Display Cover Window Etching for Folding Groove Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in efficiently etching cover windows for flexible electronic devices, particularly in creating shapes that accommodate folding and ensuring easy removal of residues during the etching process.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a lower jig and an upper jig, featuring an etching groove and folding groove, is used to etch cover windows, allowing for precise shaping and residue removal through controlled etchant flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional etching methods are used for cover windows, then the etching process can be completed, but the etching efficiency is low and it is difficult to manufacture cover windows with different shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus divides the etching process into two independent stages: first etching the folding groove using a first mask pattern, then etching the through-hole using a second mask pattern. This segmentation allows each etching operation to be optimized independently, improving overall etching efficiency while enabling flexible design of different cover window shapes through mask pattern variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus employs a movable stage that can be positioned at different locations to accommodate different mask patterns and etching requirements. This dynamic positioning capability enables the same apparatus to manufacture cover windows with various shapes and configurations, enhancing adaptability without sacrificing etching efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cover window is etched to create folding grooves, then the cover window can be folded, but residues are generated on the surface that are difficult to remove
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus performs preliminary etching of the folding groove before etching the through-hole. By completing the folding groove etching first with a first mask pattern, the structure is prepared in advance to facilitate subsequent through-hole etching and residue removal operations, preventing residue accumulation on the final surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus extracts and removes residues through a multi-stage process: first etching the folding groove, then etching the through-hole which provides access for residue extraction. The sequential etching process allows residues to be effectively removed through the through-hole opening without compromising the folding groove structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cover window shape is changed to accommodate folding, then the device becomes more flexible, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process is segmented into distinct etching stages with dedicated mask patterns for each feature (folding groove, through-hole). This segmentation simplifies the overall manufacturing process by breaking down complex shape creation into manageable, repeatable steps, reducing process complexity while maintaining design flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The etching apparatus is designed with universal capabilities to handle different mask patterns and etching configurations through movable stage positioning. This multi-functionality allows the same apparatus to manufacture various cover window shapes and sizes, reducing the need for specialized equipment for each design variation and simplifying the manufacturing ecosystem.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus enhances etching efficiency and facilitates the production of cover windows with varied shapes, ensuring smooth folding and effective residue management.
Implementation Method 1
introducing an etchant into the etching groove through an inlet pipe disposed on a top surface of the upper jig and connected to the etching groove to etch an etching area
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for etching a cover window for a display device includes a lower jig in which an accommodation groove, in which a cover window made of a glass material is disposed, is defined and an upper jig disposed on the lower jig, wherein a bottom surface of the upper jig, which faces the lower jig and which has first sides extending in a first direction and second sides extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, includes a first surface configured to define an etching groove extending in the first direction and a second surface disposed adjacent to the first surface.