Programmable controller having reduced control key set

A programmable, wall-mountable controller having a surface and control keys, 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, where the second region is distinct from the first region and each of the first key set and the second key set includes at least one of the control keys;
• a first subassembly including programmable circuitry including switches, wherein the switches include at least one switch that is actuatable in response to actuation of at least one key of the first key set and at least one other switch that is actuatable 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 first type in response to actuation of a key of the first key set and to perform at least one control operation of a second type in response to actuation of a key of the second key set, the circuitry is not programmed to perform a control operation of the second type in response to actuation of any key of the first key set, and the circuitry is not programmed to perform a control operation of the first type in response to actuation of any key of the second key set;
• a control key insert which includes the first key set and is removably mounted to the first subassembly so as to position the first key set in the first region of the surface;
• and
• a second control key insert which includes the second key set and is removably mounted to the first subassembly so as to position the second key set in the second region of the surface, wherein the control key insert is configured so as not to be mountable to the first subassembly to position the first key set in the second region of the surface, and the second control key insert is configured so as not to be mountable to the first subassembly to position the second key set in the first region of the surface.

A programmable, wall-mountable controller, for controlling a target operable to receive content from a selected one of at least one source coupled to the target, said controller having a surface, N control keys, where 4≦N≦8, and a control output, wherein the controller can be programmed to assert at the control output, in response to actuations of the control keys, target control signals for controlling the target, but wherein the controller includes no source input configured to be coupled to any said source, 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 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;
• a first subassembly including 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 control key insert which includes the first key set;
• a second control key insert which includes the second key set;
• a third control key insert which includes the third key set;
• and
• a bezel, which aligns and removably mounts the control key insert to the first subassembly with the first key set positioned in the first region of the surface, the second control key insert to the first subassembly with the second key set positioned in the second region of the surface, and the third control key insert to the first subassembly with the third key set positioned in the third region of the surface, wherein the control key insert is configured so as not to be mountable to the first subassembly with the first key set positioned in the second region of the surface, and the control key insert is configured so as not to be mountable to the first subassembly with the first key set positioned in the third region of the surface.