Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE Python Infinitely Iris (2021)

Texas Instruments announced on July 27, 2021 - six and a half years after the original TI-84 Plus CE - the next generation of the TI-84 Plus family started already in 2004. With adding Python, one of the fastest growing, most popular programming languages in the world to the TI-84 Plus CE, Texas Instruments continuous their humble beginnings made early in 2019 in France with an external module for the TI-83 Premium CE, that allows it to run programs written in Python. The TI-83 CE Premium Edition Python introduced in June 2019 integrates the microcontroller of the external module running the Python Interpreter into the Graphing calculator as a Coprocessor.

While the TI-84 Plus C Silver Edition continued the approach of interchangeable faceplates and slide cases introduced already in 2004 with the original TI-84 Plus Silver Edition, is the TI-84 Plus CE Python available in black and a huge variety of standard and "limited edition" colors. This TI-84 Plus CE Python "Infinitely Iris" was introduced for the Back-to-School 2021 campaign together with 10 more colors. Please follow this link to the full rainbow of TI-84 Plus CE and TI-84 Plus CE Python colors.

Dismantling this TI-84 Plus CE Python manufactured in March 2021 by Kinpo Electronics, Inc. in the Philippines reveals at first glance a very clean and familiar design. A closer inspection and comparing it with the original TI-84 Plus CE shows a major redesign with a new ASIC and Serial NOR Flash ROM in addition to the Coprocessor:

• JB-007-00 ASIC instead of ET 2014-01 ASIC: eZ80 microprocessor, 256k Bytes Static RAM, USB-Port,
    supporting logic and Cache Memory
• Winbond Electronics Corporation 25Q32JV: 32M Bits Serial NOR Flash ROM
    instead 4M Bytes Parallel NOR Flash ROM
• Atmel ATSAMD21E18A ARM Cortex-M+ microcontroller Coprocessor used with the TI-83 Premium CE Edition Python
• Ilitek ILI9335: Single-chip 320*240 pixel display driver (unchanged)

Please notice that the TI-84 Plus CE Python with Hardware Revision R uses a more or less identical printed Circuit board (PCB) with the TI-83 Premium CE Edition Python Hardware Revision M.

The picture on the right gives an enlarged view of the JP-007-00 ASIC that clocks the eZ80 microprocessor with 48 MHz and incorporates the RAM, USB-Port, logic and Cache Memory. The otherwise more or less identical TI-83 Premium CE Edition Python sports in Hardware Revision M a JB-007-01 ASIC. Learn more about the Hardware Architecture of TI’s Graphing Calculators.

This TI-84 Plus CE Python manufactured in March 2021 makes use of one Winbond 25Q32JV Serial NOR Flash ROM with 32M bits capacity in a tiny 8-pin package. Interesting to learn that in 2021 a serial memory chip allows on average much faster access time than a parallel memory chip tracing back to the 90s and consequently improving the user experience tremendously. From an engineering standpoint not the easiest task, serial Flash ROMs have a rather slow access time to random memory locations but stream data from consecutive memory addresses very fast. Texas Instruments added into the ASIC plenty of Cache Memory to balance this tradeoff of serial memory chips.

The Coprocessor of the TI-84 Plus CE Python running the Python Interpreter is actually the Atmel ATSAMD21E18A microcontroller known from the TI-Python module introduced in 2019 in France for the TI-83 Premium CE. This ARM Cortex-M+ based microcontroller runs at 48 MHz and integrates 256k Bytes Flash ROM, 32k Bytes Static RAM and a huge portfolio of peripherals into a tiny 32-pin package. Hardware Revision M of the TI-84 Plus CE seems to be identical with Hardware Revision M of the TI-83 Premium CE Edition Python and would allow to populate the Coprocessor.

While the early members of the TI-84 Plus calculator family use AAA-sized alkaline batteries, accommodate the Color versions an internal Li-ion battery with a capacity of 1,200 mAh and a voltage of 3.7 Volt for a typical operating time of 50 hours. A USB type wall charger is included with each unit but for classrooms is the TI-84 Plus CE Charging Station available. It holds up to 10 calculators and charges them with two small contacts located in the front of the calculator.

The TI-84 Plus CE Python like the TI-84 Plus CE dropped the serial port known from earlier members of the TI-84 Plus family and doesn't support the ViewScreen panel and the TI-Presenter with the Presentation Link Adapter anymore. The USB interface of the TI-84 Plus CE calculator connects directly with the Calculator-Based Ranger CBR 2 introduced in 2004, the Vernier EasyLink and EasyTemp systems.

The TI-SmartView™ CE Emulator Software for the TI-84 Plus CE Python allows educators to project a representation of the calculator’s display to the entire class.

The TI Connect™ CE computer software allows for connectivity between a computer and the TI-84 Plus CE Python to transfer data, update the Operating System (OS), download Calculator Software Applications (Apps), and to edit and load programs to the calculator

The new operating system 5.x of the TI-84 Plus CE Python is based on the OS 4.0 known from the TI-84 Plus C Silver Edition but they are not compatible due to the different microprocessors used.

To reduce theft of school-owned TI-84 Plus CE a "school bus yellow" edition was introduced in 2015. Don't miss the TI-84 Plus CE-T sold in some European countries.

ROM-Versions:

5.6.0 (July 30, 2020)

You can check the ROM version of your TI-84 Plus CE Python using the following key sequence and reading the number on your screen:

[2nd] [MEM] [1]

Information provided by Xavier Andréani.

Exam acceptance:

The TI-84 Plus CE Python is permitted (as of June 20, 2023 for use on SAT, ACT, PSAT and AP exams.

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

© Joerg Woerner, August 4, 2023. No reprints without written permission.