Apparatus, method, and process with laser induced channel edge

• US 10,273,182 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2014
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• 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., Luten, Henry A., Neuman, George A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Watkins, III, William P
• Application Number:
  US14/465,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20140363624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,713 Days
• 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 an edge extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the substantially transparent substrate, wherein the edge is a laser induced channel edge having enhanced edge characteristics.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a transparent substrate comprising oppositely facing surfaces; and

a laser-induced channel edge extending between the oppositely facing surfaces of the transparent substrate, the laser-induced channel edge comprising a plurality of laser-induced channels spaced discretely along the substrate and extending at least partially between the oppositely facing surfaces;

wherein each of the plurality of laser-induced channels forms an oblique angle with at least one of the oppositely facing surfaces;

wherein the plurality of laser-induced channels at least partially define a separation surface extending between the oppositely facing surfaces, the separation surface having at least one of (i) a roughness with an associated Rq value of less than 1.6 after being formed without post-formation processing or (ii) a straightness of less than 0.025 millimeters upon separation; and

wherein the laser-induced channel edge comprises a radius that is less than 25 millimeters.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of laser-induced channels continuously extends from one of the oppositely facing surfaces toward the other of the oppositely facing surfaces at the oblique angle.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein one of the oppositely facing surfaces is an entry surface and the plurality of laser-induced channels continuously extends from the entry surface toward the other of the oppositely facing surfaces at the oblique angle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of laser-induced channels continuously extends from one of the surfaces to the other of the surfaces at the oblique angle such that each of the plurality of laser-induced channels has a length greater than a thickness of the transparent substrate.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of laser-induced channels are spaced equally along the laser-induced channel edge.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is one of the following:

an electro-optic device, an interior electrochromic mirror, an exterior electrochromic mirror, an aircraft electrochromic window, an architectural electrochromic window, a lens cover, a display cover, a display, a microscope slide, cover glass, a mobile phone component, a DNA slide, a bar code, a stain glass window, a light emitting diode, a data storage device, a sandwich assembly comprising a plurality of substantially 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, or a household device.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

a substrate comprising oppositely facing surfaces; and

a plurality of laser-induced channels spaced discretely along the substrate and extending at least partially between the oppositely facing surfaces;

wherein each of the plurality of laser-induced channels forms an oblique angle with at least one of the oppositely facing surfaces; and

wherein the plurality of laser-induced channels at least partially define a separation surface extending between the oppositely facing surfaces, the separation surface having at least one of (i) a roughness with an associated Rq value of less than 1.6 after being formed without post-formation processing or (ii) a straightness of less than 0.025 millimeters upon separation.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the separation surface comprises a radius that is less than 25 millimeters.

9. A method comprising:

providing a substrate comprising oppositely facing surfaces;

forming a plurality of laser-induced channels spaced discretely along the substrate and extending at least partially between the oppositely facing surfaces; and

separating the substrate into pieces along a separation surface extending between the oppositely facing surfaces, wherein the plurality of laser-induced channels at least partially define the separation surface, the separation surface having at least one of (i) a roughness with an associated Rq value of less than 1.6 after being formed without post-formation processing or (ii) a straightness of less than 0.025 millimeters upon separation.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of laser-induced channels is formed at an oblique angle with respect to one or both of the oppositely facing surfaces of the substrate.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein one of the pieces is an interior portion of the substrate.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising changing the temperature of at least a portion of the substrate after forming the plurality of laser-induced channels to facilitate separating the substrate into the pieces.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of laser-induced channels continuously extends from one of said surfaces toward the other of said surfaces at an oblique angle.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein one of the oppositely facing surfaces is an entry surface and the plurality of laser-induced channels continuously extends from the entry surface toward the other of the oppositely facing surfaces at an oblique angle.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of laser-induced channels continuously extends from one of said surfaces to the other of said surfaces at an oblique angle such that each of the plurality of laser-induced channels has a length greater than a substrate thickness.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the separation surface comprises a radius that is less than 25 millimeters.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein separating the substrate into the pieces includes forming an opening through the substrate.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of laser-induced channels are equally spaced along the substrate.