Acer 6310 series

Acer 6310 series
Model no.	6311, 6312
FCC ID	GQ86311-K; JVP6311 (101/102-key); JVPKBS-WIN (104/105-key)
Branding	Acer and numerous OEM customers
Manufacturer	Acer
Features	Power keys (some models)
Layouts	ANSI, JIS, ISO, Asian 101
Keyswitches	Acer switch
Interface	AT, PS/2

Acer 6310 series is an informal name that covers Acer models 6311 and 6312 semi-mechanical Acer switch keyboards.

Description

6310 series keyboards use Acer's patented clicky spring-over-membrane design. The keycaps are well-known for sharp, precise legends created using an unidentified method, previously misidentified as being dye sublimated. Some examples however have laser charred keycaps instead.

FCC grantees are GQ8 (Acer America Corporation of California) and JVP (now listed as Benq Corporation of Taiwan). The Acer switch patent was filed in 1988, but the earliest example listed here is from 1991. The oldest example listed is 2006, giving this series a surprisingly long lifetime.

Curiously for an Asian product, the manufacture dates are typically given in American month/day/year format with a two-digit year, instead of year/month/day.

It appears that, in some instances, Acer glued the membrane to the keyboard controller PCB. Once the membrane has been peeled away, nothing remains to keep it in contact afterwards and the keyboard will no longer function correctly.

Variants

OEM customers include Data General, Hitachi, Alcatel^[1] and Canon.^[2] Many variants of the 6310 series were produced, see below for some examples.

Each keyboard is identified by a model number and extension number. The extension number covers the case style (a letter such as "T" or "K"), the presence of Windows keys ("W"), the two-letter OEM customer code, the country code, and a pair of characters that remain unidentified. The case style, Windows key and unidentified characters are in some cases given as part of the model number instead of as part of the extension number. The headings below preserve Acer's inconsistencies rather than attempting to normalise them.

The two model numbers are divided up as follows:

6311: United States, China, Japan (variously ANSI, Asian 101 and JIS layouts)
6312: Europe (ISO)

Model 6311 region and physical layout are mixed, giving rise to combinations such as Asian 101 US, ANSI Chinese and JIS Chinese.

Case styles include:

Letter	Moniker	Cable gutter
A		3- or 5-position (uncertain)
C		None
G		3-position
H		3-position
I		3-position
K		5-position (uncertain)
K		2- or 3-position (uncertain)
T	"Reverse-curve"	None

Two separate case styles share the letter "K" in model and extension numbers.

Known variants include the following:

6311-AW 4C/CH

Chinese Asian 101 layout with Windows keys
No manufacture date
FCC ID JVPBPS-WIN
Made in Malaysia
PS/2 connector

Top
Bottom
Membrane assembly backplate

6311 (Hitachi)

Hitachi-branded
Chinese JIS layout with Windows keys
Manufacture date 1995-08-10
No FCC ID
Made in Malaysia
PS/2 connector

Top
Bottom

6311-C4C

Chinese Asian 101 layout
Manufacture date 1998-05-29
No FCC ID
PS/2 connector

Front/top view
KB back label

6311-G

US ANSI layout
Manufacture date 1994-09-21
FCC ID GQ86311-G
Made in Malaysia
Black switches
AT connector

Top
Bottom
Membrane

6311 I11/US

Asian 101 layout; US layout assumed
Manufacture date 1994-10-15
FCC ID JVP6311
Made in Malaysia
Black switches

Front/top view
KB back label

6311 K71/DG/US (Data General)

US ANSI layout
Manufacture date 1995-10-13
FCC ID GQ86311-K
Made in Malaysia
White switches

The extension number is not entirely readable, but the middle is assumed to say "DG" for "Data General".

Top
Bottom
Membrane assembly backplate and controller PCB
Switch assembly with discrete mounting plate for use in a plate-mounted case

6311 K7C-CH (3C)

Chinese layout assumed
Manufacture date unreadable
FCC ID missing or unreadable
Black switches

Top
Bottom

6311 K8C-CH (3C)

Chinese ANSI layout
Manufacture date 1991-11-18
FCC ID GQ86311-K
Made in Malaysia

Top
Bottom

6311 K9C/CH

Chinese Asian 101 layout
Manufacture date 1995-03-24
FCC ID GQ86311-K
Made in Malaysia
PS/2 connector

Top
Bottom

6311-KW 4C/CH

Chinese Asian 101 layout with Windows keys
Manufacture date 1996-03-08 (DOM uncertain)
FCC ID JVPKBS-WIN

Top
Bottom

6311-KW 11/UPC

US Asian 101 layout
No manufacture date
FCC ID JVPKBS-WIN
Made in China
Black switches

Front/top view, LEDs ON
KB back label
Box label
Top of the box
Sideview legs extended
Keycaps closeup
Acer switch & caps
Front view

6311-KW 1C/LM/CH (Lemel)

Lemel-branded
Chinese Asian 101 layout
Manufacture date 1996-07-16
FCC ID JVPKBS-WIN
PS/2 connector

Top
Bottom

6311 T2C/CH

Chinese Asian 101 layout
Manufacture date 1995-03-25
FCC ID JVP6311
Made in Malaysia

Top
Bottom

6311-TA 4C

Chinese Asian 101 layout with Windows keys and bright green secondary keycap colour
Manufacture date 1998-11-27
No FCC ID

This model lacks the expected "W" in the model or extension number. The power keys are located at the top; consequently the Print Screen row is moved down to the Insert row, and the Insert to Page Down cluster is moved down a row to compensate.

Top
Bottom

6311-TA 4C/7 (BenQ)

BenQ-branded
Chinese Asian 101 layout with Windows keys; keycaps are laser charred
Manufacture date 2006
No FCC ID
Power keys

This model lacks the expected "W" in the model or extension number. The power keys layout is the same as the 6311-TA 4C above.

Top
Bottom
Angled
Rear label

6311-TW4C

Chinese Asian 101 layout with Windows keys
Manufacture date 2003-07-16
No FCC ID
PC 97 PS/2 connector

Top
Bottom

6312-HW

Swedish layout
Manufacture date 1995-12-15
Made in Malaysia

Top view
KB back label

6312 T1U/VI/UK (Viglen)

Viglen-branded
UK ISO layout
Manufacture date 1994-11-22
FCC ID JVP6311
Made in Malaysia
Black switches
AT connector

Rear label
Switch detail

6312 T4U/UK

UK layout (ISO assumed)
FCC ID JVP6311
Manufacture date 1994-09-28
Made in Malaysia
Black switches

Rear label and dual legs
Both legs fully extended
Keyswitch exposed
Different font for numerics on numberpad

6312-TW 4U

UK ISO layout with Windows keys
No manufacture date
FCC ID JVPKBS-WIN
Made in China
White switches
PS/2 connector

The manufacture date was omitted from the label, but the controller PCB is marked 1997-03-05. This particular example had the membrane sheets seemingly glued to the controller PCB.