Compucorp 322G Scientist
| Datasheet legend
Ab/c:
Fractions calculation
AC: Alternating current BaseN: Number base calculations Card: Magnetic card storage Cmem: Continuous memory Cond: Conditional execution Const: Scientific constants Cplx: Complex number arithmetic DC: Direct current Eqlib: Equation library Exp: Exponential/logarithmic functions Fin: Financial functions Grph: Graphing capability Hyp: Hyperbolic functions Ind: Indirect addressing Intg: Numerical integration Jump: Unconditional jump (GOTO) Lbl: Program labels LCD: Liquid Crystal Display LED: Light-Emitting Diode Li-ion: Lithium-ion rechargeable battery Lreg: Linear regression (2-variable statistics) mA: Milliamperes of current Mtrx: Matrix support NiCd: Nickel-Cadmium rechargeable battery NiMH: Nickel-metal-hydrite rechargeable battery Prnt: Printer RTC: Real-time clock Sdev: Standard deviation (1-variable statistics) Solv: Equation solver Subr: Subroutine call capability Symb: Symbolic computing Tape: Magnetic tape storage Trig: Trigonometric functions Units: Unit conversions VAC: Volts AC VDC: Volts DC |
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Compucorp 322G Scientist
The Compucorp 322G Scientist is a lower-end version of the 324G calculator. Instead of two program storage areas holding 80 program steps each, it only has one. Otherwise, the two machines are identical.
This poor machine shown on the right here was initially non-functional. Although it showed a heartbeat on my oscilloscope, nothing appeared on its display. At first, I suspected that the problem is with the display itself but then I came across another dysfunctional Compucorp machine, and when I swapped displays, the 322G failed to come to life. As it turns out, the problem was due to a faulty memory board; once replaced, the 322G was functioning correctly.
I can't help it, I just love these old machines. Their elegant design, the beautiful orange display, the quality engineering reminds one of bygone era; the era of Saturn V rockets reaching for the Moon, that is.
The biggest omission in the 322G's programming model is the lack of any conditional transfer functions. The machine's 80 program steps would be far better utilized if one had the ability to implement simple control structures and loops. That said, some simple control structures canbe implemented by using two peculiar features of this machine. First, that programs containing no halt instruction are executed endlessly (i.e., after the last step, program execution doesn't stop but resumes at the first step in program memory). Second, programs are halted when an error condition is encountered. These two facts can be used together to implement simple looping constructs.
This is demonstrated by the following program that computes the factorial of the argument on display, depositing the result in register 1. The result can be retrieved after clearing the display (remember, the program stops with an intentionally triggered error condition.)
01 STn 02 1 03 1/x 04 RCLn 05 1 06 × 07 STn 08 0 09 ( 10 RCLn 11 1 12 - 13 1 14 )
I've also written a more complex programming example, demonstrating the generalized factorial, also known as the Gamma function, for the 324G.
