Self-optimizing chemical strengthening bath for glass
First Claim
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1. A system for producing cover glass for exposed surfaces of consumer electronic products comprising:
- a glass ion exchange bath for chemically strengthening a cover glass by disposing the cover glass in the glass ion exchange bath; and
a glass ion exchange monitor coupled to the glass ion exchange bath and programmed to monitor an amount of accumulated ions derived from the ion exchange occurring while the cover glass is within the glass ion exchange bath; and
a controller electronically coupled to the glass ion exchange monitor and programmed to;
determine the amount accumulated ions; and
adjust one or more of;
a temperature of the glass ion exchange bath, based at least in part on the amount of accumulated ions;
ora duration that cover glass is to be disposed in the glass ion exchange bath, based at least in part on the amount of accumulated ions.
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Abstract
Apparatus, systems and methods for improving strength of a thin glass member for an electronic device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the glass member can be strengthened chemically using a monitored ion exchange process in which the glass member is disposed in a glass ion exchange bath. In one embodiment, the glass member can pertain to a cover glass for housings of electronic devices.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for producing cover glass for exposed surfaces of consumer electronic products comprising:
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a glass ion exchange bath for chemically strengthening a cover glass by disposing the cover glass in the glass ion exchange bath; and a glass ion exchange monitor coupled to the glass ion exchange bath and programmed to monitor an amount of accumulated ions derived from the ion exchange occurring while the cover glass is within the glass ion exchange bath; and a controller electronically coupled to the glass ion exchange monitor and programmed to; determine the amount accumulated ions; and adjust one or more of; a temperature of the glass ion exchange bath, based at least in part on the amount of accumulated ions;
ora duration that cover glass is to be disposed in the glass ion exchange bath, based at least in part on the amount of accumulated ions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system to produce a cover glass for exposed surfaces of consumer electronic products comprising:
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a glass ion exchange bath for chemically strengthening the cover glass by disposing the cover glass in the glass ion exchange bath; a glass ion exchange monitor coupled to the glass ion exchange bath programmed to monitor an amount of accumulated ions derived from the ion exchange occurring while the cover glass is within the glass ion exchange bath; and a controller electronically coupled with the glass ion exchange monitor and glass ion exchange bath, the controller programmed to; (i) receive a signal related to the amount of accumulated ions; (ii) determine if the amount of accumulated ions exceeds a predetermined partial-refresh threshold; (iii) partially drain the glass ion exchange bath of a first solution if it is determined that the amount of accumulated ions exceeds the predetermined partial-refresh threshold; and (iv) partially refill the glass ion exchange bath with a second solution. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for producing a cover glass for exposed surfaces of consumer electronic products comprising:
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disposing the cover glass in a glass ion exchange bath to be chemically strengthened; monitoring, with a glass ion exchange monitor coupled to the glass ion exchange bath programmed to monitor an amount of accumulated ions, the amount of accumulated ions derived from the ion exchange occurring while the cover glass is in the glass ion exchange bath based on ions exchanged between the glass ion exchange bath and the cover glass; receiving a signal substantially related to the amount of accumulated ions; determining if at least one processing parameter of the glass ion exchange bath needs to be adjusted based on the received signal; and adjusting one or more of; a duration that the cover glass is disposed in the glass ion exchange bath, based at least in part upon on the monitored amount of accumulated ions;
ora temperature of the glass ion exchange bath, based at least in part on the monitored amount of accumulated ions. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification