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US 2026/0181804 A1Published application
Strengthened covers for electronic devices
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsMatthew J. Gutwald, Andi M. Limarga, Zacharias Vangelatos, Que Anh S. Nguyen
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Abstract
Strengthened covers for electronic devices are disclosed herein. A cover member of the device may be strengthened by ion exchange combined with ion implantation to provide both impact and bending resistance.
Claims20
An electronic device comprising:
- a display;
- a cover positioned over the display and comprising a cover member formed from an ion-exchangeable silicate material comprising lithium ions, the cover member comprising:
- a first compressive stress region extending from an exterior surface of the cover member to a first depth, the first compressive stress region including:
- a first concentration of sodium ions;
- and
- a first concentration of alkali metal ions that are larger than potassium ions and that are embedded in the cover member;
- and
- a second compressive stress region extending inward from the first compressive stress region to a second depth, the second compressive stress region including a second concentration of the sodium ions and substantially free of the alkali metal ions.
5 more elements
An electronic device comprising:
- a housing;
- a cover coupled to the housing and comprising a cover member formed from an alkali aluminosilicate material, the cover member comprising:
- an ion-modified layer comprising:
- a first region extending from a surface of the cover member to an implantation depth of alkali metal ions that are larger than potassium ions, the first region including:
- the alkali metal ions;
- and
- a first concentration of sodium ions;
- and
- a second region extending from the first region to a layer depth of the ion-modified layer and comprising a second concentration of the sodium ions;
- and
- a core region extending from the second region and comprising lithium ions;
- and
- a display positioned under the cover member.
10 more elements
An electronic device comprising:
- a display;
- a housing;
- a cover coupled to the housing, positioned over the display, and comprising a cover member formed from an ion-exchangeable silicate material, the cover member comprising:
- a first compressive stress layer extending from an exterior surface of the cover member to a first depth of compression, the first compressive stress layer defining a first compressive stress at the exterior surface and comprising:
- a first set of alkali metal ions that are larger than potassium ions, the first set of alkali metal ions defining a first implantation depth within the cover member that is less than the first depth of compression;
- and
- a first set of sodium ions;
- and
- a second compressive stress layer extending from an interior surface of the cover member to a second depth of compression, the interior surface opposite the exterior surface and the second compressive stress layer defining a second compressive stress at the interior surface and comprising:
- a second set of the alkali metal ions defining a second implantation depth within the cover member that is less than the second depth of compression;
- and
- a second set of sodium ions;
- and
- a tensile stress region positioned between the first and the second compressive stress layers and comprising lithium ions.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.