TW201434772A - Method for manufacturing reinforced glass panel for display device and reinforced glass panel - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a reinforced glass panel comprises: providing a blank glass panel having an upper main surface and a lower main surface; forming a groove on at least one of the upper main surface and the lower main surface of the blank glass panel; subjecting the blank glass panel to reinforcement treatment to form a reinforcement surface layer on at least one of the upper main surface and the lower main surface of the blank glass panel where the groove is formed; forming a touch sensor layer on at least one of the upper main surface and the lower main surface of the blank glass panel which has been subjected to the reinforcement treatment; and cutting the blank glass panel along the groove to provide the reinforced glass panel.

Description

Method for manufacturing tempered glass sheet for display device and tempered glass sheet

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a tempered glass sheet for a display device and a tempered glass sheet produced by the method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a tempered glass sheet for a display device and a tempered glass sheet produced by the method, which can be effectively and cost-effectively performed by a simple process Manufacture of high-strength tempered glass sheets.

Electronic devices such as portable terminals, notebook computers, and tablet computers are equipped with display units. A tempered glass plate is mounted on the front surface of the display unit.

The tempered glass sheet is formed of flat tempered glass and is arranged to cover the front surface of the display unit, thereby protecting the display unit from external impact or a variety of foreign matter.

In the manufacture of the tempered glass sheet (as shown in Figure 1), the surface of the blank glass panel is cleaned and then chemically and physically treated to form a reinforced surface layer 3. Therefore, the touch sensor layer 4 is formed on the strengthened surface layer 3. The glass panel is cut into a desired size, thereby producing a tempered glass sheet 5.

However, in the conventional tempered glass sheet 5, the reinforcing surface layer 3 is not formed in the trimming portion 1. This is because the tempered glass sheet 5 is produced by subjecting the blank glass panel to a strengthening treatment, forming the touch sensor layer 4 and cutting the glass panel to a desired size. For this reason, there is a problem that the trimming portion 1 is easily worn and damaged.

In order to solve this problem, after cutting the glass panel to the required size, The trimming portion 1 is subjected to a chemical or physical strengthening treatment. In this case, the task of subjecting the trimming portion 1 to the strengthening treatment requires more and more manufacturing steps. This leads to an increase in manufacturing time and a decrease in throughput.

Another problem is that the touch sensor layer 4 may be damaged when subjecting the glass panel to chemical or physical strengthening treatments, particularly heat treatment.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing a tempered glass sheet for a display device and a tempered glass sheet produced by the method, which method can increase the strength of a trimmed portion of the tempered glass sheet, and It is not necessary to subject the trimming portion to a separate strengthening treatment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a tempered glass sheet for a display device and a tempered glass sheet produced by the method, which method can eliminate the individual strengthening of the trimmed portion of the tempered glass sheet The need for processing, thereby reducing the number of manufacturing steps and manufacturing time, saving manufacturing costs and increasing manufacturing efficiency.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing a tempered glass sheet for a display device and a tempered glass sheet produced by the method, which method can eliminate the individual strengthening of the trimmed portion of the tempered glass sheet The need for processing, and thus the touch sensor layer of the strengthened glass sheet, is compromised due to an additional strengthening process.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing a tempered glass sheet for a display device and a tempered glass sheet produced by the method, which can easily perform a dicing operation of the tempered glass sheet.

In view of the above objects, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a tempered glass sheet for a display device, the method comprising the steps of: providing a blank glass panel having an upper main surface and a lower main surface; Forming at least one groove on at least one of the upper main surface and the lower main surface of the blank glass panel, the groove having a shape and a contour of the tempered glass sheet Correspondingly; subjecting the green glass panel to a strengthening treatment, thereby forming reinforcement on at least one of the upper main surface and the lower main surface of the green glass panel on which the groove is formed a surface layer, the strengthened surface layer being formed to extend into the groove; formed on at least one of the upper main surface and the lower main surface of the green glass panel subjected to the strengthening treatment Touching the sensor layer; and cutting the blank glass panel along the groove into the strengthened glass sheet.

