|
|
|
|
|
|
|
← Mils Data
Pocket-size electronic cipher machine
- wanted item
The PCCM-4000 was an electronic cipher machine in the shape of
an early calculator, developed by
Mils Elektronik
in Mils (Austria)
in the late 1970s, shortly after the first microprocessors had
become available. It contained a high-end cipher machine, but
could also be used as a calculator.
|
The device rougly has the same size of a pocket calculator of the
era and allowed the operator to travel inconspiciously with it.
The unit was powered by three AA-size penlight batteries, allowing
7 hours of uninterrupted use. The image on the right shows a typical
PCCM-4000.
At the front panel are 30 green push-buttons; 26 for the letters of
the Latin alphabet, plus 4 additional buttons for dot, comma, space
and up/down.
At the top of the keyboard are two slide-switches with two positions each.
The leftmost switch selects the mode of operation: decription (D)
or encryption (E). The rightmost switch is used to select between
two memories: M1 and M2.
Above the keyboard is a LCD screen that can show five 16-segment
characters, plus six operator indicators.
At the heart of the PCCM-4000 is a military-grade single-chip
microcontroller made by Harris. The device contains two different
non-linear cipher algorithms that each allow 1030 different
message keys to be used.
|
|
|
In addition, the device generates random initialization cryptograms
in order to prevent frequently used phrases or opening sentences
from generating identical ciphertext each time.
Furthermore, the PCCM-4000 contains a customer-programmable
system key in EPROM. If a unit is lost, the user only has to chang
the built-in system key using a programming kit supplied by Mils.
In the early 1980s, the PCCM-4000 was succeeded by the
ME-540.
The ME-540 was larger than the PCCM-4000, but was more flexible
and offered better expandibility. Looking like an early Casio
or Sharp pocket computer, the
ME-540 had a printer and a telephone modem.
|
At present, we have no further information about the PCCM-4000 available.
You can help us expanding this page, by supplying additional information,
such as the operator's instructions or -better- the actual PCCM-4000 unit.
If you think you can help, please contact us.
|
Below is a 3D rendering of the PCCM-4000 in the collection of the
Deutsches Museum in München (Munich, Germany).
Click the play-button to load the 3D model and use your mouse to
zoom in, pan and rotate the model, so that you can see it from all
sides. Available through SketchFab.
Deutsches Museum, Inv.-Nr. 2017-399
➤ Visit Deutsches Museum on SketchFab
|
Device Pocket encryption device Purpose Encryption of alphanumeric messages Model PCCM-4000 Year 1979 (est.) Manufacturer Mils Elektronik Keyboard 30 buttons Display LCD, 5 characters, 6 status indicators Alphabet 16 characters (A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O) Key space 1.59 × 1030 Data 5-bit ITA-2 (Baudot) Batteries NiCd (chargeable), Alkaline (not chargeable) Duration 7+ hours Temperature 0°C to +50°C Storage -20°C to +70°C Humidity 98% Dimensions 158 × 98 × 27 mm Weight 330 g
|
SK System Key (in EPROM) MK Message Key RK Random initialisation Key
|
|
|
|
Any links shown in red are currently unavailable.
If you like the information on this website, why not make a donation?
© Crypto Museum. Created: Monday 10 June 2013. Last changed: Sunday, 23 June 2024 - 07:07 CET.
|
 |
|
|
|
