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Texas Instruments TI ViewScreen 92 (1996)

Date of introduction:  1996 Display technology:  LCD dot matrix
New price:  $550.00 (SRP 2008) Display size:  12 lines by 40 char
 128 * 240 pixels
Size:  10.4" x 9.7" x 1.5"
 263 x 247 x 38 mm3
   
Weight:  29.3 ounces, 830 grams Serial No:  4780
Batteries:  (4*AA from Calculator) Date of manufacture:  mth 03 year 1996
AC-Adapter:  AC9201, AC9201E Origin of manufacture:  Italy
Precision:    Integrated circuits:  3*T6A39, 2*T6A40
Memories:      
Program steps:    Courtesy of:  Joerg Woerner

The TI ViewScreen panel connects with a cable to the Texas Instruments Graphing calculators. Placing the panel on the overhead projector enlarges the image of the handheld screen so that each student can follow along. Don't miss the US Patent Application U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,294 with the title “Display demonstration system for providing enlarged projected image of calculator display” filed already in September 27, 1991.

The TI ViewScreen 92 was introduced in 1995 with first deliveries in Spring 1996 and connects to the TI-92. It was delivered either as the ViewScreen panel package with the power supply and a carrying case or as part of the ViewScreen system including the Graphing calculator.

In 2008 four different ViewScreen panels were available for TI's Graphing calculators:

Panel 1: TI-73 VSC, TI-73 Explorer VSC, TI-80 VSC, TI-82 VSC, TI-83 VSC,
   TI-83 Plus VSC, TI-83 Plus Silver Edition VSC, TI-84 Plus VSC,
   TI-84 Plus Silver Edition VSC
Panel 2: TI-89 VSC, TI-89 Titanium VSC, TI-92, TI-92 Plus, Voyage 200
Panel 3: TI-85 VSC (2nd design), TI-86 VSC
Panel 4: TI-Nspire, TI-Nspire CAS, TI-Nspire Touchpad, TI-Nspire CAS Touchpad

Based on the manufacturing year of the TI-82 View Screen Panel, you'll notice different calculators listed on the Product Label on the backside of the device:

1996-1997: TI ViewScreen
                     Product Label: TI-92
1997-1999: TI ViewScreen 92
                     Product Label: TI-92
1999-2002: TI ViewScreen 89, 92, 92Plus
                     Product Label: TI-89, TI-92, TI-92Plus
2002-2008: TI ViewScreen 89, 92, 92 Plus, Voyage 200
                     Product Label: TI-89, TI-92, TI-92 Plus, Voyage 200

Dismantling this TI ViewScreen 92 with Date code 0396 manufactured in March 1996 by Texas Instruments in their Rieti, Italy, facility reveals no surprises and looks similar to the TI ViewScreen 82 introduced in October 1993 but changed the display drivers to accommodate the larger pixel count of the TI-92 compared to the TI-82. A large, transmissive LCD panel is connected to five Toshiba T6A39 and T6A40 display driver known already from the TI-81 introduced in 1992. The reminder of the electronics resembles the receivers of the signals from the connected ViewScreen Calculator, contrast adjustment of the screen and power supply for the electronics.

The arrangement of three Toshiba T6A39 column drivers and two T6A40 row drivers found in the TI ViewScreen 92 is not really obvious from the very complex layout of the printed circuit board (PCB).

The Presentation Link Adapter connects the student versions of the TI-89 Titanium family to the ViewScreen panel using the calculator's USB port.

With the phase out of the overhead projectors from the daily life, Texas Instruments developed with the TI-Presenter a perfect replacement for the ViewScreen panels based on modern video technology.


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

© Joerg Woerner, August 9, 2020. No reprints without written permission.