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Calculators: Desktop: Olympia CD602 (aka RD 6/1)
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Size (approx): |
205mm x 205mm x 65mm(max)
(w,h,d) |
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Power: |
Mains (220-240V 50-60Hz, 3W) power only through a two-pin mains cable of reasonable length. The on off switch is on the top towards the right hand side. A small red plastic rivet indicates the voltage standard set (as apposed to 100-115V) on the underneath. | |
| Display: | 8 digit green VFD with an additional symbol cluster for overflow, negative and memory indication. | |
| Features: | Standard four functions with square root, change sign, pi, register exchange, reciprocal, chain correct, powers, trigs, logs and four-function memory. Switched degree/radians. r | |
| Age: | 1974 | |
| Manufacturer: | Olympia International, Olympia Werke AG., Wilhelmshaven, made in Western Germany, serial number 84.361-0001.9 and 006 448. | |
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Comments:
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Modern design with some early scientific functions that are a little inaccurate. Quite a surprise on switch-on as the long display filter is hardly utilised on this model. The keyboard is a mess but the logic is only let down by the pseudo fixed decimal bug. |
| Case and Design: | The lower section is glossy off-white plastic whilst the upper is matt black. An s-shaped green display filter is heavily tilted and much bigger than the display. The brand name is (badly) printed on the top area in white where there is also a grill to allow heat to escape. The main keyboard area is raised with a glossy plastic surround printed in light grey, white and yellow. |
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| Keys and Switches: | Quite a mess of size, colours and spacing. Some odd labelling is also quite confusing (see below). The keys are long travel with a soft squelch and a pivoting movement. A degree/radian switch is labelled with an arc and circle with angle logo. | ||
| Construction: | From underneath, push the black plastic lugs inwards that you can see in the four slots. Simultaneously push out the case through these holes. Amazingly easy when you've done it once. The base section can then be removed completely |
| Boards: | The main CPU board (5084.351-5007.1/01L) sits lose on top of the keyboard assembly and is held in place by four plastic ledges and a cardboard spacer over the mains transformer. This is a surprise as it floats free- even though it has fixing holes. The keyboard assembly (5084.026-1172 1/08L) is attached to the top section and a 13-way cable cluster ends in a thin block connector at the main board. |
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| Components: | 1 x cpu: Rockwell
A4001 7444 (week 44 of 1974). 42 pin staggered DIL, 0.6" width black
with metal cap 1 x 8 digit plus symbol cluster VFD unit: Futaba 9-MR-01 4F with flat glass front and integrated metal surround. 21 x transistors 4 x diodes 7 x capacitors 53 x resistors 1 x mains transformer |
| Logic comments: | (C) is used once to cancel the last number entered and a second time to clear the whole calculator. |
| Input overflow is suppressed, keying a ninth digit is ignored | |
| There is automatic constant on all four functions | |
| You can chain-correct the last result in a calculation by using the (CF) key: i.e. key in (2)(+)(3)(+)(6)(=) gives "11" then (C)(CF) gives "5", the result of the first two numbers. On switch-on this register is usually full of garbage on my example. | |
| Negative numbers are shown with a minus in the far left symbol cluster thereby allowing full eight digit negative numbers | |
| Divide by zero shows zero and "E" in the far left symbol cluster and is recoverable using (C) | |
| Overflow shows the result shifted and "E" in the far left symbol cluster and is recoverable using (C) | |
| Memory store is indicated by a "M" in the far left symbol cluster | |
| Use memory register exchange (X<>M) to swap the memory and display | |
| The ((-)) key can be used to change the sign in mid number entry and before | |
| Overflow in memory flags an error, is recoverable and stores the shifted result | |
| (RC) is used as a register exchange key | |
| Higher functions like Sine, Cos, Tan, arc trigs and logs are accessed by a two key sequence with (F) first, a second press will cancel the function call | |
| The power key is quite inaccurate and you can see the intermediate logarithm algorithm used: key in (2)(Xy) [where the log of 2 is displayed] then (8)(=) to give "255.9995" rather than 256. You can get the same result by (2)(F)(lnx)(X)(8)(=)(F)(ex) | |
| Square root of negative numbers are not allowed and display zero and "E" in the far left symbol cluster | |
| A switch allows you to change between radians and degrees | |
| It suffers the pseudo fixed decimal bug: key in (1)(+)(.)(0)(0)(0)(=) to give "1.000" which remains a fixed three digit decimal number until you need more or use a higher function |
