The second you place your desktop calculator on the table, it is simply a machine that you can utilize for calculation. But have you ever thought about what it holds? A calculator may look plain, but tremendous technology is packed in its tiny body. We will dive horribly deep into the most important parts that make up a desktop calculator and observe how each part is essential in making it function here in this article. This is true even for custom calculators with logos. Let’s take a look.
1. Mainboard (Circuit Board): The Heart of the Calculator
The mainboard or circuit board is the central point of all calculators. It’s that shining level board to which everything is connected. It’s the master board that facilitates and provides room for connection and communication between all the different parts of the calculator.
1) What is a Circuit Board?
The mainboard is a non-conductive material, such as plastic or fiberglass, which has been etched with electric pathways connecting the various components. The pathways, or traces, are actually the calculator’s “nervous system” and enable information to flow from component to component.
2) How Does the Mainboard Work?
When you type a key, it activates an electric impulse to the mainboard. The mainboard sends the message to the concerned component, i.e., the microchip, where the calculation is done. The mainboard is the central processing unit, which coordinates all the components in order to make them work in coordination with one another.
2. The Microchip: The Brain of the Calculator
Inside the calculator is a small but crucial piece of hardware—the microchip (also called the CPU or central processing unit). The microchip is the brain of the calculator and carries out the instructions and calculations.
1) What Does the Microchip Do?
When you input operations and figures, the microchip computes. When you input “2 + 3,” then the microchip performs the command, calculates the figures, and transports the result to the display screen. The microchip performs elementary arithmetic in basic calculators but advanced calculations in scientific calculators.
2) How Does the Microchip Talk to Other Devices?
The microchip receives input from the buttons, processes the input, and gives output to the display screen. The microchip also takes responsibility for the other components, like the memory chips or the battery, to enable the calculator to work as expected. Essentially, the microchip is the decision-making unit that controls the flow of data in the calculator.
3. The Power Supply: Keeping the Calculator Running
Just like any electrical device, a desk calculator needs power to operate. The power is supplied by the battery, and it can either be AA or AAA. There are even some calculators that employ a rechargeable battery or solar panels.
1) How Does the Battery Work?
The battery provides and stores the energy needed by the calculator components to function. It powers the microchip, display, and internal elements. The calculator will not function without a battery.
2) What is a Capacitor?
Besides the battery, calculators also typically contain capacitors. These tiny components store and deliver energy to maintain the calculator in a smooth state. Capacitors provide stability in the voltage so that the calculator won’t shut down or malfunction from power surges.
4. Capacitors: Smoothing Energy Storage
While the battery powers the system overall, capacitors perform the vital task of providing smoothness and stability.
1) What does a Capacitor do?
A capacitor is where electricity is stored and let out when needed, smoothing out power spikes. It is especially useful when you’re typing a number of keys at a fast rate at once or when turning the calculator on and off. The capacitor decides the level to smooth out the voltage so the microchip will work.
2) Why Are Capacitors Needed?
Capacitors regulate power, which is needed for the calculator to calculate properly. Without constant power, the calculator will shut down or provide erroneous output. Capacitors keep that from happening.
5. The Display Screen: Seeing Your Computations
By far the most crucial part of any calculator is the display screen, on which you see the solution to your arithmetic. Most desktop calculators these days use LCD (liquid crystal display) screens, highly regarded for being low-power-consuming and readable.
1) How an LCD Screen Works?
Another type of LCD display consists of liquid crystals driven by electrical currents to show symbols and numbers. When you type a key, there’s an electrical signal sent onto the screen to energize some crystals to form what to you looks like letters. LCDs are utilized since they consume very little energy and can be easily read under any lighting situation.
2) Why an LCD Display Is Used in Calculators?
LCD displays are light, battery-saving, and compact. Since calculators must be portable, it is preferable if they employ a display that will not deplete the battery within a few hours. LCD displays also offer good contrast, and numbers will be readable and clear.
6. The Keypad: Your Interface with the Calculator
The keypad is the input device through which you can communicate with the calculator. It consists of a series of buttons, and each button has a special function or a number. As you press the button, the button stimulates the mainboard and sends out a signal, upon which the mainboard identifies the input and sends out a response.
1) What Happens When You Press a Button?
All the keys on the keypad are attached to a switch, and the switch touches the circuit board whenever a key is pressed. This makes the circuit trigger and provides the microchip with a signal, instructing it on what to do. Keypads are typically rubber or plastic and are made in such a way that each key will be touch-sensitive.
2) How Do Keypads Enhance Calculator Use?
The keypad is logically arranged and simple to use. Function keys and digits are placed on both sides of the keyboard. This allows users to have a simple means of entering data in an efficient manner, whether doing basic arithmetic or sophisticated computation.
7. The Plastic Casing: Housing the Internal Assemblies
Plastic is generally used to make the external shell of the calculator. The case is the first protective layer from breaking and contains internal elements.
1) Role of the Case
The case also protects sensitive internal components against mechanical abrasions and scratches, or falls. It also provides strong support to retain things firmly. Additionally, the case sometimes carries grooves or elevated patterns, providing a greater grip and holdability of the calculator.
2) In What Way Does the Casing Impact Usability?
The plastic casing not only contains all of the parts within, but also affects the comfort of the calculator to grip. Where the buttons are, how big the screen is, and how the calculator will be formed are all decided by how the casing is molded. This enables it to be used conveniently.
8. Other Parts: Other Extras and Enhancements
Desktop calculators could have extra features such as memory chips, solar panels, or extra function keys with advanced features.
1) Memory Chips
You might have memory chips in calculators with saved previous calculations. You would not need to re-input to view the results of previous calculations. Memory chips could be very useful in scientific or financial calculators where the chances of saving long calculations for the future are there.
2) Solar Panels
Solar calculators are battery-rechargeable ones, and thus, they are energy-saving as well as environmentally friendly. Solar calculators are utilized quite a lot in the school as well as office setting, where, unlike in the situation of having a battery-sapping phobia, they can be utilized.
9. Conclusion
That calculator in front of you may appear to be an ordinary device, but under its cover is a sophisticated system of a series of elements in tandem. Each element, from the microchip and mainboard to the keypad and display screen, plays its role in getting it right and getting good work done. The next time you take a seat to use your calculator, you will be amazed at the technology within that brings anything to life!