Westfalia-Technik 269878

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
Years of production:   Display type: Numeric display  
New price:   Display color: Black  
    Display technology: Liquid crystal display 
Size: 5"×3"×½" Display size: 10+2 digits
Weight: 3 oz    
    Entry method: Algebraic with precedence 
Batteries: 1×"CR-2025" Lithium Advanced functions: Trig Exp Hyp Lreg Cplx Cmem BaseN Units Const 
External power:   Memory functions: +/-/×/÷ 
I/O:      
    Programming model: Fully-merged keystroke entry 
Precision: 12 digits Program functions: Cond  
Memories: 7 numbers Program display:  
Program memory: 64 program steps Program editing:  
Chipset: NEC D75308GF   Forensic result: 9.0000389918  

269878.jpg (26958 bytes)If it looks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, chances are it is a duck. The duck, in this case, is the Canon F-700 programmable calculator, of which this Westfalia-Technik machine appears to be an OEM version.

This machine helped solve (or deepen, depending on your point of view) a mystery: exactly who makes these calculators? The F-700 is an unusual Canon machine, because its programming model is more like that of many Casio models. Opening the Westfalia Technik reveals... well, it reveals a circuit board made by Truly, a Hong Kong manufacturer, and a calculator chip made by NEC. Confused yet?

The programming model of this calculator is demonstrated by a program I originally wrote for the Casio fx-3600Pv; here, the additional room in program memory made it possible to make the program slightly more accurate. It computes the logarithm of the Gamma function to 8+ digits of precision, using a simple iteration to improve precision for small or negative arguments:

Kin 2
ln
Kin+ 1
9
Min
Kout 2
+
1
=
x<=M
×
Min
ln
-
MR
+
(
2
×
π 
÷
MR
)
√ 
ln
+
1
2
1/x
÷
MR
-
3
6
0
1/x
÷
MR
÷
MR
x²
+
1
2
6
0
1/x
÷
MR
x²
x²
÷
MR
-
0
x-K 1
=