Etching apparatus for display glass, etching method for display glass using apparatus, and display glass manufactured by method

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an etching apparatus for display glass, whereby a concave slope region is formed, along a folding region of a folding display, in the upper surface of glass covering the upper portion of the display, thereby improving the bending characteristics of the glass and simultaneously enhancing the rigidity of the glass, the etching apparatus comprising: a lower plate jig that supports the lower surface of the glass; and two upper plate jigs that cover the upper surface of the glass, wherein the two upper plate jigs are spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction and arranged on the lower plate jig, and the space separating the two upper plate jigs is upwardly open and allows etching solution to enter, thereby forming the slope region in the glass mounted inside.

Description

An etching apparatus for display glass, a method for etching display glass using the same, and display glass manufactured thereby.

[0001] The present invention relates to an etching apparatus for display glass, a method for etching display glass using the same, and display glass manufactured by the same. More specifically, the invention relates to an etching apparatus for display glass that can improve the bending characteristics of the glass and simultaneously strengthen the rigidity of the glass by forming a concave slope region on the upper surface along the folding region of the display on the glass covering the upper part of a folding display, a method for etching display glass using the same, and display glass manufactured by the same.

[0002]

[0003] General display devices have rapidly shifted from cathode-ray tubes (CRTs) to flat panel displays (FPDs). FPDs include liquid crystal displays (LCDs), plasma display panels (PDPs), and organic light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Compared to CRTs, these FPDs offer the advantages of being lightweight, thin, and suitable for large-scale production. However, because FPDs utilize glass substrates to withstand the high heat generated during the manufacturing process, there are limitations in achieving lightweight, thin, and flexible designs. Consequently, flexible display devices have recently been developed using flexible materials such as plastic instead of inflexible glass substrates, allowing them to maintain display performance even when bent like paper.

[0004] Cover glass is an important component that is attached to a display panel to protect it. In flexible display panels, ultra-thin glass with a thickness of about 30 µm is used as cover glass. Cover glass used in flexible display panels requires excellent bending characteristics and excellent durability at the bending points.

[0005] However, due to the characteristics of large-area flexible display panels, there is a need to increase the thickness of the cover glass to enhance its rigidity, but since increasing the thickness of the glass degrades bending characteristics, thin cover glass is currently being adopted in manufacturing sites.

[0006]

[0007] The present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide an etching apparatus for display glass that can improve the bending characteristics of the glass and simultaneously strengthen the rigidity of the glass by forming a concave slope area on the upper surface along the folding area of ​​the display on the glass covering the upper part of the folding display, an etching method for display glass using the same, and a display glass manufactured by the same.

[0008]

[0009] According to the present invention, an etching device for a display glass is provided, comprising: a lower plate jig supporting the lower surface of the glass; and two upper plate jigs covering the upper surface of the glass; wherein the two upper plate jigs are aligned on the lower plate jig while being spaced apart from each other in a horizontal direction, and the space between the two upper plate jigs is open upward to allow the entry of an etching solution to form a slope area on the glass mounted inside.

[0010] Preferably, the lower plate jig is formed in the shape of a plate, and a mounting portion capable of mounting a protective film and the glass is formed in a recessed shape at the center of the upper surface, and a plurality of alignment pins are provided protruding from the outer edge of the mounting portion.

[0011] Preferably, the two upper plate jigs are each formed into a plate shape and joined to one lower plate jig with a horizontal spacing between them, and the lower corners of the parts facing each other of the two upper plate jigs are processed into a rounded curved shape.

[0012] Preferably, the lower corners of the two upper plate jigs are machined to gradually come into close contact with the lower plate jig as they extend from the end inward, characterized by a structure in which the vertical separation space from the lower plate jig gradually decreases as it extends from the end inward, thereby becoming close to the lower plate jig.

[0013] Preferably, the lower plate jig and the two upper plate jigs are provided with fastening means for pressing the lower plate jig and the two upper plate jigs, thereby blocking the penetration of etching liquid between the lower plate jig and the two upper plate jigs through a portion other than the gap between the two upper plate jigs.

[0014] Preferably, the fastening means is a magnet, and the fastening means is configured such that a plurality of magnets are mounted and fixed in the magnet slots of the lower plate jig, and magnets having opposite magnetic properties are mounted and fixed in the magnet slots of the two upper plate jigs.

