Fused opaque and clear glass for camera or display window

• US 10,133,156 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2012
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Pilliod, Michael K., Russell-Clarke, Peter N., Weber, Douglas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Minh
• Application Number:
  US13/492,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20130176484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,356 Days
• Field of Search: 396448, 396535, 348373-376, 36167901
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 23/20 Uniting glass pieces by fusing without substantial reshaping
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0503 Built-in units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof

Abstract

Apparatus, systems and methods for windows integration with cover glass and for processing cover glass to provide windows for electronic devices are disclosed. Transparent windows such as a transparent camera window, a transparent illuminator window and/or a transparent display window can be integrated into the cover glass. The apparatus, systems and methods are especially suitable for cover glasses, or displays (e.g., LCD displays), assembled in small form factor electronic devices such as handheld electronic devices (e.g., mobile phones, media players, personal digital assistants, remote controls, etc.). The apparatus, systems and methods can also be used for cover glasses or displays for other relatively larger form factor electronic devices (e.g., portable computers, tablet computers, displays, monitors, televisions, etc.).

Claims

1. A method for assembling an electronic product, the electronic product including an image sensing device, the method comprising:

forming an aperture in a dark or opaque portion of a glass that extends from an exterior surface of the glass to an interior surface of the glass, thereby defining a monolithic dark or opaque region substantially surrounding the aperture, the monolithic dark or opaque region extending from the exterior surface to the interior surface;

disposing a transparent window in the aperture, such that a sidewall of the transparent window is adjacent the monolithic dark or opaque region;

securing the sidewall of the transparent window to the monolithic dark or opaque region to form a cover glass; and

subsequently attaching the cover glass to a housing for the electronic product, such that the transparent window defines at least a portion of a light path from an exterior of the electronic product to the image sensing device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the monolithic dark or opaque region of the cover glass is sufficiently dark or opaque to substantially attenuate transmission of veiling glare via the cover glass to the transparent window.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the securing the sidewall of the transparent window to the monolithic dark or opaque region comprises heating the transparent window.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the securing the sidewall of the transparent window to the monolithic dark or opaque region comprises:

fusing glass of the transparent window with glass of the monolithic dark or opaque region.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

lapping the transparent window and an adjacent glass region of the monolithic dark or opaque region of glass into a planar exterior surface of the cover glass.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

forming a second aperture in the monolithic dark or opaque region of glass;

disposing a transparent illuminator window in the second aperture of the monolithic dark or opaque region of glass; and

fusing glass of a perimeter of the transparent illuminator window with glass of the monolithic dark or opaque region of glass.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

forming another aperture in the monolithic dark or opaque region of glass;

disposing a transparent display window in the other aperture of the monolithic dark or opaque region of glass; and

fusing glass of a perimeter of the transparent display window with glass of the monolithic dark or opaque region of glass.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

strengthening the transparent window and the monolithic dark or opaque region of glass.

9. A method for assembling an electronic product, the electronic product including a sensing device, the method comprising:

forming a first aperture in a monolithic dark or opaque portion of ceramic, the monolithic dark or opaque portion of ceramic extending from an interior surface of the electronic product to an exterior surface of the electronic product;

disposing a transparent sensor window in the first aperture of the monolithic dark or opaque portion of ceramic, such that a sidewall of the transparent sensor window is surrounded by a sidewall of the first aperture, the transparent sensor window positioned at or adjacent the sensing device, the transparent sensor window having a transparent window that abuts against the sidewall of the first aperture;

securing the sidewall of the transparent sensor window to the monolithic dark or opaque portion of ceramic to form a ceramic cover; and

subsequently attaching the ceramic cover to a housing for the electronic product.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the monolithic dark or opaque portion of ceramic is sufficiently dark or opaque to substantially attenuate transmission of veiling glare via the ceramic cover to the transparent sensor window.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein securing the sidewall of the transparent sensor window to the monolithic dark or opaque portion of ceramic comprises heating the transparent sensor window.

12. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the securing the sidewall of the transparent sensor window to the monolithic dark or opaque portion of ceramic comprises pressing the transparent sensor window.

13. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein securing the sidewall of the transparent sensor window to the monolithic dark or opaque portion of ceramic comprises:

fusing glass of the sidewall of the transparent sensor window with ceramic of the monolithic dark or opaque portion of ceramic.

14. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

lapping the transparent sensor window and an adjacent ceramic region of the monolithic dark or opaque portion of ceramic into a planar exterior surface of the ceramic cover.

15. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

forming a second aperture in the monolithic dark or opaque portion of ceramic;

disposing a transparent illuminator window in the second aperture of the monolithic dark or opaque portion of ceramic; and

fusing glass of a perimeter of the transparent illuminator window with ceramic of the monolithic dark or opaque portion of ceramic.

16. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

forming another aperture in the monolithic dark or opaque portion of ceramic;

disposing a transparent display window in the other aperture of the monolithic dark or opaque portion of ceramic; and

fusing glass of a sidewall of the transparent display window with ceramic of the monolithic dark or opaque portion of ceramic.

17. A consumer electronic product, comprising:

a transparent window;

a cover formed of glass or ceramic having a monolithic region that is dark or opaque and defining an aperture extending through the monolithic region that is dark or opaque from an outer surface to an inner surface of the cover;

a fusion bonding interface, defined by a sidewall of the aperture, for securing the transparent window to the cover such that the transparent window is fusion bonded to the sidewall of the aperture;

a housing coupled with the glass or ceramic cover; and

electrical components disposed at least partially internal to the housing, the electrical components including at least a sensing device;

wherein

the outer surface of the cover is opaque; and

the cover defines a substantially smooth exterior surface extending across the outer surface and the transparent window.

18. The consumer electronic product as in claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the cover adjacent the transparent window is sufficiently dark or opaque for substantially attenuating transmission of veiling glare via the cover to the transparent window.

19. The consumer electronic product as in claim 17, wherein the fusion bonding interface comprises a bond fusing the transparent window with glass of the cover.

20. The consumer electronic product as in claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the substantially smooth exterior surface of the cover comprising the transparent window is a chemically strengthened surface.

21. The consumer electronic product as in claim 17, wherein the consumer electronic product further comprises:

a transparent illuminator window integrated with the cover.

22. The consumer electronic product as in claim 17, wherein the consumer electronic product further comprises:

a transparent display window as part of the cover.

23. The consumer electronic product as in claim 17, wherein the transparent window comprises glass.