System and method for laser cutting sapphire using multiple gas media
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsMichael M. Li, Anthony J. Richter, Dale N. Memering
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Abstract
A system and a method for manufacturing a sapphire part. A sapphire substrate is obtained for performing a laser cutting operation. The sapphire substrate is cut along a cut profile using a laser and a first gas medium. The first gas medium is substantially comprised of an inert gas. The sapphire substrate is then irradiated at or near the cut profile using the laser and a second gas medium. The second gas medium is different than the first gas medium comprising oxygen.
Claims22
A method of manufacturing a sapphire part comprising:
- cutting the sapphire substrate along a cut profile using a laser and a first gas medium that is substantially comprised of an inert gas, wherein the cutting produces a darkened tint on the sapphire substrate near the cut profile;
- and
- irradiating the sapphire substrate near the cut profile using the laser and a second gas medium that is different than the first gas medium and comprises at least 15% oxygen by volume to reduce a darkness of the darkened tint by oxidizing the darkened tint.
A method of manufacturing a sapphire part comprising:
- irradiating the sapphire substrate along a first cut profile using a laser and an inert gas to produce a molten sapphire and a darkened region along the first cut profile;
- removing the molten sapphire along the first cut profile using the inert gas;
- irradiating the sapphire substrate along a second cut profile using the laser and a second gas media, wherein:
- the second gas media is different than the first gas media,
- the second gas media comprises at least 15% oxygen by volume,
- the second cut profile is offset from the first cut profile, and
- the second gas media promotes an oxidation reaction at the second cut profile, the oxidation reaction to reduce a darkness of the darkened region the first cut profile;
- and
- separating the sapphire part from the sapphire substrate.
A method of manufacturing a portable electronic device comprising:
- obtaining a sapphire part, the sapphire part formed by:
- obtaining a sapphire substrate;
- irradiating the sapphire substrate along a cut profile using a laser and a first gas media that is substantially comprised of an inert gas, wherein a tinted region along the cut profile is created;
- and
- irradiating the sapphire substrate along the cut profile using the laser and a second gas media, wherein:
- the second gas media is different than the first gas media and comprises at least 15% oxygen by volume;
- the second gas media promotes an oxidization reaction within the tinted region to lighten a color of the tinted region
- separating the sapphire part from the sapphire substrate;
- and
- attaching the sapphire part to an external face of the portable electronic device.
A system for producing a sapphire part, the system comprising:
- a gas delivery device, wherein the gas delivery device is configured to provide a stream of gas to a portion of a sapphire substrate that is irradiated by a laser beam;
- and
- a laser configured to produce the laser beam incident on the portion of the sapphire substrate, wherein the laser is further configured to:
- irradiate the sapphire substrate along a cut profile while a first gas medium is provided by the gas delivery device that is substantially comprised of an inert gas, wherein a darkened region is produced along the cut profile;
- and
- irradiate the sapphire substrate along the cut profile while a second gas medium is provided by the gas delivery device that comprises at least 15% oxygen by volume and promotes an oxidation reaction along the cut profile to lighten a color of the darkened region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.