[0015] Meanwhile, according to another aspect of the present invention, a method for etching glass for a display is provided, comprising: (a) attaching a protective film to a mounting portion of a lower plate jig; (b) mounting glass on the protective film; (c) aligning two upper plate jigs horizontally spaced apart from each other on the lower plate jig and fastening them through a fastening means; (d) immersing the lower plate jig and the two upper plate jigs fastened with the glass interposed therein in a tank filled with an etching solution, thereby introducing the etching solution through the spaced-apart space between the two upper plate jigs to form a slope area on the glass; and (e) removing the jig from the tank, separating the glass, and performing a washing process and a drying process; wherein steps (d) and (e) are performed as a set process and a set process is performed multiple times.

[0016] Preferably, after step (a), the glass is immersed together with the bottom plate jig with the protective film attached in water so that step (b) is carried out in water, thereby forming a moisture film between the protective film and the glass.

[0017] Meanwhile, according to another aspect of the present invention, a glass for a display is provided, which is manufactured according to one of the features of the aforementioned etching method, and is formed in a plate shape and has an inner surface mounted on the surface of a flexible display panel, wherein a slope area formed on the outer surface is indented inwardly along the folding area in the area in contact with the folding area of ​​the flexible display panel, and wherein the slope area is composed of a central section having a flat shape and two edge sections having a diagonal shape connected to both sides of the central section, and wherein the lower edge section meeting the central section and the upper edge section meeting the unprocessed section at the edge section are processed into a rounded curved shape.

[0018]

[0019] According to the present invention, by forming a concave slope area on the upper surface along the folding area of ​​the display on the glass covering the upper part of the folding display, the bending characteristics of the glass are improved and the rigidity of the glass is strengthened at the same time.

[0020]

[0021] FIG. 1 is a drawing for explaining a mobile terminal having a flexible display panel to which the present invention is applied.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a drawing for explaining the characteristics of different cover glass shapes according to the prior art.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a drawing for explaining a cover glass according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a glass etching apparatus for a display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 5 is an assembly diagram of a glass etching device for a display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 6 is a side view of the assembled state of a glass etching device for a display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating an etching process through a glass etching apparatus for a display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the etching process through a glass etching apparatus for a display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 9 is a process flow diagram for explaining an etching method using a glass etching apparatus for a display according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 10 is a process flow diagram for explaining an etching method using a glass etching apparatus for a display according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0031]

[0032] The present invention is susceptible to various modifications and may have various embodiments; specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, this is not intended to limit the invention to specific embodiments, and it should be understood that the invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. Similar reference numerals have been used for similar components in the description of each drawing.

[0033] Terms such as first, second, A, B, etc., may be used to describe various components, but said components should not be limited by said terms. These terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be named the second component, and similarly, the second component may be named the first component. The term "and / or" includes a combination of a plurality of related described items or any of a plurality of related described items.

[0034] When it is stated that one component is "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that while it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, there may also be other components in between. On the other hand, when it is stated that one component is "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components in between.

[0035] The terms used in this application are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "comprising" or "having" are intended to specify the presence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0036] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in this application.

[0037]

[0038] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0039]

[0040] FIG. 1 is a drawing for explaining a mobile terminal having a flexible display panel to which the present invention is applied.

[0041] A mobile terminal having a flexible display panel (10) can have the display panel (10) unfolded as shown in (a) of FIG. 1 and can have the display panel (10) completely folded as shown in (b) of FIG. 1.

[0042] That is, a portable terminal having such a flexible display panel (10) can be freely folded or unfolded and can be maintained in a bent state at any angle desired by the user within 180°, and has the advantage of being easy to carry when the screen is folded and can realize a large-area display screen when the screen is unfolded, so its application is expanding to products such as mobile phones and laptops.

[0043] In FIG. 1, a portable terminal with a flexible display panel (10) is shown as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto and may be mounted on an electronic device having an image display function. For example, the electronic device may include a smartphone, a tablet PC, a portable multimedia player (PMP), a camera, a wearable device, a television, a DVD player, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, an air purifier, a set-top box, a robot, a drone, various medical devices, a navigation device, an augmented reality (AR) device, a virtual reality (VR) device, a global positioning system receiver, an Advanced Drivers Assistance System (ADAS), a vehicle device, furniture, or various measuring instruments.

