DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM
|
DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM |
Sharp EL-811
| Date of introduction: | 1971 | Display technology: | Fluorescent |
| New price: | $379 | Display size: | 8 |
| Size: | 6.9" x 4.2" x 1.8" | ||
| Weight: | 20 ounces | Serial No: | 2007663 |
| Batteries: | EL-84 (6*AA NiCd) | Date of manufacture: | mth 03 year 1972 |
| AC-Adapter: | EL-81 | Origin of manufacture: | Japan |
| Precision: | 8 (Mult. 16) | Integrated circuits: | Rockwell 10572, 10573 |
| Memories: | 1 | ||
| Program steps: | Courtesy of: | Joerg Woerner |
Sharp
Electronics Corporation introduced end of the year 1969 with the EL-8
the first portable,
battery operated calculator. It uses the same technology as the earlier desktop
calculator QT-8D.
This EL-811 followed the EL-8 with about 18 month and
uses a very similar architecture. Due to the big steps in IC-Technology
(Integrated
Circuits) the EL-811 sports more features (memory, 16 digit multiplication
results) with only 2 ICs. From the complexity of the calculator it is very
similar to the smaller Canon LE-10 featuring ICs from Texas Instruments.
Dismantling a Sharp EL-811 calculator manufactured in
March 1972
reveals a single-board design with the two main ICs labeled Rockwell 10572 and
10573 surrounded by three integrated display drivers and a connector for the
display module. Learn how to decipher the
2007663
Date code hidden in the
serial number of the pictured calculator.
The display itself makes use of individual Itron fluorescent tubes with the odd trademark segmentation of early Sharp calculators.
If you have additions to the above article please email: joerg@datamath.org.
© Joerg Woerner, December 5, 2001. No reprints without written permission.