Asymmetrically thick glass
By designing the bending and non-bending zones of glass with unequal thickness, the problems of fragility and poor feel when bending ultra-thin glass are solved, achieving good bendability and impact resistance.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- CHENGDU TOMI SHUANG DU OPTOELECTRONICS CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-08-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-14
AI Technical Summary
Existing ultra-thin glass is prone to breakage when bent and has a poor feel. The stress concentration at the bending point of ultra-thin glass with uniform thickness leads to high requirements for hinges.
Design a glass of unequal thickness, including a bent area and a non-bent area. The bent area has two grooves arranged in the transverse direction. The thickness of the grooved area is smaller than that of the non-grooved area. The grooves are concave arc surfaces. A coating fills the grooves to improve impact resistance.
It improves the bendability of glass, reduces rebound force and stress concentration, enhances impact resistance, and improves feel and smoothness.
Smart Images
Figure CN224501431U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of ultra-thin glass technology, specifically to a glass with unequal thickness. Background Technology
[0002] With the development of display technology, the performance requirements for display devices are gradually increasing. Furthermore, with the expansion of application scenarios, flexible display panels based on ultra-thin glass can be used in foldable phones, laptops, and various rollable display devices. In related technologies, ultra-thin glass with uniform thickness, in order to meet bending requirements, has a relatively thin overall thickness and is coated with a film, resulting in a poor feel. The thicker the ultra-thin glass, the easier it is to break when bent, placing higher demands on the hinge. Utility Model Content
[0003] The present invention aims to at least partially solve one of the technical problems in the related art. To this end, embodiments of the present invention propose a glass of unequal thickness.
[0004] The unequal thickness glass of this utility model includes: glass, the glass including a bending region and two non-bending regions, the bending region being connected to the two non-bending regions on both sides of the glass in the transverse direction, the bending region including two grooves arranged side by side in the transverse direction of the glass, the grooves extending in the longitudinal direction of the glass.
[0005] Therefore, the unequal thickness glass according to the present invention has good bendability, and also has the advantages of low rebound force and strong impact resistance.
[0006] In some embodiments, the two grooves of the bending region are spaced apart laterally in the glass.
[0007] In some embodiments, the bending region includes two grooved regions and a non-grooved region located between the two grooved regions, wherein the two grooves are respectively formed in the two grooved regions, and the thickness of the non-grooved region is greater than the thickness of the grooved regions.
[0008] In some embodiments, the width of the bending area is greater than or equal to 10 mm and less than or equal to 50 mm.
[0009] In some embodiments, the width of the non-grooved area between the two grooved areas of the bending region is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm and less than or equal to 2 mm.
[0010] In some embodiments, the minimum thickness of the groove region of the bending region is greater than or equal to 20 μm and less than or equal to 50 μm.
[0011] In some embodiments, the thickness of the non-bending region is greater than or equal to 70 μm and less than or equal to 200 μm.
[0012] In some embodiments, the wall of the groove is a concave arc surface.
[0013] In some embodiments, the glass includes a first surface and a second surface opposite in the thickness direction, and the two grooves are formed on the first surface.
[0014] The unequal thickness glass of this utility model embodiment also includes a coating, which is connected to the first surface of the glass and fills the groove. Attached Figure Description
[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of unequal thickness glass according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing the state of unequal thickness glass bending according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] Reference numerals: 1. Glass, 2. Non-bending area, 3. Bending area, 31. Groove, 32. Groove area, 33. Non-groove area. Detailed Implementation
[0018] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.
[0019] The following description of an embodiment of the present invention, featuring glass of unequal thickness, is based on the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the unequal thickness glass according to an embodiment of the present invention includes glass 1.
[0020] Glass 1 includes a bent region 3 and two non-bent regions 2. The bent region 3 is connected to the two non-bent regions 2 on both sides of the glass 1 in the transverse direction. The bent region 3 includes two grooves 31 arranged side by side in the transverse direction of the glass 1, and the grooves 31 extend in the longitudinal direction of the glass 1. Specifically, the thickness of the non-bent regions 2 is greater than the thickness of the bent region 3, so that the two sides of the glass (non-bent regions 2) are thick, the two sides are impact resistant, and the flatness and feel are good. The bent region 3 is the bending area of the glass 1. When the two non-bent regions 2 are adjacent to each other, the bent region 3 bends.