[0044] Here, the part where the display panel (10) is folded is a folding area (11) configured in a horizontal or vertical direction on the display panel (10), and a hinge structure is placed on the back side.

[0045]

[0046] Meanwhile, a cover glass (20) is provided on the surface of the flexible display panel (10). Since damage to the display panel (10) can result in poor touch response or poor visibility of the screen, a cover glass (20) is installed on the outer surface to protect the surface of the display panel (10). This cover glass (20) must have high impact resistance and scratch resistance to protect not only the display panel (10) but also various internal components of the display panel (10), and must also have high light transmittance; therefore, a material such as tempered glass is mainly used, and to enhance the physical properties of this tempered glass, it undergoes a processing process through heat treatment or chemical treatment.

[0047] In particular, since the flexible display panel (10) has bending characteristics, the bending characteristics must be improved along with the rigidity of the glass (20).

[0048] FIG. 2 is a drawing for explaining the characteristics of different cover glass shapes according to the prior art.

[0049] First, a conventional ultra-thin cover glass (20) is shown in FIG. 2 (a). The thickness of such an ultra-thin cover glass (20) is about 30 to 50 μm. Cover glass (20) with such a thin thickness has excellent bending characteristics because of its thin thickness, but it has the disadvantage of having low rigidity and has been used until now.

[0050] Next, in FIG. 2(b), a cover glass (20) with a thicker thickness than the ultra-thin cover glass (20) of (a) is shown. In this case, the thickness of the cover glass (20) would be about 100 to 210 μm. Although such a thick cover glass (20) has strong rigidity due to its thickness, it cannot be folded, so it cannot be used in a flexible display panel (10) that has bending characteristics.

[0051] Accordingly, the present invention proposes a cover glass (20) structure having strong rigidity to safely cover a flexible display panel (10) and excellent bending characteristics in the folding area (11) of the flexible display panel (10).

[0052] Figures 3 (a) and (b) illustrate a cover glass (20) structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] First, the overall thickness of the cover glass (20) is approximately 100 to 210 μm, similar to the product of FIG. 2 (b), but in the area in contact with the folding area (11) of the flexible display panel (10), a slope area (21) that is indented inward along the folding area (11) is formed on the outer surface. Since the slope area (21) is formed on the outer surface of the glass (20), the glass (20) and the flexible display panel (10) will be configured in an in-folding method where the screen folds inward or in & out-folding.

[0054] The slope area (21) is composed of a central section (S1) having a flat shape and two edge sections (S2) connected to both sides of the central section (S1) and having a diagonal shape.

[0055] Here, the thickness of the cover glass (20) in the central section (S1) may be about 30 to 50 μm, similar to the thickness of the conventional ultra-thin cover glass (20) shown in FIG. 2 (a). Also, the width may be 20 to 150 mm.

[0056] And the two edge sections (S2) are each formed in a diagonal shape to connect the thin center section (S1) to the thick unprocessed section (NP). Also, the width may be 5 to 40 mm, and the angle of the diagonal may be 20 to 80° relative to the horizontal.

[0057] It will be understood that the thickness and width of the central section (S1) and the width and angle of the two edge sections (S2) described above may vary depending on the size, use, and folding area of ​​the flexible display panel (10) to which the cover glass (20) is applied, and that the dimensions described above are just one example thereof.

[0058] At this time, the lower edge section (LC) that meets the center section (S1) at the edge section (S2) and the upper edge section (HC) that meets the unprocessed section (NP) at the edge section (S2) are processed into a rounded curved shape. If the upper edge section (HC) and the lower edge section (LC) have sharp angles, the corresponding section appears visually linear, which reduces visibility, especially when the display panel (10) is unfolded. In the present invention, visibility can be improved by processing the upper edge section (HC) and the lower edge section (LC) into a rounded curved shape.

[0059]

[0060] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a glass etching device for a display according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an assembled view of a glass etching device for a display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] As described above, the processing of the slope area (21) on the glass (20) is performed on one outer surface of the glass (20) by an etching process.

[0062] In this etching process, the etching solution and the slope area (21) of the glass (20) come into direct contact, and the etching solution reacts in the slope area (21), thereby allowing the thickness of the corresponding area to be precisely processed through etching.

[0063] To this end, the etching device, which is immersed in an etching solution with the glass (20) fixed inside, is composed of a lower plate jig (300) that supports the lower surface of the glass (20) and two upper plate jigs (100, 200) that cover the upper surface of the glass (20) from the top of the glass (20), and the lower plate jig (300) and the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) are joined and fastened in a planar manner with the glass (20) interposed therein.

