Elektronika

Elektronika, also spelt Electronika and Electronica (, "Electronics"), is the brand name used for many different electronic products built by factories belonging to the Soviet Ministry of Electronic Industry, including calculators, electronic watches, portable games, and radios. Many Elektronika designs were the result of efforts by Soviet engineers, who were working for the Soviet military–industrial complex but were challenged with producing consumer goods that were in great shortage in the Soviet Union.[1] The brand is still in use in Belarus by Technochas.[2]

Calculators

Most notable is a line of calculators, which started production in 1968. The Elektronika calculators were produced in a variety of sizes and function sets, ranging from large, bulky four-function calculators to smaller models designed for use in schools operating on a special, safer 42V standard (like the MK-SCH-2). As time progressed, Elektronika calculators were produced that supported more advanced calculations, with some of the most recent models even offering full programmability and functionality similar to today's American-designed graphing calculators.

The Elektronika brand is now used by Novosibirsk RPN programmable calculators Elektronika MK-152 (ru:Электроника МК-152) and Elektronika MK-161 (ru:Электроника МК-161).

Computers

The following Elektronika computers used a Soviet Intel-compatible CPU:

The following Elektronika computers used a Soviet CPU, compatible with PDP-11:

• MS 1502, MS 1504 – XT clone
• KR-series (01/02/03/04) – mass production of popular Russian 8-bit homebrew RK-86 (ru:Радио 86РК).

• Elektronika 60
• UKNC
• DVK – clone of SM EVM, stripped for mass production to satisfy general scientific and R&D needs.
• BK-0010 and BK-0011M – stripped and low-cost version of DVK, targeted at teenagers and home users.

Electronic games and toys

Most Elektronika-branded electronic toys were Nintendo Game & Watch clones.[3] These used the KB1013VK1-2 microprocessor, a Soviet clone of the Sharp SM-5A used in Game & Watch consoles.

The vast majority of the Elektronika electronic toys had model names that start with IM (ИМ – Игра Микропроцессорная, a Russian acronym for "microprocessor based game").

Some model names for Elektronika branded clones start with IE (ИЭ – Игра Электронная, a Russian acronym for "electronic game").

The Elektronika electronic toys that had model names beginning with MG were manufactured by Angstrem and were designed for export with English packaging and inserts.

The known models include:

Post-1992 versions:

• IM-01 Chess computer (1986) – designed and manufactured by

Tape recorders (audio)

External links

• Museum of Soviet Calculators On the Web (MOSCOW)
• Collection of Elektronika watches
• Article on Elektronika watches
• Soviet Digital Electronics Museum