Product identification
Switches
See switch recognition to help identify switches in keyboards.
FCC IDs
Many keyboards are marked with an FCC ID. The first three letters (and in some cases the first five letters) are the grantee code, indicating the company who registered the product with the FCC. This can be the customer (as is the case with Apple) or the OEM. See FCC ID quick reference for common FCC grantee codes, or FCC ID search for other FCC IDs.
UL File Numbers
These are numbers in form "E" followed by typically five or six digits e.g. "E206420". They can be found on PCBs (identifying the PCB manufacturer) but also on the rear label of a keyboard, identifying the keyboard OEM.
PCB inscriptions
The PCB in a keyboard may contain various codes, some of which will help with product identification. Various known code types are given below, both generic and manufacturer-specific. The codes below are examples; the static characters are given in bold type.
Codes on PCBs can be used to relate products from different brands together, suggesting possible OEMs.
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| CH34180A | Alps PCB code, 1970s format; see Alps keyboard codes (found with Alps branding) |
| 12KC177C, 12KN003A etc. | Alps PCB code, early to mid 80s format; see Alps keyboard codes (normally but not always found with Alps branding) |
| 56AAA0550H | Alps PCB code, late 80s to present; these are not specific to keyboards (normally found with Alps branding) |
| J-M9030-02Ⓒ 2J-M9021-4 3-J9011-02D 401KBM-006-90RⒶ 401KAS-063-01RⒷ |
SMK PCB codes; with further research it may be possible to understand their significance, such as product classification or range |
| PWB 820-0239-B A/W 820-0239 REVB |
"Printed wiring board" and, possibly, "(PCB) artwork" — found on PCBs in keyboards made by Alps Electric USA and Hi-Tek Corporation, suggesting potentially a common PCB supplier |
