Methods of cutting glass using a laser

Abstract

A method of cutting a glass article includes translating a laser beam relative to a first surface of the glass article. The laser beam includes a beam waist having a center. The center of the beam waist of the laser beam is positioned at or below a second surface of the glass article. The laser beam creates a plurality of defects along a score line in the glass article such that the plurality of defects extends a distance into the glass article, and at least some individual defects of the plurality of defects are non-orthogonal to the first surface of the glass article and are biased in a direction of translation of the laser beam. Glass articles having edge defects are also disclosed.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A glass article comprising:
 a first surface and a second surface separated by a thickness t;   an edge joining the first surface and the second surface; and   a plurality of defects at the edge that extend from the first surface or the second surface of the glass article through a portion of the thickness t of the glass article, wherein:   
       the plurality of defects extends into the thickness t of the glass article; 
       individual defects of the plurality of defects are non-orthogonal to the first surface or the second surface; and 
       the individual defects of the plurality of defects are biased in a direction along the edge. 
     
     
         17 . The glass article of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of defects extends into a majority of the thickness t of the glass article. 
     
     
         18 . The glass article of  claim 16 , wherein the glass article comprises an ion-exchanged glass article having a first strengthened surface layer and a second strengthened surface layer under a compressive stress and extending from a surface of the ion-exchanged glass article to a depth of layer, and a central region between the first strengthened surface layer and the second strengthened surface layer that is under tensile stress. 
     
     
         19 . The glass article of  claim 18 , wherein the distance that at least a portion of the plurality of defects extends into the glass article is greater than the depth of layer. 
     
     
         20 . The glass article of  claim 18 , wherein the central region has a tensile stress between about 20 and about 30 megapascals, and the plurality of defects extends about halfway into the thickness of the ion-exchanged glass article.