[0064] First, the lower plate jig (300) is formed in the shape of a plate, and a mounting part (310) capable of mounting the glass (20) is formed in the center of the upper surface in a recessed shape, and a plurality of alignment pins (320) are provided protruding from the outer edge of the mounting part (310).

[0065] The mounting portion (310) has an area corresponding to the glass (20) and is formed to be recessed to block the mounted glass (20) from moving in the horizontal direction.

[0066] A protective film (30) is first attached to the mounting portion (310). The protective film (30) is first attached to the mounting portion (310) and comes into contact with the back surface of the glass (20), and protects the back surface of the glass (20) during the glass mounting and etching process. This protective film (30) may be composed of UV tape and blocks the etching solution from penetrating into the back surface of the glass (20).

[0067] And the alignment pin (320) is inserted into the alignment pin hole (not shown) of the two upper plates jigs (100, 200) that are coupled to the upper part of the lower plate jig (300), and serves to ensure that the two upper plates jigs (100, 200) are accurately aligned on the lower plate jig (300).

[0068] Such a bottom plate jig (300) can be made of a plastic material that is resistant to etching solution and has excellent processability.

[0069] Next, the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) are each formed into a plate shape, and two of them are combined as a set to form a surface on one lower plate jig (300).

[0070] At this time, the two upper plates jigs (100, 200) are aligned on the lower plate jig (300) while being spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction. The spaced-apart space between the two upper plates jigs (100, 200) is opened upward to allow the entry of etching liquid, thereby forming a slope area (21) on the glass (20) mounted inside.

[0071] These two top plate jigs (100, 200) can be made of a plastic material that is resistant to etching solution and has excellent processability.

[0072] Here, the lower plate jig (300) and the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) may be provided with fastening means.

[0073] The above fastening means strongly presses the lower plate jig (300) and the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) to block the etching liquid from penetrating between the lower plate jig (300) and the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) through other parts, excluding the gap between the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) described above.

[0074] For example, such a fastening means may utilize magnets having magnetic force. The fastening means may be configured such that a plurality of magnets are mounted and fixed in the magnet slots (not shown) of the lower plate jig (300), and magnets having opposite magnetic force are mounted and fixed in the magnet slots (120, 220) of the two upper plate jigs (100, 200). By means of the magnets with opposite magnetic force, the lower plate jig (300) and the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) can maintain a strong surface-bonded state, thereby blocking the penetration of etching liquid between the lower plate jig (300) and the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) through parts other than the gap between the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) described above.

[0075] As another example, such a fastening means can be achieved by a bolt connection method. By connecting multiple bolts, excluding the area where the mounting portion (310) is located on the lower plate jig (300) and the two upper plate jigs (100, 200), the lower plate jig (300) and the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) can be strongly surface-connected, thereby blocking the penetration of etching liquid between the lower plate jig (300) and the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) through other areas, excluding the gap between the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) described above.

[0076] As another example, this can be achieved through a mechanical pressure joining method using such a fastening means. By mechanically pressing the lower plate jig (300) and the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) through the outer surface while the lower plate jig (300) and the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) are joined, the lower plate jig (300) and the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) can be strongly joined surface-joined, thereby blocking the penetration of the etching solution between the lower plate jig (300) and the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) through other parts, excluding the gap between the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) described above.

[0077] The aforementioned fastening means are examples, and are not limited to the examples described above. Any known fastening method is possible as long as the lower plate jig (300) and the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) are strongly surface-bonded so that the etching solution can be blocked from penetrating between the lower plate jig (300) and the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) through other parts, excluding the gap between the two upper plate jigs (100, 200).

[0078]

[0079] FIG. 6 is a side view of the assembled state of a glass etching device for a display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0080] Referring to FIG. 6, the horizontal gap between the two upper plates (100, 200) is shown from the side when the lower plate jig (300) and the two upper plates jigs (100, 200) are strongly surface-joined.

[0081] The horizontal spacing between the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) is open, and the etching solution enters the internal space through the horizontal spacing to etch the slope area (21) of the glass (20) exposed through the open area.

