[ help ] · v3.0

Help &
documentation.

Everything you need to get started: manual, videos, FAQ and how to reach us. Content updated for firmware v1.4.1.

01 · Start

First setup.

01.

Charge it

Connect the included USB-C cable to the calculator and a ≥5V/1A charger. A full charge takes ~2h. The LED on the board lights up while charging.
02.

Turn it on

Slide the switch on the side to ON. After ~2s you'll see the KalkMate splash screen, then the calculator screen (digital display).
03.

Open the AI menu

On the calculator keypad, type the unlock code (default 1111) — digits only, no operators in between. The screen briefly shows „AI" and opens the main menu. Only now are Settings and other features available.
04.

Set up WiFi

Settings → WiFi → pick a network from the list → enter the password (on-screen keyboard). Required for AI, note sync and OTA updates.
05.

Pair your account

Create an account at kalkmate.pl (confirm your email). On the calculator: Settings → Device ID + QR — it registers with the server and shows a QR code to scan. Confirm the pairing in the kalkmate.pl panel. Without this, the calculator runs in offline mode.

/ Video: first setup

02 · Keyboard

Keyboard navigation.

The keyboard has 27 keys in a 5×6 layout. In menus/settings you navigate with the numpad:

%
MU
MC
MR
M−
M+
÷
±
7
8
9
×
4
5
6
C/CE
1
2
3
+
0
00
.
=
NAVIGATIONPANICSTANDARD
8
Up
2
Down
4
Left
6
Right
5
OK / Confirm
C/CE
Back / Cancel
MU
PANIC — instantly returns to calculator mode
In calculator mode: backspace

/ NOTKA

In calculator mode the digit/operator keys work normally (5 = five, 4 = four, etc.). The numpad only acts as navigation inside menus and settings.

/ Navigating the AI on-screen keyboard

03 · AI mode

Solving problems.

KalkMate sends your problem to AI (Gemini model, via our server) and returns a step-by-step solution. Works for math, physics, chemistry, biology.

01.

Enter the AI code

In calculator mode type the 4 digits (default 1111) with no operation in between. The AI menu opens.
02.

Choose a mode

Photo — point the camera at the problem. Live preview on screen (focus indicator on the right), press 5 (OK) to take the photo and send it to AI.

Text — on-screen QWERTY keyboard: 8/4/6/2 = navigate, 5 = pick a character, confirm with the SOLVE button (max. 2000 characters).


History — browse previous solutions (offline). The → (right) button opens the question for editing and resubmitting to AI.
03.

Solution detail

In Settings → Mode choose:
  • Detailed — step by step with explanations
  • Calculations — just the formulas + steps
  • Result — only the final answer
04.

Reading the answer

Use 8 / 2 (up/down) to scroll long answers. C/CE returns to the menu. Every answer is auto-saved to history.
04 · Storage

Notes & tests.

KalkMate stores up to 50 notes (60 KB) and 50 tests (160 KB) offline — you can read them even without WiFi. You edit them at kalkmate.pl/panel.

01.

Add them on the site

Go to kalkmate.pl/panel → the Notes / Tests tab → add content (up to 4000 characters for a note, 30,000 for a test). LaTeX and markdown supported.
02.

Sync to the calculator

On the calculator: Menu → Notes → click the down arrow (sync). Requires WiFi. Downloads everything from your account.
03.

Read offline

After syncing, they live in the calculator's flash storage — read them anywhere. LaTeX is automatically converted to ASCII on the OLED screen (∞ as a bitmap, fractions as (a)/(b), etc.).
05 · Battery

Charging and battery.

1500mAh

Capacity (LiPo)

~2h

Full charge

2–3days

Typical use

5–7days

Standby

/ NOTKA

The OLED at 12V (MT3608 boost converter) draws the most power. Shorten auto-sleep to 1–2 minutes for 2–3× more runtime. Settings → Sleep.

Charging: USB-C (PD not required, any ≥5V/1A charger works). The LED on the board lights up while charging and turns off at 100%. The battery is protected against overcharging (MCP73831 + DW01A).

06 · Updates

OTA — firmware updates.

01.

Check for updates

Settings → Updates → OK. The calculator asks the server whether there's a newer version than yours (shown as v1.4.1 etc.).
02.

Install

If there's a new one — it shows the changelog + an Install button. Downloads (~1 MB), flashes the OTA partition, restarts. ~1 minute. Don't unplug power during the update.

/ NOTKA

Updates are free and optional. Old firmware keeps working, but new features (e.g. better LaTeX) require the update.

/ CURRENT SERVER VERSION:

v1.4.1

Check your version in Settings → Updates

07 · Issues

Troubleshooting common issues.

/ PROBLEM

Screen won't turn on / stays black

/ FIX

1) Check the switch (should be in the ON position). 2) Charge for 30+ minutes — the battery may be fully drained. 3) If the charging LED doesn't light up when you plug in USB-C — the cable/port is damaged.

/ PROBLEM

WiFi can't find networks / empty list

/ FIX

Settings → WiFi → Scan. If it's empty — since v0.6.4 we added an automatic radio reset. Try again after 5 seconds. Some 5GHz networks aren't supported (ESP32 = 2.4GHz only).

/ PROBLEM

AI Chat: 'AI error 400' or timeout

/ FIX

1) Check WiFi (Settings → Account status — should show 'Connected'). 2) Your account needs an active trial or subscription. 3) Try a shorter problem — limit is ~2000 characters.

