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DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM |
Novus 835 by National Semiconductor
Date of introduction: | 1976 | Display technology: | LED-stick |
New price: | Display size: | 8 | |
Size: | 5.4" x 2.7" x 0.9" | ||
Weight: | 4.1 ounces | Serial No: | |
Batteries: | 9V | Date of manufacture: | wk 20 year 1976 |
AC-Adapter: | Origin of manufacture: | USA | |
Precision: | 8 | Integrated circuits: | |
Memories: | 1 | ||
Program steps: | Courtesy of: | Joerg Woerner |
Any
idea why you discovered this non-TI calculator within the Datamath
Calculator Museum? This
Novus 835 manufactured mid of 1976 demonstrates the difficulties of the
calculator business in the 1970's. Like some other basic calculators from
National Semiconductor, e.g. the Novus 750, uses
this Novus 835 chip-on-board (COB) technology.
Instead of the traditional approach with a plastic-encapsulated Integrated
Circuit (IC) soldered on the printed
circuit board (PCB), achieves COB-technology direct wire bonding of the IC to
the PCB.
At first glance allows the COB-technology lower manufacturing costs, but needs higher investment and cleaner work spaces. On the other hand represents the calculator chip only one fraction of the manufacturing costs. The final assembly of the calculator was shifted from the United States to Hong Kong to lower its overall costs.
But in Hong Kong the COB wasn't available. Finally the calculator was redesigned, read more about the National Semiconductor 835A.
If you have additions to the above article please email: joerg@datamath.org.
© Joerg Woerner, February 3, 2002. No reprints without written permission.