Editing Acer 6310 series

{{infobox dkeyboard
| name         = Acer 6310 series
| image name   = 
| model        = 6311*, 6312*
| pn           = 
| fcc          = GQ86311-K<br>JVP6311 (101/102-key)<br>JVPKBS-WIN (104/105-key)
| branding     = [[Acer]] and numerous OEM customers
| manufacturer = [[Acer]]
| switch       = [[Acer switch]]
| layouts      = [[ANSI]], [[JIS]], [[ISO]], [[Asian 101]]
| features     = Power keys (some models)
| interface    = [[AT keyboard interface|AT]], [[PS/2 interface|PS/2]]
| weight       = 
| years        = 
| price        = 
}}

'''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]] [[printed circuit board|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<ref name="Azrael" /> and Canon.<ref>Deskthority — [http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/canon-keyboard-t3451.html Canon Keyboard]</ref>
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:

{| class="wikitable"
! !! Letter !! Moniker !! Cable gutter
|-
| [[File:Acer 6311-AW 4C-CH -- top.jpg|250px]]    || A ||                 || 3- or 5-position (uncertain)
|-
| [[File:Acer 6311-C4C -- top.jpg|250px]]         || C ||                 || None
|-
| [[File:Acer-6311g-top.jpg|250px]]     || G ||                 || 3-position
|-
| [[File:Acer 6312-HW -- top.jpg|250px]]     || H ||                 || 3-position
|-
| [[File:jvp6311 front.jpg|250px]]                || I ||                 || 3-position
|-
| [[File:Data General 6311 K71 -- top.jpg|250px]] || K ||                 || 5-position (uncertain)
|-
| [[File:Acer 6311 K8C-CH (3C) -- top.jpg|250px]] || K ||                 || 2- or 3-position (uncertain)
|-
| [[File:Acer 6311 T2C-CH -- top.jpg|250px]]      || 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

<gallery widths=250px heights=100>
File:Acer 6311-AW 4C-CH -- top.jpg       | Top
File:Acer 6311-AW 4C-CH -- bottom.jpg    | Bottom
File:Acer 6311-AW 4C-CH -- backplate.jpg | Membrane assembly backplate
</gallery>

===6311 (Hitachi)===
*Hitachi-branded
*Chinese JIS layout with Windows keys
*Manufacture date 1995-08-10
*No FCC ID
*Made in Malaysia
*PS/2 connector

<gallery widths=250px heights=100>
File:Acer 6311 (Hitachi) -- top.jpg    | Top
File:Acer 6311 (Hitachi) -- bottom.jpg | Bottom
</gallery>

===6311-C4C===
*Chinese Asian 101 layout
*Manufacture date 1998-05-29
*No FCC ID
*PS/2 connector

<gallery widths=250px heights=117>
File:Acer 6311-C4C -- top.jpg    | Front/top view
File:Acer 6311-C4C -- bottom.jpg | KB back label
</gallery>

===6311-G===
*US ANSI layout
*Manufacture date 1994-09-21
*FCC ID GQ86311-G
*Made in Malaysia
*Black switches
*AT connector

<gallery widths=250px heights=117>
File:Acer-6311g-top.jpg    | Top
File:Acer-6311g-bottom.jpg | Bottom
File:Acer-6311g-membrane.jpg | Membrane
</gallery>

===6311 I11/US===
*Asian 101 layout; US layout assumed
*Manufacture date 1994-10-15
*FCC ID JVP6311
*Made in Malaysia
*Black switches

<gallery widths=250px heights=117>
File:jvp6311 front.jpg | Front/top view
File:jvp6311 back.jpg  | KB back label
</gallery>

===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".

<gallery widths=250px heights=117>
File:Data General 6311 K71 -- top.jpg            | Top
File:Data General 6311 K71 -- bottom.jpg         | Bottom
File:Data General 6311 K71 -- controller PCB.jpg | Membrane assembly backplate and controller PCB
File:Acer switch -- plate mounted.jpg            | Switch assembly with discrete mounting plate for use in a plate-mounted case
</gallery>

===6311 K7C-CH (3C)===
*Chinese layout assumed
*Manufacture date unreadable
*FCC ID missing or unreadable
*Black switches

<gallery widths=250px heights=117>
File:Acer 6311 K7C-CH (3C) -- top (what's left of it).jpg | Top
File:Acer 6311 K7C-CH (3C) -- bottom.jpg                  | Bottom
</gallery>

===6311 K8C-CH (3C)===
*Chinese ANSI layout
*Manufacture date 1991-11-18
*FCC ID GQ86311-K
*Made in Malaysia

<gallery widths=250px heights=117>
File:Acer 6311 K8C-CH (3C) -- top.jpg    | Top
File:Acer 6311 K8C-CH (3C) -- bottom.jpg | Bottom
</gallery>

===6311 K9C/CH===
*Chinese Asian 101 layout
*Manufacture date 1995-03-24
*FCC ID GQ86311-K
*Made in Malaysia
*PS/2 connector

<gallery widths=250px heights=117>
File:Acer 6311 K9C-CH -- top.jpg    | Top
File:Acer 6311 K9C-CH -- bottom.jpg | Bottom
</gallery>

===6311-KW 4C/CH===
*Chinese Asian 101 layout with Windows keys
*Manufacture date 1996-03-08 (DOM uncertain)
*FCC ID JVPKBS-WIN

