Low temperature hermetic sealing via laser
AssigneeGuardian Industries Corp.
InventorsVijayen S. VEERASAMY, Martin D. BRACAMONTE
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for low temperature laser sealing of bonded articles is disclosed. Hermetic sealing of glass substrates using low temperature sealing techniques that do not adversely affect bulk strength of glass substrates, the environment created between the substrates and/or any components housed within the sealed glass substrates is disclosed. Such low temperature sealing techniques include use of localized laser heating of sealing materials to form a hermetic seal between glass substrates that does not involve heating the entire article to be sealed.
Claims33
1-7. (canceled)
A method of making a vacuum insulated glass (VIG) window unit, the method comprising:
- providing a first substrate;
- applying a seal material to an area of the first substrate to be sealed;
- forming a seal by at least:
- vitrifying the seal material using laser irradiation, the laser irradiation exposing the seal material but not being directed toward a majority of the first substrate;
- bonding the first substrate to a second substrate by continuing to irradiate the vitrified seal material with laser irradiation to melt the seal material;
- and
- evacuating a cavity formed between the first and second substrates and defined by the seal to a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure.
A method of making an article including a sealed cavity formed between substrates, the method comprising:
- providing first and second substrates comprising glass;
- applying a sealing material to at least one of the substrates;
- and
- forming a seal by irradiating the sealing material with a laser, wherein said cavity is defined by geometries of the substrates and the seal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.