IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,870,261
Granted Patent B2
US 10,870,261 · App. 15/803,481 · Granted Dec 22, 2020

Structured glass for an electronic device

Inventors: Li Zhang (Mountain View, CA); John Raff (Menlo Park, CA); Florence W. Ow (Los Altos Hills, CA); Guangtao Zhang (San Francisco, CA); Soyoung Kim (Redwood City, CA); Victor Luzzato (Santa Clara, CA); Daniel B. Sargent (Cupertino, CA)
Assignee: APPLE INC.
B32B17/06C03B9/03C03B23/203G06F1/16G06F1/1633G06F3/041H05K5/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,870,261
App. No.
15/803,481
Granted
Dec 22, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device can include a three-dimensional glass feature. In one embodiment, the three-dimensional glass feature is a cavity formed on the inside portion of a cover glass of an electronic device.

Claims (48)

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a glass structure defining:

a first glass surface;

a second glass surface that is opposite the first glass surface;

a cavity formed into the second glass surface in a region of the glass structure having a first thickness, the cavity defined by:

a stepped region having a second thickness that is less than the first thickness and defined by a third glass surface; and

a bottom region having a third thickness that is less than the second thickness and defined by a fourth glass surface;

an enclosure coupled to the glass structure;

a processing unit within the enclosure; and

a camera operationally connected to the processing unit and extending at least partially into the cavity; wherein:

the first glass surface defines a portion of an exterior of the electronic device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:

the cavity defines an optical lens;

the glass structure defines:

a first portion having a first index of refraction; and

a second portion having a second index of refraction; and

the glass structure is a cover glass of the electronic device.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:

the glass structure is a monolithic glass structure formed by fusing a first glass layer to a second glass layer.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:

the cavity is positioned over a logo; and

the cavity optically magnifies the logo.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:

the cavity is a first cavity; and

the glass structure further defines:

a second cavity; and

a structural rib separating the first cavity from the second cavity.

6. A method of manufacturing a glass structure of an electronic device, comprising:

placing a set of glass layers;

fusing the set of glass layers to form a monolithic glass structure defining:

a first glass surface; and

a second glass surface that is opposite the first glass surface, the monolithic glass structure forming a cover glass for an electronic device;

forming a cavity in a region of the monolithic glass structure having a first thickness, the cavity defined by:

a stepped region having a second thickness that is less than the first thickness and defined by a third glass surface; and

a bottom region having a third thickness that is less than the second thickness and defined by a fourth glass surface.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising pre-stressing the set of glass layers before the operation of forming the cavity.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein forming the cavity occurs after fusing the set of glass layers.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the cavity is formed by chemical etching.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising applying an optical coating to a perimeter of the monolithic glass structure.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the cavity forms a logo.

12. The method of claim 6 , further comprising applying a sealant to a surface of the cavity.

13. The method of claim 6 , wherein the set of glass layers are of differing sizes.

14. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the structural rib protrudes beyond the second glass surface of the glass structure.

15. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a mask layer on the third glass surface.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the mask layer is an opaque mask layer.

17. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the glass structure is a front cover of the electronic device.

18. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the structural rib has a fourth thickness that is greater than the first thickness.

19. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 27, 2018
From: ZHANG, LI; RAFF, JOHN; OW, FLORENCE; ZHANG, GUANGTAO; KIM, SOYOUNG; LUZZATO, VICTOR; SARGENT, DAN
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 046214/0364 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62417989 · Nov 4, 2016
Related Publication 20180126704A1 · May 10, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,234,173