<gallery widths=250px heights=117>
File:Acer 6311-KW 4C-CH -- top.jpg    | Top
File:Acer 6311-KW 4C-CH -- bottom.jpg | Bottom
</gallery>

===6311-KW 11/UPC===
*US Asian 101 layout
*No manufacture date
*FCC ID JVPKBS-WIN
*Made in China
*Black switches

<gallery widths=250px heights=187>
File:Acer 6311-KW front.jpeg        | Front/top view, LEDs ON
File:Acer 6311-KW backplate.jpeg    | KB back label
File:Acer 6311-KW box label.jpeg    | Box label
File:Acer 6311-KW box top.jpeg      | Top of the box
File:Acer 6311-KW side legs up.jpeg | Sideview legs extended
File:Acer 6311-KW keycaps.jpeg      | Keycaps closeup
File:Acer 6311-KW switch.jpeg       | Acer switch & caps
File:Acer 6311-KW front 2.jpeg      | Front view
</gallery>

===6311-KW 1C/LM/CH (Lemel)===
*Lemel-branded
*Chinese Asian 101 layout
*Manufacture date 1996-07-16
*FCC ID JVPKBS-WIN
*PS/2 connector

<gallery widths=250px heights=117>
File:Lemel 6311-KW 1C-LM-CH -- top.jpg    | Top
File:Lemel 6311-KW 1C-LM-CH -- bottom.jpg | Bottom
</gallery>

===6311 T2C/CH===
*Chinese Asian 101 layout
*Manufacture date 1995-03-25
*FCC ID JVP6311
*Made in Malaysia

<gallery widths=250 heights=107>
File:Acer 6311 T2C-CH -- top.jpg    | Top
File:Acer 6311 T2C-CH -- bottom.jpg | Bottom
</gallery>

===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.

<gallery widths=250 heights=107>
File:Acer 6311-TA 4C -- top.jpg    | Top
File:Acer 6311-TA 4C -- bottom.jpg | Bottom
</gallery>

===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.

<gallery widths=250 heights=167>
File:BenQ 6311-TA and Acer T200-P -- top.jpg    | Top
File:BenQ 6311-TA and Acer T200-P -- bottom.jpg | Bottom
File:BenQ 6311-TA and Acer T200-P -- angled.jpg | Angled
File:BenQ 6311-TA 4C-7 -- rear label.jpg        | Rear label
</gallery>

===6311-TW4C===
*Chinese Asian 101 layout with Windows keys
*Manufacture date 2003-07-16
*No FCC ID
*PC 97 PS/2 connector

<gallery widths=250 heights=107>
File:Acer 6311-TW4C top.jpg    | Top
File:Acer 6311-TW4C bottom.jpg | Bottom
</gallery>

===6312-HW===
*Swedish layout
*Manufacture date 1995-12-15
*Made in Malaysia

<gallery widths=250px heights=117>
File:Acer 6312-HW -- top.jpg | Top view
File:Acer 6312-HW -- bottom.jpg  | KB back label
</gallery>

===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

<gallery widths=250 heights=187>
File:Viglen 6312 -- rear label.jpg | Rear label
File:Acer switch, black.jpg        | Switch detail
</gallery>

===6312 T4U/UK===
*UK layout (ISO assumed)
*FCC ID JVP6311
*Manufacture date 1994-09-28
*Made in Malaysia
*Black switches

<gallery widths=250 heights=187>
File:Acer_6312_UK_-_Label.JPG        | Rear label and dual legs
File:Acer_6312_legs_out.JPG          | Both legs fully extended
File:Acer_6312_pulled_cap.JPG        | Keyswitch exposed
File:Acer_6312_top_right_legends.JPG | Different font for numerics on numberpad
</gallery>

===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.

<gallery widths=250 heights=187>
File:Acer 6312-TW -- top.jpg                    | Top
File:Acer 6312-TW -- side.jpg                   | Side, showing the distinctive reverse-curve case profile
File:Acer 6312-TW -- bottom.jpg                 | Bottom; the membranes are supported by a sheet metal base
File:Acer 6312-TW -- rear label.jpg             | Rear label
File:Acer 6312-TW -- two-step feet.jpg          | Two-step feet
File:Acer 6312-TW -- dye-sublimated keycaps.jpg | Keycap detail
File:Acer switch, white.jpg                     | Switch detail
File:Three-layer membrane.jpg                   | Three-layer membrane
File:Acer switches from below.jpg               | Controller board and switches
File:Acer 6312-TW keyboard controller.jpg       | Controller board
File:Acer switches from below close-up.jpg      | Switches seen from below
</gallery>

==References==
<references>
<ref name="Azrael">Deskthority — [http://deskthority.net/marketplace-f11/ortek-mck-142pro-ibm-model-m-alcatel-mfii-chicony-kb-5582-t4799.html Ortek MCK-142Pro(Alps), Alcatel MFII(Acers), Chicony KB-5582]</ref>
</references>

==External links==
*KBTalking — [http://kbtalking.cool3c.com/article/46628 ■鍵盤史的異數Acer-6311世界獨一無二的半機械模組薄膜鍵盤■] — extensive gallery of 6311 variants, reproduced above

[[Category:Acer keyboards]]
[[Category:Keyboards with Acer switches]]
[[Category:List of all keyboards]]