[0082] At this time, the lower corners of the mutually facing portions of the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) are processed from a right-angle shape into a rounded curved shape. In particular, the lower corners of the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) are processed so that they gradually become closer to the lower plate jig (300) as they go from the end inward, so that a large vertical gap appears at the end and a vertical gap with the lower plate jig (300) gradually decreases as they go inward, resulting in a structure that becomes completely close to the lower plate jig (300).

[0083] The etching solution will enter through the horizontal gap between the two upper plates jigs (100, 200) and fill the vertical gap between the two upper plates jigs (100, 200) and the lower plate jig (300).

[0084]

[0085] FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating an etching process through a glass etching apparatus for a display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0086] The lower plate jig (300) and the two upper plate jigs (100, 200), which are fastened by a fastening means with glass (20) interposed therein, are immersed in a tank (400) filled with etching solution to perform an etching process.

[0087] The etching solution used for etching may contain hydrofluoric acid and can etch the glass (20). The etching solution may be composed of known components. For example, an etching solution for corroding the glass may be composed by combining at least one of purified water, hydrofluoric acid, phosphoric acid, ammonium bifluoride, and hydrochloric acid as a base solvent. Additionally, the components of the etching solution may be contained in a known composition ratio capable of etching the glass (20).

[0088] The unit jigs immersed in the water tank (400) are a lower plate jig (300) and two upper plate jigs (100, 200) fastened by a fastening means with glass (20) interposed therein, and multiple unit jigs can be immersed together in one process.

[0089] At this time, the direction in which the unit jig is inserted is such that, as shown in FIG. 7, the unit jig is positioned vertically and is submerged from one end of the long horizontal gap between the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) to the other end, thereby allowing for accurate control of the penetration and discharge of the etching solution into the internal space, which is advantageous for corrosion quality.

[0090]

[0091] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the etching process through a glass etching apparatus for a display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0092] The corrosion of the glass (20) immersed in the etching solution occurs gradually according to the number of times the corrosion proceeds (number of times the water is immersed).

[0093] During the first immersion (E1), the etching solution enters the interior through the horizontal gap between the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) and corrodes the central section (S1) of the slope area (21) that is mainly exposed through this horizontal gap in the form of a groove having a flat bottom surface and a diagonal edge.

[0094] And during the second immersion (E2), corrosion occurs in the vertical gap between the two upper plates jigs (100, 200) and the lower plate jigs (300), so that the furrow-shaped flat lower surface becomes deep and wide, and the diagonal edge extends to the vertical gap between the two upper plates jigs (100, 200) and the lower plate jigs (300).

[0095] And during the third immersion (E3), corrosion occurs even at a deep point in the vertical gap between the two upper plates jigs (100, 200) and the lower plate jigs (300), so that the furrow-shaped flat lower surface becomes deeper and wider, and the diagonal edge extends to the end of the vertical gap between the two upper plates jigs (100, 200) and the lower plate jigs (300) to form two edge sections (S2) of the slope area (21).

[0096] That is, during etching, the etching solution enters the interior through the horizontal gap between the two upper plates jigs (100, 200), and as time passes and the amount of etching solution entering the interior increases, it also fills the vertical gap between the two upper plates jigs (100, 200) and the lower plate jig (300).

[0097] And as the number of etching cycles increases, the etching solution corrodes the glass (20) in the area facing the horizontal gap between the two upper plates jigs (100, 200) more, and because the amount of etching solution is small due to the characteristics of the space inside the jig, the glass (20) in the area facing the vertical gap between the two upper plates jigs (100, 200) and the lower plate jig (300) corrodes less compared to the center area.

[0098] Therefore, because the etching solution remains in an asymmetric amount in the space partitioned by the horizontal spacing between the two upper plates jigs (100, 200) and the vertical spacing between the two upper plates jigs (100, 200) and the lower plate jigs (300), the slope area (21) of the glass (20) exhibits the characteristic that the central section (S1), which is the central part, is etched deeply and flatly, and the edge section (S2) is etched gradually thinner as it goes outward.

[0099] In addition, since the lower corners of the mutually facing portions of the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) are processed into a rounded curved shape, the slope area (21) has a lower corner section (LC) where the edge section (S2) meets the center section (S1) and an upper corner section (HC) where the edge section (S2) meets the unprocessed section (NP) have a rounded curved shape. By processing the upper corner section (HC) and the lower corner section (LC) into a rounded curved shape, the visibility of the glass (20) can be improved.

