Scissor-type mechanism and special-shaped key structure including the same

Abstract

A scissor-type mechanism is provided, comprising a main connecting rod, a short connecting rod, and a long connecting rod. The main connecting rod has a first receiving region and a second receiving region separated from each other, and a first engaging end and a first mating end opposite each other. The short connecting rod is located within the first receiving region of the main connecting rod and has a second engaging end and a second mating end respectively adjacent to the first mating end and the first engaging end of the main connecting rod. The long connecting rod is located within the second receiving region of the main connecting rod and spans a portion of the main connecting rod, and has a third engaging end and a third mating end respectively adjacent to the first mating end and the first engaging end of the main connecting rod, wherein the axis of the second engaging end is offset from the axis of the third engaging end, the axis of the second mating end is offset from the axis of the third mating end, and the axis of the central axis of the short connecting rod is offset from the axis of the central axis of the long connecting rod. An irregularly shaped button structure including the above-described scissor-type mechanism is also provided.

Claims

1. A scissor mechanism, comprising: A main connecting rod has a first receiving area and a second receiving area that are separate from each other, and a first engaging end and a first fitting end that are opposite to each other; A short link, located within the first receiving area of ​​the main link, has a second engaging end and a second mating end, respectively adjacent to the first mating end and the first engaging end of the main link; and a long link, located within the second receiving area of ​​the main link and spanning a portion of the main link, has a third engaging end and a third mating end, respectively adjacent to the first mating end and the first engaging end of the main link, wherein an axis of the second engaging end is offset from an axis of the third engaging end, and an axis of the second mating end is offset from an axis of the third mating end; a central axis of the short link serves as a swing contact point between it and the main link, and a central axis of the long link serves as a swing contact point between it and the main link; an axis of the central axis of the short link is offset from an axis of the central axis of the long link.

2. The scissor mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one upper protrusion is provided near at least one of the first mating end of the main link, the second mating end of the short link, and the third mating end of the long link.

3. The scissor mechanism as described in claim 2, wherein the at least one upper protrusion is configured to interfere with a keycap.

4. The scissor mechanism as described in claim 1, wherein a protrusion is provided near the first engaging end of the main link, which is configured to interfere with a thin-film circuit board.

5. The scissor mechanism as described in claim 1, wherein a maximum width of the long link is greater than a maximum width of the short link.

6. The scissor mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein a length of an edge of the long link adjacent to the third mating end is greater than a length of an edge of the short link adjacent to the second mating end.

7. The scissor mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main link has a plurality of the first engaging ends and a plurality of the first mating ends, the first engaging ends being located on a first axis and the first mating ends being located on a second axis.

8. An irregularly shaped button structure, comprising: The scissor mechanism as described in claim 1; An irregularly shaped keycap is positioned above the scissor mechanism; a key base plate is positioned below the scissor mechanism. A thin-film circuit board is disposed between the scissor mechanism and the button base plate.

9. The irregular button structure as described in claim 8, wherein a protrusion is provided near the first engaging end of the main connecting rod, which is configured to interfere with the thin-film circuit board.

10. The irregular button structure as described in claim 9, wherein the main connecting rod of the scissor mechanism has a third receiving area located between the first receiving area and the second receiving area, and is provided for receiving an elastic member, the lower protrusion being adjacent to the third receiving area.

11. The irregular button structure as described in claim 9, wherein the button base plate has a recess that is generally aligned with the lower protrusion.

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