Methods and Systems for Strengthening LCD Modules

Abstract

Systems and methods for improving strength of thin displays, such as Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) displays, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a display can use an asymmetrical arrangement of layers (e.g., glass layers) where one layer is thicker than another layer. Different scribing techniques can also be used in singulating the different layers. The asymmetrical arrangement and/or scribing techniques can facilitate displays that are not only thin but also adequately strong to limit susceptibility to damage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of forming a display with an asymmetric glass configuration, comprising:
 providing a first glass sheet having a first thickness;   providing a second glass sheet having a second thickness;   cutting the first glass sheet to a first edge on the first glass sheet;   cutting the second glass sheet to a second edge on the second glass sheet; and   positioning the first and second sheets relative to one another in order to form the display.   
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein at least the first glass sheet is cut with a laser scribe cutting process. 
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein:
 the first thickness is configured as the lowest possible thickness capable of being laser scribed; and   the second thickness is configured less than the lowest possible thickness capable of being laser scribed.   
     
     
         26 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein at least the second glass sheet is cut with a wheel scribing cutting process. 
     
     
         27 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein said providing the first and second glass sheets comprise:
 selecting a combined thickness of the first thickness and the second thickness; and   forming the first glass sheet and the second glass sheet utilizing the combined thickness, said forming including increasing the first thickness for the first glass sheet while decreasing the second thickness for the second glass sheet.   
     
     
         28 . The method as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the increase is proportional to the decrease. 
     
     
         29 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the second thickness is not capable of being cut by the cutting processes forming the first glass sheet. 
     
     
         30 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the display is a liquid crystal display (LCD). 
     
     
         31 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the first glass sheet and the second glass sheet are components of a liquid crystal module (LCM). 
     
     
         32 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein said method further comprises:
 providing high density spacer elements between the first glass sheet and the second glass sheet.   
     
     
         33 . The method as recited in  claim 32 , wherein the high density spacer elements are provided every 6-10 pixels of the display. 
     
     
         34 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein:
 the first edge has a first edge character;   the second edge has a second edge character; and   the first edge character is a fine cut edge and the second edge character is a coarse cut edge.   
     
     
         35 . The method as recited in  claim 34 , wherein the first edge character has fewer stress concentrations than the second edge character. 
     
     
         36 . The method as recited in  claim 34 , wherein the first edge character is sharper than the second edge character. 
     
     
         37 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the first and second glass sheets are formed from borosilicate or sodalime. 
     
     
         38 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the combined thickness of the first and second thickness is less than 0.6 mm. 
     
     
         39 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the combined thickness of the first and second thickness is about 0.4 mm. 
     
     
         40 . The method as recited in  claim 39 , wherein the first thickness is about 0.25 mm and the second thickness is about 0.15 mm. 
     
     
         41 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein:
 the first and second thickness are combined to form a combined thickness; and   the first thickness is larger than half of the combined thickness, and the second thickness is smaller than half of the combined thickness.   
     
     
         42 . The method as recited in  claim 41 , wherein the increase in the first thickness as compared to the thickness of half of the combined thickness is same as the decrease in the second thickness as compared to the thickness of half of the combined thickness. 
     
     
         43 . The method as recited in  claim 41 , wherein the percentage change of the increase or decrease as compared to a centerline value corresponding to half the combined thickness is between about 40% and about 1%. 
     
     
         44 . The method as recited in  claim 41 , wherein the percentage change of the increase or decrease as compared to a centerline value corresponding to half the combined thickness is between about 20-30%. 
     
     
         45 . A method of strengthening a multi-layer glass display comprising:
 providing a first glass layer uniformly having a first thickness;   providing a display layer;   providing a second glass layer uniformly having layer a second thickness;   positioning the first glass layer above the display layer; and   positioning the second glass layer below the display layer;   wherein:
 the second thickness is less than the first thickness. 
   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the first thickness is configured to the lowest possible thickness capable of being laser scribed. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the second thickness is configured to be less than the lowest possible thickness capable of being laser scribed. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising:
 selecting a combined thickness of the multi-layer glass display;   selecting the first thickness greater than the thickness of the display layer; and   selecting the second thickness as the difference between the combined thickness and the first thickness such that increasing the first thickness decreases the second thickness.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the display layer is a liquid crystal display (LCD). 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the first glass layer has a first edge character and the second glass layer has a second edge character. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the first edge character has fewer stress concentrations than the second edge character. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the first and second glass sheets are formed from borosilicate or sodalime. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the combined thickness of the first and second thickness is less than 0.6 mm. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the combined thickness of the first and second thickness is about 0.4 mm. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the first thickness is about 0.25 mm and the second thickness is about 0.15 mm.