[0021] In related technologies, stress concentration during bending of folding glass can lead to glass breakage. In U-shaped bending, the stress is greatest at the apex of the bending area. Compared to U-shaped bending, teardrop-shaped bending reduces stress by increasing the bending radius of the bending area instead of keeping the gap between the bending areas consistent. However, the increased bending radius of the bending area makes the manufacturing of folding devices more bulky.
[0022] According to the embodiments of the present invention, each groove 31 of the bending region 3 of the unequal thickness glass can reduce the thickness of that region, thereby making the bending region 3 of the unequal thickness glass thinner and more flexible. Furthermore, the bending region 3 includes two grooves 31. Therefore, when the unequal thickness glass according to the embodiments of the present invention is bent, the bending stress changes from a single location at the center of the bending region to the locations of the two grooves 31. The point of maximum stress during bending is no longer located at the apex, but is distributed across the two grooves 31. The stress at a single location is significantly reduced, and the stress concentration point changes from one to two, resulting in a significant decrease in rebound force. Simultaneously, the glass is less prone to breakage during bending. The bendability is greatly increased, thus enabling the foldable glass of this structure to have better bending characteristics and lower rebound force while maintaining the same impact resistance, feel, and flatness on both sides.
[0023] Therefore, the unequal thickness glass according to the present invention has good bendability, and also has the advantages of low rebound force and strong impact resistance.
[0024] In some embodiments, any two of the transverse, longitudinal, and thickness directions of the glass are perpendicular to each other. For example, the transverse direction of the glass is the left-right direction, the longitudinal direction is the front-back direction, and the thickness direction is the up-down direction.
[0025] like Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, the two grooves 31 of the bending region 3 are spaced apart in the transverse direction of the glass 1. Specifically, the bending region 3 includes two grooved regions 32 and a non-grooved region 33 located between the two grooved regions 32. The two grooves 31 are formed in the two grooved regions 32 respectively, and the thickness of the non-grooved region 33 is greater than the thickness of the grooved regions 32. That is, the grooved region 32 is the area of the bending region 3 with grooves 31 and has a smaller thickness; the non-grooved region 33 is the area without grooves 32. The non-grooved region 33 located in the middle of the bending region 3 has a larger thickness, so that when the bending region 3 is bent, the grooved region 32 is easy to deform and bend, while the non-grooved region 33 is not easy to deform, thus allowing the center of the bending region 3 to be distributed between the two grooved regions 32. The width direction of the bending region 3 (grooved region 32, non-grooved region 33) is in the transverse direction of the glass 1. The length direction of the bending region 3 (grooved region 32, non-grooved region 33) is in the longitudinal direction of the glass 1.
[0026] For example, the dimension of the non-groove region 33 in the lateral direction is greater than the minimum thickness of the bending region 3, while the thickness of the non-groove region 33 remains unchanged.
[0027] In some embodiments, the width of the bending area 3 is greater than or equal to 10 mm and less than or equal to 50 mm. That is, the dimension of the bending area 3 (the two recessed areas 32 and the non-recessed area 33 between them) in the transverse direction of the glass 1 is greater than or equal to 10 mm and less than or equal to 50 mm. For example, the width of the bending area 3 is 20 mm.
[0028] In some embodiments, the width of the non-grooved area 33 between the two grooved areas 32 of the bending area 3 is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm and less than or equal to 2 mm. For example, the dimension of the non-grooved area 33 in the transverse direction of the glass 1 is 1 mm or 1.5 mm.
[0029] In some embodiments, the minimum thickness of the groove region 32 of the bending region 3 is greater than or equal to 20 μm and less than or equal to 50 μm. Specifically, the wall surface of the groove 31 is a concave arc surface, and the thickness of the groove region 32 in the transverse direction of the glass 1 first decreases and then increases. The minimum thickness of the groove region 32 is greater than or equal to 20 μm and less than or equal to 50 μm. For example, the wall surface of the groove 31 is a circular arc surface.
