Apparatus, systems and methods for improving strength of a thin glass cover for an electronic device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the glass member can have improved strength by forming its edges with a predetermined geometry and/or by chemically strengthening the edges. Advantageously, the glass member can be not only thin but also adequately strong to limit susceptibility to damage. In one embodiment, the glass member can pertain to a glass cover for a housing for an electronic device. The glass cover can be provided over or integrated with a display, such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) display.

Techniques for Strengthening Glass Covers for Portable Electronic Devices

A method for chemical-mechanical planarization of a substrate on a fixed-abrasive polishing pad in which a planarizing solution is dispensed onto the fixed-abrasive polishing pad The planarizing solution is preferably an abrasive-free planarizing solution that oxidizes a surface layer on the substrate without passing the surface layer into solution, and the fixed-abrasive pad has a substantially uniform distribution of abrasive particles fixedly bonded to a suspension medium The surface layer of the substrate is then pressed against the fixed-abrasive pad in the presence of planarizing solution, and at least one of the fixed-abrasive pad or the substrate moves relative to the other to remove material from the surface of the substrate In operation, the planarizing solution forms a rough, scabrous layer of non-soluble oxides on the surface layer that are readily removed by the abrasive surface of the polishing pad In one embodiment of the invention, the pH of the planarizing solution is controlled to oxidize the material of the surface layer without passing it into solution

Method for chemical-mechanical planarization of a substrate on a fixed-abrasive polishing pad

There is provided a glass-ceramic substrate for an information storage medium usable in an information storage device of the ramp loading system. The glass ceramic substrate has a Young's modulus (GPa)/specific gravity of 37 or over and includes 5.3 to 8 weight percent (expressed on an oxide basis) of Al 2 O 3 . The glass ceramic substrate has, as its predominant crystal phases, lithium disilicate (Li 2 O.2SiO 2 ) and α-quartz (α-SiO 2 ), has a coefficient of thermal expansion within a range from 65×10 −7 /° C. to 130×10 −7 /° C. within a temperature range from −50° C. to +70° C. and has a surface roughness (Ra) (arithmetic mean roughness) of 9 Å or below.

Glass-ceramic substrate for a magnetic information storage medium

Strengthened glass substrate sheets and methods of fabricating glass panels from glass substrate sheets are disclosed In one embodiment, a method includes forming at least one series of holes through a thickness of the glass substrate sheet, wherein the at least one series of holes defines a perimeter of the glass panel to be separated from the glass substrate sheet The method further includes strengthening the glass substrate sheet by a strengthening process, and separating the glass panel from the glass substrate sheet along the at least one series of holes At least a portion of one or more edges of the glass panel has an associated edge compressive layer In another embodiment, a strengthened glass substrate sheet includes at least one series of holes that defines a perimeter of one or more glass panels to be separated from the strengthened glass substrate sheet

Strengthened glass substrate sheets and methods for fabricating glass panels from glass substrate sheets

Structural preform layers of multiple rigid unidirectional strength elements or rods are constructed and arranged for use in fabricating load-bearing support structures and reinforcements of wind turbine blades. Individual preform layers include multiple elongate unidirectional strength elements or rods arranged in a single layer along a longitudinal axis of the preform layer. Each preform layer includes one or more fibrous carrier layers to which the multiple strength elements or rods are joined and arranged in the single layer. Each strength element or rod is longitudinally oriented and adjacent to other elements or rods. Individual strength elements or rods include a mass of substantially straight unidirectional structural fibers embedded within a matrix resin such that the elements or rods have a substantially uniform distribution of fibers and high degree of fiber collimation. The relative straightness of the fibers and fiber collimation provide strength elements or rods and the preform layers with high rigidity and significant compression strength.

Wind turbine rotor blade components and methods of making same

An edge strengthened substrate of a data storage disk and a method for fabricating same is disclosed. A strengthening agent is preferably applied to selected portions of a disk-shaped glass substrate to increase the overall strength of the glass substrate. In one embodiment, a strengthening agent is preferably applied along an inner diameter portion of a disk-shaped glass substrate. A binder is preferably mixed with the strengthening agent to limit the mobility of the strengthening agent to the selected inner diameter portion of the substrate during the strengthening process. The glass substrate is then heated to a diffusion temperature for a sufficient duration of time to permit diffusion of the strengthening agent into the glass substrate. Selective application of a strengthening agent to an outer diameter portion of the glass substrate may be performed to further strengthen the glass substrate. Further application of a strengthening agent to an intermediate diameter surface portion of the glass substrate defined substantially between the inner and outer diameter portions may be performed to further increase the strength of the glass substrate.

Edge strengthened substrate of a data storage disk and method for fabricating same

A magnetic data storage disk includes a surface with a coarsely textured head landing zone and a finely textured data storage area. The coarse texture is applied over the fine texture in the landing zone without forming a step in elevation at the boundary. A method for texturing the magnetic disk includes first applying a fine texture to both the data storage area and the landing zone, and then applying a coarse texture to the landing zone only. Texturing apparatus includes peripheral disk clamps permitting axial compliant movement when the opposed disk surfaces are engaged by balanced, pneumatically biased abrading tools. A free abrasive slurry is introduced to pads carried by the tools.

Method and apparatus for texturing zones of a magnetic disk

A flexible circuit (20), sufficiently rigid for easy handling, is inserted once into the window (91) of an integrally formed core member (81)for a magnetic or ferrite head assembly. This flexible circuit contains a pattern of several parallel conductors. When the flexible circuit is bent around the core member, the ends of the parallel conductors come together. When respective ends are soldered together, a continuous multi-turn winding is created. Only one insertion is required, the flexible circuit is less prone to breakage, the electrical characteristics are repeatable, and the turns are inherently shielded and insulated from each other. Most importantly, the flexible circuit is easily adapted to an automated assembly line.

Flexible circuit magnetic core winding for a core member

A tray for retaining disks includes first and second longitudinally extending, spaced apart, parallel rods. A plurality of support plates are directly attached to the rods. Each support plate has at least one notch formed therein for receiving a respective support member. A plurality of rails are attached to the support plates. At least three spaced apart wires are provided. Each wire is formed to have a zigzag configuration adapted to receive and support the disk at an outer peripheral edge thereof. One of the wires is disposed to contact the outer periphery of the disk at a position of zero degrees, another one of the wires is disposed to contact the outer periphery of the disk at a position less than 90 degrees, and a further one of the wires is disposed to contact the outer periphery of the disk at a position greater than 270 degrees.

Tray for retaining disks

The invention is a method for improving the flatness of nonmetallic substrates and preferably glass disks. The method comprises the steps of mounting the glass disk on a support. The support preferably comprises a refractory metal having a cooling rate substantially similar to the disk. The disk is then subjected to heating to a temperature in the anneal region for the given material for a period ranging from about 0.5 hours to 12 hours or longer, and then the disk is controllably cooled. The glass disk is preferably cooled at a rate of about 0.25° C./minute to 1.5° C./minute to room temperature. The invention also comprises a hard disk glass memory element and a data storage and retrieval device comprising this element.

Steven F. Starcke

Papers

Edge strengthened substrate of a data storage disk and method for fabricating same

Method and apparatus for texturing zones of a magnetic disk

Flexible circuit magnetic core winding for a core member

Tray for retaining disks

Method for improving the flatness of glass disk substrates