Thin Film Coatings for Glass Members

• US 20120327568A1
• Filed: 06/24/2011
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Shedletsky, Anna-Katrina, Prest, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US13/168,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20120327568A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3417 all coatings being oxide coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3441 comprising carbon, a carbide or oxycarbide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49982 Coating

Abstract

Apparatus, systems and methods for characteristics of glass components through use of one or more coatings are disclosed. The coatings are typically thin coatings, such as thin film coatings. The coatings can serve to increase strength of the glass components and/or provide durable user interfacing surfaces. Accordingly, glass articles that have received coatings are able to be not only thin but also sufficiently strong so as to resist damage from impact events. The coated glass articles are well suited for use in consumer products, such as consumer electronic devices (e.g., electronic devices).

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing, the housing including a glass member providing a user facing outer surface for a portion of the housing;

wherein at least a portion of the glass member is provided with an atomic level coating, the portion of the glass member that is provided with the atomic level coating including at least the user facing outer surface.

2. An electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the atomic level coating is a coating of Al₂O₃, AlSiO, TiO₂ or SiO₂.

3. An electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the atomic level coating is a coating comprises at least one of Al₂O₃, AlSiO, TiO₂ or SiO₂.

4. An electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein the atomic level coating is a first coating, and

wherein at least the portion of the glass member or a sub-portion thereof is coated with a second coating, the second coating being substantially transparent protective coating.

5. An electronic device as recited in claim 4, wherein the second coating comprises at least one of SiO₂ and SiN.

6. An electronic device as recited in claim 5, wherein the second coating comprises an oleophobic coating.

7. An electronic device as recited in claim 4, wherein the second coating comprises a substantially scratch resistant coating.

8. An electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the glass member is provided with an amorphous carbon coating.

9. An electronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein the portion of the glass member being provided with the amorphous carbon coating substantially does not include the user facing outer surface of the glass member.

10. An electronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein the amorphous carbon coating is applied by a plasma-assisted physical vapor deposition process.

11. An electronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein the amorphous carbon coating comprises a coating of amorphous carbon with diamond like properties.

12. An electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the glass member further includes an edge, and wherein at least a portion of the edge is provided with a soft coating.

13. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing, the housing including a cover glass providing at least a portion of an outer surface of the housing;

wherein at least a portion of the cover glass is provided with an atomic level coating.

14. A method for processing a glass article for used with or as an electronic device housing, the method comprising:

obtaining a glass article;

depositing an atomic level coating on a least a portion of a surface of the glass article using an atomic layer deposition; and

applying an outer coating over at least a portion of the atomic level coating.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the outer coating has a thickness less than or equal to 0.1 mm.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the glass article has a thickness less than or equal to 1.0 mm.

17. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the applying of the outer coating comprises depositing the outer coating.

18. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the applying of the outer coating comprises depositing the outer coating using chemical vapor deposition.

19. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the applying of the outer coating comprises depositing the outer coating using physical vapor deposition.

20. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the applying of the outer coating comprises spraying on the outer coating.

21. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the applying of the outer coating comprises dipping the glass article into a bath of the outer coating.

22. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the outer coating is a translucent hard coating that is substantially scratch resistant.

23. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the atomic level coating is a coating comprises at least one of Al₂O₃, AlSiO, TiO₂ or SiO₂.

24. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the outer coating comprises at least one of SiO₂, SiN and an oleophobic coating.

25. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the outer coating comprises a substantially scratch resistant coating.

26. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the outer coating comprises an amorphous carbon coating.

27. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein the amorphous carbon coating is applied by a plasma-assisted physical vapor deposition process.

28. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein the amorphous carbon coating comprises a coating of amorphous carbon with diamond like properties.

29. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

forming a soft edge coating on at least an edge portion of the glass article.

30. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

installing the glass article to or with the electronic device housing.

31. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

chemically strengthening the glass article prior to the depositing of the atomic level coating.