[0100] Therefore, during the first immersion (E1), the slope area (21) of the glass (20) is etched in a narrow groove shape like E1, and as the number of immersions increases, the etching proceeds in a wide groove shape from E2 to E3.

[0101] The depth and shape of the slope region (21) can be varied by adjusting the number of immersions and the time. For example, in the case of a cover glass with a thickness of about 100 to 210 μm, if etching is performed for 10 to 20 seconds with the first immersion (E1), 20 to 30 seconds with the first immersion (E2), and 30 to 40 seconds with the first immersion (E3), a slope region (21) with a center section (S1) thinned to about 30 to 50 μm can be formed.

[0102] Through this immersion process, the cover glass (20) can have a thick overall thickness, thereby maintaining strong rigidity, and because the thickness of the slope area (21) is thin, it will have excellent bending characteristics.

[0103]

[0104] FIG. 9 is a process flow diagram for explaining an etching method using a glass etching apparatus for a display according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0105] Referring to FIG. 9, a protective film (30) is first attached to the mounting portion (310) of the bottom plate jig (300) (S10). The protective film (30) is first attached to the mounting portion (310) and comes into contact with the back surface of the glass (20), thereby protecting the back surface of the glass (20) during the glass mounting and etching process. This protective film (30) may be composed of UV tape and blocks the etching solution from penetrating into the back surface of the glass (20).

[0106] Afterwards, the glass (20) is mounted on the mounting portion (310) of the bottom plate jig (300) (S12). The back surface of the self-adhering glass (20) comes into contact with the protective film (30), and the front surface of the glass (20) will be the surface where the slope area (21) is formed.

[0107] Subsequently, the lower plate jig (300) and the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) are joined in a planar manner with the glass (20) interposed and fastened by a fastening means (S13). At this time, the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) are aligned on the lower plate jig (300) in a state where they are spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction by the alignment pin (320) and the alignment pin hole. The spaced-apart space between the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) is opened upward so that a slope area (21) of the glass (20) mounted inside is formed by the etching solution.

[0108] Afterward, the lower plate jig (300) and the two upper plate jigs (100, 200), which are fastened by a fastening means with the glass (20) interposed therein, are immersed in a tank (400) filled with etching solution, and the etching process is carried out (S14). The corrosion of the glass (20) immersed in the etching solution occurs gradually over time, and because the etching solution remains in an asymmetric amount in the space partitioned by the horizontal spacing between the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) and the vertical spacing between the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) and the lower plate jig (300), the slope area (21) of the glass (20) exhibits the characteristic that the central section (S1), which is the central part, is etched deeply and flatly, and the edge section (S2) is etched gradually thinner as it goes outward. In addition, since the lower corners of the mutually facing portions of the two upper plate jigs (100, 200) are machined into a rounded curved shape, the slope area (21) has a lower edge section (LC) where the edge section (S2) meets the center section (S1) and an upper edge section (HC) where the edge section (S2) meets the unmachined section (NP) and has a rounded curved shape.

[0109] Afterwards, the jig is removed from the water tank (400) and the glass (20) is separated and washed with DI-WATER for about 10 minutes to remove any remaining etching solution from the glass (20) (S15).

[0110] Then, the glass (20) is dried to remove moisture (S16). Drying can be carried out by passing through an air blower and a high-temperature drying chamber.

[0111] At this time, the processes of glass etching (S14), glass washing (S15), and glass drying (S16) are performed as a set process, and multiple set processes (e.g., E1 to E3) are carried out. Here, it is preferable to change the direction in which the jig, which is in an upright state, is inserted into the water tank (400) by 180° for each set process.

[0112]

[0113] FIG. 10 is a process flow diagram for explaining an etching method using a glass etching apparatus for a display according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0114] In the etching method according to another embodiment, the process of forming a moisture film on the protective film (S11) is added after the process of attaching the protective film (30) to the mounting portion (310) of the lower plate jig (300), so it is identical to the embodiment described through FIG. 9, and therefore redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0115] In another embodiment of the present invention, the etching method further performs a process (S11) of forming a moisture film between the protective film (30) and the glass (20) while the protective film (30) is attached to the mounting portion (310) of the lower plate jig (300).

