Multifunction key assembly

1. 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.

2. The multifunction key assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the key cap is activated by moving it from a major non-active position to a major active position, the key cap being moveable from the major non-active position to the major active position by vertically depressing at least a portion of the key cap, wherein in the major non-active position both major switches are in an electrically off-state and wherein in a major active position at least one of the major switches is in an electrically on-state, there being a total of three major active positions, a first-major active position corresponding to one of the major switches being in an electrically on-state, a second-major active position corresponding to the other one of the major switches being in an electrically on-state and a third major active position corresponding to the two major switches being simultaneously in an electrically on-state.

3. The multifunction key assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the key cap is horizontally displaceable in two mutually perpendicular directions to any one of four minor active positions.

4. The multifunction key assembly according to claim 3 , wherein for each combination of a given minor active position and a particular major active position of the key cap, a specific distinct output signal of the twelve possible distinct output signals is outputted by the multifunction key assembly.

5. The multifunction key assembly according to claim 1 , wherein:

each of the four first-minor switches comprises a minor base and a minor stem extending therefrom;

each major switch comprises a major base and a major stem extending therefrom; and

the keycap is coupled to the major stem of each major switch.

6. The multifunction key assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the key cap has a centrally located rod extending from a lower surface thereof and passing between the four first-minor switches, and a given minor active position of the four minor active positions is obtained by the rod urging the minor stem of a given first-minor switch of the four first-minor switches towards its minor base until its electrical state is changed from an off-state to an on-state, thereby activating the given first-minor switch.

7. The multifunction key assembly according to claim 6 , further comprising a first guide member having two throughgoing guide grooves perpendicular to each other forming a cross-shaped aperture, through which the rod passes, the first guide member being located between the key cap and the four first-minor switches.

8. The multifunction key assembly according to claim 5 , further comprising four second-minor switches electrically connected to each other and to all the other switches, wherein:

the major stem of the first-major switch passes between the four first-minor switches;

the major stem of the second-major switch passes between the four second-minor switches;

the key cap is horizontally displaceable in two mutually perpendicular directions to any one of four minor active positions; and

a given minor active position of the four minor active positions is obtained by the major stem of the first-major switch urging the minor stem of a given first-minor switch of the four first-minor switches towards its minor base until its electrical state is changed from an off-state to an on-state, thereby activating the given first-minor switch, and by the major stem of the second-major switch urging the minor stem of a given second-minor switch of the four second-minor switches towards its minor base until its electrical state is changed from an off-state to an on-state, thereby activating the given second-minor switch.

9. The multifunction key assembly according to claim 8 , further comprising exactly two guide members, each guide member having two throughgoing guide grooves perpendicular to each other forming a cross-shaped aperture, wherein the major stem of the first-major switch passes through the cross shaped aperture of a first of the guide members and the major stem of the second-major switch passes through the cross shaped aperture of a second of the guide members, the first guide member being located between the key cap and the four first-minor switches, and the second guide member being located between the key cap and the four second-minor switches.

10. The multifunction key assembly according to claim 1 , wherein there are exactly two major switches that are electrically connected to each other.

11. A method for providing one of twelve distinct output signals comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a multifunction key assembly comprising exactly two major switches and exactly four first-minor switches electrically connected to the two major switches and to each other and a single key cap mechanically coupled to the two major switches;

(b) vertically displacing the key cap from a major non-active position to a major active position by depressing at least a portion of the key cap, wherein in the major non-active position both major switches are in an electrically off-state and wherein in an active position at least one of the major switches is in an electrically on-state; and

(c) horizontally displacing the key cap from a minor non-active position to a minor active position by displacing the key cap in one of two mutually perpendicular directions to one of four minor active positions, wherein in the minor non-active position all four first-minor switches are in an electrically off-state and wherein in a minor active position one of the first-minor switches is in an electrically on-state, thereby providing the one of the twelve distinct output signals.

12. The method for providing one of twelve distinct output signals according to claim 11 , comprising the further step of:

(d) providing exactly four second-minor switches electrically connected to the two major switches and to the four first-minor switches, wherein in a minor active position one of the second-minor switches is in an electrically on-state.

13. A cellular telephone comprising:

a casing having a plurality of surfaces;

a display screen; and

a multifunction key assembly comprising:

two major switches and four first-minor switches electrically connected to the two major switches and to each other;

a single key cap mechanically coupled to the two major switches, the single key cap being capable of selectively activating each 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.

14. A multifunction key assembly configured to selectively output any one of twelve distinct signals, comprising:

two major switches including a first major switch and a second major switch;

four first-minor switches; and

a single key cap capable of selectively activating any one of the four first-minor switches, and simultaneously selectively activating either or both of the two major switches, whereby:

four distinct output signals are obtained when the first major switch is activated at the same time as any one of the four first-minor switches;

four further distinct output signals are obtained when the second major switch is activated at the same time as any one of the four first-minor switches; and

four yet further distinct output signals are obtained when both major switches are simultaneously activated at the same time as any one of the four first-minor switches.