Laser-Formed Transparent Articles for In-Situ Glass Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cutting and processing glass substrates are inefficient, lacking in precision, and costly, necessitating the development of faster, cleaner, and more reliable techniques.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of a pulsed laser beam to form closed contours with defects in a transparent mother sheet, allowing for the separation of transparent articles while maintaining frictional engagement with the frame portion, enabling subsequent surface processing and release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional cutting methods are used to separate glass substrates, then separation can be achieved, but the process is slow, imprecise, and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical cutting methods with a laser-based system that uses optical energy to induce defects and thermal stress for separation. The laser beam creates controlled defects along contour lines, and thermal stress from the laser or environmental conditions causes the glass to separate along these predefined paths, achieving both high speed and high precision simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the glass substrate by using laser-induced defects and thermal stress. By controlling laser parameters (wavelength, pulse duration, energy density) and environmental parameters (temperature, humidity), the system achieves precise control over the separation process, enabling fast and accurate cutting without mechanical contact
2Reliability
If traditional processing methods are used, then processing can be performed, but the process lacks cleanliness and reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical contact during processing by using laser-induced defects and thermal stress for separation. This contactless approach prevents contamination from mechanical tools, dust from cutting debris, and damage from physical handling, thereby improving both cleanliness and reliability of the processing operation
Solution Approach 2:
The glass substrate itself provides the separation mechanism through laser-induced defects and thermal stress. The material's own thermal and mechanical properties are exploited to achieve separation along predefined contours without external mechanical intervention, ensuring a clean and reliable process
3Ease of manufacture
If current glass substrate processing methods are used, then separation is achieved, but operational costs and complexity are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated laser processing step. The laser system simultaneously creates defects along contour lines, induces thermal stress for separation, and can perform additional surface processing if needed. This consolidation of functions into one process step simplifies manufacturing while dramatically improving processing efficiency and reducing operational costs
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 enables efficient and precise separation of transparent articles from the mother sheet, allowing for in-situ processing and reducing operational costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a portion of the pulsed laser beam directed into the transparent mother sheet generates an induced absorption within the transparent mother sheet, the induced absorption producing a defect within the transparent mother sheet
Implementation Method 2
directing a pulsed laser beam oriented along a beam pathway and output by a beam source into the transparent mother sheet such that a portion of the pulsed laser beam directed into the transparent mother sheet generates an induced absorption within the transparent mother sheet
Implementation Method 3
separating a portion of the transparent mother sheet along the closed contours, thereby forming one or more transparent articles
Implementation Method 4
at least one of the one or more transparent articles is frictionally engaged with a frame portion of the transparent mother sheet
Data Source
AI summary
A method for processing a transparent mother sheet includes forming one or more closed contours in the transparent mother sheet that each define a perimeter of a transparent article. Forming each of the one or more closed contours includes directing a pulsed laser beam into the transparent mother sheet to produce defect within the transparent mother sheet and translating the transparent mother sheet and the pulsed laser beam relative to each other thereby laser forming defects along the one or more closed contours. The method further includes separating a portion of the transparent mother sheet along the closed contours, thereby forming one or more transparent articles, where the transparent articles are frictionally engaged with a frame portion of the transparent mother sheet, applying material to a surface the transparent articles, and releasing the transparent articles from frictional engagement with the frame portion.