[0116] For example, the formation of a moisture film can be achieved by immersing the glass (20) in water while the bottom plate jig (300) equipped with the protective film (30) is immersed in water, and then mounting the glass (20) onto the protective film (30) while it is in water. At this time, a moisture film is formed between the protective film (30) and the glass (20) to strengthen the adhesion between the protective film (30) and the glass (20) and prevent the penetration of the etching solution. In this method of forming a moisture film, the moisture film formation process (S11) and the glass mounting process (S12) will be performed together.

[0117] As another example, the formation of a moisture film can be achieved by spraying water onto a protective film (30) located in the mounting portion (310) of the lower plate jig (300). When a glass mounting process (S12) is performed on the protective film (30) with the moisture film formed in this way, the adhesion between the protective film (30) and the glass (20) is strengthened and the penetration of the etching solution is prevented.

[0118]

[0119] Optimal embodiments have been disclosed in the drawings and specification as described above. Specific terms have been used herein, but they are used only for the purpose of describing the invention and are not intended to limit the meaning or the scope of the invention as described in the claims. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent alternative embodiments are possible therefrom. Accordingly, the true technical scope of protection of the invention should be determined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A bottom plate jig supporting the lower surface of the glass; and It includes two top plate jigs covering the upper surface of the glass; and An etching apparatus for display glass, characterized in that two upper plates are aligned on a lower plate jig while spaced apart from each other in a horizontal direction, and the spaced-apart space between the two upper plates is open upward to allow the entry of an etching solution to form a slope area on the glass mounted inside.

2. In Paragraph 1, An etching device for glass for a display, characterized in that the lower plate jig is formed in a plate shape, a mounting portion capable of mounting a protective film and the glass is formed in a planar shape at the center of the upper surface, and a plurality of alignment pins are provided protruding from the outer edge of the mounting portion.

3. In Paragraph 2, An etching apparatus for display glass, characterized in that the two upper plate jigs are each formed into a plate shape and joined to a single lower plate jig with a horizontal spacing between them, and the lower corners of the parts facing each other of the two upper plate jigs are processed into a rounded curved shape.

4. In Paragraph 3, An etching apparatus for glass for a display, characterized in that the lower corners of the two upper plate jigs are processed to gradually become closer to the lower plate jig as they extend from the end inward, so that the vertical separation space from the lower plate jig gradually decreases as they extend from the end inward, thereby becoming closer to the lower plate jig.

5. In Paragraph 1, An etching device for a display glass, characterized in that the lower plate jig and the two upper plate jigs are provided with fastening means for pressing the lower plate jig and the two upper plate jigs, thereby blocking the penetration of an etching solution between the lower plate jig and the two upper plate jigs through a portion other than the gap between the two upper plate jigs.

6. In Paragraph 5, An etching device for display glass, characterized in that the fastening means is a magnet, and the fastening means is configured such that a plurality of magnets are mounted and fixed in the magnet slots of a lower plate jig, and magnets having opposite magnetism are mounted and fixed in the magnet slots of the two upper plate jigs. 7.(a) A step of attaching a protective film to the mounting portion of the bottom plate jig; (b) a step of mounting glass on the protective film; (c) A step of aligning two upper plates on a lower plate jig so as to be spaced apart from each other in a horizontal direction and fastening them using a fastening means; (d) a step of immersing a lower plate jig and two upper plate jigs, which are fastened with the glass interposed therein, into a tank filled with etching solution to introduce the etching solution through the spaced-apart space between the two upper plate jigs to form a slope area on the glass; and (e) a step of removing the jig from the water tank, separating the glass, and proceeding with the washing and drying processes; including, An etching method for glass for a display, characterized by performing a plurality of set processes with the above steps (d) and (e) as one set process.

8. In Paragraph 7, After step (a) above, A method for etching glass for a display, characterized by immersing a glass together with a bottom plate jig having a protective film attached in water so that step (b) is carried out in water, thereby forming a moisture film between the protective film and the glass.

9. Manufactured by the etching method for glass for display according to claim 7 or 8, It is formed in a plate shape and has an inner surface mounted on the surface of a flexible display panel, and a slope area recessed inward along the folding area is formed on the outer surface in the area contacting the folding area of ​​the flexible display panel. A glass for a display, characterized in that the slope area comprises a central section having a flat shape and two edge sections having a diagonal shape connected to both sides of the central section, and the lower edge section meeting the central section at the edge section and the upper edge section meeting the unprocessed section at the edge section are processed into a rounded curved shape.

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