Texas Instruments SR-40
The SR-40 was introduced mid of 1976 together with the entry calculator TI-30 and the financial calculator Business Analyst. These three calculators defined a new manufacturing approach within Texas Instruments. Everything is snapped together, not a single screw is used within the whole calculator. Compared with the earlier SR-50A or SR-16-II and even the failed SR-40 Prototype calculators, the electronics was squeezed dramatically. The preceding calculators used a main printed circuit board (PCB) and a small daughter board carrying the display.
SR-40_PCB.jpg (76427 Byte)The SR-40 and all other (except the SR-51-II and TI-45) calculators in the Majestic-line used a LED-stick carrying the whole electronics! If you dismantle such a calculator you'll find the LED-stick, one resistor and one integrated circuit in a 28 pin housing. The electronics of the SR-40 is centered around a TMC0981 circuit, a member of the TMC0980 single-chip calculator family, while the TI-45 uses a chip from the TMC1980 family. Both designs are based on the TMS1000 Microcomputer series with an increased memory capacity of 18,432 Bits Read-Only Memory (ROM, 2k*9 Bits) and 576 Bits Random-Access Memory (RAM, 9 Registers * 16 digits). Main differences between the TMC0980 and TMC1980 are the display drivers - while the former supports LED displays, adds the latter high-voltage drivers for Vacuum Fluorescent Displays (VFD). In addition includes the TMC1980 both an integrated charge pump driver to generate the high voltage (around -22V) for the Anodes and Grids of the VF-Display and integrated drivers for the Filament (heater) allowing for reasonable manufacturing costs.
If you are interested in the calculating accuracy of scientific calculators don't miss the Calculator forensics.
If we discover the sources of the components used in this SR-40 we locate:
Within the Majestic-line you'll find two base architectures with only small differences:
The entry line uses a 9-digit LED-stick giving either 8 digits display in normal mode or 5+2 digits in scientific mode. The calculators uses ON/OFF keys.
Simply by comparing the designation of the integrated circuits of the entry line "Majestic" calculators, you'll get the all members of this family:
? TMC0980
Goulds
Pumpulator uses a custom design ROM (CD9801)
?
TMC0981 TI-30 and SR-40
? TMC0982
Business
Analyst and TI-41
? TMC0983
Programmer
? TMC0984
TI-33
Digging deeper into the TMC098x calculator chips you'll locate an OEM-chip used on a TI-30 "clone" manufactured in Hong Kong:
? TMC0985 Amelia Scientific 2001
Texas Instruments introduced the revolutionary Algebraic Operating System (AOS?) in September 1975 with their flagship Programmable calculator SR-52 but this SR-40 and its sibling TI-30 brought it to the masses. And consequently created a nightmare for TI's Portfolio Manager of Scientific calculators...
Later in production of the Majestic-line calculators the metallized TI logo was changed to lower manufacturing costs. View here the SR-40 w/o chrome.
AOS? is a trademark of Texas Instruments.
If you have additions to the above article please email: joerg@datamath.org.
ゥ Joerg Woerner, December 5, 2001. No reprints without written permission.