DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM |
Toshiba LC-836MN MEMO NOTE 30
Date of introduction: | 1978 | Display technology: | LCD (yellow) |
New price: | Display size: | 8 | |
Size: | 5.4" x 2.7" x 0.35" | ||
Weight: | 2.8 ounces | Serial No: | C54068 |
Batteries: | 3*LR44 | Date of manufacture: | year 1978 |
AC-Adapter: | Origin of manufacture: | Japan | |
Precision: | 8 | Integrated circuits: | Toshiba T3690, T3691 |
Memories: | 30 | ||
Program steps: | Courtesy of: | Joerg Woerner |
The Toshiba LC-836MN could be called the first portable electronic Databank. It was introduced already in the year 1978 and was 9 years ahead the first Mini Data Bank sold by Texas Instruments.
The LC-836MN uses an early chipset manufactured by Toshiba, Japan. The T3690 microcontroller scans the keyboard, drives the display and does the calculating functions. The T3691 stores a maximum of 30 information items in units of 6 alphabetical characters and 8 numerals each. If you add the bits together you end with a total amount of 2048 bits or 256 bytes.
Later
products like the LC-840WA continued the approach of
small chipsets in calculator derived products.
The alphanumeric
display uses an odd 8-segment layout with one additional segment to the standard
calculator layout. The display on the left reads "MEMORY".
Radio Shack gave in their manual a lot of ideas what you can store in the 30
memory places:
• Person's
name and telephone number • Bank name and balance • Person's name and date of birth • Passport number, Cash card number, License number • Caloric value of foods • Various rate of money exchange • Golf scores • Key and Locker number • Constants such as C = 2.997925, me = 9.1091, K = 1.38054 |
A
similar product was sold by Radio Shack with the EC-4002
and by Hanimex with the SLC 891.
Later the LC-1038MN added an alarm clock. Japanese
competitor Canon introduced a smaller Databank with the LC-MEMO
in 1978, too.
Don't miss later Personal products like the Avigo, introduced 20 years later.
If you have additions to the above article please email: joerg@datamath.org.
© Joerg Woerner, July 3, 2002. No reprints without written permission.