In the method of the present invention, the groove may be formed to have one of a semicircular, curved, rectangular, U-shaped, V-shaped, and tapered cross-sectional shape.

In the method of the present invention, the step of forming the at least one groove may include forming a first groove on the upper main surface of the blank glass panel and forming along the first groove on the lower main surface of the blank glass panel The second groove.

In the method of the present invention, the groove may be formed to have a beveled edge.

In the method of the present invention, the groove may be formed by one of the following: a laser processing method; a photo etching method; a chemical etching method using a chemical wet etching solution; using a gear cutter, a sawing tool, and sand blasting A machining method performed by a machine or a scriber; and a water jet processing method using a pressurized liquid.

In the method of the present invention, the strengthened surface layer may be formed by one of the following: a sodium ion substitution method, a potassium ion substitution method, a heat strengthening treatment method, and a physical strengthening treatment method.

In the method of the present invention, the blank glass panel can be cut into a tempered glass sheet by one of the following: a laser processing method; a photolithography method; a chemical etching method using a chemical wet etching solution; using a gear cutter, a saw A machining method by a cutting tool, a sand blasting machine or a scriber; and a water jet processing method using a pressurized liquid.

The method of the present invention may further comprise the step of forming a slit in the blank glass panel prior to subjecting the green glass panel to a strengthening treatment.

The present invention further provides reinforcement for a display device produced by the above method glass plate.

1, 32‧‧‧ trimming part

3,12‧‧‧enhanced surface layer

4, 40‧‧‧ touch sensor layer

5, 30‧‧‧ tempered glass panels

10‧‧‧Blank glass panels

10a, 10b‧‧‧ surface

14‧‧‧Rolling brush

20‧‧‧ Groove

20a‧‧‧ cutting surface

20b‧‧‧ incision

20c‧‧ hole

S101~S121

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a tempered glass sheet which is produced by a conventional method of manufacturing a tempered glass sheet for a display device.

2 is a flow chart illustrating different steps of a method of fabricating a tempered glass sheet for a display device in accordance with the present invention.

3A to 3H are diagrams showing corresponding steps of a method of manufacturing a tempered glass sheet for a display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a view showing a tempered glass sheet for a display device made in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a view showing a tempered glass sheet for a display device made in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a tempered glass sheet for a display device made in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a blank glass panel having grooves and other machined portions.

8A through 8F are diagrams illustrating different cross-sectional shapes of grooves formed on a blank glass panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A preferred embodiment of a method of manufacturing a tempered glass sheet for a display device and a tempered glass sheet manufactured by the method according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First embodiment

2, 3A to 3H and 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring first to Figures 2 and 3A through 3H, a method of fabricating a tempered glass sheet for a display device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. If the blank glass panel 10 is loaded (S101), inspection is performed with respect to the blank glass panel 10 (S103). The inspection of the blank glass panel 10 is carried out by the naked eye or by using an inspection device To check whether the blank glass panel 10 has scratches or shaped materials.

If the inspection of the blank glass panel 10 has been completed, the inspected blank glass panel 10 is cleaned by a wet cleaning method or a dry cleaning method as shown in Figs. 2 and 3C (S107). More specifically, the surface of the blank glass panel 10 is cleaned by spraying a pure water or a chemical solution onto the surface of the blank glass panel 10 by using a high-pressure shower device, a rolling brush 14, or by plasma or ultraviolet irradiation. The dry cleaning method is used to clean the surface of the blank glass panel 10.

After the cleaning of the blank glass panel 10 is completed, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3D, a groove 20 corresponding to the contour of the strengthened glass sheet is formed on one main surface or the opposite major surface of the blank glass panel 10. (S109). The step of forming the recess 20 is a step in which a plurality of grooves having a specified depth are formed on the blank glass panel 10 in accordance with the contour of the tempered glass sheet to be manufactured.

