DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM
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DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM |
CASIO FP-10
| Date of introduction: | November 1981 | Display technology: | |
| New price: | $109.00 (MSRP 1981) | Display size: | |
| Size: | 3.2" x 6.2" x 1.75" 82 x 158 x 44 mm3 |
Printer technology: | Electrostatic (Spark) |
| Weight: | 9.8 ounces, 278 grams | Serial No: | 1B111A |
| Batteries: | 4*AA Alkaline or NP-4M NiCd | Date of manufacture: | mth 11 year 1981 |
| AC-Adapter: | AD-4150 (4.5V DC, 500mA) | Origin of manufacture: | Japan |
| Precision: | Integrated circuits: | CPU: HD43192A01 | |
| Memories: | |||
| Program steps: | Courtesy of: | Joerg Woerner |
Sharp
Corporation introduced in June 1980 with the PC-1210 (and its sibling
PC-1211) the World's first Pocket Computer with BASIC programmability.
It took only about three months and Matsushita defined with their
Panasonic HHC a new category of
Hand-held Computers or Portable Computers. Main competitor in Japan, Casio
Computer Co., Ltd, on the other hand introduced with the
FX-501P
and FX-502P in October 1979 their first keystroke Programmable Pocket
Calculator with LC-Display, succeeded in March 1981 with the FX-601P and
FX-602P, introducing a dot matrix LC-Display and laying the foundation for the
FX-702P "Pocket Computer". Casio took a different approach than Sharp and added
BASIC programmability to a Scientific Calculator and labeled the device with
"Programmable Calculator" accordingly. Casio's early advertisement featuring the
FX-702P used often a big headline "More Power To Your Pocket" to challenge rival Sharp.
The FX-702P Programmable Calculators features not only an internal expansion slot for a memory cartridge but a 7-pin connector for peripherals on its left side:
| Product | Description | MSRP (1981) |
| FA-2 | Cassette Interface (Fits FX-501P/FX-502P/FX-601P/FX-602P, too) |
$49.00 |
| FP-10 | Mini Printer, electro-sensitive FP-36 paper, up to
20 characters per line, 2 lines per second (Fits FX-601P/FX-602P, too) |
$109.00 |
| (not released) | 4k Bytes RAM module with backup battery | |
| (not released) | 8k Bytes RAM module with backup battery |
Dismantling the featured Casio FP-10 manufactured in
November 1981 by Casio Computers in Japan reveals a complex design based on two printed circuit boards (PCBs)
in a clamshell packaging and powered by four AA-sized Alkaline batteries.
One of the PCBs holds the power electronics for the
electrostatic printer while the other PCB provides the brain of the Mini Printer:
| • HD43192A01: 4-bit
microcontroller with integrated RAM and ROM and printer driver for 8
electrodes manufactured by Hitachi in a CMOS process and using an 80-pin QFP (Quad Flat Pack) package |
Consolidating the part numbers of the microcontrollers and display controllers, and printer controllers located in the FX-702P BASIC Programmable Calculator, the FX-602P keystroke Programmable Calculators, and the FP-10 Mini Printer, respectively proves their close relationship:
| • FX-602P: HD43190A01, HD43191A01 • FX-702P: HD43190A02, D43190A03, HD43191A02, HD43191A03 • FP-10: HD43192A01 |
If you have additions to the above article please email: joerg@datamath.org.
© Joerg Woerner, January 5, 2021. No reprints without written permission.