FUSED OPAQUE AND CLEAR GLASS FOR CAMERA OR DISPLAY WINDOW

• US 20130176484A1
• Filed: 06/08/2012
• Published: 07/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Pilliod, Michael K., Russell-Clarke, Peter N., Weber, Douglas J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,133,156 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 23/20 Uniting glass pieces by fusing without substantial reshaping
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0503 Built-in units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof

Abstract

Apparatus, systems and methods for windows integration with cover glass and for processing cover glass to provide windows for electronic devices are disclosed. Transparent windows such as a transparent camera window, a transparent illuminator window and/or a transparent display window can be integrated into the cover glass. The apparatus, systems and methods are especially suitable for cover glasses, or displays (e.g., LCD displays), assembled in small form factor electronic devices such as handheld electronic devices (e.g., mobile phones, media players, personal digital assistants, remote controls, etc.). The apparatus, systems and methods can also be used for cover glasses or displays for other relatively larger form factor electronic devices (e.g., portable computers, tablet computers, displays, monitors, televisions, etc.).

Claims

1. A method for assembling an electronic product comprising:

providing a cover glass having at least a portion that is dark or opaque;

forming a first aperture in the dark or opaque portion of the cover glass;

disposing a transparent camera window in the first aperture of the dark or opaque portion of the cover glass; and

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

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the portion of the cover glass is sufficiently dark or opaque to substantially attenuate transmission of veiling glare via the cover glass to the transparent camera window.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

securing a perimeter of the transparent camera window to the dark or opaque portion of the cover glass.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the securing the perimeter of the transparent camera window to the dark or opaque portion of the cover glass comprises heating the transparent camera window.

5. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the securing the perimeter of the transparent camera window to the dark or opaque portion of the cover glass comprises pressing the transparent camera window.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

fusion bonding a perimeter of the transparent camera window to the dark or opaque portion of the cover glass.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

fusing glass of a perimeter of the transparent camera window with glass of the dark or opaque portion of the cover glass.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

lapping the transparent camera window and an adjacent glass region of the dark or opaque portion of the cover glass into a planar exterior surface of the cover glass.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

forming a second aperture in the dark or opaque portion of the cover glass;

disposing a transparent illuminator window in the second aperture of the dark or opaque portion of the cover glass; and

fusing glass of a perimeter of the transparent illuminator window with glass of the dark or opaque portion of the cover glass.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

forming an other aperture in the dark or opaque portion of the cover glass;

disposing a transparent display window in the other aperture of the dark or opaque portion of the cover glass; and

fusing glass of a perimeter of the transparent display window with glass of the dark or opaque portion of the cover glass.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

strengthening the transparent camera window and dark or opaque portion of the cover glass.

21. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the method further comprises:

forming an other aperture in the dark or opaque portion of the ceramic cover;

disposing a transparent display window in the other aperture of the dark or opaque portion of the ceramic cover; and

fusing glass of a perimeter of the transparent display window with ceramic of the dark or opaque portion of the ceramic cover.

12. A method for assembling an electronic product comprising:

providing a ceramic cover having at least a portion that is dark or opaque;

forming a first aperture in the dark or opaque portion of the ceramic cover;

disposing a transparent camera window in the first aperture of the dark or opaque portion of the ceramic cover; and

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

13. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the portion of the ceramic cover is sufficiently dark or opaque to substantially attenuate transmission of veiling glare via the ceramic cover to the transparent camera window.

14. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the method further comprises:

securing a perimeter of the transparent camera window to the dark or opaque portion of the ceramic cover.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein the securing the perimeter of the transparent camera window to the dark or opaque portion of the ceramic cover comprises heating the transparent camera window.

16. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein the securing the perimeter of the transparent camera window to the dark or opaque portion of the ceramic cover comprises pressing the transparent camera window.

17. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the method further comprises:

fusion bonding a perimeter of the transparent camera window to the dark or opaque portion of the ceramic cover.

18. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the method further comprises:

fusing glass of a perimeter of the transparent camera window with ceramic of the dark or opaque portion of the ceramic cover.

19. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the method further comprises:

lapping the transparent camera window and an adjacent ceramic region of the dark or opaque portion of the ceramic cover into a planar exterior surface of the ceramic cover.

20. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the method further comprises:

forming a second aperture in the dark or opaque portion of the ceramic cover;

disposing a transparent illuminator window in the second aperture of the dark or opaque portion of the ceramic cover; and

fusing glass of a perimeter of the transparent illuminator window with ceramic of the dark or opaque portion of the ceramic cover.

22. A consumer electronic product, comprising:

a transparent camera window;

a cover formed of glass or ceramic, the cover being integrated with the transparent camera window, wherein the glass or ceramic cover has a substantially smooth exterior surface even across the transparent camera window;

a housing coupled with the glass or ceramic cover; and

electrical components disposed at least partially internal to the housing, the electrical components including at least a camera.

23. A consumer electronic product as in claim 22 wherein the cover is sufficiently dark or opaque for substantially attenuating transmission of veiling glare via the cover to the transparent camera window.

24. A consumer electronic product as in claim 22 further comprising a bonding interface for securing a perimeter of the transparent camera window to the cover.

25. A consumer electronic product as in claim 24 wherein the bonding interface comprising a bond fusing glass of the perimeter of the transparent camera window with glass of the cover.

27. A consumer electronic product as in claim 22 wherein at least a portion of the substantially smooth exterior surface of the cover comprising the transparent camera window is a chemically strengthened surface.

28. A consumer electronic product as in claim 22 wherein the consumer electronic product further comprises:

a transparent illuminator window integrated with the cover.

29. A consumer electronic product as in claim 22 wherein the consumer electronic product further comprises:

a transparent display window as part of the cover.