Organic-Coated Glass Separation Using Preformed Laser Void Arrays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for separating glass articles from glass plates using laser cutting often damage organic films due to the incident heat, leading to reduced manufacturing efficiency and complexity in handling multiple glass substrates post-separation.

Innovation Solution

A manufacturing method involving the formation of in-plane void regions and internal void arrays on the glass plate using a first laser, followed by deposition of an organic film and subsequent separation with a second laser, which minimizes damage to the organic film by reducing the energy required for cutting and allowing for controlled laser irradiation conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If laser cutting is used to separate glass articles from glass plates, then separation efficiency is improved, but organic films on the glass surface are damaged by incident heat

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidorganic film damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the separation process into two distinct stages: first forming in-plane void regions and internal void arrays using a first laser, then completing separation with a second laser. This segmentation allows each laser to perform a specialized function, with the second laser requiring less energy and causing minimal damage to organic films.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by creating in-plane void regions and internal void arrays before the final separation step. This pre-processing weakens the glass structure in controlled areas, reducing the energy needed for subsequent cutting and minimizing heat impact on organic films.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If organic films are deposited after glass substrate separation, then film integrity is improved, but manufacturing complexity and handling requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorganic film integrityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional sequence by depositing organic films on the glass plate before separation rather than after. This reversal allows the film to be processed along with the substrate, eliminating additional handling steps and reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining film integrity through the controlled separation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the film deposition and separation processes into a unified workflow. By depositing films before separation, the organic film and glass substrate are processed together, reducing the number of independent manufacturing steps and simplifying overall process complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This method effectively prevents significant damage to the organic film during the separation process, maintaining its integrity and simplifying the manufacturing process by reducing the energy needed for cutting, thus enhancing efficiency and product quality.

Implementation Method 1

irradiating a main surface of a glass plate with a laser light of a first laser, thereby forming, on the main surface of the glass plate, a plurality of in-plane void regions and internal void arrays corresponding to the in-plane void regions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Implementation Method 2

separating one glass article or two or more glass articles from the glass plate by irradiating a main surface of the glass plate with a laser light of a second laser that is different from the first laser

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser fusion cutting: Laser

Data Source

PatentEP3842391B1Glass article
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 AGC INC
  • EP3842391B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3842391B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3842391B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A glass article comprising: a glass substrate having a first main surface and a second main surface, opposite each other, and an end face; and an organic film arranged on the first main surface of the glass substrate, wherein when a central portion of a surface of the organic film on the first main surface side is MC, and a point in the end face in a top view is MP (in a case where the first main surface has an approximately polygonal shape, MP is a point in the end face other than intersection portions of two adjacent sides of a polygon), at the point MP, a count number for fluorine and a count number for silicon obtained by an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are IMP(F) and IMP(Si), respectively, and RMP is a ratio of the count number IMP(F) to the count number IMP(Si), and at the central portion MC, a count number for fluorine and a count number for silicon obtained by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are IMC(F) and IMc(Si), respectively, and RMC is a ratio of the count number IMC(F) to the count number IMC(Si) , a ratio of the ratio RMP to the ratio RMC is 0.3 or more.