Post Reply 
Canon Palmtronic F-6 scientific calculator from 1975 (kind of rare now?)
05-07-2016, 02:52 PM (This post was last modified: 05-07-2016 03:52 PM by jebem.)
Post: #2
RE: Canon Palmtronic F-6 scientific calculator from 1975 (kind of rare now?)
A single screw holds the back cover that also have plastic notches to maintain structural rigidity.

[Image: Canon_Palmtronic_F-6_011.jpg]

Does anyone understand what is written in this white label on the back cover?
I suppose it is Japanese, and I saw another calculator picture in the Internet with the same label.
Although my calculator is missing the English label that I can see in that other Internet picture.

EDIT - Used ABBY Fine Reader and some Japanese text was recognized and later googled:

CANON 保証書 = CANON Warranty card
197 年 月 日 = 197 year month day

内容は使用I兑明赛に驴鲛れてい = I use content wa ni donkey race against the next shark made me cry te い ???

Obviously the label printing is worn to the point that it is impossible now to be machine readable.

[Image: Canon_Palmtronic_F-6_012.jpg]

Injection molded keys.

[Image: Canon_Palmtronic_F-6_013.jpg] [Image: Canon_Palmtronic_F-6_014.jpg] [Image: Canon_Palmtronic_F-6_015.jpg]


Shielding spring connector detail.
It connects the metal front plate to the machine PCB ground.

[Image: Canon_Palmtronic_F-6_015A.jpg]

The Hitachi HD3699 SoC processor is complemented by a DC-DC power supply converter to generate the required high voltage to illuminate the VFD.
The PCA set includes:
- The Processor/Power Supply/VFD main PCB, which in turn holds the Power Supply PCB;
- The Keyboard PCB;
All the three PCB's are soldered to each other by using single core wiring.

I measured the current consumption using a 4.5V power supply.
After power: 60mA
All digits on: 82mA
Calculating sin: 65mA.

This translates to a power consumption of a minimum of 270mW and a maximum of 370mW, much less than the declared 0.6W value in the English back cover label (the one missing in my machine).

[Image: Canon_Palmtronic_F-6_016.jpg]

The VFD terminals are clearly identified.
Terminals "1" to "12" for the digits selection, then "a" to "g" and "dp" for the 7-segments plus decimal point selectors.

The electrolytic capacitors have a working voltage of 50V. I didn't care to check them as the machine works flawlessly with a bright steady VFD light emission..
From the two power supply transistors, only one have a identification label, with "D467" (2SD467 NPN Si).
The TDK transformer has a code of CD-1015, Japan.

The date codes in the transistor and in the SoC processor is "5L".

Visible in the picture is one broken black plastic pin that I couldn't find its original place.
This machine was opened before by others, but apparently nothing was modified or repaired as all components solder joints looks tom be untouched.

[Image: Canon_Palmtronic_F-6_017.jpg]


The 12 digit VFD is soldered to the Processor PCB.

[Image: Canon_Palmtronic_F-6_018.jpg] [Image: Canon_Palmtronic_F-6_0209.jpg]

Jose Mesquita
RadioMuseum.org member

Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 


Messages In This Thread
RE: Canon Palmtronic F-6 scientific calculator from 1975 (kind of rare now?) - jebem - 05-07-2016 02:52 PM



User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)