DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM |
Texas Instruments TI-30X
Date of introduction: | 1993 | Display technology: | LCD |
New price: | $24.99 | Display size: | 10 + 2 |
Size: | 5.7" x 2.8" x 0.55" 146 x 72 x 14 mm3 |
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Weight: | 3.0 ounces, 85 grams | Serial No: | |
Batteries: | 2*LR44 | Date of manufacture: | mth 04 year 1995 |
AC-Adapter: | Origin of manufacture: | Italy | |
Precision: | 12 | Integrated circuits: | Toshiba T6A61 |
Memories: | 3 | ||
Program steps: | Courtesy of: | Joerg Woerner |
Starting from the very first TI-30 in 1976 sporting a red LED-display, all TI-30 variants used an 8-digit display. This is for most calculations convenient but in scientific notation you'll get only 5 digits of mantissa.
The TI-30X introduced a major improvement, the display
capacity was eXpanded to a full 10 digit mantissa with two independent
digits for the exponent. The complete X-family covered 4 models:
• TI-30X New display with 10 + 2 digits, 3 memories • TI-30X SOLAR With Anylite solar-cells • TI-35X Adds 2-dim statistics and hex-calculations • TI-36X SOLAR With Anylite solar-cells |
Dismantling the TI-30X reveals a novel construction based on a rubber keyboard pressing on a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) with an attached rigid board holding a Toshiba T6A61 single-chip calculator circuit.
Funny to know that this circuit was developed already in 1991 and not used before 1993. Simply by comparing the designation of the integrated circuits of the calculators you'll get the whole X-family:
• T6A57
TI-36X
SOLAR • T6A58 TI-35X • T6A59 TI-40X Galaxy • T6A60 TI-9X Galaxy • T6A61 TI-30X |
Read more about the Logarithm Bug and its side effect on the related yx function present in this calculator.
Later the TI-30Xa added a constant key and all models got in the year 1996 a more stylish housing.
An identical calculator was sold by Radio Shack with the EC-4042. The same housing was used with the BA Real Estate.
If you still love the 8 digit display search for the TI-30S and the sibbling TI-25X Solar.
If you are interested in the calculating accuracy of scientific calculators don't miss the Calculator forensics.
Stokes Publishing Company, Inc. based in Sunnyvale, California sold a companion for the teacher, view the wonderful Scientific-30X.
If you have additions to the above article please email: joerg@datamath.org.
© Joerg Woerner, December 5, 2001. No reprints without written permission.