Canon Palmtronic F-3
Brief History
In 1974, Canon released its first scientific pocket calculator, the Palmtronic F-5, which was offered for 49,800 yen. It has similar housing to other contemporary machines; the batteries or rechargeable battery pack can be inserted into the upper edge. The calculator built around the A4001 chip, which was produced by North American Rockwell company, its LED display was manufactured by Bowmar. The machine's features was at the same level as the mid-range machines available at the time, so although it did not support exponential notation, it could calculate the functions known by the HP-35 — as the goal to be achieved when developing the chip — within its 8-digit capacity. After that, the scientific calculator line was further developed, and on the one hand, an exceptionally high-end model (F-7) appeared, which was developed together with the domestic integrated circuit industry, and on the other hand, a cheaper, simpler type (F-2), which contains circuitry made by Texas Instruments, the eternal partner. In 1975, prices worldwide fell to such an extent that the Palmtronic F-5 was replaced by its successor, the Palmtronic F-3, which was completely identical to the former in exception of a newer, more colorful front panel. That model was sold 30,000 yen cheaper, at 19,800 yen. (In Japan, the prices of products do not change as long as they are available, so it is common practice to bring out new models with minimal changes if the old ones can not sold well anymore.)
| Manufacturer: | Canon Inc. (Japan) |
| Mfg. date: | 1975 |
| Size: | 7,7×13,9×3,7 cm |
| Weight (ready for operate): | n.a. |
| Type: | scientific |
| Capacity: | 8 digits (input/display) 8 digits (internal precision) |
| Operating logic: | algebraic |
| CPU: | Rockwell A4001PC |
| Registers: | 2 standard (with saving the pending operation) 1 constant (with saving the pending operation) 1 memory (with aritmetic) |
| Features: | +/-change sign (direct entry of negative numbers) RVexchange registers (X-Y) Ffloating-point notation BSbackspace (right-shift) function Sqrsquare root pivalue of pi (3.1415..) can be recalled 1/xreciprocal trigtrigonometrical functions (sin, cos, tan and inverses: arcsin, arccos, arctan) logexponential and logarithmical functions (10- and e-base) yxraising to power |
| Display: | 9 digit LED (Bowmar Optostic R7H-122-9D) |
| Power: | 4×AA battery, rechargeable battery pack and adaptor |
| Test results: | trigonometry:result of sin-1(cos-1(tan-1(tan(cos(sin(60°)))))), reference value: 60. 62.57928 exponential:result of 0.999160000, reference value (first 14 digits): 3.0068804206375×10-70 0 |
F-3
Inside of the F-3
Keyboard of the F-3
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