Patent Application
20190256409
The present description relates generally to glass-based articles for devices, and, more particularly, to surface glass with embedded ceramic particles.
Some portable electronic devices contain glass, either internal or external. Externally, a glass article can be provided as part of a housing. Such a glass article is often referred to as a cover glass. A glass article can be provided to define an external surface and/or to support display technology. Glass can provide desirable aesthetic features to an electronic device when provided as an external surface. Additionally, an electronic device can provide a display technology layer beneath an outer cover glass. A sensing arrangement can also be provided with or adjacent to the display technology layer. By way of example, the display technology layer may include a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) that includes a liquid crystal module (“LCM”). The LCM generally includes an upper glass sheet and a lower glass sheet that sandwich a liquid crystal layer there between. The sensing arrangement may be a touch sensing arrangement such as those used to create a touch screen. For example, a capacitive sensing touch screen can include substantially transparent sensing points or nodes dispersed about a sheet of glass.
Unfortunately, however, heavy usage of such electronic devices can damage the glass. By defining an external surface of an electronic device, the glass can come into contact with other objects in a manner that tends to scratch the glass. Over time, such scratches can accumulate and diminish the appearance and function of the glass.
Certain features of the subject technology are set forth in the appended claims. However, for purpose of explanation, several embodiments of the subject technology are set forth in the following figures.
The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of various configurations of the subject technology and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the subject technology may be practiced. The appended drawings are incorporated herein and constitute a part of the detailed description. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the subject technology. However, it will be clear and apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject technology is not limited to the specific details set forth herein and may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the subject technology.
Glass articles can be used to provide optical, aesthetic, and/or tactile features that can be desired on an external surface of a product, such as a consumer electronic device. Such features have previously been achieved by preparing glass with a treatment that results in the desired appearance. For example, glass can be treated with dyes to provide a desired color and transparency. By further example, a glass article can receive a surface treatment, such as chemical etching or abrasive blasting, to achieve desired optical and tactile properties.
However, these treatments introduce flaws into the glass article and still leave a desire to provide the glass article with greater strength against damage and wear. Where a glass article defines an external surface of a device, heavy usage can damage the surface of the glass. The glass may then be susceptible to scratches and other damage, and the appearance and function of the glass can diminish over time.
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a composite article that includes glass and provides desired optical, aesthetic, and/or tactile features, as well as enhanced strength against surface damage. By incorporating ceramic particles into the glass body of a composite article, a desired appearance can be achieved, along with greater strength provided by the presence of the ceramic particles at the surface of the glass body.
According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the composite article can be an outer surface of an electronic device. The composite article can, for example, correspond to a glass cover that helps form part of a rear surface or a display area of an electronic device. Alternatively or additionally, the composite article may form a part of the housing.
These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to
Referring to
The electronic device 1 can include a housing 8 that serves as an outer surface for the electronic device 1. Electrical components (not shown) are disposed within the housing 8. The electrical components can include a controller (or processor), memory, battery, and a display (e.g., LCD display). The electronic device 1 has one or more composite articles 10 provided at an external surface, e.g., front and/or rear surface, for the electronic device 1. The composite article 10 also resists scratching and therefore provides a substantially scratch-resistance surface for the electronic device 1. As further shown in
Optionally, one or more glass-based composite articles 10 can be at least partially transparent so that the display area or other portion of the electronic device 1 can be viewed through the composite article 10. Such a display area can alternatively or additionally include a touch sensing device positioned over a display screen. For example, the display area can include one or more glass layers having capacitive sensing points distributed thereon.
Composite articles 10 can be continuous or include one or more openings to receive components of the electronic device 1 and/or provide access to an internal portion of the electronic device 1. For example, the electronic device 1 can include one or more audio speakers 4, and the composite article 10 can provide one or more openings 22 that provides a pathway for sound emitted from the speaker 4. By further example, the electronic device 1 can include one or more buttons 6, and the composite article 10 can provide one or more openings 24 for receiving the buttons 6. A variety of other openings can be provided for access or communication.
Referring to
It can be desirable for a composite article 10 to provide particular optical, aesthetic, and/or tactile features, as well as enhanced strength against surface damage. The methods and products described herein provide a variety of such features in various combinations by incorporating ceramic particles into the body of a composite article 10.
