Intertronic SC-88P

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/log 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: Li-ion rechargeable battery
Lreg: Linear regression (2-var. stats)
mA: Milliamperes of current
Mtrx: Matrix support
NiCd: Nickel-Cadmium recharg. batt.
NiMH: Nickel-metal-hydrite rech. batt.
Prnt: Printer
RTC: Real-time clock
Sdev: Standard deviation (1-var. stats)
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
Years of production:   Display type: Numeric display  
New price:   Display color: Black  
    Display technology: Liquid crystal display 
Size: 5"×3"×¼" Display size: 10(8+2) digits
Weight: 2 oz    
    Entry method: Algebraic with precedence 
Batteries: 2×"V389" button cell Advanced functions: Trig Exp Hyp Sdev Cmem 
External power:   Memory functions: + 
I/O:      
    Programming model: Partially merged keystroke 
Precision: 11 digits Program functions:  
Memories: 3 numbers Program display:  
Program memory: 40 program steps Program editing:  
Chipset: Sharp LI3301A   Forensic result: 9.0000156204  

Intertronic SC-88P

sc88p.jpg (27918 bytes)Haven't I seen this calculator calculator somewhere? Why, of course I have. The Intertronic SC-88P is physically identical to the Knight K-31A; both OEM calculators must have come from the same Taiwanese manufacturer.

They also use the same calculator chip: the Sharp LI3301A is perhaps the most popular integrated circuit used in OEM programmable calculators. It is a good calculator chip, to be sure, except for its limited programmability: its 40-step program space shares storage with memory registers, it has no branching or conditional capability, and it has that dreaded "feature" of zeroing out the display register when you begin program entry, making it impossible to enter an algorithm that produces an error on a zero argument.

The limited programming model of this machine makes it impossible to implement complex algorithms. A sophisticated Gamma function implementation is therefore beyond the machine's capabilities, but Stirling's formula fits easily into the calculator's memory: 

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