Electronic Device Having Selectively Strengthening Glass Cover Glass

• US 20120027399A1
• Filed: 07/30/2010
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Yeates, Kyle H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,923,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/535
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 21/002 to perform ion-exchange between alkali ions C03C21/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0018 with means for preventing ghost images anti-reflection coatings G02B1/11
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133331 Cover glasses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed therein generally pertain to selectively strengthening glass. More particularly, techniques are described for selectively strengthening cover glass, which tends to be thin, for electronic devices, namely, portable electronic devices. In certain embodiments, selectively strengthening glass, such as cover glass, can be used to provide optical barriers (or channels) internal to the glass. The electronic devices can also provide for camera integration behind the cover glass.

Claims

1. A consumer electronic product, comprising:

a housing;

electrical components disposed at least partially internal to said housing; and

a cover glass coupled with the housing, wherein the cover glass comprises a selectively chemically strengthened surface region and a different strength surface region, wherein the different strength surface region has a strength that is different than that of the selectively chemically strengthened surface region.

2. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1 wherein the cover glass further comprises optical features disposed in the cover glass.

3. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1 wherein the cover glass further comprises at least one optical barrier disposed in the cover glass.

4. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1 wherein the cover glass further comprises at least one refractive index barrier disposed in the cover glass.

5. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1 wherein the cover glass further comprises a substantial change in refractive index disposed in the cover glass.

6. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1 wherein the selectively chemically strengthened surface region of the cover glass is patterned.

7. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1 wherein the selectively chemically strengthened surface region of the cover glass is formed with a photolithographic pattern provided on the cover glass.

8. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 1 wherein the electrical components comprise a camera.

9. A consumer electronic product, comprising:

a housing;

electrical components disposed at least partially internal to the housing, said electrical components including at least a camera; and

a cover glass coupled to the housing, the cover glass being substantially transparent to the camera, and the cover glass including at least one optical barrier comprising glass and integrally interposed within the cover glass between the camera and a remainder of the cover glass for reducing glare at the camera via the cover glass

10. The consumer electronic product as in claim 9 wherein the glare is veiling glare.

11. The consumer electronic product as in claim 9 wherein the at least one optical barrier is formed by selectively chemically strengthening the cover glass.

12. The consumer electronic product as in claim 9 wherein the remainder of the cover glass comprises a majority region of the cover glass, and wherein a minority region of cover glass is adjacent to the camera.

13. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 9 wherein the optical barrier comprises a refractive index barrier.

14. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 9 wherein the optical barrier presents a substantial change in refractive index disposed in the cover glass.

15. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 9 wherein a peripheral region of cover glass is adjacent to the camera.

16. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 9 wherein the cover glass substantially overlaps the camera.

17. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 9 wherein the electrical components further comprise a display, and wherein the cover glass is substantially transparent to the display and arranged so that the display is viewable through the cover glass.

18. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 9 wherein the electrical components further comprise an illuminator;

and wherein the cover glass is substantially transparent to the illuminator and arranged so that illumination projects outwardly from the cover glass.

19. A consumer electronic product, comprising:

a housing;

electrical components disposed at least partially internal to said housing, said electrical components comprising at least a camera and an illuminator; and

a cover glass substantially transparent to the camera and the illuminator, the cover glass including at least an optical barrier region comprising chemically strengthened glass disposed within the cover glass between the camera and the illuminator.

20. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 19 wherein the optical barrier region serves to substantially reduce light from the illuminator from coupling into the camera by way of the cover glass.

21. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 19 wherein the light from the illuminator being reduced from coupling into the camera is glare.

22. The consumer electronic product as recited in claim 21 wherein the glare is a veiling glare.

23. A method for assembling an electronic product comprising:

obtaining cover glass;

shielding a surface portion of the cover glass, the shielding providing the cover glass with at least one shielded surface portion and at least one unshielded surface portion;

chemically strengthening the at least one unshielded surface portion of the cover glass;

disposing the cover glass adjacent to a camera; and

subsequently attaching the cover glass to a housing for the electronic product.

24. The method as recited in claim 23 wherein strengthening comprises patterning the at least one shielded surface portion of the cover glass.

25. The method as recited in claim 23 wherein strengthening comprises photolithographically patterning the at least one shielded surface portion of the cover glass.

26. A method for assembling an electronic product comprising:

disposing electrical components comprising a camera at least partially internal to a housing; and

coupling the cover glass to the housing,

wherein the cover glass is adjacently disposed to the camera, wherein the cover glass is substantially transparent to the camera, and wherein the cover glass includes at least an optical barrier comprising chemically strengthened glass interposed within the cover glass between the camera and a remainder of the cover glass.

27. The method as recited in claim 26 wherein the optical barrier serves to reduce veiling glare.