DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM |
National Semiconductor NS103A Data Checker
Date of introduction: | 1980 | Display technology: | LCD |
New price: | $29.95 (SRP April 1980) | Display size: | 8 |
Size: | 2.8" x 6.0" x 0.30" 71 x 153 x 8 mm3 |
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Weight: | 2.8 ounces, 79 grams | Serial No: | |
Batteries: | 2*LR44 | Date of manufacture: | mth 11 year 1981 |
AC-Adapter: | Origin of manufacture: | Taiwan | |
Precision: | 8 | Integrated circuits: | NEC uPD1833G |
Memories: | 3 | ||
Program steps: | Courtesy of: | Ken H. Meine | |
Download manual: | (US: 2.0 MByte) |
National Semiconductor introduced already in 1978 with the NS103 Data Checker an electronic record keeper with three continuous memories to track bank and charge account balances with dedicated keys:
• Memory 1 [CHK] [DEP] [BAL] [A] • Memory 2 [PMT] [CHG] [BAL] [B] • Memory 3 [PMT] [CHG] [BAL] [C] • Total sum of Memories [GT] |
The successor of the NS103, known as NS103A, simplified the use of the memories by removing the redundant [A], [B], and [C] keys and replaced the inconvenient three-way power-switch with two dedicated [ON] and [OFF] keys and a [DS] key to toggle between two entry modes:
• Indicator (--) Floating decimal with manual insertion of the decimal using the [.] key • Indicator (AM) Add mode with the decimal automatically put in the dollars and cents position (0.00) |
Dismantling the featured NS103A Data Checker manufactured in November 1981 in Taiwan reveals a clean design centered around a NEC uPD1833G single-chip calculator circuit, that was used with many other Account Manager calculators like the Canon Checkbook, IMA 130CBW, Radio Shack EC-306, Royal LCB 841, Texas Instruments TI-2200 Checkwriter, and Unisonic LC 263CK.
Please notice the changes of the
Brand Identity of the Data Checker product
line over time.
Inspecting the PCB of this
NS103A manufactured in November 1981 brought our attention to a small mark reading
NS_103B 1,
most likely a reference to Type 103, and Revision B 1
of the design (schematics and layout).
Please find an overview of the
PCB-Marks we discovered
so far on Account Manager calculators.
Learn more about single-chip calculator circuits used in
Account
Manager Calculators.
From a technical point of view this NS103A Data
Checker could be called a basic calculator with three permanent (till the
batteries die) memories, the left column of the
memory keys would be [M-], the center column [M+], and the right column [MR].
Hoffmann-La Roche made use of this feature introducing the
FITNESS 3 MICRO COMPUTER based on a
stripped-down
NS103A.
National Semiconductor entered the market of Checkbook Calculators with the NS103 Data Checker in May 1978. It features Account Manager functionality with three permanent (till you remove the batteries) Memories and started a very successful product line. We discovered as of now seven different family members:
• 1978: National Semiconductor NS103, 3 Memories • 1979: National Semiconductor NS107, 2+1 Memories, Credit card size • 1980: This National Semiconductor NS103A, 3 Memories • 1981: NSC Novus Electronics NS103A, 3 Memories • 1981: NSC Novus Electronics NS101A, 1 Memory • 1982: NSC Novus Electronics NS101A, 1 Memory, Gold • 1982: NSC Novus Electronics NS100A, 1 Memory, Credit card size |
Don't miss the Corvus CheckMaster introduced by Mostek already in 1975. This rare product retains the balance of your memory even when shut off but uses power-hungry electronics.
If you have additions to the above article please email: joerg@datamath.org.
© Joerg Woerner, May 22, 2002. No reprints without written permission.