HP Forum Archive 21

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DM-1xC vs. HP Voyager KINOMI Message #1 Posted by Csaba Tizedes (Hungary) on 8 Oct 2012, 4:23 p.m. A few months ago I wrote a short letter to Michael Steinmann, interested, can I just buy a motherboard from him. Actually, we did not come to an understanding, but today, I saw an interesting video on YouTube: Quote: Dear Michael! First of all, Happy New Year from Hungary! :) It has long been looking at your website about the HP15C clone. There are a couple of questions in this regard: 1.) Is it possible to order a motherboard, fully similar just like the motherboard of the original HP15C be put into place, just a faster CPU, etc... (I just want a faster 15C.) 2.) Is it possible to order a motherboard, like above + with more RAM (~4kByte, max. 8kByte enough, I guess). 3.) Is it like above but I want to replace the motherboard of a HP12C (I have a good memory, I can remember to the keyboard layout of 15C ;) ) (Idea behind of this: I dont want to hack my original 15C, but a 12C is expendable ;) and original HP feeling is remain. ) Sorry for the Google translated text, but my English is not the best! I look forward to your response and if you allow, I'll send to the our calculator's Group too! (Link: https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=hu#!forum/szamologep) Best regards, Csaba Tizedes - ZilogR And the video - maybe the beginning of a new era: HP Voyager KINOMI

Re: DM-1xC vs. HP Voyager KINOMI Message #2 Posted by Massimo Gnerucci (Italy) on 8 Oct 2012, 4:46 p.m., in response to message #1 by Csaba Tizedes (Hungary) Kinomi is from uhmgawa, a regular here, not from Michael. Greetings, Massimo

Re: DM-1xC vs. HP Voyager KINOMI Message #3 Posted by Csaba Tizedes (Hungary) on 8 Oct 2012, 4:50 p.m., in response to message #2 by Massimo Gnerucci (Italy) Yes, I know, these KINOMI guys did it that Michael did not want to!!

Re: DM-1xC vs. HP Voyager KINOMI Message #4 Posted by Mike (Stgt) on 9 Oct 2012, 7:00 a.m., in response to message #1 by Csaba Tizedes (Hungary) Nice, very nice. Hats off for all who are able to play with HW in such a way. I would be glad to get a copy of the HP-10C's ROM. Just to play a bit with my simulator of the NUT CPU (done in FORTRAN, running on VM/ESA - as such just for me). Ciao.....Mike

Re: DM-1xC vs. HP Voyager KINOMI Message #5 Posted by uhmgawa on 10 Oct 2012, 7:25 p.m., in response to message #1 by Csaba Tizedes (Hungary) Quote: Is it possible to order a motherboard, fully similar just like the motherboard of the original HP15C be put into place, just a faster CPU, etc... Obviously to replace a legacy voyager PCB you'll need to address severing the heat stake heads and securely re-cementing new ABS heads. That's a substantial drawback for prospective users. Next in line is the issue of reuse and swapping of the display as an economic concession against requiring a replacement display. Release of the stainless compression frame and accurately reseating both it and the zebras on the new PCB is a bit involved. Aside from this either a CPU with integrated LCD controller or addition of an external controller is realistically required. Either is preferable to attempting reuse of the existing R2D2 controller. Then there is the issue of the nominal 4V5 battery rail. The only SoCs of which I'm aware, able to operate natively from 4V5 down to approx. 3V are lower functionality architectures. So to accommodate say an ARM core will require at least an ultra low power linear regulator to provide data retention or a systems approach where all non-volatile data is saved to EEPROM/FRAM on power down. In event the SoC itself is powered down, external circuitry on the battery rail will be needed to effect a power on wakeup. Most of the above have relatively straightforward solutions if approached from a "labour of love" mindset. But otherwise there are detractions to the effort: you probably won't create enough overall interest to establish a self-supporting user community and you'd be drawing from a diminishing and unpredictable supply of repurposeable units. The KINOMI module approach addresses the technical issues above and as well your memory/performance goals, but introduces its own requirement of a specialized desoldering process to remove the original NUT cpu and swap in the upgrade PCB without inflicting heat damage to the LCD zebras. That process requires someone with specialized tooling and rework skills to accomplish, who can justify providing the service for a yet unknown number of potential customers. Revisiting the prospect of a wholesale board swap, I came to the conclusion it would only make sense if a display upgrade was possible. As such there was another variation in the KEMU/KINOMI project which replaced the 7-segment display with a graphic alternative, adding features intended as a partial solution for the static keyboard layout. You can find details here. I don't intend to discourage your interest. But rather wanted to share my observations after considering the above possibilities.

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