the nib drops freely out of the pen by 1mm and then when pressure is applied, this 1mm is taken back up leaving the very end part to actually offer and resistance against the pressure. This is the second one I've had (first faulty handset replaced) and i'm almost certain the first S Pen didn't rattle like this one does. It also moves from side to side slightly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

DraconianGothic said:
Hi
I appreciate it has to detect pressure but it's as though the nib drops freely out of the pen by 1mm and then when pressure is applied, this 1mm is taken back up leaving the very end part to actually offer and resistance against the pressure. This is the second one I've had (first faulty handset replaced) and i'm almost certain the first S Pen didn't rattle like this one does. It also moves from side to side slightly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its normal. I loosened mine and I had to adjust the potentiometer in mine to lower the sensitivity of Airview. It was writing 2 inches above the notepad!

Yeah, mines exactly the same.

[Q] magnetic power limit

hi,i was just wondering about the smartcover....
i have a smartcover paid 5$ and works not so fine because the magnetic inside is not so heavy....
so the question is:
how strong must be a magnet to always work with the screen but not so strong to make the tablet having issues with?
i have 2/3 magnets but before trying with the fear of bricking is better ask....

Pikkierello said:
hi,i was just wondering about the smartcover....
i have a smartcover paid 5$ and works not so fine because the magnetic inside is not so heavy....
so the question is:
how strong must be a magnet to always work with the screen but not so strong to make the tablet having issues with?
i have 2/3 magnets but before trying with the fear of bricking is better ask....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bricking? From magnets? LOL
Very unlikely. Highly unlikely. Super unlikely.
You get the point.
I have a case with strong magnets and I have been using it for months and my N7 is just fine. As a matter of fact, it looks like new!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

R: [Q] magnetic power limit
I'm not a nerd and i know that electronic device and magnets are not best friends...i'm just asking....if there's no problem better for me just today a friend of mine gave me a strong magnet,more than the 3 i got
However thanks
sent from rootilapia

scream4cheese said:
Bricking? From magnets? LOL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The OP didn't say bricking; he said "damage".
And while there is no magnetic (digital) storage media onboard, there are other components which can be damaged by strong magnets - the prime example would be coil assemblies associated with speakers and microphones (if moving coil tech is used for them). Also it is possible that surface-mount inductors could have their properties altered if they got magnetized to their saturation point. (Depends on what they are being used for).
Take a paper clip and dangle it from a thread above the screen - you will find there are two speaker coils on either side of the USB connector - the closer of the two is only about 3.8 cm from the (apparent) location of the magnetic closure sensor.
@Pikkierello
I would encourage you to use elegance over brute force. A tiny and well placed magnet is a much better idea than a large powerful magnet.
The case that I have seems to work pretty well, and based on the "paper clip and thread" method, its' magnet seems to be located at about 1.1cm from the left hand side and 4.4 cm up from the bottom edge of the N7 (oriented with the USB connector down). Also - I'm not sure if polarity matters - but fwiw, the "pole" of the magnet in my case (the side facing the N7 screen) is the N pole.
You could buy some small magnets, but I would consider the costs involved - it might be less expensive to simply buy a different case.
good luck.