Back to index

Info for pc1401


====== Sharp Pocket Computer 1401 / 1402 (1983) ======




===== Features =====

* CPU: SC 61860 (8 bits) 576 kHz
* RAM: 4.2 KB [PC-1401]; 10.2 KB [PC-1402]
* ROM: 40 KB
* Text Modes: 1 line x 16 chars. (LCD screen), 5 x 7 dot matrix
* Graphic Modes: None
* Colors: Monochrome LCD
* Sound: CPU controlled piezo buzzer, fixed frequency and duration via BASIC statement
* I/O Ports: Proprietary 11-pin expansion bus
* Keyboard: 76 keys, QWERTY calculator type with numeric key-pad and math function keys
* Built In Language: Sharp BASIC interpreter
* Peripherals: CE-126P thermal printer and tape interface



===== Usage =====

Holding C-CE while resetting, preserves basic programs. (Simulated when starting mess)

Holding CE while hitting reset prevents the basic area from being overwritten

(which of these is correct?)

Error Codes (found at the inner side of the top): (should be the same for several models)

1 Syntax error

2 Calculation error

3 Illegal function argument

4 Too large a line number

5 Next without for return without gosub

6 Memory overflow

7 Print using error

8 I/O device error

9 Other errors



===== Known Issues =====

The emulation of this system is still Preliminary.



===== History and Trivia =====

Small scientific calculator and pocket computer.

The PC-1401 was the first of a series of pocket computers with a new concept.

It combined the advantages of a BASIC programmable pocket computer and a scientific calculator. Nevertheless, it was much thinner than, for instance, the PC-1500, and well worth its price. Therefore, the PC-14xx series was very successful, especially among students.

The PC-1401 was developed based on the PC-125x series, thus it possessed the same BASIC core capabilities. In addition, it had a separate calculator mode, in which it could be used like any of Sharp's scientific calculators, such as the EL506H. For this purpose, the right section of the keyboard had 18 additional math keys, and it could be used as any standard AOS entry calculator. Moreover, a set of statistics functions was implemented.

In BASIC mode, the additional math buttons could be used as shortcut keys to enter the BASIC keywords of these math functions. A downside was the small display with only 16 characters, which made it somewhat hard to keep track of your BASIC program while programming.

As the PC-125x series, the PC-1401 was based on the SC61860 8-bit CMOS microprocessor, clocked with a 576 kHz ceramic resonator circuit, and the same display driver chip (SC43536). It had 4.2 KB RAM (two HM6116 2k x 8 chips plus some bytes in the display driver chip) and 40 KB ROM (SC613256). All chips and other components were soldered onto a single PCB. The RAM of the PC-1401 could not be extended by modules.

Together with the PC-1401, the CE-126P thermal printer and micro cassette interface unit was introduced. It was alcaline battery powered and could print 24 characters per line on special thermal paper.

== Versions ==

The PC-14xx series consisted of various models; here, only those directly derived from the PC-125x hardware are described. At least three different models were widely available in the West:

* PC-1401: This was the first machine of the series, released in 1983.

* PC-1402: Released about one year later. Basically the same machine, but with more RAM. One of the HM6116 chips had been replaced by a D4364G 8k x 8 chip, resulting in 10.2 KB RAM (9678 bytes for BASIC).

* PC-1421: This machine was also released in 1984. As the PC-1401, it had 4.2 KB RAM (3454 for BASIC). However, it was powered by a later release of the CPU and clocked with a higher clock rate (768 kHz), which made it one third faster. From the software's point of
view,it was equipped with special math functions for business/financial matters.

(info from old-computers.com)



== Other related models (only few currently supported by MESS) ==

* PC-1210: basic computer, 24 character display

* PC-1211: same as PC-1210, 2 additional RAM chips

* PC-1212: same as PC-1212, minor changes had been made to the ROMs

* PC-1245: low cost version of PC-1251

* PC-1251: basic computer, 24 5x7 character display

* PC-1253: calculator, derived from the PC-1251, reduced keyboard

* PC-1260: basic computer, 16x2 5x7 character display, 8 bit sharp CPU, 6+32kb ROM, 4kb RAM

* PC-1261: pc1260 with 10kb RAM

* PC-1262: re-release of PC-1261, slightly different PCB

* PC-1350 with ?? RAM

* PC-1360

* PC-1403: derived from the PC-1401, 8+32+32kb ROM, 8 kb RAM, 24 5x7 character display

* PC-1403h: PC-1403 with 32 kb RAM

* PC-1421: derived from the PC-1401

* PC-1430: prequel to PC-1401

* PC-1450: PC-1401 with some additional keys

* PC-1475: derived from the PC-1450 with some PC-1403 features 24x2 5x7 character display

* PC-1500: basic computer, 26 character display

* PC-1500a: expanded PC-1500

* PC-2500: similar to PC-1350. it has better keyboard and a small built in color printer-plotter



===== Links =====

* Pocket Computer Museum -- http://pocket.free.fr/index.html
* Pocket Computer 1401 at old-computers.com -- http://old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1170



===== Other Emulators =====

* PockEmul -- http://pockemul.free.fr/




Generated on Sun Jul 19 10:17:28 2009