Editing Key Tronic

{{Infobox Company
| company_name     = Key Tronic EMS
| company_logo     = [[File:Keytronic-ems_logo.gif]]
| vector_logo      =
| company_type     = 
| foundation       = 1969
| founder          = 
| location_city    = Spokane, Washington
| location_country = USA
| key_people       = 
| industry         = Computer peripherals
| homepage         = {{URL|http://www.keytronic.com/}}
| footnotes        =
| fcc              = CIG
}}

'''Key Tronic''' is an American keyboard manufacturer.

Although its products were widely popular in Europe in the 1990s and early 2000s, the company does currently not have any European distribution.

==Products==
*[[:Category:Key Tronic keyboards|Key Tronic keyboards]]
*[[:Category:Key Tronic mice|Key Tronic mice]]
*[[:Category:Key Tronic switches|Key Tronic switches]]

===Brand identification===
Key Tronic keyboards often lacked any specific identification on the rear label. Instead, the rear label often followed a particular format that readily identifies Key Tronic keyboards, marked with codes "S/N" (serial number?), "M/N" (model number?), "M/O", "A,K", "K,E", "S,K" and "CPN" (customer part number?):

<gallery widths=250 heights=187>
File:Keytronic-0321-Rear-Label.JPG          | Label from a [[Key Tronic E03218]] numeric keypad
File:Key Tronic E03091007 -- rear label.jpg | Label from a [[Key Tronic Model F clone series]] keyboard
</gallery>

==Technology==
===ErgoForce===
[[File:Ergoforce.jpg|thumb|Diagram of Ergoforce switch weights]]
Key Tronic is known mostly for its "[[ErgoForce]]" technology where different keys have [[rubber dome]]s with different stiffness. The alphabetic keys intended to be struck with the little finger need only 35 grams of force to actuate, while other alphabetic keys need 45 grams. Other keys can be as stiff as 80 grams.

Key Tronic's rubber dome keyboards are known to be quite tactile and provide a relatively distinct landing.

===Foam and foil===
During the 1980's Key Tronic manufactured many keyboards with [[Key Tronic foam and foil|foam and foil]] [[Switch terminology#Capacitive Contact Mechanism|capacitive]] technology under their own brand and as OEM.

Key Tronic's foam and foil keyboards could come with either [[buckling rubber sleeve]]s (tactile feel) or coiled springs (linear feel). The foam dampened each key below the actuation point providing a somewhat soggy landing. Impressions of the switch are mixed; although some in the keyboard community like the switch, others heavily dislike it.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths=250 heights=187>
File:KeyTronic_1983_07_001.jpg  |KeyTronic 07/1983
File:KeyTronic_1983_07_001a.jpg |KeyTronic 07/1983: Typical Switch of the early 1980s
File:KeyTronic_1983_07_002.jpg  |KeyTronic 07/1983
File:KeyTronic_1983_07_003.jpg  |KeyTronic 07/1983: Sticker on PCB
File:Keytronic front view.JPG   |KeyTronic 06/1982: front view
File:Keytronic PCB.JPG          |KeyTronic 06/1982: PCB
File:Keytronic sticker.jpg      |KeyTronic 06/1982: Production sticker
File:Keytronic switch detail.jpg|KeyTronic 06/1982: Switch detail
</gallery>

==Known serial numbers ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Serial # !! Date
|-
| 06682   || 07/1977
|-
| 14987   || 12/1977
|-
| 24806   || 07/1983
|-
| 24834   || 08/1984 (Tandy)
|-
| 62112   || 06/1982
|-
| A079357 || 08/1989?<ref name="MouseFan-E03091007" />
|}

==External links==
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Key_Tronic Key Tronic on Wikipedia]
*[http://www.keytronic.com/ Official website]

==References==
<references>
<ref name="MouseFan-E03091007">MouseFan — [http://mousefan.telcontar.net/image/keytro84.htm Key Tronic Corp E03091007]</ref>
</references>

[[Category:List of all brands & companies]]
[[Category:Contemporary brands & companies]]
[[Category:OEM companies]]
[[Category:American brands & companies]]