Nissan/ALPS three-button Intelligent Smart-Key — bare key shown with NZ$1 coin for scale.

Nissan Leaf Smart-Key - Identifying the TWB1J701 315MHz Version

Photographic investigation of a Japanese-import 2016 Nissan Leaf Intelligent Key.

This page records the identification of an actual Nissan Leaf Smart-Key by examining the key housing, mechanical-key arrangement and PCB, then correlating the observed markings with published automotive-key information. The investigation began because the key was presented inside an unusual vinyl pouch which initially disguised its true construction.

1. The “vinyl key” is actually a soft-case

The outer vinyl pouch is not part of the electronic Nissan Intelligent Key. Once removed, it was found to be a simple protective soft-case surrounding the conventional hard Nissan three-button Smart-Key.

The small latch on the hard key releases a separate mechanical key blade. Thus the apparent removable rear portion of the original disguised assembly was not the Nissan battery/electronics cover.

2. The decisive ALPS identification

A close photograph of the underside/key-recess moulding carries:

• 007-AA0082
• MODEL NAME: TWB1J701
• ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.

The physical inscription confirms the previously uncertain first character in 007-AA0082 as A. More importantly, TWB1J701 is explicitly labelled MODEL NAME, rather than merely being an inferred moulding/tooling number.

3. PCB evidence

The component-side PCB photograph shows three tactile push-buttons and the visible board markings 2EE-00053CA, TCI-S1S H, and 94V-0. The latter is a PCB substrate flammability classification; the other markings provide useful PCB/assembly identification.

4. The principal IC

The IC marking is difficult to resolve completely from the available photograph. The observed characters include a strong F7952A sequence. In conjunction with the other physical identifications and published key-reference data, the most credible interpretation is NXP PCF7952A.

This is recorded as strongly indicated rather than claiming microscopic certainty for every laser-etched character.

5. Other markings observed

6. Why the 315 MHz identification is credible

The physical key is specifically identified as TWB1J701 / 007-AA0082. Published automotive-key references associate this key family with Nissan Leaf ZE0/AZE0 applications and approximately 315 MHz RF operation, commonly described as about 314.8–315 MHz with FSK modulation.

This is stronger than assuming every Nissan Leaf Intelligent Key uses 315 MHz. Similar Nissan key families exist for other markets and frequencies. Here, the physical ALPS model name, Nissan/ALPS number, PCB identification and PCF7952A correlation converge on the Japanese-market configuration.

7. Identification chain

8. RF frequency versus proximity/immobiliser functions

The approximately 315-MHz figure should not be interpreted as the frequency of every function performed by the Intelligent Key. The key combines conventional remote RF operation with proximity and immobiliser/transponder functions. PCF7952A belongs to the key's controller/transponder architecture; the Intelligent-Key system therefore involves more than a single 315-MHz radio link.

9. Why the investigation stopped short of complete dismantling

The remaining internal shield/carrier was deliberately left undisturbed. It may conceal additional RF circuitry or an oscillator/resonator, but removing it would risk damaging a functioning key and is unnecessary for the present identification.

10. Photographic record

Each snapshot below is a reduced-resolution copy for convenient publication. Click the snapshot to open the original full-resolution photograph.

Complete image archive: Nissan SmartKey gallery.

Prepared from the photographic examination and collaborative identification work. Where a marking could not be read with certainty, it has been explicitly treated as unresolved rather than converted into a fact by assumption.