Characterization of Single-chip Calculator Circuits - TMS1070 Family

The DCM-50A Platform supports the Characterization of TMS1070 Devices in its right-most TMS1000 Textool Test Socket with patching of Pin 20 and Pin 21 and the voltages V_SS set to 9.5V and V_DD/V_GG set to -5.5V, accordingly with the MOS-Load resistors tied to V_DD, simulating the low-voltage Vacuum Fluorescent Displays (VFDs) used with all TMS1070 calculator designs.

TMS1071NL

Device-under-Test:

Keyboard: The TI-2550 II makes use of a keyboard with snap-action dome switches arranged in a 7*4 matrix with the rows connected to the R0-R6 Outputs (Display Scan) and the columns connected to the K1-K8 Inputs (Keyboard Scan) of the TMS1071NL single-chip calculator circuit. The [F - 2] sliding switch is connected between the R9 Output and K2 Input.

While the TI-2550 II doesn't show a physical [+/-] key, is its snap action switch on the keyboard actually fully functional. The [F - 2] switch selects between displaying results with a floating decimal and up to seven digits to the right of the decimal point or rounding the results to two decimal places. Connecting the R9 Output to the K1 or K4 Inputs results in one or four decimal places, accordingly. Connecting the R9 Output to the K8 Input yields to expected erratic behavior.

Keyboard Matrix of the TI-2550 II:

Notes: (x) Implemented in TMS1071NL but not available on TI-2550 II. [y z] Sliding Switch Function, y Switch open, z Switch closed

Display: The TI-2550 II makes use of a 9-digit Itron FG95A1 low-voltage Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD) connected directly to the respective 9 R Outputs (Display Scan) and 8 O Outputs (Segments) of the TMS1071NL and biased to approximately -25 Volts with discrete pull-down resistors.

Display Layout:

The Output Decoder PLA of the TMS1071NL is programmed for 7-Segment displays with the following Output Assignments:

Display Fonts:

Scanning: Display and keyboard scanning is performed in R8 → R0 direction at a rate of about 260 Hz with one Blank State after R0:

TMC1073NL

Device-under-Test:

Keyboard: The TI-5100 makes use of a keyboard with spring-loaded switches arranged in a 6*4 matrix with the rows connected to the R5-R10 Outputs (Display Scan) and the columns connected to the K1-K8 Inputs (Keyboard Scan) of the TMC1073NL single-chip calculator circuit. The [K - C] and [F - 2] sliding switches are connected between the R0 and R2 Outputs and K8 Input.

The TI-5100 doesn't use all features programmed into the TMC1073NL chip, don't miss the Toshiba BC-1015 unleashing some additional functionality.

Keyboard Matrix of the TI-5100:

Notes: (x) Implemented in TMC1073NL but not available on TI-5100. [y z] Sliding Switch Function, y Switch open, z Switch closed

Display: The TI-5100 makes use of an 11-digit Itron FG119A1 low-voltage Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD) connected directly to the respective 11 R Outputs (Display Scan) and 8 O Outputs (Segments) of the TMC1073NL and biased to approximately -32 Volts with discrete pull-down resistors. While the original TMS0100 single-chip calculator circuit included 9 Segment Outputs for 7-Segment displays with either an additional segment available for "fancy fours" or a comma to group thousands, dropped the TMS1000 and this related TMS1070 the 9^th Segment Output and Texas Instruments consequently introduced a novel approach to drive the extra segment of the FG119A1 display. Output R10, one of the 11 R Outputs used for Display and Keyboard Scan, is not only connected to the left-most digit of the display but the comma indicator, too and activated together with the desired digits. Please notice the additional patch wire connecting Pin 13 (Digit driver 11) and Pin 23 (Segment driver H) at the TMS0100 socket to simulate this behavior with the DCM-50A Platform.

Display Layout:

The Output Decoder PLA of the TMC1073NL is programmed for 7-Segment displays with the following Output Assignments:

Display Fonts:

The Memory, Minus, and Overflow Indicators of the Itron FG119A1 display are connected to Segments B, G, and A of the numbers, respectively.

Scanning: Display and keyboard scanning is performed in R0 → R10 direction at a rate of about 120-150 Hz with one Blank State after R10. Active Digit Time is stretched when displaying up to three Comma Indicators (Thousands):

TMC1073NL

Device-under-Test:

Keyboard: The Toshiba BC-1015 makes use of a keyboard with conductive rubber switches arranged in a 7*4 matrix with the rows connected to the R4-R10 Outputs (Display Scan) and the columns connected to the K1-K8 Inputs (Keyboard Scan) of the TMC1073NL single-chip calculator circuit. The [ - K] and [F - 2] sliding switches are connected between the R0 and R2 Outputs and K8 Input.

Keyboard Matrix of the Toshiba BC-1015:

Notes: [y z] Sliding Switch Function, y Switch open, z Switch closed

Display: The Toshiba BC-1015 makes use of an 11-digit Futaba 11-BT-16A low-voltage Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD) connected directly to the respective 11 R Outputs (Display Scan) and 8 O Outputs (Segments) of the TMC1073NL and biased to approximately -30 Volts with discrete pull-down resistors. While the original TMS0100 single-chip calculator circuit included 9 Segment Outputs for 7-Segment displays with either an additional segment available for "fancy fours" or a comma to group thousands, dropped the TMS1000 and this related TMS1070 the 9^th Segment Output and Texas Instruments consequently introduced a novel approach to drive the extra segment of the 11-BT-16A display. Output R10, one of the 11 R Outputs used for Display and Keyboard Scan, is not only connected to the left-most digit of the display but the comma indicator, too and activated together with the desired digits. Please notice the additional patch wire connecting Pin 13 (Digit driver 11) and Pin 23 (Segment driver H) at the TMS0100 socket to simulate this behavior with the DCM-50A Platform.