Although the groove 20 shown in FIG. 3D extends linearly and has a U-shaped cross-sectional shape, the present invention is not limited thereto. The cross section of the groove 20 may be semi-circular, curved, rectangular, V-shaped or tapered. The grooves formed on the upper main surface of the blank glass panel 10 may be the same as or may be different from the grooves formed on the lower main surface of the blank glass panel 10. The groove 20 may have a right angled edge, a rounded edge or a beveled edge.

Preferably, the recess 20 is formed by a laser processing device such as a micro-laser, a nano-laser or a solid laser. The laser processing apparatus can effectively form the recess 20 corresponding to the contour of the tempered glass sheet by irradiating the laser beam onto the surface 10a of the blank glass panel 10.

Alternatively, the recess 20 may be formed by photolithography using exposure; chemical etching using a chemical wet etching solution; machinery using a gear cutter, a sawing tool, a sand blasting machine, or a scriber Processing method; or water jet processing method using pressurized liquid. Any well-known processing method can be used as long as the method can form a groove having a specified depth on the blank glass panel.

Preferably, the recess 20 is formed to be as deep as possible within the extent that the blank glass panel 10 does not break during the machining process. This ensures that the edge portion defining the groove 20 is reinforced in the strengthening step (see FIG. 3E) which will be described later, thereby minimizing the area of the edge-free surface 20a which is not subjected to the strengthening process, as shown in FIG. .

By the conventional manufacturing method (as shown in Fig. 1), the trimming portion 1 of the entire area has not been subjected to the strengthening process. This causes a problem that the strength of the trimming portion 1 becomes low. If the trimming portion 1 is subjected to a separate strengthening process in an attempt to increase the strength of the trimming portion 1, the touch sensor layer 4 which has been formed on the blank glass panel may be damaged. In addition, it is not easy to carry out the strengthening treatment with respect to the four sides of the tempered glass sheet.

By the present invention, however, the blank glass panel 10 is cut after forming the recess 20 having a specified depth, so that the blank glass panel 10 as a whole undergoes a strengthening process and forms the touch sensor layer 40. For this reason, the larger area of the trimming portion 32 is subjected to the strengthening treatment.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, when the tempered glass sheet 30 is manufactured, it is possible to minimize the area where the cut surface 20a has not been subjected to the strengthening treatment. This makes it possible to increase the strength of the trimming portion 32 of the strengthened glass sheet 30 without subjecting the trimming portion 32 to a separate strengthening treatment.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3E, after the groove 20 is formed along the contour of the strengthened glass sheet on the blank glass panel 10, the blank glass panel 10 is subjected to a strengthening treatment as a whole (S111). The strengthening treatment of the blank glass panel 10 is carried out by a sodium ion replacement method or a potassium ion substitution method. By the strengthening treatment, compressive stress is generated on the surface of the blank glass panel 10, thereby increasing the strength of the surface of the blank glass panel 10. In addition to the chemical strengthening treatment method, it is also possible to use a heat-strengthening treatment method or a physical reinforcement treatment method.

The blank glass panel 10 subjected to the strengthening treatment in this manner has a reinforcing surface layer 12 formed on the surface thereof. Therefore, the strength and hardness of the surface of the blank glass panel 10 become high. In the following description, a blank glass panel 10 having a reinforced surface layer 12 It will be referred to as "tempered glass sheet 30".

In the process of subjecting the blank glass panel 10 to a strengthening process, the region of each of the blank glass panels 10 defining each of the grooves 20 is also subjected to a strengthening treatment, as shown by a microscope in FIG. A portion of the strengthened surface layer 12 formed in each of the grooves 20 surrounds and protects the trimmed portion 32 of the strengthened glass sheet. This makes it possible to increase the strength of the trimming portion 32 of the tempered glass sheet 30. In particular, it is possible to increase the strength of the trimming portion 32 of the strengthened glass sheet 30 without subjecting the trimming portion 32 to an additional strengthening treatment.

