HP Key Notes January-February 1982 Vol. 6 No. 1

Three New Modules Introduced

Copyright 1982 by Hewlett-Packard Company. Reproduced with permission.

Three New Modules Introduced

Along with HP-IL, Hewlett-Packard introduced three new modules for the HP-41 System. These modules serve to expand the conveniences of the HP-41, both on its own and as a mainframe controller of HP-IL.

TIME MODULE

The new HP 82182A Time Module gives you the ability to incorporate precise time and date into your calculations. With the module, your HP-41 can be a clock, a calendar, a stopwatch, an alarm, and there's much more.

You can set up to 253 separate alarms in the HP-41 (depending on the amount of memory available), and any alarm can be set to repeat itself again and again after a desired time-interval. An alarm will activate whether or not the calculator is on. And, when you set an alarm, you can choose to make it either a tone alarm, a message alarm, or a control alarm. When a control alarm activates, the HP-41 "wakes up" and immediately begins execution of a specified program. This feature makes the Time Module a valuable component of any HP-41 controlled HP-IL system.

The Time Module uses a quartz crystal for dependable accuracy. And, with the module's "built-in" programmable accuracy factor, your HP-41 can "fine tune" your Time Module, thus giving it a time-keeping ability that will amaze even the most scrutinizing of accuracy buffs.

There is no other hand-held computer like the HP-41. And now, the HP 82182A Time Module takes the HP-41 one more step forward.

EXTENDED FUNCTIONS/MEMORY MODULE

The new HP 82180A Extended Functions/Memory Module expands your HP-41 with 47 new functions and 889 bytes of "extended" memory.

Such new functions as "programmable size" and "programmable assign" allow you to change the memory configurations and keyboard function assignments under program control. Plus, there is a "SIZE?" function that returns the present number of allocated data registers to the X-register. We know, from the number of "SIZE?" routines that you have contributed to KEY NOTES, that this is a popular function. Other popular functions include the "register-swap" and "register-move" functions that help you easily manipulate blocks of data registers.

Other new "memory-management" functions give you access to, and control over, extended memory. This extended memory brings file-structure and file-management capability to the HP-41. Three types of files can be created in extended memory: program files, data-storage files, and ASCII files. Now, the HP-41 can store and manipulate ASCII files, thus giving it a communication link with larger computers.

There are 889 bytes of extended memory in the HP 82180A module, and the memory management functions contained in this module also give you access to even more memory housed in the new HP 82181A Extended Memory Module.

EXTENDED MEMORY MODULE

Each new HP 82181A Extended Memory Module adds 1,666 bytes of extended memory to the HP-41. Used together with a new HP 82180A Extended Functions/Memory Module, up to two HP 82181A Extended Memory Modules may be added to the HP-41, equipping the computer with 4,221 bytes of extended Continuous Memory. With the 2,233 bytes of Random Access Memory in a HP-41CV (or HP-41C with a Quad RAM), you can have a total of 6.4K bytes of pocketable, Continuous Memory!! (An HP 82180A Extended Functions/ Memory Module must be in your HP-41 before it can interact with an HP 82181A Extended Memory Module.
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