METHOD FOR LOCALLY DEFORMING A FLAT SURFACE OF A SUBSTRATE MADE OF GLASS OR A GLASS CERAMIC, AND AN OPERATING ELEMENT PRODUCED WITH SAID METHOD

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for locally deforming a flat surface of a substrate made of glass or a glass-ceramic, and to an operating element that can be produced with the method. The method is characterised by the following method steps: applying heat exclusively within a locally limited region via the surface of the substrate by means of laser radiation, gas flame, infrared radiation, electrical microwaves or plasma discharge directed towards the surface of the substrate, in such a way that the substrate is softened at least on the surface within the locally limited region; applying a force acting on the softened surface within the locally limited region, such that the softened surface of the substrate is deformed within the region; and cooling the substrate to obtain a surface that is deformed and set within the local region.

Claims

1-19. (canceled)

20. A method for locally deforming a flat surface of a substrate made of glass or a glass ceramic, comprising: applying heat exclusively within a locally limited region via the flat surface of the substrate by one of laser radiation, a gas flame, infrared radiation, microwaves or a plasma discharge directed towards the flat surface of the substrate to soften the substrate at least on the flat surface within the locally limited region; applying a force acting on the softened flat surface within the locally limited region to deform the softened surface of the substrate within the locally limited region; and cooling the substrate to obtain a set deformed surface within the locally limited region.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein: the flat surface of the substrate is not contacted with a solid object during the application of heat and the flat surface of the substrate is contacted under the application of force to exclusively locally deform the flat surface within the locally limited region.

22. The method according to claim 20, comprising: applying heat exclusively within the locally limited region via the flat surface of the substrate which causes pre-heating of the substrate to a temperature below the softening temperature of the substrate.

23. The method according to claim 21, comprising: applying heat exclusively within the locally limited region via the flat surface of the substrate which causes pre-heating of the substrate to a temperature below the softening temperature of the substrate.

24. The method according to claim 20, comprising: applying heat exclusively within the locally limited region via the flat surface of the substrate to produce a temperature and viscosity gradient inside the substrate laterally and orthogonal to the flat surface within the locally limited region.

25. The method according to claim 20, comprising: applying heat exclusively within the locally limited region via the flat surface of the substrate until the substrate on the flat surface within the locally limited region acquires a viscosity between 10.sup.5-10.sup.11 Pa.s.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the heat is applied until the viscosity is between 10.sup.8 and 10.sup.9 Pa.s.

27. The method according to claim 20, comprising: applying the force acting on the surface within the locally limited region with a tool which contacts the flat surface which is then separated from the surface.

28. The method according to claim 20, comprising: applying the force acting on the surface within the locally limited region by adhesion of at least one body to the softened surface which undergoes at least one of a permanent non-positive connection to the substrate and a bonded connection to the substrate.

29. The method according to claim 20, comprising: applying the force acting on the surface within the locally limited region by one of a positive or negative pressure prevailing locally above the surface which acts continuously or in a pulsed manner at least on the surface within the locally limited region.

30. The method according to claim 20, comprising: applying the force acting on the surface within the locally limited region to provide at least one of one a haptically and a visually perceptible structure formed on the locally limited surface of the substrate.

31. The method according to claim 20, comprising: during application of heat, applying the force acting on the surface and cooling the substrate while the substrate rests on a heat-removing underlayer.

32. The method according to claim 20, comprising: applying heat exclusively within a locally limited region via the surface of the substrate by one of laser radiation, a gas flame, infrared radiation, microwaves or plasma discharge directed towards the surface of the substrate so that the substrate is softened at least on the surface within the locally limited region; applying a force acting on a substrate surface opposite the softened surface within the locally limited region so that the softened surface of the substrate is deformed within the region; and cooling the substrate to obtain a surface that is deformed and is set within the local region.

33. The method according to claim 32, comprising: applying the heat to establish a temperature gradient between the softened surface and the substrate surface opposite the locally limited region so that the substrate is plastically deformable in at least some regions.

34. The method according to claim 32, comprising: applying the force acting on the substrate surface by a tool which at least one of contacts the substrate surface and applies a positive or negative pressure prevailing locally above the substrate surface.

