A method for forming an initiation defect in a glass substrate to facilitate separating the glass substrate into a plurality of substrates is provided. The method includes providing the glass substrate and contacting a broad surface of the glass substrate with an abrasive surface thereby forming a field of initiation defects in the broad surface of the glass substrate. The field of initiation defects has a width of at least about three millimetres between outermost initiation defects. At least one initiation defect is heated with a laser source. The at least one initiation defect is cooled with a cooling fluid such that a crack initiates from the at least one initiation defect, the crack extending through a thickness of the glass substrate and propagating across the glass substrate to separate the glass substrate into the plurality of substrates.

A method for cutting a transparent brittle material using pulsed laser-radiation is disclosed. A beam of pulsed laser-radiation having an optical-axis is focused in the material by a variable-focus lens or mirror. The focus is translated along the optical-axis while the material is moved with respect to the beam to create an array of defects along a cutting path.

The present invention relates to a manufacturing method for a camera window and a camera window manufactured thereby. A conventional camera window is configured such that an etching pattern is provided on a back surface of a glass sheet, and a deposition layer is provided on the etching pattern, thereby improving reflectivity, whereby indirect external recognition of the etching pattern is performed, but in the present invention, a distinctive pattern is provided on a front surface of a glass sheet such that direct external recognition of the pattern is possible, whereby it is possible to recognize a distinctive pattern line.

Methods of fabricating a glass ribbon comprise the step of bending a glass ribbon in a cutting zone to provide a bent target segment with a bent orientation in the cutting zone. The methods further include the step of severing at least one of the edge portions from the central portion of the bent target segment within the cutting zone. Further methods are provided including the step of bending a glass ribbon in a bending zone downstream from a downward zone, wherein the glass ribbon includes an upwardly concave surface through the bending zone. The methods further include the step of severing at least one of the edge portions from the central portion of a target segment within the bending zone.

Methods of processing a glass ribbon are provided. The method includes the step of traversing the glass ribbon through a travel path at a predetermined velocity and severing the glass ribbon to create an upstream web and a downstream web. The method further includes the step of increasing a relative velocity of a downstream edge portion with respect to an upstream edge portion to create a gap between an upstream severed edge and a downstream severed edge. In other example methods, a segment of the glass ribbon is removed to create a gap between an upstream severed edge and a downstream severed edge. In still further example methods, an upstream severed edge is directed along a second travel path to create a gap between the upstream severed edge and a downstream severed edge.

A method of cutting a glass sheet is disclosed. The method comprises heating a heating element to a heat temperature, which in turn heats a glass sheet along a desired cutting line, to a separation temperature. The glass sheet is subjected to non-destructive pressure at an edge on the cutting line. The non-destructive pressure may be applied by a tool with opposed sharp edges so long as the edges do not nick or otherwise score the glass sheet. A diagonal cutter may be utilized as the sharp-edged tool. After an adequate amount of heating time, the glass sheet will achieve the separation temperature and spontaneously separate along the heated cutting line.

A method of cutting a glass sheet is disclosed. The method comprises heating a heating element to a heat temperature, which in turn heats a glass sheet along a desired cutting line, to a separation temperature. The glass sheet is subjected to non-destructive pressure at an edge on the cutting line. The non-destructive pressure may be applied by a tool with opposed sharp edges so long as the edges do not nick or otherwise score the glass sheet. A diagonal cutter may be utilized as the sharp-edged tool. After an adequate amount of heating time, the glass sheet will achieve the separation temperature and spontaneously separate along the heated cutting line.

An internal feature can be laser machined in strengthened glass sheets or panels by first laser machining a first scribe in a first surface proximate to the internal feature to be laser machined. The internal feature can be then laser machined by positioning a beam waist of a laser beam proximate to an opposite second surface by focusing the laser beam through the strengthened glass panel from the first surface. The internal feature is laser machined by repositioning the beam waist from the second surface to the first surface while removing material from a kerf surrounding the internal feature. When the laser beam waist is finally positioned proximate to the first surface material, the internal shape formed by the laser machining is easily and cleanly removed from the surrounding glass.

Cutting a desired final shape in a glass sheet, wherein the glass sheet is about 0.3 mm or less in thickness by applying a laser beam to the glass and continuously moving the laser relative to the glass along the cutting line. The laser is of a circular shape, and cooling fluid is applied simultaneously with the application of the laser, such that the cooling fluid at least reduces the temperature of the glass in order to propagate a fracture in the glass. The method includes controlling at least one of: (i) an energy density of the laser, (ii) a velocity of the laser relative to the glass along the cutting line, (iii) a fluid flow of the cooling fluid, and (iv) a minimum radius of curvature of the cutting line, such that a B10 edge strength of a cut edge of the glass is at least about 300 MPa.

Methods are provided for laser processing arbitrary shapes of molded 3D thin transparent brittle parts from substrates with particular interest in substrates formed from strengthened or non-strengthened Corning Gorilla® glass (all codes). The developed laser methods can be tailored for manual separation of the parts from the panel or full laser separation by thermal stressing the desired profile. Methods can be used to form 3D surfaces with small radii of curvature. The method involves the utilization of an ultra-short pulse laser that may be optionally followed by a CO.sub.2 laser for fully automated separation.