Sharp Compet CS-1109

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Calculators: Desktop: Sharp Compet CS-1109

	Size (approx):	215mm x 240mm x 30-55mm (keyboard), 115mm display (w,h,d) Weight 1,100g including cable and UK three-pin plug
	Power:	Mains (240V 50Hz, 2.3W) power only through a permanently fixed mains cable of considerable length.
	Display:	10 digit green VFD plus a right symbol cluster for memory, negative and error indication. There are also upper commas for thousand indication.
	Features:	Standard four functions with percentages, square root, count total, four function memory, register exchange, delete, double zero entry. Switches for constant, round/round up/round down. floating /fixed /accounting format, auto-accumulator. Semi-RPM Logic.
	Age:	1977
	Manufacturer:	Sharp Corporation, Made in Japan, serial No. 70005420.
	Comments:	A sturdy workman like calculator which is a bit a design jumble. Solid logic except for the input overflow and the divide to negative zero bug but useful range of functions. Very easy to read tilted display.

Case and Design:	The two-piece case is made from smooth cream plastic whilst the top section is a mixture of matt and smooth black plastic. There is a very pronounced raised section at the back which tilts the green filtered display at 45 degrees. To the right of the display is a black and yellow printed metallic label that sits in its own recess. There is also another small metallic label printed "Made in Japan" to the far left below the display.
Keys and Switches:	The top most switch is for on/off. The next row consists of a constant switch (K), rounding options (up, 5/4, down), decimal point switch (F320A) and memory summation switch. The remaining keys are grouped in four banks; cancel keys, numeric keys (including 00), basic function keys and finally a group of "other functions" and memory control. The whole thing is a bit of a mess really.
Construction:	Remove the two screws from the bottom and the third from the top edge and the whole black front section will come off with a gentle pressure to pop the top and bottom lugs.

Boards:	There is just one board (Sharp F1451CC A) that holds the key assemblies, switches and display unit. It sits loosely inside, not a screw in sight. Oddly enough the components are mounted on the underside. I imagine that this makes connection to the keys easier. The board is shaped to accommodate the mains transformer (top right) which is screwed down.
Components:	1 x cpu: Hitachi HD38401 7F 35, 36 pin DIL, 0.6" width 1 x 12 digit green VFD display: flat tube with left and right symbol clusters 1 x transistor 14 x diodes 8 x capacitors 4 x resistors 1 x mains transformer: P1417CC 24V7Z T 1 x voltage convertor: 1414 TDK Japan 2 x fuses in holders Minimum components - and most of them are for the power supply regulation and VFD voltage. The IC is driving the display direct. (image right is the underside of the board)

Logic comments:	(CE) is used once to cancel the last number entered and (C) to clear the whole calculator
	(CT) displays the count total, the number of numbers you have entered - useful for finding averages.
	(->) deletes the last number entered but can also be used as a error recovery key
	(00) allows more rapid number entry, especially in automatic decimal mode (A on the points switch)
	Input overflow is not suppressed, keying an eleventh digit results in an overflow that is recoverable using (->)
	Constant function is switched in with the "K" switch and operates on multiply and divide only
	The rounding switch can select round up (^), round up/down (5/4) and round down (v)
	The decimal point switch can be selected between floating "F", fixed "3,2,,0" and automatic financial mode "A" for $x.xx entry
	Negative numbers are shown with a minus in the far right symbol cluster allowing full ten digit negative numbers
	A summation switch "S" (sigma) adds the result of every calculation the memory
	Divide by zero shows a "0." and "E" in the far right symbol cluster and is not recoverable
	Overflow shows the result and "E" in the far right symbol cluster and is recoverable using (CE) or (->)
	Memory storage is indicated by "M" in the far right symbol cluster
	Overflow in memory flags an error (with "0.") and is not recoverable, but retains the original number
	The register exchange key (^v) will also exchange the answer for the first number entered
	Square roots of negative numbers are not allowed; it displays the result and error indicator and is recoverable using (CE) or (->)
	It suffers the divide to negative zero (once) bug: key in (1)(+=)(2)(-=) to give "-1." now divide repeatedly by ten until you get "-0.", one more division will give you zero showing you the extra level of precision in the complimentary algorithm

Footnotes:	Same case as the more advanced CS-2109. There was also a CD-1109A version that looks the same on the outside.