Therefore, the method of manufacturing a tempered glass sheet in the present invention may reduce the number of manufacturing steps and manufacturing time, save manufacturing cost, and improve manufacturing efficiency as compared with a conventional method in which the trimmed portion of the tempered glass sheet is subjected to an additional strengthening treatment. .

If the strengthening treatment of the blank glass panel 10 has been completed, a cleaning liquid (for example, pure water or a chemical solution) is sprayed on the surfaces of the blank glass panel 10 and the groove 20 using a high pressure shower device, an ultrasonic nozzle or a rolling brush. . The blank glass panel 10 is washed in this manner and then dried (S113). The blank glass panel 10 is cleaned and dried to remove debris and other foreign matter generated during the intensive treatment process. Drying of the blank glass panel 10 is performed by blowing clean air onto the surface of the blank glass panel 10.

If the cleaning and drying of the blank glass panel 10 has been completed, the touch sensor layer 40 is formed on the strengthened glass sheet 30 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3G. Preferably, the touch sensor layer 40 is formed on the surface 10b opposite to the surface 10a on which the groove 20 is formed. However, the invention is not limited thereto. If necessary, the touch sensor layer 40 may be formed on the opposite surfaces 10a and 10b of the tempered glass sheet 30 or on the surface 10a on which the groove 20 is formed.

The touch sensor layer 40 is formed by work such as deposition, patterning, and wiring to provide a touch input function to the tempered glass sheet 30. In the process of forming the touch sensor layer 40, a conductive touch film and a touch sensor pattern are formed on the strengthened surface layer 12 of the strengthened glass sheet 30.

If the formation of the touch sensor layer 40 is completed, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3H, the blank glass panel 10 is cut along the groove 20 (S117). In this cutting process, the blank glass panel 10 is cut into a tempered glass sheet 30. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the tempered glass sheet 30 having the reinforced surface layer 12 and the touch sensor layer 40.

Preferably, the blank glass panel 10 is cut by the same method as that used in forming the recess 20 in the blank glass panel 10. More specifically, the blank glass panel 10 is cut by a laser processing device such as a micro-laser, a nano-laser or a solid laser. Alternatively, the blank glass panel 10 can be cut by photolithography using exposure; chemical etching using a chemical wet etching solution; using a gear cutter, sawing tool, sand blasting machine or scriber a mechanical processing method; or a water jet processing method using a pressurized liquid.

After the tempered glass sheet 30 is cut out from the blank glass panel 10, the trimmed portion 32 of the tempered glass sheet 30 is chamfered (S119). In this beveling step, burrs generated in the process of cutting the green glass panel 10 into the tempered glass sheet 30 are removed by, for example, CNC machining work, grinding work, laser machining work, or chemical etching work.

The strengthened glass sheet 30 produced by the above steps is transferred to a subsequent process station not shown in the drawings.

Through the above described invention, a groove 20 having a specified depth is formed on the blank glass panel 10. The blank glass panel 10 is then subjected to a strengthening treatment whereby a strengthening surface layer 12 is formed in the entire exposed area of the blank glass panel 10 including the grooves 20. Subsequently, a touch sensor layer 40 is formed on at least one surface of the blank glass panel 10. The blank glass panel 10 is cut along the groove 20 into a tempered glass sheet 30. For this reason, the reinforcing surface layer 12 is formed even in the trimming portion 32 of the tempered glass sheet 30.

Therefore, it is possible to increase the strength, impact resistance, and wear resistance of the trimming portion 32. For this reason, the trimming portion of the tempered glass sheet 30 is reinforced even when an external impact is applied to the trimming portion 32 or even when the trimming portion 32 is in frictional contact with other objects. The sub-32 is also not easily damaged or worn.

Unlike the conventional method, there is no need to subject the trimmed portion 32 of the strengthened glass sheet 30 to an additional strengthening treatment. This makes it possible to manufacture the tempered glass sheet in the present invention to reduce the number of manufacturing steps, increase productivity, and save manufacturing costs, and also prevent the touch sensor layer 40 from being subjected to an additional strengthening treatment with respect to the trimming portion 32. damage.

