Toshiba LC-810

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Although experiments with liquid crystal displays had been under way since the early 1970s, their use in calculators had to wait until 1973. In addition to Sharp's COS technology, more advanced FEM-type displays have been developed for use in calculators. The first used that type of display was Casio Pocket LC in 1975. Toshiba’s first LCD model, built with its own circuit, debuted in 1976, and attracted attention with its unusual design. Its internal construction is particularly interesting, as there has not yet been a well-tried solution for the electrical connection between the glass circuit and the conventional PCB. In this version, an attempt was made to minimize the number of contacts in order to make the electrical connection as reliable as possible, by small coil springs. The display is controlled by a small circuit mounted on a glass plate. Subsequent Toshiba models already included the same spring solution, and then switched to using flexible rubber stripes with conductive layers. The success of LCD machines has prompted Texas Instruments to manufacture its LCD calculator line by its old partner, Toshiba.