# US 2013/0155004 A1 · Strengthened glass, touch panel and method of manufacturing strengthened glass

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- Number: US 2013/0155004 A1
- Document ID: US20130155004A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/422,489
- Filed: 2012-03-16
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16
- Assignees: Micro Technology, Inc.
- Inventors: Minoru YOSHIKAWA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130155004A1

## CPC

- C03C 15/00: Surface treatment of glass, not in the form of fibres or filaments, by etching (etching or surface-brightening compositions, in general C09K13/00)
- C03B 33/023: the sheet {or ribbon} being in a horizontal position
- C03B 33/07: Cutting armoured, {multi-layered, coated} or laminated, glass products
- C03B 33/074: {Glass products comprising an outer layer or surface coating of non-glass material}
- C03C 17/002: {for flat glass, e.g. float glass}
- C03C 2218/34: Masking
- Y02P 40/57: Improving the yield, e-g- reduction of reject rates
- Y10T 428/24488: Differential nonuniformity at margin
- C03C: CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
- C03B: MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A strengthened glass capable of shortening a process time for maintaining the strength to improve the production efficiency and forming an edge surface of the strengthened glass in any shape while preventing damage such as fracture due to micro-cracks or the like. Strengthening layers are formed on both surfaces of the glass plate, and protection films are formed in regions except for cutting portions. Recessed portions are formed by etching both surfaces of the glass plate at the cutting portions of the glass plate not covered by the protection films. Subsequently, the glass plate is cut along the recessed portions to form separated strengthened glass, and a stepped portion having a protruding cutting surface and including an interior side surface formed by etching a periphery of the glass plate and an exterior side surface formed by mechanical cutting is formed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A strengthened glass, comprising:
a glass plate; and
strengthening layers disposed on both surfaces of the glass plate,
wherein the glass plate includes a stepped portion formed at a periphery of the glass plate and having a protruding cutting surface, and
wherein the stepped portion has an interior side surface formed by an etching process and an exterior side surface formed by mechanical cutting.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The strengthened glass of claim 1, wherein the exterior side surface of the stepped portion is formed to have a curved shape, a light chamfer, or a straight edge.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A touch panel, comprising:
the strengthened glass of claim 1; and
a conductive film and an insulating film disposed on the glass plate of the strengthened glass.

### Claim 4

A method of manufacturing a strengthened glass, by which a large glass plate is separated to manufacture a plurality of strengthened glasses, comprising:
a step of forming strengthening layers on both surfaces of the glass plate;
a step of forming protection films in regions except for cutting portions of the glass plate on which the strengthening layers are formed;
a step of forming recessed portions by etching both surfaces of the glass plate at the cutting portions of the glass plate not covered by the protection films; and
a step of mechanically cutting the glass plate having the recessed portions formed thereon along the recessed portions, and forming a stepped portion at a periphery of the cut glass plate, the stepped portion having a protruding cutting surface.

### Claim 5

A method of manufacturing a strengthened glass, by which a large glass plate is separated to manufacture a plurality of strengthened glasses, comprising:
a step of forming strengthening layers on both surfaces of the glass plate;
a step of mechanically cutting the glass plate having the strengthening layers formed thereon;
a step of forming protection films in a region except for a periphery of the cut glass plate; and
a step of forming a stepped portion by etching both surfaces of the glass plate at the periphery of the glass plate not covered by the protection films, the stepped portion having a protruding cutting surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4, 5)

The method of manufacturing the strengthened glass of claim 4 or claim 5, further comprising a step of grinding an exterior side surface of the stepped portion to have a curved shape, a light chamfer, or a straight edge after the step of forming the stepped portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

A touch panel, comprising:
the strengthened glass of claim 2; and
a conductive film and an insulating film disposed on the glass plate of the strengthened glass.