# US 2014/0196933 A1 · Method for fabricating thin sheets of glass > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196933 A1 - Document ID: US20140196933A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/211,396 - Filed: 2014-03-14 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2008-06-27 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Casey J. Feinstein; John Z. Zhong; Steve Porter Hotelling; Shih Chang Chang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196933A1 ## CPC - H05K 1/0274: {Optical details, e.g. printed circuits comprising integral optical means (H05K1/0269 takes precedence; coupling light guides with opto-electronic components G02B6/42)} - B24B 7/241: {Methods} - B24B 7/242: {for plate glass} - 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) - C03C 19/00: Surface treatment of glass, not in the form of fibres or filaments, by mechanical means (sand-blasting, grinding, or polishing glass B24) - Y10T 428/24926: including ceramic, glass, porcelain or quartz layer - Y10T 428/266: of base or substrate - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - B24B: MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING (grinding of gear teeth B23F, of screw-threads B23G1/36; by electro-erosion B23H; abrasive or related blasting B24C; tools for grinding, buffing or sharpening B24D; polishing compositions C09G1/00; abrasives C09K3/14; electrolytic etching or polishing C25F3/00; grinding arrangements for use on assembled railway tracks E01B31/17); DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS - 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 - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Fabrication of thin sheets of glass or other substrate material for use in devices such as touch sensor panels is disclosed. A pair of thick glass sheets, typically with thicknesses of 0.5 mm or greater each, may each be patterned with thin film on a surface, sealed together to form a sandwich with the patterned surfaces facing each other and spaced apart by removable spacers, either or both thinned on their outside surfaces to thicknesses of less than 0.5 mm each, and separated into two thin glass sheets. A single thick glass sheet, typically with a thickness of 0.5 mm or greater, may be patterned, covered with a protective layer over the pattern, thinned on its outside surface to a thickness of less than 0.5 mm, and the protective layer removed. This thinness of less than 0.5 mm may be accomplished using standard LCD equipment, despite the equipment having a sheet minimum thickness requirement of 0.5 mm. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for fabricating a thin sheet of glass comprising: providing a sheet of glass having a first thickness of at least 0.5 mm; applying a protective layer of material having a second thickness to a surface of the sheet of glass; thinning the first thickness to less than 0.5 mm; and removing the protective layer of material from the surface of the sheet of glass. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: thinning the second thickness to less than 0.5 mm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the thinning of the first and second thicknesses occur concurrently. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the protective layer of material comprises a laminate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the thinning comprises thinning the surface of the sheet of glass opposite the surface having the protective layer applied thereon. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the removing comprising at least one of chemical etching and mechanical polishing. ### Claim 7 A method for fabricating a thin sheet of substrate material comprising: providing a sheet of substrate material having a first thickness of at least 0.5 mm; applying a protective layer of material having a second thickness to a surface of the sheet of substrate material; and thinning the first thickness. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the thinning comprises thinning the first thickness to less than 0.5 mm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: thinning the second thickness to less than 0.5 mm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the thinning of the first and second thicknesses occur concurrently. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises: removing the protective layer of material from the surface of the sheet of substrate material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the removing comprising at least one of chemical etching and mechanical polishing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the protective layer of material comprises a laminate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the thinning comprises thinning the surface of the sheet of substrate material opposite the surface having the protective layer applied thereon. ### Claim 15 A thin glass sheet for a touch sensor panel, comprising: a glass substrate having a thickness of less than 0.5 mm; and a pattern of thin film formed on a surface of the glass substrate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The thin glass sheet of claim 15, further comprising: a coating of thin film formed on a surface of the glass substrate opposite the patterned surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The thin glass sheet of claim 16, the thin glass sheet formed within a touch sensor panel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The thin glass sheet of claim 17, the touch sensor panel incorporated within a computing system. ### Claim 19 A mobile telephone including a touch sensor panel containing a patterned thin sheet of glass having a thickness of less than 0.5 mm. ### Claim 20 A digital media player including a touch sensor panel containing a patterned thin sheet of glass having a thickness of less than 0.5 mm.