DATAMATH

DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM

Texas Instruments TI-608

Date of introduction:	1987	Display technology:	LCD
New price:		Display size:	8
Size:	5.9" x 3.7" x 0.35"
Weight:	3.0 ounces	Serial No:
Batteries:	n.a.	Date of manufacture:	mth 03 year 1987
AC-Adapter:		Origin of manufacture:	Taiwan (C)
Precision:	8	Integrated circuits:
Memories:	1
Program steps:		Courtesy of:	Joerg Woerner

Texas Instruments introduced in Europe with the TI-608 a small desktop calculator with a tiltable display. A similar calculator was available with the TI-1797 in the United States of America. The design of the TI-608 followed the TI-606 introduced already in 1986.

Dismantling this TI-608 manufactured in March 1987 by Compal Electronics in Taiwan reveals no surprises. A small single-chip calculator circuit probably manufactured by Sharp and a long flexible cable to the LC-display. Please notice that the mold of the housing is prepared for a battery instead of the solar cells..

Inspecting the PCB of this TI-608 calculator brought our attention to a small mark reading SD3-12, most likely a reference to Type Small Desktop 3 and Revision 1.2 of the design (schematics and layout). We spotted a similar PCB-Mark already with the TI-1795 introduced in 1984 and started compiling a list of the PCB-Marks on calculators manufactured by OEMs for Texas Instruments.

Don't miss the later TI-608 with a much smaller housing but still a tiltable display.

If you have additions to the above article please email: joerg@datamath.org.