Referring to
A layer of ceramic particles 130, for example forming a powder, can be provided on a base plate 190, which is of a material that is resistant to a heating process. The ceramic particles 130 can optionally be fixed in place according to a desired arrangement. For example, the base plate 190 can include one or more troughs or patterns that allow for the ceramic particles 130 to be held in certain areas. Alternatively or in combination, the ceramic particles 130 can be applied with an adhesive or binder that keeps them in place. The adhesive or binder can subsequently burn away during heating, leaving only the ceramic particles 130. The glass body 110 can be positioned against the layer of ceramic particles 130. An outer surface 112 of the glass body 110 can be positioned against the ceramic particles 130, so that the ceramic particles 130 are embedded primarily into the outer surface 112. Optionally, the inner surface 114 may not receive any ceramic particles 130. The ceramic particles 130 can be positioned in a manner corresponding to the desired arrangement when embedded within the glass body 110, as discussed further herein. For example, the ceramic particles 130 can form a design, pattern, image, symbol, and/or text that is visually and/or tactilely recognizable by a user.
During a heating process, the glass body 110 is heated to a temperature that is sufficient to at least partially melt, anneal, and/or soften the glass body 110. For example, the glass body 110, the ceramic particles 130, and the base plate 190 can be provided within a furnace or other heating device or environment that provides the target temperature. The target temperature can be one that is sufficient to at least partially melt, anneal, and/or soften the glass body 110 without melting the ceramic particles 130 and the base plate 190. For example, the target temperature can be above a melting point of the glass body 110, but below melting points of the ceramic particles 130 and the base plate 190.
Materials for the glass body 110, the ceramic particles 130, and the base plate 190 can be selected accordingly. For example, alumina silicate glass is a suitable choice for the glass body 110. Other examples of glass materials include, but are not limited to, soda lime, borosilicate, and the like. The ceramic particles 130 can include silica, zirconia, alumina, and/or sapphire. Other suitable particles include materials that have a melting point higher than that of the glass body 110 and provide desirable hardness. The base plate 190 can be the same material as the ceramic particles 130 and/or a similar material.
When heated and under its own weight and/or an additional weight, the glass body 110 can flow into or otherwise absorb at least some of the ceramic particles 130 along the outer surface 112. The glass body 110 can be limited in its heat treatment, for example so that the main portion of the glass body 110 does not flow (i.e., outwardly to spread across the base plate 190). Rather, the portions of the glass body 110 at the outer surface 112 thereof can flow to fill interstitial spaces within the layer of the ceramic particles 130 and at least partially surround at least some of the ceramic particles 130. The ceramic particles 130 are then at least partially embedded into the glass body 110, and the glass body 110 can be cooled to securely capture the embedded ceramic particles 130.
Referring to
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The depth of penetration for the ceramic particles 130 can be sufficient to provide the surface hardness. Whereas the ceramic particles 130 can be concentrated at the outer surface 112, a base layer 116 can have no ceramic particles 130. The base layer 116 can extend between the outer surface 112 and the inner surface 114, for example to the inner surface 114, and be considered a distinct layer of the glass body 110 or a separate glass body. The outer surface 112 can be an exposed surface. As such, the concentration of ceramic particles 130 at an outer layer (e.g., including the outer surface 112) can be greater than a concentration of ceramic particles 130 in the base layer 116. As used herein, “concentration” refers to the volumetric proportion (i.e., percentage) of the ceramic particles within the glass body.
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One or more of the ceramic particles 132, 134, 136, and 138 can vary in particle sizes, shapes, concentrations, colors, and/or distributions thereof. The ceramic particles can be provided in a manner that forms a desired appearance. For example, different ceramic particles can be provided with different colors in different regions. By further example, different concentrations of ceramic particles can be provided in different regions to form different transparency or opacity features along the different regions. The ceramic particles can be provided in a manner that defines desired tactile properties. For example, different sizes and shapes of the ceramic particles can be provided in different regions to form different surface features along the different regions.
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The properties of the resulting outer layer 340 can be controlled based on the operation of the tape casting device. For example, the tape casting device can be operated to form an outer layer 340 of a desired thickness. The thickness of the outer layer 340 can, at least in part, determine the opacity and other optical properties of the outer layer 340. For example, a thicker outer layer 340 of a given concentration of ceramic particles 330 within the glass body 310 provides a lower transmission of light there through. Accordingly, various optical properties of the final product can be determined by controlling production parameters of the outer layer 340. The thickness of the outer layer 340 can be about 100 μm, for example, 50 μm, 60 μm, 70 μm, 80 μm, 90 μm, 100 μm, 110 μm, 120 μm, 130 μm, 140 μm, or 150 μm.
