ION IMPLANT INDICIA FOR COVER GLASS OR DISPLAY COMPONENT

• US 20140192467A1
• Filed: 01/08/2013
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kwong, Kelvin
• Granted Patent: US 9,092,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.3
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 29/20 Aluminium oxides
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 31/22 by ion-implantation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 37/3171 for ion implantation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/048 Arrangements providing optical indication of the incoming call, e.g. flasher circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24851 Intermediate layer is discontinuous or differential

Abstract

An aluminum oxide ceramic is formed into a sapphire component for an electronic device. Indicia are embedded into at least one major surface of the component, for example by ion implantation, where ions are fixed into a subsurface pattern layer. The subsurface pattern layer defines the indicia by altering an optical or chromatic property of the aluminum oxide material, so that the indicia are visible from an external surface of the component.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

forming an aluminum oxide ceramic into a sapphire component for an electronic device, the sapphire component having first and second major surfaces; and

embedding indicia into one or both of the first and second major surfaces of the sapphire component by ion implantation;

wherein ions are fixed in a subsurface layer between the first and second major surfaces of the sapphire component; and

wherein the subsurface layer defines the indicia by altering an optical property of the aluminum oxide material, such that the indicia are visible from an external surface of the component.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising assembling the sapphire component into the electronic device, such that the indicia are visible from an exterior surface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein assembling the sapphire component into the electronic device comprises assembling a cover glass onto the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the indicia comprise a serial number for the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the ions fixed in the subsurface layer are selected from a group consisting of boron, magnesium, titanium, chromium, iron, and copper.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the subsurface layer defines the indicia by changing a color of the aluminum oxide ceramic.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the aluminum oxide ceramic is substantially transparent, absent the subsurface layer defining the indicia.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the aluminum oxide ceramic comprises forming the sapphire component with a substantially single crystal plane orientation between the first and second major surfaces.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the aluminum oxide ceramic comprises forming a sapphire control surface for the electronic device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the indicia comprise a control identifier for the sapphire control surface.

11. A sapphire component for an electronic device, the sapphire component comprising:

a substantially single crystal aluminum oxide ceramic defining the sapphire component between opposing major surfaces; and

indicia embedded into at least one selected major surface of the sapphire component, the indicia comprising ions fixed in a subsurface pattern defined within the sapphire component, beneath the selected major surface;

wherein the subsurface pattern defines the indicia by altering a chromatic property of the substantially single crystal aluminum oxide ceramic, such that the indicia are visible from the selected major surface.

12. The sapphire component of claim 11, wherein the ions fixed in the subsurface pattern are selected from a group comprising boron, titanium and chromium.

13. The sapphire component of claim 12, wherein the substantially single crystal aluminum oxide ceramic comprises corundum and the selected ions comprise chromium, such that the subsurface pattern defines a ruby material within the corundum ceramic.

14. The sapphire component of claim 11, wherein the substantially single crystal aluminum oxide ceramic comprises chromium, such that the subsurface pattern defines the indicia in a ruby material.

15. A mobile device comprising the sapphire component of claim 11 in combination with a display, wherein the sapphire component comprises a cover glass for the mobile device.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the indicia identify a manufacturer thereof.

17. A device comprising:

a digital display;

a sapphire cover glass component formed of a substantially single crystal aluminum oxide ceramic; and

indicia embedded in the sapphire cover glass component and visible from an exterior surface thereof, the indicia comprising ions implanted into a subsurface pattern layer defined beneath the external surface, within the substantially single crystal aluminum oxide ceramic;

wherein the ions define the indicia in the subsurface pattern layer by altering a chromatic property of the substantially single crystal aluminum oxide ceramic.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the ions implanted into the subsurface pattern layer are selected from a group comprising metals.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein different metal ions are implanted into the subsurface pattern layer, such that the indicia are defined with a plurality of different colors in the subsurface pattern layer.

20. A smartphone comprising the device of claim 17, wherein the digital display comprises a touchscreen for operation thereof.

21. The smartphone of claim 20, wherein the indicia identify a make, model or manufacturer thereof.