IP Library Granted Patent US 12663563
Granted Patent B2
US 12663563 · App. 18/265,709 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Cover glass articles for camera lens and sensor protection and apparatus with the same

Inventors: Albert Joseph Fahey (Corning, NY); Shandon Dee Hart (Elmira, NY); Karl William Koch, III (Elmira, NY); Carlo Anthony Kosik Williams (Painted Post, NY); Lin Lin (Painted Post, NY); Alexandre Michel Mayolet (Corning, NY); Xu Ouyang (Painted Post, NY); Charles Andrew Paulson (Painted Post, NY); James Joseph Price (Corning, NY)
Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
G02B1/14G02B1/115G02B5/208H04N23/52
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12663563
App. No.
18/265,709
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cover glass article is described herein that includes: a substrate comprising an outer primary surface with an outer optical film structure disposed thereon and an inner primary surface with an inner optical film structure disposed thereon. The outer film structure comprises a first plurality of alternating high index and low index layers with an outermost low index layer. The inner film structure comprises a second plurality of alternating high index and low index layers with a low or high index layer disposed on the inner primary surface, and an innermost low or high index layer. Each high index layer of the first and the second plurality comprises a nitride or an oxynitride, and an oxide or a nitride, respectively. Further, the cover glass article exhibits an average photopic transmittance of greater than 95% and a maximum hardness of greater than 10 GPa.

Claims (97)

1 . A cover glass article, comprising:

a substrate comprising an outer primary surface and an inner primary surface, wherein the outer primary surface and the inner primary surface are opposite of one another;

the outer primary surface of the substrate has an outer optical film structure disposed thereon; and

the inner primary surface of the substrate has an inner optical film structure disposed thereon,

wherein the substrate has a physical thickness from 100 μm to 5 mm,

wherein the outer optical film structure comprises a first plurality of alternating high index and low index layers, the first plurality comprising an outermost low index layer that is a capping layer,

wherein the inner optical film structure comprises a second plurality of alternating high index and low index layers, the second plurality comprising a low or high index layer disposed on the inner primary surface of the substrate, and an innermost low or high index layer,

wherein each high index layer of the first plurality comprises a nitride or an oxynitride, and each high index layer of the second plurality comprises an oxide or a nitride,

wherein the outermost low index layer in the outer optical film structure has a refractive index from about 1.3 to about 1.7,

wherein the cover glass article exhibits an average photopic transmittance of greater than 95%, as measured through the primary surfaces of the substrate at an incident angle from 0 to 40 degrees,

further wherein the cover glass article exhibits a maximum hardness of greater than 10 GPa, as measured by a Berkovich Hardness Test over an indentation depth range from about 100 nm to about 500 nm in the outer optical film structure,

wherein the cover glass article further exhibits an infrared transmittance of greater than 88%, as measured from 840 nm to 860 nm or 930 nm to 950 nm through the primary surfaces of the substrate at an incident angle from 0 to 10 degrees,

wherein the high index material of the first plurality of alternating high index and low index layers comprises one or more of SiN x and SiO x N y , and

wherein the high index material of the second plurality of alternating high index and low index layers comprises TiO 2 , Ta 2 O 5 or Nb 2 O 5 .

2 . The cover glass article according to claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of alternating high index and low index layers further comprises a low index layer in contact with the outer primary surface of the substrate, and further wherein the second plurality of alternating high index and low index layers comprises a low or high index layer in contact with the inner primary surface of the substrate.

3 . The cover glass article according to claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of alternating high index and low index layers further comprises a first scratch-resistant high index layer having a physical thickness of at least 50 nm.

4 . The cover glass article according to claim 3 , wherein the first scratch-resistant high index layer has a physical thickness of at least 500 nm.

5 . The cover glass article according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second plurality of alternating high index and low index layers is at least five (5) layers.

