DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM
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DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM |
NSC (Novus Electronics) NS101A Data Checker (2nd Design)
| Date of introduction: | 1982 | Display technology: | LCD |
| New price: | $16.99 (SRP May 1982) | Display size: | 8 |
| Size: | 2.8" x 6.0" x 0.30" 71 x 153 x 8 mm3 |
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| Weight: | 2.8 ounces, 79 grams | Serial No: | |
| Batteries: | 2*LR44 | Date of manufacture: | year 1982 |
| AC-Adapter: | Origin of manufacture: | Taiwan | |
| Precision: | 8 | Integrated circuits: | NEC uPD1831G |
| Memories: | 1 | ||
| Program steps: | Courtesy of: | Ken H. Meine | |
| Download manual: | 
(US, FR: 3.0 MByte) |
National Semiconductor entered
the market of Checkbook Calculators with the NS103 Data Checker in May 1978. It features Account Manager functionality with three permanent (till you remove
the batteries) Memories and started a very successful product line. We discovered
as of now seven different family members:
| • 1978: National Semiconductor NS103, 3 Memories • 1979: National Semiconductor NS107, 2+1 Memories, Credit card size • 1980: National Semiconductor NS103A, 3 Memories • 1981: NSC Novus Electronics NS103A, 3 Memories • 1981: NSC Novus Electronics NS101A, 1 Memory • 1982: This NSC Novus Electronics NS101A, 1 Memory, Gold • 1982: NSC Novus Electronics NS100A, 1 Memory, Credit card size |
Dismantling
the featured NSC Novus Electronics NS101A Data Checker sporting just one memory and manufactured in 1982 in Taiwan reveals a clean design
centered around a NEC uPD1831G single-chip calculator circuit soldered on a
single-sided printed circuit board (PCB) and powered by two
small LR44 batteries.
Please notice the changes of the
Brand Identity of the Data Checker product
line over time.
Inspecting the PCB of this
NS101A manufactured in 1982 brought our attention to a small mark reading
103C-2,
most likely a reference to Type 103, and Revision C-2
of the design (schematics and layout).
Please find an overview of the
PCB-Marks we discovered
so far on Account Manager calculators.
Comparing
this NS101A sporting a 103C-2 mark and a NS101A
with a 103C mark
manufactured a few month earlier, reveals some interesting differences in the
PCB technology:
PCB Mark |
Rev. |
Calculator Chip |
Lot Code |
PCB Technology |
| 103 | C | NEC uPD1831G | P14225 | single-sided, wire jumpers in 2 different length |
| 103 | C-2 | NEC uPD1831G | P17435 | single-sided, conductive print over PCB traces |
The Royal LCB 830 and LCB 835 twins went through the same changes in PCB technology.
Learn more about single-chip calculator circuits used in
Account
Manager Calculators.
Don't miss the Corvus CheckMaster
introduced by Mostek already in 1975. This rare product retains the balance of
your memory even when shut off but uses power-hungry electronics.
From NSC National Semiconductor to NSC Novus Electronics
During our research on the NS103 / NS 103A / NS101A Data Checker product line we notice changes of the Brand Identity over time:
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NSC National Semiconductor Model: NS103 Data Checker Manufactured: January 1979 |
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NSC National Semiconductor Model: NS103A Data Checker Manufactured: TBD |
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NSC National Semiconductor Model: NS103A Data Checker Manufactured: November 1981 |
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NSC
Novus Electronics Model: NS103A Data Checker Manufactured: February 1982 |
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NSC
Novus Electronics Model: NS101A Data Checker Manufactured: December 1981 |
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NSC
Novus Electronics Model: NS101A Data Checker Manufactured: 1982 |
If you have additions to the above article please email: joerg@datamath.org.
© Joerg Woerner, February 5, 2020. No reprints without written permission.