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US 9,481,598 B2Granted
Laser cutting strengthened glass
AssigneeKinestral Technologies, Inc.
InventorsHoward S Bergh, Nicolas Timmerman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for cutting strengthened glass are disclosed. The methods can include using a laser. The strengthened glass can include chemically strengthened, heat strengthened, and heat tempered glass. Strengthened glass with edges showing indicia of a laser cutting process are also disclosed. The strengthened glass can include an electrochromic film.
Claims24
A method for cutting thermally-strengthened glass, comprising:
- providing a thermally-strengthened glass substrate wherein the thermally-strengthened glass substrate has a first surface and an opposing second surface;
- applying laser energy to the thermally-strengthened glass substrate under conditions effective to cut the thermally-strengthened glass substrate, wherein applying laser energy comprises:
- focusing the laser energy at a first position on or in proximity of the first surface;
- and
- pulsing the laser energy for a pulse duration ranging from about 10 femtoseconds to about 100 picoseconds at a pulse frequency ranging from about 100 kHz to about 100 MHz, the pulsed laser energy having a pulse energy of about 1 μJ to about 400 μJ, and having a wavelength of about 250 nm to about 1100 nm;
- and
- wherein the laser energy forms a filamentation pattern defined by a series of regularly recurring substantially parallel filamentation traces in the thermally-strengthened glass substrate.
4 more elements
A method for fabricating two or more electrochromic composites, the method comprising:
- providing an electrochromic composite comprising a strengthened glass substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, an electrically conductive layer supported on the first surface of the strengthened glass substrate, and an electrochromic layer in electronic communication with the electrically conductive layer;
- and
- applying laser energy to the strengthened glass substrate under conditions effective to cut the strengthened glass substrate to form two or more electrochromic composites, wherein the laser energy forms a filamentation pattern defined by a series of regularly recurring substantially parallel filamentation traces in the strengthened glass substrate extending from a first surface of the strengthened glass substrate toward a second surface of the strengthened glass substrate to a depth of at least 75% of the thickness as detected by optical microscopy.
A method for fabricating an insulated glass unit, the method comprising:
- providing a first mother glass comprising a first strengthened glass substrate;
- applying laser energy to the first strengthened glass substrate under conditions effective to cut the strengthened glass substrate to form a first glass lite, wherein applying laser energy comprises pulsing the laser energy for a pulse duration ranging from about 10 femtoseconds to about 100 picoseconds at a pulse frequency ranging from about 100 kHz to about 100 MHz, the pulsed laser having a pulse energy of about 1 μJ to about 400 μJ, and having a wavelength of about 250 nm to about 1100 nm;
- providing a second glass lite;
- and
- assembling the first glass lite and the second glass lite into an insulated glass unit.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.