Second embodiment

The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above in that (as shown in FIG. 5): grooves 20 are formed on the opposite major surfaces of the blank glass panel 10. In this case, a reinforcing surface layer 12 is formed in the grooves 20 on the opposite major surfaces of the blank glass panel 10, as shown in FIG. This makes it possible to further reduce the area of the cut surface 20a of the strengthened glass sheet 30 on which the reinforcing surface layer 12 is not formed. Therefore, it is possible to further increase the strength of the trimming portion 32 of the tempered glass sheet 30.

The cross-section of the groove 20 formed on the opposite major surfaces of the blank glass panel 10 may be semi-circular, curved, rectangular, U-shaped, V-shaped or tapered. The grooves formed on the upper main surface of the blank glass panel 10 may be the same as or may be different from the grooves formed on the lower main surface of the blank glass panel 10. Other configurations remain the same as those of the first embodiment and thus will not be described herein.

Modified embodiment

Figures 7 and 8A through 8F illustrate modified embodiments of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, the corner portion of the groove 20 formed on the blank glass panel 10 may have a circular shape. In the blank glass panel 10, a rectangular slit 20b or a circular hole 20c may be formed inside the strengthened glass sheet 30 before subjecting the blank glass panel 10 to a strengthening treatment. The rectangular slit 20b and the circular hole 20c can be formed by the same method as that used to form the groove 20.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8F, the respective cross sections of the grooves 20 may have (for example) For example, a rectangular shape, a V shape, a rectangular shape with a tapered side, a V shape with a rounded edge, a U shape with a rounded edge, or a trapezoidal shape.

Although certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, the invention is not limited thereto. It is to be understood that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

S101~S121‧‧‧Steps

Claims (9)

A method of making a tempered glass sheet for a display device, comprising the steps of: providing a blank glass panel having an upper major surface and a lower major surface; in the upper portion of the blank glass panel Forming at least one groove on at least one of the major surface and the lower major surface, the groove having a shape corresponding to the contour of the strengthened glass sheet; subjecting the blank glass panel to a strengthening treatment, thereby Forming a reinforcing surface layer on at least one of the upper main surface and the lower main surface of the blank glass panel on which the groove is formed, the reinforcing surface layer being formed to extend to the concave Forming a touch sensor layer on at least one of the upper major surface and the lower major surface of the blank glass panel subjected to the strengthening treatment; and inserting the blank glass panel along The groove is cut into the tempered glass sheet. The method of claim 1, wherein the groove is formed to have one of a semicircular, curved, rectangular, U-shaped, V-shaped, and tapered cross-sectional shape. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming the at least one groove comprises forming a first groove on the upper major surface of the blank glass panel and the blank glass panel A second groove is formed along the first groove on the lower main surface. The method of claim 1, wherein the groove is formed to have a beveled edge. The method of claim 1, wherein the groove is formed by one of the following methods: a laser processing method, a photo etching method, a chemical etching method using a chemical wet etching solution, using a gear cutter, Sawing machine A machining method by means of a sand blasting machine or a scriber, and a water jet processing method using a pressurized liquid. The method of claim 1, wherein the strengthened surface layer is formed by one of the following methods: a sodium ion substitution method, a potassium ion substitution method, a heat strengthening treatment method, and a physical strengthening treatment method. The method of claim 1, wherein the blank glass panel is formed into the tempered glass sheet by the following methods: laser processing method, photo etching method, chemistry using a chemical wet etching solution An etching method, a machining method using a gear cutter, a sawing tool, a sand blasting machine, or a scriber, and a water jet processing method using a pressurized liquid. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of forming a slit in the blank glass panel prior to subjecting the green glass panel to the strengthening treatment. A tempered glass sheet for a display device, which is produced by the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.