/ PROBLEM

Some keys don't respond

/ FIX

Settings → Diagnostics → Keyboard test. If the key lights up when pressed — it's working fine (the issue is elsewhere). If it doesn't light up — it's a physical problem (cold solder joint, FFC cable). Contact us through the form.

/ PROBLEM

Notes/tests won't sync

/ FIX

1) WiFi must be working. 2) Your account must be paired (Settings → Account status = 'Connected'). 3) Check kalkmate.pl/panel to make sure they're on your account. 4) If there's too much data (>50 tests or >160 KB total) — the calculator won't download everything.

/ PROBLEM

MT3608 boost converter buzzes / screen has stripes

/ FIX

This is a hardware issue with the ceramic (piezoelectric) capacitors. Contact us through the form — we'll replace the board under warranty.

08 · FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

09 · Changelog

Firmware history.

Every released version. Update via Settings → Updates.

v1.4.1 ·2026-05-28Bezpieczeństwo: Signed OTA (ECDSA P-256) + obfuskacja API key w binarce — chronione przed wstrzyknięciem firmware i strings extraction
v1.4.0 2026-05-28Bezpieczeństwo: OTA wymaga autoryzacji (x-api-key + zarejestrowany device-id), pliki .bin poza public/
v1.3.9 2026-05-28Kamera: test rotacji — tylko vflip + Serial log z aktualną konfiguracją
v1.3.8 2026-05-28Kamera: hmirror+vflip dla rotacji 180° (sensor zamontowany do góry nogami)
v1.3.7 2026-05-28Kamera OV2640: AEC/AGC/AWB włączone + gamma/lens correction + 5-klatkowy warm-up (fix prześwietlenia + zielonego tintu)
v1.3.6 2026-05-28Polskie znaki UTF-8 → ASCII w odpowiedziach AI + błędach (wzorzec z tests.h)
v1.3.5 2026-05-28Auto-sync licencji z serwera do NVS (fix dla x-license-key 403)
v1.3.4 2026-05-28Kamera UXGA 1600×1200 (max sensora 2MP) + auto-WiFi po AI menu z 3s delay
v1.3.3 2026-05-28Solve_screen: camBegin → capture → camEnd przed WiFi (anty-XCLK interference)
v1.3.2 2026-05-28Wspólny bus I2C dla MCP23017 + OV2640 SCCB (fix Error 263)
v1.3.1 2026-05-28Kamera: CAMERA_GRAB_WHEN_EMPTY + fb_count=1 (fix freeze ekranu testu)
v1.3.0 2026-05-28Kamera OV2640 — realny test w Settings + pełna persistencja ustawień w NVS
v1.2.0 2026-05-27Production release PCB v4: kontrast 60, VBAT watchdog, early-battery splash
v1.1.5 2026-05-27Niski kontrast OLED (anty-brownout na batery LiPo) + VBAT watchdog co 2s
v1.1.4 2026-05-27Diagnostic markery wokół powrotu z runCalculator dla logowania crashy
v1.1.3 2026-05-27Wyłączenie auto-WiFi przy boot (peak prądu psuł LiPo)
v1.1.2 2026-05-27Early battery check + splash NISKA BATERIA przed boost EN
v1.1.1 2026-05-27Lazy WiFi init z 2s opóźnieniem po menu (anty-brownout)
v1.1.0 2026-05-27Pomiar baterii LiPo + ikonka + auto-shutdown + ekran w Ustawieniach + charging detect
v1.0.0 2026-05-26Migracja na PCB v4 (ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R8 + native USB-C)
v0.6.8 2026-05-18Reset fabryczny w Settings (NVS + SPIFFS + restart)
v0.6.7 2026-05-15Streaming HTTP do PSRAM — fix przy 28+ sprawdzianach
v0.6.6 2026-05-15Streaming JSON do SPIFFS + polskie znaki w tytułach
v0.6.5 2026-05-15Cache tytułów sprawdzianów — eliminuje lagi listy
v0.6.4 2026-05-15WiFi scan: reset radia przed skanem (fix dla niedostępnej zapisanej sieci)
v0.6.3 2026-05-15LaTeX: sqrt[n], overrightarrow, środowiska cases/bmatrix
v0.6.2 2026-05-15LaTeX stripper: greckie, zbiory, logika, strzałki, mathbb, vec
v0.6.1 2026-05-15Funkcje matematyczne LaTeX (log, ln, sin, cos itd.)
v0.6.0 2026-05-15GPA7 OUTPUT HIGH przy boot — MT3608 EN nie floatuje
v0.5.8 2026-05-09Settings — reorganizacja (Preferencje/Konto/System/Diagnostyka)
v0.5.4 2026-05-08JSON-aware parser dla notes/tests (fix dla LaTeX z [ { } ])
v0.5.0 2026-05-07Parowanie deviceId + unlockCode, Status konta w Settings
v0.4.9 2026-05-08Nowy keyboard mapping po przelutowaniu klawiatury
v0.4.7 2026-05-06Mapowanie klawiatury — kreator z zapisem do NVS
v0.4.6 2026-05-06Pin Driver Test — diagnostyka MCP23017
v0.4.0 2026-04-30Notatki + Sprawdziany przez WiFi sync
v0.3.0 2026-04-25Tryb AI: zdjęcie / tekst / historia
v0.2.0 2026-04-20OTA update przez HTTPS
v0.1.0 2026-04-15Pierwsza działająca wersja: kalkulator + WiFi
10 · Contact

Get in touch.

I reply within 24h (usually faster). You can also email directly at kontakt@kalkmate.pl.

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