Display Layout:

The Output Decoder PLA of the TMC1073NL is programmed for 7-Segment displays with the following Output Assignments:

Display Fonts:

The Overflow, Minus, and Memory Indicators of the Futaba 11-BT-16A display is connected to Segments A, G, and B of the numbers, respectively.

Scanning: Display and keyboard scanning is performed in R0 → R10 direction at a rate of about 120-150 Hz with one Blank State after R10. Active Digit Time is stretched when displaying up to three Comma Indicators (Thousands):

TMC1079NL

Device-under-Test:

Keyboard: The Canon Palmtronic MD-8 makes use of a keyboard with conductive rubber switches arranged in a 10*3 matrix with the rows connected to the R0-R9 Outputs (Display Scan) and the columns connected to the K2-K8 Inputs (Keyboard Scan) of the TMC1079NL single-chip calculator circuit. The [MEMORY - SINGLE - PROCESS] and [ - AM] sliding switches are connected between the R10 Output and K1 and K2 Inputs.

Keyboard Matrix of the Canon Palmtronic MD-8:

Notes: (x) Implemented in TMC1079NL but not available on Canon Palmtronic MD-8. [y z] Sliding Switch Function, y Switch open, z Switch closed

Display: The Canon Palmtronic MD-8 makes use of a two-line 9-digit Futaba 20-ST-22 low-voltage Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD) with one additional Grid-Pair for the Memory and Basic Function Indicator. A novel layout of the 20-digit VFD allows the TMC1079NL to fully control it with the available 11 R Outputs (Display Scan) and 8 O Outputs (Segments): All Anodes of the VFD are connected in the usual way to the 8 O Outputs and the 10 Grid-Pairs are connected directly to the R0 to R9 Outputs of the TMC1079NL and biased to approximately -30 Volts with discrete pull-down resistors. Display Scan Output R10 is used to "multiplex" between the upper line (R10 active) and lower line (R10 inactive) of the display by lifting the corresponding Filament supply above a certain threshold. [SINGLE] Mode disconnects the upper Filament and [MEMORY] Mode illuminates the Memory Indicator directly.

While the original design of the DCM-50A Platform did not allow for multiplexing its 12-digit LED Display with an output of the Device-under-Test, did we develop recently a "Digit Blanking" piggy-back printed circuit board (PCB) to reverse-engineer the TMC1079NL and similar devices. Please notice the additional patch wire connecting Pin 3 (R10 Output) of the TMS1000 socket and the "Blank" Input of the additional PCB to simulate this behavior with the DCM-50A Platform.

Display Layout:

The Output Decoder PLA of the TMC1079NL is programmed for 7-Segment displays with the following Output Assignments:

Display Fonts:

The Memory Indicator of the Futaba 20-ST-22 display is connected directly to the [Mode Select] switch.

Scanning: Display and keyboard scanning is performed in R0 → R9 direction at a rate of about 130 Hz with one Blank State after R9 and R10 toggling between inactive and active to display the lower respectively upper display line:

TMC1081NL

Device-under-Test:

Keyboard: The Panasonic JE-1604U makes use of a keyboard with conductive rubber switches arranged in a 10*4 matrix with the rows connected to the R0-R9 Outputs (Display Scan) and the columns connected to the K1-K8 Inputs (Keyboard Scan) of the TMC1081NL single-chip calculator circuit. The [▼ - ⁵/₄] and [F-0-2-3-4] sliding switches are connected between the R0, R2, R3, R4 and R9 Outputs and K1 Input.

Keyboard Matrix of the Panasonic JE-1604U:

Notes: (x) Implemented in TMC1081NL but not available on JE-1604U. [y z] Sliding Switch Function, y Switch open, z Switch closed

Display: The Panasonic JE-1604U makes use of an 11-digit Futaba 11-BT-16A low-voltage Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD) connected directly to the respective 11 R Outputs (Display Scan) and 8 O Outputs (Segments) of the TMC1081NL and biased to approximately -30 Volts with discrete pull-down resistors. While the original TMS0100 single-chip calculator circuit included 9 Segment Outputs for 7-Segment displays with either an additional segment available for "fancy fours" or a comma to group thousands, dropped the TMS1000 and this related TMS1070 the 9^th Segment Output and Texas Instruments consequently introduced a novel approach to drive the extra segment of the 11-BT-16A display. Output R10, one of the 11 R Outputs used for Display and Keyboard Scan, is not only connected to the left-most digit of the display but the comma indicator, too and activated together with the desired digits. Please notice the additional patch wire connecting Pin 13 (Digit driver 11) and Pin 23 (Segment driver H) at the TMS0100 socket to simulate this behavior with the DCM-50A Platform.

Display Layout:

The Output Decoder PLA of the TMC1081NL is programmed for 7-Segment displays with the following Output Assignments:

Display Fonts:

The Overflow, Minus, and Memory Indicators of the Futaba 11-BT-16A display are connected to Segments A, G, and DP of the numbers, respectively.

Scanning: Display and keyboard scanning is performed in R9 → R0 direction followed by an extended R10 State to display up to three Comma Indicators (Thousands) and followed by an RX State to display the Decimal Point at the desired position at a rate of about 80 Hz: