Falcon 3000

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Calculators: Handheld: Falcon 3000

		Size (approx):	70mm (max) x 134mm x 24mm (max) (w,h,d) Weight 72g excluding batteries.
		Power:	9.0V DC, 1 x PP3 size battery. Also accepts adapter/charger (undefined) through a left side socket about a third of the way down.
		Case:	Cheap feeling two piece shiny black plastic case. Edges are a bit sharper than you would normally expect. Brushed aluminium panel for the brand / model info above the display and keyboard surround below. Titled up towards the back and widens at the top to accommodate the 9V battery. Cheap battery terminals are just two metal tags rather than a proper 9V battery connector. Buttons make a positive load click. Blue and black colour scheme of keys reminiscent of a Texet calculator. On/off sliding switch on the right side, one third of the way down.
		Display:	8 digit red LED with bubble lens display - ninth used for minus sign.
		Features:	Basic four function with percentages, change sign and four-function memory.
		Age:	1978
		Manufacturer:	Serial Number C428624. Made in Hong Kong.
		Comments:	The fact that this calculator has a CS button for change sign means it is very very likely to be a Texet calculator. Cheaply made but works well enough. Logic quite robust except for the "Texet trailing zeros bug". See the Same Calculator page for more clones.

Components:	x x cpu: Texas TMS0972NL MBT 7845 Singpore (date code week 45 of 1978) 1 x 9 digit red LED unit with bubble lenses: National Semiconductor NSA1488 848 No other components
Boards:	The main keyboard board (Ref 8D13) floats over the main cpu board (Ref 8D15 0972 220677 RJP) and is connected by a set of 10 stiff copper wires and some sticky tape.
Construction:	Warning the case is held together by lugs in the lower section. It is very difficult to open without damaging the edging - not recommended.

Logic comments:	The Clear Entry key (CE) is used to clear an input number, the clear (C) key is used to completely reset the calculator
	Overflow on the input of a number is suppressed
	The constant function is automatic on all four operations
	The negative sign is shown on the immediate left digit pushing into the ninth to allow 8-digit negative numbers
	There is no indication of memory storage - you have to remember it.
	Overflow errors are shown as a flashing number which are recoverable by use of the (CE) key.
	A divide by zero or overflow error is shown as a flashing "0" which is recoverable by use of the (CE) key.
	To see a display anomaly try (1) (-) (0.0000000) (=), this gives "1.00000000" which keeps the trailing zeros until you multiply or divide by something.