Patent ID: 7217892

Claim:
A multifunction key assembly comprising: two major switches, a first-major switch, a second-major switch, and four first-minor switches, all of the switches being electrically connected to each other; a single key cap mechanically coupled to the two major switches, the single key cap being capable of selectively activating any one of the four first-minor switches and of selectively activating the two major switches either separately or simultaneously, together with any one of the first-minor switches, whereby a total of twelve possible distinct output signals can be outputted from the multifunction key assembly, four distinct output signals being obtained when the first-major switch is activated together with any one of the four first-minor switches, four further distinct output signals being obtained when the second-major switch is activated together with any one of the four first-minor switches, and four yet further distinct output signals being obtained when the first and second-major switches are simultaneously activated together with any one of the four first-minor switches.