6 . The cover glass article according to claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of alternating high index and low index layers further comprises a second scratch-resistant high index layer having a physical thickness of at least 50 nm, and further wherein the cover glass article exhibits a maximum hardness of greater than 10 GPa, as measured by a Berkovich Hardness Test over an indentation depth range from about 100 nm to about 500 nm in the inner optical film structure.

7 . The cover glass article according to claim 1 , wherein the first and the second plurality of alternating high index and low index layers have a different number of layers.

8 . The cover glass article according to claim 1 , wherein the cover glass article further exhibits an average transmittance of greater than 95%, as measured from 400 nm to 700 nm through the primary surfaces of the substrate at an incident angle from 0 to 40 degrees.

9 . The cover glass article according to claim 1 , wherein the cover glass article further exhibits a transmitted color √(a* 2 +b* 2 ) with a D65 illuminant through the primary surfaces of the substrate of less than 2 at incident angles from 0 degrees to 10 degrees.

10 . The cover glass article according to claim 1 , wherein the cover glass article exhibits a maximum hardness of greater than 10 GPa, as measured by a Berkovich Hardness Test over an indentation depth range from about 100 nm to about 500 nm in the inner optical film structure.

11 . The cover glass article according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a glass substrate.

12 . The cover glass article according to claim 1 , wherein the cover glass article further exhibits an average photopic reflectance of less than 2.0%, as measured through the primary surfaces of the substrate at an incident angle from 0 to 10 degrees.

13 . The cover glass article according to claim 1 , wherein the cover glass article further exhibits an average reflectance of less than 10%, as measured from 840 nm to 950 nm through the primary surfaces of the substrate at an incident angle from 0 to 10 degrees.

14 . A cover glass article, comprising:

a substrate comprising an outer primary surface and an inner primary surface, wherein the outer primary surface and the inner primary surface are opposite of one another;

the outer primary surface of the substrate has an outer optical film structure disposed thereon; and

the inner primary surface of the substrate has an inner optical film structure disposed thereon,

wherein the substrate has a physical thickness from 100 μm to 5 mm,

wherein the outer optical film structure comprises a first plurality of alternating high index and low index layers, the first plurality comprising an outermost low index layer that is a capping layer,

wherein the inner optical film structure comprises a second plurality of alternating high index and low index layers, the second plurality comprising a low or high index layer disposed on the inner primary surface of the substrate, and an innermost low or high index layer,

wherein each high index layer of the first plurality comprises SiN x , SiO x N y , AlN x , SiAl x N y , or SiAl x O y N z and a physical thickness from about 5 nm to 2000 nm, each high index layer of the second plurality comprises SiN x , SiO x N y , AlN x , SiAl x N y , SiAl x O y N z , Nb 2 O 5 , Ta 2 O 5 , TiO 2 , HfO 2 , or Al 2 O 3 and a physical thickness from 5 nm to 500 nm,

wherein the outermost low index layer of the outer optical film structure has a refractive index from about 1.3 to about 1.7,

wherein the cover glass article exhibits an average photopic transmittance of greater than 95%, as measured through the primary surfaces of the substrate at an incident angle from 0 to 40 degrees,

further wherein the cover glass article exhibits a maximum hardness of greater than 10 GPa, as measured by a Berkovich Hardness Test over an indentation depth range from about 100 nm to about 500 nm in the outer optical film structure, and

wherein the first and the second plurality of alternating high index and low index layers have a different number of layers.

15 . The cover glass article according to claim 14 , wherein the cover glass article further exhibits an infrared transmittance of greater than 85%, as measured from 840 nm to 860 nm or 930 nm to 950 nm through the primary surfaces of the substrate at an incident angle from 0 to 10 degrees.

16 . The cover glass article according to claim 14 , wherein the first plurality of alternating high index and low index layers further comprises a low index layer in contact with the outer primary surface of the substrate, and further wherein the second plurality of alternating high index and low index layers comprises a low or high index layer in contact with the inner primary surface of the substrate.

17 . The cover glass article according to claim 14 , wherein the first plurality of alternating high index and low index layers further comprises a first scratch-resistant high index layer having a physical thickness of at least 50 nm.

18 . The cover glass article according to claim 17 , wherein the first scratch-resistant high index layer has a physical thickness of at least 500 nm.

19 . The cover glass article according to claim 14 , wherein each of the first and second plurality of alternating high index and low index layers is at least five (5) layers, and further wherein each low index layer of the first and second plurality comprises SiO 2 , SiAl x O y , or MgF 2 and a physical thickness from 5 nm to 300 nm.

20 . The cover glass article according to claim 14 , wherein the second plurality of alternating high index and low index layers further comprises a second scratch-resistant high index layer having a physical thickness of at least 50 nm, and further wherein the cover glass article exhibits a maximum hardness of greater than 10 GPa, as measured by a Berkovich Hardness Test over an indentation depth range from about 100 nm to about 500 nm in the inner optical film structure.

21 . The cover glass article according to claim 14 , wherein the cover glass article further exhibits an average transmittance of greater than 95%, as measured from 400 nm to 700 nm through the primary surfaces of the substrate at an incident angle from 0 to 40 degrees.

22 . The cover glass article according to claim 14 , wherein the cover glass article further exhibits a transmitted color √(a* 2 +b* 2 ) with a D65 illuminant through the primary surfaces of the substrate of less than 2 at incident angles from 0 degrees to 10 degrees.

23 . The cover glass article according to claim 14 , wherein the cover glass article exhibits a maximum hardness of greater than 10 GPa, as measured by a Berkovich Hardness Test over an indentation depth range from about 100 nm to about 500 nm in the inner optical film structure.

24 . The cover glass article according to claim 14 , wherein the substrate comprises a glass substrate.

25 . The cover glass article according to claim 14 , wherein the cover glass article further exhibits an average photopic reflectance of less than 2.0%, as measured through the primary surfaces of the substrate at an incident angle from 0 to 10 degrees.

26 . The cover glass article according to claim 14 , wherein the cover glass article further exhibits an average reflectance of less than 10%, as measured from 840 nm to 950 nm through the primary surfaces of the substrate at an incident angle from 0 to 10 degrees.

27 . The cover glass article of claim 14 ,

wherein the cover glass article further exhibits an infrared transmittance of greater than 88%, as measured from 840 nm to 860 nm or 930 nm to 950 nm through the primary surfaces of the substrate at an incident angle from 0 to 10 degrees,

wherein the high index material of the first plurality of alternating high index and low index layers comprises one or more of SiN x and SiO x N y , and

wherein the high index material of the second plurality of alternating high index and low index layers comprises TiO 2 , Ta 2 O 5 or Nb 2 O 5 .

28 . An apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

at least one of a camera, a sensor, and a light source, each configured within the housing;

a substrate within the housing, wherein the substrate comprises an outer primary surface and an inner primary surface, the outer primary surface and the inner primary surface are opposite of one another, and the substrate is disposed over the at least one of a camera, a sensor, and a light source;

the outer primary surface of the substrate has an outer optical film structure disposed thereon; and

the inner primary surface of the substrate has an inner optical film structure disposed thereon,

wherein the substrate has a physical thickness from 100 μm to 5 mm,

wherein the outer optical film structure comprises a first plurality of alternating high index and low index layers, the first plurality comprising an outermost low index layer that is the capping layer,

wherein the inner optical film structure comprises a second plurality of alternating high index and low index layers, the second plurality comprising a low or high index layer disposed on the inner primary surface of the substrate, and an innermost low or high index layer disposed over, and with an air gap therebetween, the at least one of a camera, a sensor, and a light source,

wherein each high index layer of the first plurality comprises a nitride or an oxynitride, and each high index layer of the second plurality comprises an oxide or a nitride,

wherein the outermost low index layer of the outer optical film structure has a refractive index from about 1.3 to about 1.7,

wherein the substrate and the outer and inner optical film structures exhibit an average photopic transmittance of greater than 95%, as measured through the primary surfaces of the substrate at an incident angle from 0 to 40 degrees,

