Sneak Peak #2



#10

Look mum, no hands:

Dave.


#11

You tease. I'm still waiting to send you money ;)

#12

:)

This looks like MODE and STO/RCL buttons are on the side face of your calc. Is MODE going to act like a shift key? If not, how do you select e.g. F1? Why is there a dedicated key for closing parenthesis only? What will this be good for in RPN?

Oh, and BTW, will there be a time display, too?


#13

Quote:
:)

This looks like MODE and STO/RCL buttons are on the side face of your calc. Is MODE going to act like a shift key? If not, how do you select e.g. F1? Why is there a dedicated key for closing parenthesis only? What will this be good for in RPN?

Oh, and BTW, will there be a time display, too?


Yes Virginia, there is a time/date display mode (+bonus extra's), it is a watch after all. MODE shifts between Time/Date, Calculator, and setup modes etc.
The function keys are accessed with the MENU button which calls up various rolling soft key menus. So common functions like say 1/x only take two key presses.
You need a closing parentheses key for Algebraic mode, and that button currently does nothing in RPN mode.

Dave.


#14

Quote:
Yes Virginia, ...

???

#15

Quote:


???


As in, "Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Clause".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes,_Virginia,_There_is_a_Santa_Claus

Dave.

#16

Very cool! So when does the tease end and the reality begin?
Interesting idea, so tell us more about it...And what is it going to cost :-)
Good luck with your project!
Tadeyev


#17

Quote:
Very cool! So when does the tease end and the reality begin?

Well, it's reality for me, I'm wearing one every day :-P

Quote:
Interesting idea, so tell us more about it...And what is it going to cost :-)

All in good time!, can't tell all just yet, you'll have to wait and see. Early adopters may need the ability to solder...

I wonder how much I can get on That Auction Site for the world's only Programmable RPN scientific calculator watch? :->

Dave.


#18

Davej,

Can you give us some ideas regarding what's running under the hood? Like processor type, memory size, display specs (annunciators?), batter(y/ies) type.

How about the software? Did you "borrow" a rom from HP, or are you running your own code?

If any of this is has already been covered, pointer please. If it's top secret, I understand.

...

Also, if you want my two cents, if you could, I would put a (much) wider bracelet on the watch. Something Rambo size, to compliment the attitude and stance of the watch itself.


Best regards,
Pal


#19

Quote:
Davej,

Can you give us some ideas regarding what's running under the hood? Like processor type, memory size, display specs (annunciators?), batter(y/ies) type.

How about the software? Did you "borrow" a rom from HP, or are you running your own code?

If any of this is has already been covered, pointer please. If it's top secret, I understand.


It's kinda secret at the moment, but I'm not that good at keeping secrets for too long, I can usually be prodded ;-)

It uses a modern 16bit micro with decent amounts of internal FLASH and SRAM. There is also another non-volatile memory for program and other storage.
Display is just a 16x2 dot matrix, no extra annunciators.
It uses either one or two lithium coin cell batteries.
It's got more grunt and memory than the new 35S anyway.

It's completely all my own code.

Quote:
Also, if you want my two cents, if you could, I would put a (much) wider bracelet on the watch. Something Rambo size, to compliment the attitude and stance of the watch itself.

I went with standard size watch spring bars, I'm not aware of any wider ones? Then again, I didn't specifically look for anything wider.
I'm not a big fan of the wide watch band, but I can see your point given the rest of the watch is fairly wide.

Dave.


#20

Quote:
It uses a modern 16bit micro with decent amounts of internal FLASH and SRAM.

Sounds like it might be one of:

  • Renesas H8SX - max 512KB flash, 40KB RAM (1M flash, 56KB RAM in forthcoming parts)
  • TI MSP430 - max 48KB flash, 10KB RAM, or 116KB flash, 8KB RAM
  • Microchip PIC24F - max 128KB flash, 8KB RAM
  • Microchip PIC24H - max 128KB flash, 16KB RAM

The H8SX and PIC24H have the disadvantage of requiring a regulated
3.3V supply, but then, the LCD module probably does as well. The MSP430 and PIC24F can run directly from a battery.

I've used other H8 parts in the past, but not the H8SX series. I'd probably use an MSP430 if I was designing something like this, unless more than 10KB of RAM was desired.

What's the overall width of the LCD module? The smallest 16x2 character LCD module I've found is 56.3mm wide.


#21

Quote:
What's the overall width of the LCD module? The smallest 16x2 character LCD module I've found is 56.3mm wide.

53mm

Dave.

#22

Interesting, The /*-+ keys are in the same order as the Pioneer/Voyager and later series, but are on the left like The HP 41 and earlier calculators. This is a slick looking calculator! I'd be interested in one as well. This may be a silly question, but does it also function as a watch? I assume not since there are no controls for such. Looks nice!

#23

Can't you make the ENTER key wider? :-)

#24

Nice! Is it just a calculator or a watch as well?


#25

Quote:
Nice! Is it just a calculator or a watch as well?

Due to popular demand, a photo of the watch mode, to prove it's real.

and yes, that's a temperature display as well. My fridge is 3.3degC in case anyone wanted to know :->

Dave.


#26

Dave, thanks for showing!

You may have expected my questions: Does it have a 24h mode, too? And is it able to display the date the European way (e.g. 5.10.2007)? Any extra functions like a stopwatch? (You may notice I carefully avoid questions starting with "is there...?" ;)


#27

Quote:
Dave, thanks for showing!

You may have expected my questions: Does it have a 24h mode, too? And is it able to display the date the European way (e.g. 5.10.2007)? Any extra functions like a stopwatch? (You may notice I carefully avoid questions starting with "is there...?" ;)


Of course, I wouldn't want it to miss out on anything my Timex can't do. Well, almost, it's a not waterproof, so I won't be wearing it canyoning this season.

Dave.

#28

I'm looking forward to getting one...

The problem is, I'll probably wear it,

everywhere...

until it is held together by duct tape...

and my wife would refuse to be seen in public with me.

Ren

dona nobis pacem


#29

On further thought...

Maybe I'll develop a water tight hinged Lexan cover for it...

and market it to Special Forces...

but they'll probably want me to include a 1MW CO2 cutting laser...

and an external trigger for the timer countdown function...

GPS...

Oh well...

Ren

dona nobis pacem


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