[0030] In some embodiments, the thickness of the non-bending region 2 is greater than or equal to 70 μm and less than or equal to 200 μm, thereby making the non-bending region 2 thicker, more impact-resistant, flatter, and more comfortable to the touch. For example, the thickness of the non-bending region 2 is 90 μm, 100 μm, 120 μm, 140 μm, 150 μm, 160 μm, or 180 μm.
[0031] In some embodiments, the dimensions of the groove 31 in the transverse direction of the glass 1 are equal to the dimensions of the groove area 32 in the transverse direction of the glass 1. That is, the two sides of the groove 31 in the transverse direction of the glass 1 constitute the two sides of the groove area 32 in the transverse direction of the glass 1, thereby facilitating the bending area 3 as a whole to be bent.
[0032] In some embodiments, the glass 1 includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other in the thickness direction, and two grooves 31 are formed on the first surface. That is, the two grooves 32 on the bending region 3 are located on the same side in the thickness direction of the glass 1.
[0033] The unequal thickness glass according to this utility model embodiment also includes a coating, which is connected to the first surface of the glass 1 and fills the groove 31.
[0034] In related technologies, the glass has only one groove. When the glass is subjected to inward static bending, the coating deformation will cause material to accumulate at the apex of the bending area (the middle position of the groove), resulting in excessive deformation and failure of the coating. However, the glass 1 of this utility model has two grooves 31, changing the material accumulation position from one to two, and the material accumulation position is located in the middle of the groove area 32. The non-groove area 33 has a gentler curvature and is less prone to failure, thereby making the coating less susceptible to damage and improving the durability of the product.
[0035] The bending test results of unequal thickness glass (double-groove CFG), equal thickness bendable glass (UTG), and glass with only the middle section thinned (single-groove CFG) according to the embodiments of this utility model are shown in Table 1 below:
[0036]
[0037]
[0038] Table 1
[0039] Specifically, in Table 1, the minimum bending radius is the minimum bending radius at which 95% of the glass remains unbroken after bending the UTG to that radius under static pressure for 10 seconds. The rebound force is the reaction force of the glass on the testing machine when bent to that radius. The test results are compared in Table 1. For the same size UTG, the single-groove CFG and the double-groove CFG of this invention have different minimum bending radii. The double-groove CFG of this invention has a smaller minimum bending radius, allowing the folding device to be made thinner, and also has the smallest rebound force, with less impact on the hinge's hovering function.
[0040] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.
[0041] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this utility model, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.
[0042] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between them; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.
[0043] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.
[0044] In this utility model, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example, which is included in at least one embodiment or example of this utility model. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.
[0045] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A type of glass with unequal thickness, characterized in that, include: The glass includes a bent region and two non-bent regions. The bent region is connected to the two non-bent regions on both sides of the glass in the transverse direction. The bent region includes two grooves arranged side by side in the transverse direction of the glass, and the grooves extend in the longitudinal direction of the glass.
2. The unequal thickness glass according to claim 1, characterized in that, The two grooves in the bending area are spaced apart laterally in the glass.
3. The unequal thickness glass according to claim 2, characterized in that, The bending area includes two grooved areas and a non-grooved area located between the two grooved areas. The two grooves are respectively formed in the two grooved areas, and the thickness of the non-grooved area is greater than the thickness of the grooved areas.
4. The unequal thickness glass according to claim 2, characterized in that, The width of the bending area is greater than or equal to 10 mm and less than or equal to 50 mm.
5. The unequal thickness glass according to claim 3, characterized in that, The width of the non-grooved area between the two grooved areas of the bending area is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm and less than or equal to 2 mm.
6. The unequal thickness glass according to claim 3, characterized in that, The minimum thickness of the groove area in the bending region is greater than or equal to 20 μm and less than or equal to 50 μm.
7. The unequal thickness glass according to claim 2, characterized in that, The thickness of the non-bending region is greater than or equal to 70 μm and less than or equal to 200 μm.
8. The unequal thickness glass according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wall of the groove is a concave arc surface.
9. The unequal thickness glass according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The glass includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other in the thickness direction, and the two grooves are formed on the first surface.
10. The unequal thickness glass according to claim 9, characterized in that, It also includes a coating that is attached to the first surface of the glass and fills the groove.