DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM
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DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM |
Sharp PC-1401
| Date of introduction: | 1983 | Display technology: | LCD dot matrix |
| New price: | $279.00 (MSRP 1982) | Display size: | 16 characters |
| Size: | 2.8" x 7.7" x 0.45" 72 x 170 x 11 mm3 |
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| Weight: | 4.2 ounces, 120 grams | Serial No: | 47028106 |
| Batteries: | 2*CR2032 | Date of manufacture: | mth 07 year 1985 |
| AC-Adapter: | Origin of manufacture: | Japan | |
| Precision: | 12 | Integrated circuits: | CPU: SC61860S ROM: SC613256 RAM: 2*HM6116 DISPLAY: tbd |
| Memories: | 4.2k RAM, 40k ROM | ||
| Program steps: | Courtesy of: | Ken H. Meine |
Sharp
Corporation introduced in June 1980 with the PC-1210 (and its sibling
PC-1211) the World's first Pocket Computer with BASIC programmability.
It took only about three months and Matsushita defined with their
Panasonic HHC a new category of
Hand-held Computers or Portable Computers. Casio, having a long history of
Programmable Pocket Calculators, entered the arena in November 1981 with their
FX-702P, combining a scientific calculator with BASIC programmability in the new
"landscape" form factor with wide LC-Displays and an alphanumeric keyboard.
With the three cornerstones of the emerging market defined, Sharp consequently split their portfolio into two different directions:
| • PC-1500 (1982): Portable Computer as a center of a Computer System with many peripherals • PC-1401 (1983): Hybrid of a Pocket Computer with BASIC Programmability and a Scientific Calculator |
While Casio labeled the FX-702P only as a "Programmable Calculator", chose Sharp with their combination of a scientific calculator and BASIC programmability a different approach and sold the same product under different names. We know five different pairings:
| Computer- style |
Calculator- style |
Description |
| PC-1401 | EL-5500 II | Scientific calculator, 4k Bytes RAM, 16 character display |
| PC-1402 | Scientific calculator, 10k Bytes RAM, 16 character display | |
| PC-1403 | Scientific calculator, 8k Bytes RAM, 24 character display | |
| PC-1403H | EL-5500 III | Scientific calculator, 32k Bytes RAM, 24 character display |
| PC-1421 | EL-5510 | Financial calculator, 4k Bytes RAM, 16 character display |
| PC-1430 | Scientific calculator, 2k Bytes RAM, 16 character display | |
| PC-1431 | EL-5400 | Scientific calculator, 4k Bytes RAM, 16 character display |
| PC-1450 | Scientific calculator, RAM Card, 16 character display | |
| PC-1460 | EL-5520 | Scientific calculator, RAM Card, 24 character display |
The PC-1401 series of Pocket Computers features an 11-pin connector for peripherals on its left side:
| Product | Description | MSRP (1983) |
| CE-126P | Thermal Printer & Cassette Interface, up to 24 characters per line |
Dismantling a Sharp PC-1401 manufactured in July 1985 by Sharp
Corporation in Japan reveals a efficient design centered
around a Sharp SC61860 8-bit microcontroller.
The
printed circuit board (PCB of the Sharp PC-1401 hosts a total five Integrated
Circuits (ICs):
| • SC61860: 8-bit microcontroller with 8k Bytes ROM manufactured by Sharp
in a CMOS process and using a 80-pin QFP (Quad Flat Pack) package • SC613256: 32k Bytes ROM manufactured by Sharp in a CMOS process and using a 54-pin or 44-pin QFP (Quad Flat Pack) package • 2*HM6116 or HM6264: 2k Bytes manufactured by Hitachi in a CMOS process and using an 24-pin SOP (Small Outline Package) encapsulation • SC43536: Display driver with built in RAM (128*4 Bits), manufactured by Sharp in a CMOS process and using a 62-pin QFP (Quad Flat Pack) package |
If you have additions to the above article please email: joerg@datamath.org.
© Joerg Woerner, January 23, 2021. No reprints without written permission.