# US 2014/0192467 A1 · Ion implant indicia for cover glass or display component > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192467 A1 - Document ID: US20140192467A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/736,676 - Filed: 2013-01-08 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Kelvin Kwong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192467A1 ## CPC - G06F 1/1601: {Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays (constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64)} - C30B 29/20: Aluminium oxides - C30B 31/22: by ion-implantation - H01J 37/3171: {for ion implantation} - H04M 1/0266: {for a display module assembly} - H04M 19/048: {Arrangements providing optical indication of the incoming call, e.g. flasher circuits} - H04M 2250/12: including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion - Y10T 428/24851: Intermediate layer is discontinuous or differential - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - C30B: SINGLE-CRYSTAL GROWTH (by using ultra-high pressure, e.g. for the formation of diamonds, B01J3/06); UNIDIRECTIONAL SOLIDIFICATION OF EUTECTIC MATERIAL OR UNIDIRECTIONAL DEMIXING OF EUTECTOID MATERIAL; REFINING BY ZONE-MELTING OF MATERIAL (zone-refining of metals or alloys C22B); PRODUCTION OF A HOMOGENEOUS POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITH DEFINED STRUCTURE (casting of metals, casting of other substances by the same processes or devices B22D; working of plastics B29; modifying the physical structure of metals or alloys C21D, C22F); SINGLE CRYSTALS OR HOMOGENEOUS POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITH DEFINED STRUCTURE; AFTER-TREATMENT OF SINGLE CRYSTALS OR A HOMOGENEOUS POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIAL WITH DEFINED STRUCTURE (for producing semiconductor devices or parts thereof H10); APPARATUS THEREFOR - H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An aluminum oxide ceramic is formed into a sapphire component for an electronic device. Indicia are embedded into at least one major surface of the component, for example by ion implantation, where ions are fixed into a subsurface pattern layer. The subsurface pattern layer defines the indicia by altering an optical or chromatic property of the aluminum oxide material, so that the indicia are visible from an external surface of the component. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: forming an aluminum oxide ceramic into a sapphire component for an electronic device, the sapphire component having first and second major surfaces; and embedding indicia into one or both of the first and second major surfaces of the sapphire component by ion implantation; wherein ions are fixed in a subsurface layer between the first and second major surfaces of the sapphire component; and wherein the subsurface layer defines the indicia by altering an optical property of the aluminum oxide material, such that the indicia are visible from an external surface of the component. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising assembling the sapphire component into the electronic device, such that the indicia are visible from an exterior surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein assembling the sapphire component into the electronic device comprises assembling a cover glass onto the electronic device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the indicia comprise a serial number for the electronic device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the ions fixed in the subsurface layer are selected from a group consisting of boron, magnesium, titanium, chromium, iron, and copper. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the subsurface layer defines the indicia by changing a color of the aluminum oxide ceramic. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the aluminum oxide ceramic is substantially transparent, absent the subsurface layer defining the indicia. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein forming the aluminum oxide ceramic comprises forming the sapphire component with a substantially single crystal plane orientation between the first and second major surfaces. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein forming the aluminum oxide ceramic comprises forming a sapphire control surface for the electronic device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the indicia comprise a control identifier for the sapphire control surface. ### Claim 11 A sapphire component for an electronic device, the sapphire component comprising: a substantially single crystal aluminum oxide ceramic defining the sapphire component between opposing major surfaces; and indicia embedded into at least one selected major surface of the sapphire component, the indicia comprising ions fixed in a subsurface pattern defined within the sapphire component, beneath the selected major surface; wherein the subsurface pattern defines the indicia by altering a chromatic property of the substantially single crystal aluminum oxide ceramic, such that the indicia are visible from the selected major surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sapphire component of claim 11, wherein the ions fixed in the subsurface pattern are selected from a group comprising boron, titanium and chromium. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The sapphire component of claim 12, wherein the substantially single crystal aluminum oxide ceramic comprises corundum and the selected ions comprise chromium, such that the subsurface pattern defines a ruby material within the corundum ceramic. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The sapphire component of claim 11, wherein the substantially single crystal aluminum oxide ceramic comprises chromium, such that the subsurface pattern defines the indicia in a ruby material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) A mobile device comprising the sapphire component of claim 11 in combination with a display, wherein the sapphire component comprises a cover glass for the mobile device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the indicia identify a manufacturer thereof. ### Claim 17 A device comprising: a digital display; a sapphire cover glass component formed of a substantially single crystal aluminum oxide ceramic; and indicia embedded in the sapphire cover glass component and visible from an exterior surface thereof, the indicia comprising ions implanted into a subsurface pattern layer defined beneath the external surface, within the substantially single crystal aluminum oxide ceramic; wherein the ions define the indicia in the subsurface pattern layer by altering a chromatic property of the substantially single crystal aluminum oxide ceramic. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the ions implanted into the subsurface pattern layer are selected from a group comprising metals. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein different metal ions are implanted into the subsurface pattern layer, such that the indicia are defined with a plurality of different colors in the subsurface pattern layer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A smartphone comprising the device of claim 17, wherein the digital display comprises a touchscreen for operation thereof. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The smartphone of claim 20, wherein the indicia identify a make, model or manufacturer thereof.