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Texas Instruments Personal Learning Tool PLT WS1

Date of introduction:  never Display technology:  
New price:    Display size:  n.a.
Size:  8.4" x 3.8" x 1.6"
 214 x 94 x 40 mm³		    
Weight:  8.1 ounces, 230 grams Serial No:  
Batteries:  Li-Ion 3.7V 1400mAh Date of manufacture:  year 2002
AC-Adapter:   Origin of manufacture:  Taiwan (I)
Precision:   Integrated circuits:  
Memories:      
Program steps:   Courtesy of:  Joerg Woerner

PLT-WS1_1.jpg (167355 Byte)The Datamath Calculator Museum received this PLT WS1 Wireless Sled together with some unique graphing calculators as a loan from Texas Instruments in February 2008 to photograph and document it.

We learned from Texas Instruments that they developed a family of next-generation Personal Learning Tool products based on the LINUX operating system. The Dallas, TX based team nicknamed it PET Project and this PLT WS1 accommodated the PLT SHH1 or Spot Hand held. With the PLT DS1 Data Sled a simpler cradle with just a USB port was developed, too.

PLT-WS1_RF.jpg (31788 Byte)The PLT WS1 cradle features a wide range of connectivity:

• Wireless LAN operating in the 2.4GHz band (IEEE 802.11b)
• USB 1.1 connector
• Serial interface, e.g. for Calculator-Based Laboratory™ CBL 2™ or keyboard
• Charger for internal battery
• Connector for PLT SHH1 Charging cradle
  



PLT-WS1_2.jpg (324491 Byte)Disassembling the PLT WS1 is a great exercise in reverse engineering! The internal construction of the PLT WS1 is dominated by a total of 5 connectors and a slot for the wireless LAN module operating in the 2.4GHz band. This module obviously could be used in the larger, landscape oriented PET device labeled PLT FHH1 for Fido Hand Held.

PLT-WS1_RF_PCB2.jpg (248317 Byte)PLT-WS1_RF_PCB1.jpg (229467 Byte)The PCB (printed circuit board) of the wireless LAN module is centered around an ATMEL Media Access Controller and hosts four main Integrated Circuits:

• ATMEL AT76C505/567B1

 ARM7TDMI based Media Access Controller

• Alliance AS7C31024

 128k Bytes CMOS SRAM

• Silicon Laboratories SH4126

 Dual-band RF synthesizer 

• RF Micro Devices 2948

 2.4GHz Spread-Spectrum Transceiver


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

© Joerg Woerner, February 4, 2007. No reprints without written permission.