Apple obtains three more sapphire-related patents

Many reports indicate that Apple will release an iPhone equipped with a sapphire glass screen this fall. Today, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published three patents applied by Apple. These patents are related to sapphire glass related technologies. The patents mention the use of sapphire glass to make iOS device screens and illuminated buttons. The first patent is called "Sapphire glass component with residual compression force." This patent describes a method of shaping and selectively generating residual compression force in alumina ceramic (sapphire) material, which can make fragile areas of sapphire glass stronger. Earlier this month, a video showed off the iPhone 6 sapphire glass. Although the iPhone 6 screen material in the video was not confirmed, tests showed that the material can handle various scratches and withstand extreme bending, properties that Corning Gorilla Glass does not have. The patent mentions that this reinforced sapphire glass technology is suitable for application on the front panel or back shell of the device. In order to improve shock and impact, residual compressive stress technology can be applied to the outermost layer of sapphire glass. Any suitable technique can be used to create residual compressive stress, such as heat treatment, tempering, quenching or other such techniques. Laser heating or intensification can also be used for more precise control. Depending on the sapphire glass installation device, techniques to resist residual compressive stress can be implemented at the edges or in the center. Apple’s second sapphire-related patent is called “ceramic insertion control mechanism.” The patent describes using sapphire material to make physical controls, such as the home button, volume keys, etc. The patent describes sapphire components operating the actuator via pressing, sliding and manually switching elements. The controls can be mounted on the device's case or plugged into the sapphire glass screen, like the iPhone's home button. 　 To prevent damage, bearings, insulators or spacers can be installed around sapphire parts. These parts can be opaque or a material with the same refractive index as sapphire. Currently, Touch ID uses sapphire glass material, which can protect the sensitive internal circuitry. Apple's patent mentions using LED lights to bring brightness to sapphire components. The third patent is called "Ion Implantation Marking of Screen Protective Glass or Display Components." This technology can create marks on the bottom of the sapphire glass screen, such as serial numbers or trademarks. By using ion implantation technology, which changes the light or color properties of the sapphire material on the subsurface, a mark can be left that is both easy to read and functional. Possible ions used include chromium, titanium, or iron, which are then accelerated in an electric field and injected into the sapphire element. Different ions can be used to create marks of different colors, and some methods may only slightly change the perceived optical quality of the glass.