Apple patent reveals method of attaching sapphire cover glass to iPhone
While rumors that Apple would incorporate sapphire into its latest iPhone 6 flagship handset failed to materialize, the company is continuing work on such a solution, according to a patent application uncovered on Thursday.
As detailed in Apple's patent filing for a "Ceramic cover for electronic device housing," published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the Cupertino tech giant is sinking assets into a sapphire display cover for its flagship smartphone line.
The invention mentions use of either sapphire or zirconia, both in crystalline form to achieve suitable transparency levels, though Apple is more likely to use sapphire considering it already bet on the material with a failed $578 million investment in GT Advanced.
Unlike past Apple inventions dealing with sapphire, which usually deal with material production, the ceramic cover housing patent describes in detail the method of fitting the part onto a handset. Specifically, instead of using adhesives that add extra thickness to the overall build, Apple proposes an attachment member, much like mortise and tenon joints.
In one embodiment, a laser ablation technique is used to carve out recesses in a sapphire sheet specified at between 0.3 millimeters and 1.0 millimeter in thickness. A jet of fluid helps to cool the material and carry away ablated ceramic that might resettle into a freshly cut recess.
Attaching the sapphire to a device housing involves Apple's usual shock-resistant thermoplastic peripheral side members, the thin black buffer zone seen on all iPhone and iPad models. Certain embodiments call for the peripheral material to support the housing, a design seen with the iPhone 6, while others look to cover areas that would otherwise remain exposed, much like the iPhone 4 and 4S.
Dovetail recesses are ablated into the sapphire cover, while corresponding angled tenons are integrated with the peripheral side member. When joined, or in some cases molded together, the components create a mechanical interlock to provide substantially gap-free construction.
Apple also provides for the peripheral member to be made of a ceramic-strengthened composite, possibly using ceramic fibers or particles mixed with polymers. These peripheral bodies may be disposed in on or two layers, as seen in the illustration above.
The patent goes into further detail regarding alternative processes for achieving largely the same design, as well as molding techniques, secondary designs and exemplary implementations.
Apple's sapphire iPhone cover patent application was first filed for in May 2013 and credits Kelvin Kwong as its inventor.
As detailed in Apple's patent filing for a "Ceramic cover for electronic device housing," published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the Cupertino tech giant is sinking assets into a sapphire display cover for its flagship smartphone line.
The invention mentions use of either sapphire or zirconia, both in crystalline form to achieve suitable transparency levels, though Apple is more likely to use sapphire considering it already bet on the material with a failed $578 million investment in GT Advanced.
Unlike past Apple inventions dealing with sapphire, which usually deal with material production, the ceramic cover housing patent describes in detail the method of fitting the part onto a handset. Specifically, instead of using adhesives that add extra thickness to the overall build, Apple proposes an attachment member, much like mortise and tenon joints.
In one embodiment, a laser ablation technique is used to carve out recesses in a sapphire sheet specified at between 0.3 millimeters and 1.0 millimeter in thickness. A jet of fluid helps to cool the material and carry away ablated ceramic that might resettle into a freshly cut recess.
Attaching the sapphire to a device housing involves Apple's usual shock-resistant thermoplastic peripheral side members, the thin black buffer zone seen on all iPhone and iPad models. Certain embodiments call for the peripheral material to support the housing, a design seen with the iPhone 6, while others look to cover areas that would otherwise remain exposed, much like the iPhone 4 and 4S.
Dovetail recesses are ablated into the sapphire cover, while corresponding angled tenons are integrated with the peripheral side member. When joined, or in some cases molded together, the components create a mechanical interlock to provide substantially gap-free construction.
Apple also provides for the peripheral member to be made of a ceramic-strengthened composite, possibly using ceramic fibers or particles mixed with polymers. These peripheral bodies may be disposed in on or two layers, as seen in the illustration above.
The patent goes into further detail regarding alternative processes for achieving largely the same design, as well as molding techniques, secondary designs and exemplary implementations.
Apple's sapphire iPhone cover patent application was first filed for in May 2013 and credits Kelvin Kwong as its inventor.
Comments
Who says its for a smartphone and not for the AppleWatch?
Mikey Campbell says its for a smartphone. I'm not sure anyone said its not for the AppleWatch.
They may not be any longer. Despite the article's claim that this patent app is proof Apple is still dumping money into it, a patent filed back in 2013 isn't evidence they're still actively pursuing sapphire for smartphone screens at the end of 2014.
Why is Apple so focused on sapphire glass? The current Gorilla glass is way much more practical and economical. And it should be users responsibility to cover the screen with protection.
It's a huge company. they're no doubt "focused" on a lot of options for materials going forward. Items not quite optimal today can become so with a bit of effort. Sitting on "current" as good enough get's overcome by competitors.
Mikey Campbell says its for a smartphone. I'm not sure anyone said its not for the AppleWatch.
Who the hell is Mikey Campell.
This is the problem that most people have when looking at Apple Patents especially ones granted prior to the product coming out, they see the patent and it makes it look like an already existing product and people assume it for the current products. They just showing an example, this could be used for any number of current or future products. for all we know they may want to use this on solar panels since glass degrades over time and solar plane efficiencies go down then.
I don't know, but I associate him with those carnival barker, passive-verb headlines like "Apple said to focus on sapphire as Samsung surges ahead"
Look at the by-line for the story.
Suddenly Newton got it...
While rumors that Apple would incorporate sapphire into its latest iPhone 6 flagship handset failed to materialize, the company is continuing work on such a solution, according to a patent application uncovered on Thursday.
False and maybe.
The rumors that Apple would use sapphire for the iPhone 6 materialized perfectly. They just turned out to be false.
As to whether Apple is still working on such a solution, patent filings can't tell you that either.
Here is another thought, the iPhone becomes a stressed skin slab where the "glass" actually adds strength to the device. Actually no it isn't entirely the user responsibility. Using that rational Apple could use a soft transparent plastic panel. A quality device should implement the best of what is possible.
Apple should refer to Sapphire as 'transparent aluminium', sounds more futuristic.