ASYMMETRIC CHEMICAL STRENGTHENING
First Claim
1. A method for strengthening glass articles, the method comprising:
- obtaining a glass article having an outer side and an inner side;
bending the glass article in a first direction; and
performing chemical strengthening on the outer side but not the inner side of the glass article, the performing of the chemical strengthening being while the glass article is bent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus, systems and methods for increasing the strength of glass are disclosed. The strengthening of one portion of the glass article can be performed to a greater degree than another portion. Additionally, to mitigate against any distortion, such as warpage, physical manipulation of the glass article can be performed prior to or during strengthening, namely chemical strengthening. For example, in accordance with one embodiment, an outer surface of a glass article (e.g., cover glass) can be chemically strengthened to a greater degree than an inner surface of the glass article, yet the asymmetric strengthening does not induce distortion of the glass article because the glass article was physically manipulated, such as being bent, to counter any such distortion. Accordingly, glass articles that have undergone chemical strengthening processing are able to be not only thin and undistorted but also sufficiently strong and resistant to damage. The strengthened glass articles are well suited for use in consumer products, such as consumer electronic devices (e.g., portable electronic devices).
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for strengthening glass articles, the method comprising:
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obtaining a glass article having an outer side and an inner side; bending the glass article in a first direction; and performing chemical strengthening on the outer side but not the inner side of the glass article, the performing of the chemical strengthening being while the glass article is bent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for strengthening glass articles, the method comprising:
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obtaining a glass article having an outer side and an inner side; bending the glass article in a first direction; performing chemical strengthening on the outer side of the glass article to a first extent; and performing chemical strengthening on the inner side of the glass article to a second extent or not at all, wherein the second extend is substantially less than the first extent, wherein the performing of the chemical strengthening is done while the glass article is bent. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method for strengthening glass articles, the method comprising:
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obtaining a glass article having an outer side and an inner side; depositing an ion-exchange barrier on an inner side of the glass article; applying a force to the glass article to bend the glass article in a first direction; placing the glass article in an ion-exchange bath after being bent in the first direction; performing chemical strengthening of the outer side of the glass article while the glass article is within the ion-exchange bath; and thereafter removing the glass article from ion-exchange bath. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A consumer electronic product, comprising:
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a housing having a front surface, a back surface and side surfaces; electrical components provided at least partially internal to the housing, the electrical components including at least a controller, a memory, and a display, the display being provided at or adjacent the front surface of the housing; and a cover glass provided at or over the front surface of the housing such that the cover glass is provided over the display, the cover glass being chemically strengthened such that an outer, exposed surface of the cover glass is chemically strengthened to a greater extent than an inner, unexposed surface of the cover glass. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification