IP Library Granted Patent US 7,824,564
Granted Patent B2
US 7,824,564 · App. 11/527,292 · Granted Nov 2, 2010

Method for flattening glass substrate

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,824,564
App. No.
11/527,292
Granted
Nov 2, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for flattening a glass substrate includes the steps of preparing plural kinds of etching liquids different from one another in an etching rate, preparing the glass substrate, and etching the glass substrate at least one time with each of the etching liquids and executing the etching a plurality of times in total. When the etchings are executed the plurality of times, an etching rate of the glass substrate with one etching liquid used for one etching of plural etchings is slower than that of the glass substrate with the another etching liquid used for another etching executed after the one etching process of the plural etching processes.

Claims (39)

1. A method for flattening a glass substrate, comprising:

preparing a plurality of etching liquids having different etching rates;

preparing the glass substrate; and

executing a plurality of etching processes on the glass substrate at least one time with each of the plurality of etching liquids and executing the etching processes a plurality of times in total on the same glass substrate,

wherein, when the etching processes are executed the plurality of times on the same glass substrate, an etching rate of the glass substrate with one etching liquid used for one etching process of the plurality of etching processes is slower than an etching rate of the glass substrate with another etching liquid used for another etching process executed after the one etching process of the plurality of etching processes.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a first etching liquid contains at least one fluorine compound.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one etching process of the plurality of etching processes includes formation of a protective layer on one surface of the glass substrate.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the glass substrate is dipped in a liquid inactive to a first etching liquid and another etching liquid before the etching processes are executed the plurality of times.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the another etching liquid contains an inorganic oxo acid additive.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:

the etching processes include a first etching process and a second etching process,

the first etching process uses a first etching liquid whose etching rate is a predetermined value for the glass substrate, and

the second etching process uses a second etching liquid whose etching rate is faster than the predetermined value for the glass substrate.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein:

the etching rate of the first etching liquid for etching the glass substrate is not less than 0.01 μm/minute and less than 5 μm/minute, and

the etching rate of the second etching liquid for etching the glass substrate is not less than 5 μm/minute and not more than 15 μm/minute.

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the first etching liquid contains at least one fluorine compound.

9. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the glass substrate is dipped in a liquid inactive to the first and second etching liquids before the etching processes are executed the plurality of times.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the second etching liquid contains an inorganic oxo acid additive.

11. A method for flattening a glass substrate, comprising:

preparing a plurality of etching liquids having different etching rates;

preparing an assembly including two glass substrates; and

executing a plurality of etching processes on the assembly at least one time with each of the etching liquids and executing the etching processes a plurality of times in total,

wherein when the etching processes are executed the plurality of times, an etching rate with one etching liquid used for one etching process of the plurality of etching processes is slower than an etching rate with another etching liquid used for another etching process executed after the one etching process of the plurality of etching processes, and

wherein the preparation of the assembly includes:

forming a plurality of sealing materials on one of the two glass substrates, and forming an outer peripheral sealing material having a separated opening in at least one place in an outer periphery of the one glass substrate,

laminating the two glass substrates via the plurality of sealing materials and the outer peripheral sealing material, and

sealing the opening with a sealant.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein each of the glass substrates has an area which permits formation of a plurality of completed liquid crystal display panels.

13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the etching processes include an etching process of one surface of the assembly to flatten the surface.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein when the etching processes are executed the plurality of times, prior to the etching process of one surface of the assembly to flatten the same, a protective layer is formed on the other surface of the assembly.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein when the etching processes are executed the plurality of times, simultaneously with the etching process of one surface of the assembly to flatten the same, the other surface of the assembly is etched to be flattened.

16. The method according to claim 11 , wherein:

the etching processes include a first etching process and a second etching process,

the first etching process uses a first etching liquid whose etching rate is a predetermined value for the glass substrate, and

the second etching process uses a second etching liquid whose etching rate is faster than the predetermined value for the glass substrate.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the first etching liquid contains at least one fluorine compound.

18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the glass substrate is dipped in a liquid inactive to the first and second etching liquids before the etching processes are executed the plurality of times.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the second etching liquid contains an inorganic oxo acid additive.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2022
From: SANWA FROST INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.; NAGASE & CO., LTD.
To: TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 059752/0622 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 12, 2019
From: ORTUS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
To: TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 050044/0847 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2015
From: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD
To: ORTUS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 035858/0765 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 26, 2006
From: HIROKI, KAZUYUKI
To: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.; SANWA FROST INDUSTRY CO., LTD.; NAGASE & CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 018353/0789 →