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Casio micro-mini

Casio Computer Co. Ltd. was very innovative in the development of calculators.  The 'micro-mini' models were incredibly small when launched in the mid-1970s.

There are basically two models of the Casio micro-mini calculator; the M800, a basic 4-function version, and the M810, a version with % and memory functions too.
To confuse matters, the M800 appears with several casing finishes and also with either a yellow-filtered LCD or clear-LCD.

 

Casio micro-mini M800

Casio micro-mini M800

Mottled-golden finish Casio micro-mini M800 with yellow-filtered LCD.

In hand

Casio micro-mini M800.

Distinctive features: Tiny "matchbox" size calculator.

Technical details:
Display is 8 digits, LCD, either yellow-filtered or clear.

4-function.

Battery: 1.2v (one button cell), with claimed running time of 60 hours[1].

Size: 43 x 62 x 14mm. (1.7" x 2.4" x 0.6").

Cost: November 1976 US$29.95[1] [about £16 GBP].

1976.

Made in Japan.

The Casio micro-mini M800 was available in several casing finishes and, probably a later version, with clear LCD instead of the yellow-filtered version (to cut out wavelengths of light harmful to the LCD).

In presentation case

Casio micro-mini M800 in its presentation case.

Clear-LCD version

Clear-LCD version of the Casio micro-mini M800.

CasioMicroMiniBrochure_1

Colour brochure for the Casio micro-mini M800.

"The mini-est electronic calculator in the world."

Click on the image for a larger version.

Casio micro-mini M810

Casio micro-mini M810

Casio micro-mini M810.

Distinctive features: Tiny "matchbox" size calculator.

Technical details:
Display is 8 digits, yellow-filtered LCD (to cut out wavelengths of light harmful to the LCD).

4-function, %, memory.

Battery: 1.2v (one button cell).

Size: 43 x 62 x 14mm. (1.7" x 2.4" x 0.6").

1976.

Made in Japan.

Circuit board

The circuit board inside the Casio micro-mini M810 together with a button cell of the type that it uses.

At the top is the NEC D870G calculator integrated circuit in a "Quad Flat Package".
The black circle on the right is insulation where the button cell sits, and the small circuit board is likely to be an oscillator to provide a higher voltage than the 1.2v from the button cell.

Significance:
Using a low-power LCD display allowed the calculator to be powered by a single button cell. The single chip is in a "Quad Flat Package" which has a small footprint and allows the use of the tiny case.

The introduction of "Matchbox" size calculators was, however, a dead end in calculator development. They are tiny, and easy to misplace, but still a bit on the thick. The direction in which calculator development took off around this time was with the "Credit card" size calculator, such as the Casio Mini Card LC-78. These, being thin but having an easily manageable form-factor, became very popular in a large variety of models.

 

Reference:

  1. "Micro Calculator", Popular Science, November 1976, p100.

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Text & photographs copyright, except where stated otherwise, © Nigel Tout 2000-2024.