Apparatus, method, and process with laser induced channel edge

• US 8,842,358 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2013
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Bareman, Donald L., Tonar, William L., Olesen, Niels A., Scott, Thomas J., Cammenga, David J., Rizk, Peter N., Luten, Henry A., Neuman, George A., Minikey, Danny L. Jr., Roth, Mark R., Flynn, Paul V. Jr., Thommen, James R. II, Holden, Happy T.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRA, TUYEN Q
• Application Number:
  US13/956,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20140036338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 359265-275, 345/105
• US Class Current: 359/267
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 33/091 using at least one focussed radiation beam, e.g. laser beam C03B33/0955 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 23/0025 by a laser beam
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 27/10 with the aid of adhesive specially adapted for that purpose
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/08 Mirrors vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24273 including aperture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24777 Edge feature

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and process that includes a substantially transparent substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and edge extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the substantially transparent substrate, wherein the edge being a laser induced channel edge having enhanced edge characteristics.

Claims

1. An electrochromic rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate, wherein said first substrate and said second substrate define a cavity; and

an electrochromic medium at least partially filling said cavity;

wherein at least one of said first and second substrates is a substantially transparent substrate comprising at least one laser induced channel edge;

wherein said at least one laser induced channel edge comprises a plurality of laser induced channels continuously extending from an entry surface of at least one of said first substrate and said second substrate to a depth thereof.

2. The electrochromic rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of laser induced channels are substantially equally spaced.

3. The electrochromic rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein a roughness of said at least one laser induced channel edge across a thickness is an Rq value of less than approximately 1.6.

4. The electrochromic rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said laser induced channel edge comprises a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, and roughness along a path of at least two of said first portion, said second portion, and said third portion are substantially equal.

5. The electrochromic rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one laser induced channel edge has less than approximately 230 deformations per 1.75 mm2.

6. The electrochromic rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one laser induced channel edge has a straightness after separation of less than approximately 0.033 mm.

7. The electrochromic rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one laser induced channel edge along a thickness of said at least one laser induced channel edge has a straightness of less than approximately 0.010 mm.

8. The electrochromic rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein a perpendicularity along a thickness of said at least one laser induced channel edge of less than approximately 0.025 mm.

9. The electrochromic rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one laser induced channel edge defines a hole in said substantially transparent substrate.

10. The electrochromic rearview mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein a portion of said substantially transparent substrate that forms said hole is re-inserted into said substantially transparent substrate.

11. The electrochromic rearview mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein said hole is at least partially filled with a conductive material.

12. The electrochromic rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein electrochromic mirror has a reduced perceived seal width.

13. The electrochromic rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one laser induced channel edge is angled with respect to said entry surface.

14. An electro-optic assembly comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate, wherein said first substrate and said second substrate define a cavity; and

an electro-optic medium at least partially filling said cavity;

wherein at least one of said first and second substrates being a substantially transparent substrate comprising at least one laser induced channel edge;

wherein said at least one laser induced channel edge comprises a plurality of laser induced channels continuously extending from an entry surface of at least one of said first substrate and said second substrate to a depth thereof;

wherein at least a portion of said plurality of laser induced channels are substantially equally spaced.

15. The electro-optic assembly of claim 14, wherein said at least one laser induced channel edge has a straightness after separation of less than approximately 0.033 mm

16. The electro-optic assembly of claim 14, wherein a perpendicularity along a thickness of said at least one laser induced channel edge of less than approximately 0.025 mm.

17. The electro-optic assembly of claim 14, wherein said at least one laser induced channel edge has a damage area extending from said laser induced channel edge inwards of less than approximately 0.09 mm.

18. The electro-optic assembly of claim 14, wherein said at least one laser induced channel edge has a start/stop area is less than approximately 2 mm.

19. The electro-optic assembly of claim 14, wherein a roughness of said at least one laser induced channel edge across a thickness is an Rq value of less than approximately 1.6.

20. The electro-optic assembly of claim 14, wherein said at least one laser induced channel edge has a straightness after separation of less than approximately 0.033 mm.

21. The electro-optic assembly of claim 14, wherein said at least one laser induced channel edge defines a hole in said substantially transparent substrate.

22. The electro-optic assembly of claim 14, wherein said at least one laser induced channel edge is angled with respect to said entry surface.

23. The electro-optic assembly of claim 14, wherein said at least one laser induced channel edge along a thickness of said at least one laser induced channel edge has a straightness of less than approximately 0.025 mm.

24. The electro-optic assembly of claim 14, wherein said substantially transparent substrate is one of soda-lime float glass, alkaline earth boro-aluminosilacate glass, alkali-aluminosilcate glass, chemically strengthened glass, insulated glass, tempered glass, sapphire, silicon, silicon carbide, compound semiconductor, optical crystals, liquid crystal substrate, diamond, tempered glass, quartz, and ceramic.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said substantially transparent substrate is one of soda-lime float glass, alkaline earth boro-aluminosilacate glass, alkali-aluminosilcate glass, chemically strengthened glass, insulated glass, tempered glass, sapphire, silicon, silicon carbide, compound semiconductor, optical crystals, liquid crystal substrate, diamond, tempered glass, quartz, and ceramic.

25. An apparatus comprising:

a transparent substrate comprising at least one laser induced channel edge;

wherein said at least one laser induced channel edge comprises a plurality of laser induced channels continuously extending from an entry surface of said transparent substrate to a depth thereof;

wherein at least a portion of said plurality of laser induced channels are equally spaced;

wherein a roughness of said at least one laser induced channel edge across a thickness is an Rq value of less than approximately 1.6 after being formed without post edge formation processing;

wherein said at least one laser induced channel edge has a straightness along a thickness of said at least one laser induced channel edge of less than approximately 0.025 mm; and

wherein the apparatus is one of an electro-optic device an interior electrochromic mirror, an exterior electrochromic mirror, an aircraft electrochromic window, an architectural electrochromic window, a lense cover, a display cover, a display a microscope slide, cover glass, a mobile device component, a DNA slide, a bar code, a stain glass window, a light emitting diode, a data storage device a sandwhich assembly comprising a plurality of transparent substrates, safety glasses, eye glasses, organic light emitting diodes, watch, a spring, a two-piece spotter mirror, a curved mirror, a flat-to-curved mirror an aspheric mirror, an interposer, and a household device.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said at least one laser induced channel edge has a straightness after separation of less than approximately 0.033 mm.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said at least one laser induced channel edge defines a hole in said substantially transparent substrate.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said at least one laser induced channel edge is angled with respect to said entry surface.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said at least one laser induced channel edge has a damage area extending from said laser induced channel edge inwards of less than approximately 0.09 mm.