As shown in
The outer layer 340 and the base layer 360 can be combined during a heating process in which each glass body 310 is heated to a temperature that is sufficient to at least partially melt, anneal, and/or soften each glass body 310. For example, the outer layer 340 and the base layer 360 can be provided within a furnace or other heating device or environment that provides the target temperature. The target temperature can be one that is sufficient to at least partially melt, anneal, and/or soften each glass body 310 without melting the ceramic particles 330. For example, the target temperature can be above a melting point of each glass body 310, but below melting points of the ceramic particles 330. The resulting composite article 300 can have a unitary, integral, and monolithic glass body 310 spanning the outer layer 340, with ceramic particles 330, and the base layer 360, having fewer or no ceramic particles 330.
Optionally, the composite article 300 can be subject to a surface treatment. For example, select regions of the outer surface 312 can be treated to provide a smooth outer surface 312 in some regions and an uneven, rough outer surface 312 in other regions. Such treatments include those discussed above with respect to
A reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean one and only one unless specifically so stated, but rather one or more. For example, “a” module may refer to one or more modules. An element proceeded by “a,” “an,” “the,” or “said” does not, without further constraints, preclude the existence of additional same elements.
Headings and subheadings, if any, are used for convenience only and do not limit the invention. The word exemplary is used to mean serving as an example or illustration. To the extent that the term include, have, or the like is used, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term comprise as comprise is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be used to distinguish one entity or action from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions.
Phrases such as an aspect, the aspect, another aspect, some aspects, one or more aspects, an implementation, the implementation, another implementation, some implementations, one or more implementations, an embodiment, the embodiment, another embodiment, some embodiments, one or more embodiments, a configuration, the configuration, another configuration, some configurations, one or more configurations, the subject technology, the disclosure, the present disclosure, other variations thereof and alike are for convenience and do not imply that a disclosure relating to such phrase(s) is essential to the subject technology or that such disclosure applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s) may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s) may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as an aspect or some aspects may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa, and this applies similarly to other foregoing phrases.
A phrase “at least one of” preceding a series of items, with the terms “and” or “or” to separate any of the items, modifies the list as a whole, rather than each member of the list. The phrase “at least one of” does not require selection of at least one item; rather, the phrase allows a meaning that includes at least one of any one of the items, and/or at least one of any combination of the items, and/or at least one of each of the items. By way of example, each of the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C” or “at least one of A, B, or C” refers to only A, only B, or only C; any combination of A, B, and C; and/or at least one of each of A, B, and C.
It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps, operations, or processes disclosed is an illustration of exemplary approaches. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps, operations, or processes may be performed in different order. Some of the steps, operations, or processes may be performed simultaneously. The accompanying method claims, if any, present elements of the various steps, operations or processes in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented. These may be performed in serial, linearly, in parallel or in different order. It should be understood that the described instructions, operations, and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software/hardware product or packaged into multiple software/hardware products.
In one aspect, a term coupled or the like may refer to being directly coupled. In another aspect, a term coupled or the like may refer to being indirectly coupled.
Terms such as top, bottom, front, rear, side, horizontal, vertical, and the like refer to an arbitrary frame of reference, rather than to the ordinary gravitational frame of reference. Thus, such a term may extend upwardly, downwardly, diagonally, or horizontally in a gravitational frame of reference.
The disclosure is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. In some instances, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the subject technology. The disclosure provides various examples of the subject technology, and the subject technology is not limited to these examples. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the principles described herein may be applied to other aspects.
All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout the disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for”.
The title, background, brief description of the drawings, abstract, and drawings are hereby incorporated into the disclosure and are provided as illustrative examples of the disclosure, not as restrictive descriptions. It is submitted with the understanding that they will not be used to limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the detailed description, it can be seen that the description provides illustrative examples and the various features are grouped together in various implementations for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed subject matter requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed configuration or operation. The claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.
The claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects described herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language claims and to encompass all legal equivalents. Notwithstanding, none of the claims are intended to embrace subject matter that fails to satisfy the requirements of the applicable patent law, nor should they be interpreted in such a way.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/632,983, entitled “SURFACE GLASS WITH EMBEDDED CERAMIC PARTICLES,” filed Feb. 20, 2018, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62632983 | Feb 2018 | US |
