Programmable controller having reduced control key set

A programmable, wall-mountable controller having a surface and N control keys, where 4≦N≦8, said controller including:

• a first key set in a first region of the surface;
• a second key set in a second region of the surface, wherein the second region is distinct from the first region;
• a third key set in a third region of the surface, wherein the third region is distinct from each of the first region and the second region, and each of the first key set, the second key set, and the third key set includes at least one of the control keys;
• and
• programmable circuitry including a first switch set, a second switch set, and a third switch set, wherein the circuitry is programmed to perform at least one control operation of a first type in response to actuation of at least one switch of the first switch set in response to actuation of at least one key of the first key set, the circuitry is programmed to perform at least one control operation of a second type in response to actuation of at least one switch of the second switch set in response to actuation of at least one key of the second key set, the circuitry is programmed to perform at least one control operation of a third type in response to actuation of at least one switch of the third switch set in response to actuation of at least one key of the third key set, the circuitry is not programmed to perform a control operation of a type other than the first type in response to actuation of any key of the first key set, the circuitry is not programmed to perform a control operation of a type other than the second type in response to actuation of any key of the second key set, and the circuitry is not programmed to perform a control operation of a type other than the third type in response to actuation of any key of the third key set.

A programmable, wall-mountable controller having a surface, said controller including:

• control keys, including a first subset of the keys in a first region of the surface and a second subset of the keys in a second region of the surface distinct from the first region;
• programmable circuitry, including switches that are actuatable in response to actuation of the control keys;
• and
• an infrared receiver coupled to the circuitry and configured to assert programming bits to the circuitry in response to infrared radiation, wherein the circuitry is programmable in response to the programming bits to operate in a mode in which said circuitry performs at least one control operation of a first type in response to actuation of a key of the first subset and to perform at least one control operation of a second type in response to actuation of a key of the second subset, the circuitry is not programmable to perform a control operation of the second type in response to actuation of any key of the first subset, and the circuitry is not programmable to perform a control operation of the first type in response to actuation of any key of the second subset.

A programmable, wall-mountable controller having a surface, said controller including:

• a subassembly including programmable circuitry and a plate, said plate defining alignment holes;
• a first control key set positioned relative to the subassembly in a first region of the surface and a second control key set positioned relative to the subassembly in a second region of the surface distinct from the first region, wherein the first control key set consists of at least one control key and the second control key set consists of at least one other control key;
• and
• a control key insert removably mounted to the subassembly, said control key insert having a body that defines alignment posts and also defines at least one slot extending through said body, wherein the alignment posts extend into the alignment holes of the plate, and each key of the first control key set is positioned in one said slot with freedom to be moved relative to the body and the plate.