further wherein the substrate and the outer and inner optical film structures exhibit a maximum hardness of greater than 10 GPa, as measured by a Berkovich Hardness Test over an indentation depth range from about 100 nm to about 500 nm in the outer optical film structure,

wherein the cover glass article further exhibits an infrared transmittance of greater than 88%, as measured from 840 nm to 860 nm or 930 nm to 950 nm through the primary surfaces of the substrate at an incident angle from 0 to 10 degrees,

wherein the high index material of the first plurality of alternating high index and low index layers comprises one or more of SiN x and SiO x N y , and

wherein the high index material of the second plurality of alternating high index and low index layers comprises TiO 2 , Ta 2 O 5 or Nb 2 O 5 .

29 . The cover glass article according to claim 28 , wherein the substrate comprises a glass substrate.

30 . A cover glass article, comprising:

a substrate comprising an outer primary surface and an inner primary surface, wherein the outer primary surface and the inner primary surface are opposite of one another;

the outer primary surface of the substrate has an outer optical film structure disposed thereon; and

the inner primary surface of the substrate has an inner optical film structure disposed thereon,

wherein the substrate has a physical thickness from 100 μm to 5 mm,

wherein the outer optical film structure comprises a first plurality of alternating high index and low index layers, the first plurality comprising an outermost low index layer that is a capping layer,

wherein the inner optical film structure comprises a second plurality of alternating high index and low index layers, the second plurality comprising a low or high index layer disposed on the inner primary surface of the substrate, and an innermost low or high index layer,

wherein each high index layer of the first plurality comprises a nitride or an oxynitride, and each high index layer of the second plurality comprises an oxide or a nitride,

wherein the outermost low index layer in the outer optical film structure has a refractive index from about 1.3 to about 1.7,

wherein the cover glass article exhibits an average photopic transmittance of greater than 95%, as measured through the primary surfaces of the substrate at an incident angle from 0 to 40 degrees,

further wherein the cover glass article exhibits a maximum hardness of greater than 10 GPa, as measured by a Berkovich Hardness Test over an indentation depth range from about 100 nm to about 500 nm in the outer optical film structure, and

wherein the first and the second plurality of alternating high index and low index layers have a different number of layers.

31 . An apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

at least one of a camera, a sensor, and a light source, each configured within the housing;

a substrate within the housing, wherein the substrate comprises an outer primary surface and an inner primary surface, the outer primary surface and the inner primary surface are opposite of one another, and the substrate is disposed over the at least one of a camera, a sensor, and a light source;

the outer primary surface of the substrate has an outer optical film structure disposed thereon; and

the inner primary surface of the substrate has an inner optical film structure disposed thereon,

wherein the substrate has a physical thickness from 100 μm to 5 mm,

wherein the outer optical film structure comprises a first plurality of alternating high index and low index layers, the first plurality comprising an outermost low index layer that is the capping layer,

wherein the inner optical film structure comprises a second plurality of alternating high index and low index layers, the second plurality comprising a low or high index layer disposed on the inner primary surface of the substrate, and an innermost low or high index layer disposed over, and with an air gap therebetween, the at least one of a camera, a sensor, and a light source,

wherein each high index layer of the first plurality comprises a nitride or an oxynitride, and each high index layer of the second plurality comprises an oxide or a nitride,

wherein the outermost low index layer of the outer optical film structure has a refractive index from about 1.3 to about 1.7,

wherein the substrate and the outer and inner optical film structures exhibit an average photopic transmittance of greater than 95%, as measured through the primary surfaces of the substrate at an incident angle from 0 to 40 degrees,

further wherein the substrate and the outer and inner optical film structures exhibit a maximum hardness of greater than 10 GPa, as measured by a Berkovich Hardness Test over an indentation depth range from about 100 nm to about 500 nm in the outer optical film structure, and

wherein the first and the second plurality of alternating high index and low index layers have a different number of layers.