35. The method according to claim 20, comprising: selecting as a material for the substrate from soda lime glass, borosilicate glass, aluminosilicate glass, quartz glass, chalcogenide glass, and mixtures of such glasses with metals or ceramics.

36. An operating element for manual actuation, which extends above or below a user interface and has a haptically perceptible structure size and a structural shape, with at least a user interface being formed from a substrate made of glass or glass ceramic, wherein: the operating element is produced according to claim 20 by deforming the surface of the substrate and the operating element is joined in one piece to the substrate.

37. The operating element according to claim 36, wherein: the operating element is part of a pressure- or touch-sensitive graphical surface.

38. The operating element according to claim 36, wherein: the operating element is a haptically perceptible positioning aid, a pressure switch, a push switch, a slide switch or a rotary knob.

39. The operating element according to claim 36, wherein: the user interface is flat or curved at least in some regions.

40. The operating element according to claim 36, wherein: the operating element has a surface dimension between 100 m and a few centimeters.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0037] The invention will be described as an example hereinafter without restricting the general inventive idea by means of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings. In the figures:

[0038] FIGS. 1a and b show sequence diagrams illustrating the method according to the solution by means of a glass pane to be deformed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] FIG. 1a shows a schematic diagram of an underlayer 1 on which a substrate in the form of a glass pane 2 which lies flat on the underlayer 1. For the purposes of a local deformation 3, see FIG. 1b, within a locally limited region 4 on the upper side 5 of the glass pane 2, the glass pane 2 is heated in the region 4 to be deformed locally by an application of heat 6, for example with a laser beam, an infrared emitter, a gas flame etc. The heating of the glass substrate 2 within the locally limited region 4 takes place until the surface 5 within the locally limited region 4 softens and acquires a viscosity, preferably between 10.sup.8 and 10.sup.9 Pa.s. In this case, a temperature and also viscosity gradient is established over the thickness D of the glass pane 2 so that the opposite rear-side substrate surface 7 which corresponds to the rear side of the glass pane 2, largely retains its elastic properties. An advantageous cooling of the rear-side glass pane surface 7 which can take place via the underlayer 1 ensures that the glass does not soften on the rear-side substrate surface 7.

[0040] The application of heat 6 is ended as soon as the locally limited region 4 on the surface 5 of the glass pane 2 is completely or largely completely softened. The remaining surface regions 5* of the glass pane 2 which seamlessly and integrally adjoin the locally limited region 4 remain below the softening temperature and are therefore not softened.

[0041] Closely integrated in time with respect to the heating of the surface 5 within the locally limited region 4, the softened surface undergoes deforming within the locally limited region 4 by an application of force 8, preferably provided from a tool while the glass pane 2 lies on the underlayer 1. By means of a central application of force 8 directed onto the surface within the locally limited region 4, the glass material is displaced downwards, with the result that it results in a lateral displacement of material within the glass pane 2, resulting in an elevation 9 radially around the location of the force application 8.

[0042] Various types of haptically perceptible surface structures can be characterized by the shape and size of the locally limited region 4 of the heated surface and the type of force application 8. Depending on the requirement and haptic effect of the resulting surface deformation 3, a corresponding structure size is impressed into the glass pane, which can comprise local elevations, preferably in the mm range and lateral extensions as far as into the cm range.

[0043] Alternatively or in combination with the application of a force 8, preferably a glass body 10 can be placed on the softened surface region of the glass substrate 2 to form a haptic structure. By way of the local heating the glass body 10 also undergoes a local softening, with the result that a firmly bonded connection is formed between the glass body 10 and the glass substrate 2.

[0044] In addition, it is possible to form the glass pane 2 before or after the surface deformation in its entirety, and for example by bending. For this purpose the glass pane 2 is heated in its entirety, for example in a process furnace.

REFERENCE LIST

[0045] 1 Underlayer

[0046] 2 Glass pane

[0047] 3 Deforming, operating element

[0048] 4 Locally limited region

[0049] 5 Surface of glass pane

[0050] 5* Locally adjoining surface regions of the glass pane

[0051] 6 Application of heat

[0052] 7 Rear-side glass pane surface

[0053] 8 Application of force

[0054] 9 Elevation

[0055] 10 Glass body