Scientific Calculator

Scientific calculatorsare more than a regular requirement for every engineer. They are packed with features that will help solve complicatedtrigonometric exponential and logarithmic equations in just a blink of eyes, scientific calculators are nothing less than a pocket-sized brain. Find out what makes this tiny gadget function.

Fig. 1: Illustration of the Scientific Calculator Most of the scientific calculators, irrespective of the manufacturer, come with an aluminum casing that is the image above. The layout of the buttons are clean and comfortable so that calculators can be used over a long periods of time without risk of strain to the wrist. Additionally, they ensure correct key stroke each time, regardless of the size of the hand that presses them.

PCB

Fig. 2: Circuit Board and LCD Display of Scientific Calculator A plastic casing houses the PCB, batteries, as well as the monitor LCD that is part of the calculator. A double sided PCB is utilized in a scientific calculator. While one side has the COB IC, the necessary circuitry, and connections to the LCD and the LCD, the other includes the keypad. It contains the tracks that produce signals that correspond with the keys that are pressed. The rear of the PCB is illustrated below.

Fig. 3: Chip on Board Integrated Circuit

Processing Core: COB IC or no COB?

Fig. 4. Integrated Circuit of Scientific Calculator Utilizing a COB IC is a cost effective feature as it can save significant amounts of hardware, and it performs all the functions that are available to the calculator but usually takes away the ability of its calculator to be programmable by the user. This is the main difference between an ordinary pocket calculator for multiplication and addition purposes and a high-end scientific calculator that has the capacity to perform diverse computation. COB ICs are typically used in calculators that cannot be programmed, while the calculators that can be programmed do have a Microprocessor that is packaged or surface mounted based IC which is connected to an external memory flash. Programmable calculators can be instructed to store user defined data and formulas. The chip won't be visible explicitly inside scientific calculators too as that also appears to be the appearance of a COB IC owing to the fact that the chip is covered by an epoxy-based layer. A few of the suitable ICs that have been used in calculators that can be programmed are the 8502 Microprocessor which has been employed in HP 35s series of scientific calculators and the ARMv4T chips found in robust calculators that offer graph plotting functionality and support for external memory inputs like memory cards.

Keypad

Fig. 5. Keypad along with the Circuit Board Scientific Calculator Shown in the image above is the reverse aspect of the plastic keypad and the PCB. Patterns are drawn onto the PCB's surface, which generate signals to the key that is pressed . These signals send it to the COB IC. The keypad operates in the same way that a keyboard does. The plastic switches on the case are linked to a keypad made of rubber. When the key is pulled, the black mark of rubber under that keypad's rubber reaches to the PCB. This creates the track to transmit signals.

LCD Display

Fig. 6: LCD Display and the Functions based on the capabilities included in the calculator, LCD displays for the calculator could be of different sizes and styles. For a basic calculator, it has an LCD screen that is 16X2 however, those with advanced features feature an screen with a LCD dots matrix, too. Advanced scientific calculators even have a bright display.Shown in the picture above is a dual line LCD. The top line is an dot matrix LCD display and the lower line is an LCD display with seven segment numbers. The LCD is attached to the PCB with the help of a connector. A heat seal is an e-connector made composed of polyester. A pair of films are held (sealed) together at high temperatures with conductive paste, thus the name heat seal.

Batteries

Fig. 7: Battery Combination of Scientific Calculator The type of batteries utilized is determined by the features of the calculator. With more features or a larger size of the LCD display, the more powerful the battery is. Shown above is an AA pencil cell combo that powers the calculator. Button cells also known as "AAA" batteries are also employed in numerous calculators. The average life span of a battery pack is 1-2 years (though it varies with each type of battery and from calculator to calculator). Adding a solar panel enhances the battery's lifespan, to ensure that the main reason for replacing the calculator is not dying batteries, but something related to physical harm due to it being dropped from a height. Additionally, calculators operate at very low power and do not run dry in a matter of minutes. To consume the least possible battery power, calculators come with an auto Power Off feature. This feature is operated using a "Power Control Consumption System" that shuts down the calculator whenever no keys are pressed during a predetermined time. Typically, this duration is around 7-9 minutes and if calculator is in the middle of any calculation (which usually does not happen) it will save all the information to facilitate the user.The first scientific calculator was released in late decade of the 60s Hewlett Packard and numerous electronic makers followed. Initially expensive and feature restricted the engineers have crammed ever-growing features into that little space as the semiconductor industry continues to mature.


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