Non-contact polishing techniques for reducing roughness on glass surfaces

• US 8,950,215 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2011
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rappoport, Benjamin M., Prest, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): FRANKLIN, JODI COHEN
• Application Number:
  US13/107,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20120088067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,368 Days
• Field of Search: 65 301- 3014, 65/65
• US Class Current: 65/30.14
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 21/002 to perform ion-exchange between alkali ions C03C21/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2218/32 After-treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 23/006 by plasma or corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/08 providing for individual presentation of information to a plurality of student stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]

Abstract

Apparatus, systems and methods for reducing surface roughness on surface of a glass member using a non-contact polishing process are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for processing a glass member suitable for use in a handheld electronic device includes obtaining the glass member and chemically strengthening the glass member. The glass member has at least one surface, and chemically strengthening the glass member increases roughness associated with the at least one surface. The method also includes applying a first non-contact polishing process to the glass member after chemically strengthening the glass member. Applying the first non-contact polishing process reduces the roughness associated with the at least one surface.

Claims

1. A method for processing a glass member suitable for use in a handheld electronic device, the method comprising:

obtaining the glass member, the glass member having at least one surface, the at least one surface including a top surface;

chemically strengthening the glass member, wherein chemically strengthening the glass member increases roughness associated with the at least one surface;

selectively applying a first non-contact polishing process to a portion of the top surface of the glass member after chemically strengthening the glass member, wherein applying the first non-contact polishing process reduces the roughness associated with selected areas of the at least one surface; and

polishing non-selected areas of the at least one surface using a second non-contact polishing process,

wherein a composition of the first non-contact polishing process is different from a composition of the second non-contact polishing process.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first non-contact polishing process is a first plasma polishing process.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein applying the first plasma polishing process reduces the roughness associated with the at least one surface by removing a thickness of less than approximately five microns of material from the at least one surface.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein applying the first plasma polishing process reduces the roughness associated with the at least one surface by removing a thickness of less than approximately one micron of material from the at least one surface.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the first plasma polishing process is one selected from a group including an atmospheric pressure plasma polishing (APPP) process, a reactive atom plasma process, a plasma chemical vaporization machining process, and a plasma ion etching process.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein applying the plasma polishing process to the glass member includes selectively applying the plasma polishing process to specific areas associated with the at least one surface.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein selectively applying the plasma polishing process to the specific areas includes masking at least a portion of the at least one surface.

8. The method of claim 2 further including:

applying a second plasma polishing process to the glass member before chemically strengthening the glass member.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein applying the second plasma polishing process includes at least one selected from a group including coarse polishing and fine polishing.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein chemically strengthening the glass member includes causing an ion exchange, the ion exchange being associated with ions in the at least one surface.

11. The method of claim 2 further including:

identifying warping in the glass member, wherein applying the plasma polishing process to the glass member includes removing the warping.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the glass member includes obtaining a glass sheet and singulating the glass sheet to create the glass member.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the glass member is formed from aluminosilicate glass.

14. The method of claim 1 further including:

identifying warping in the glass member,

wherein the selectively applying the first non-contact polishing process to the glass member includes removing the warping.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected areas of the at least one surface include at least one defect, the defect having a first geometry, and wherein polishing the selected areas includes smoothing the first geometry.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the first geometry includes a sharp edge,

wherein applying the first non-contact polishing process smoothes the sharp edge.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the second non-contact polishing process a second plasma polishing process.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the selectively applying a first non-contact polishing process creates a stress profile on the at least one surface.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the first non-contact polishing process is applied to edges of the glass member.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying at least one coating to the glass member.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the at least one coating is an ink.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the at least one coating reduces reflection or smudges.