METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING LARGE-SCALE PRECISION STRUCTURES IN FLAT GLASS

摘要

FLAT GLASS PROVIDED WITH PRECISION STRUCTURES IS REQUIRED FOR PRECISION APPLICATIONS, ESPECIALLY FOR GLASSES WITH OPTICAL PROPERTIES, FOR EXAMPLE FOR MODERN FLAT DISPLAY SCREEN GLASS. A METHOD FOR FORMING PRECISION STRUCTURES IN OR ON FLAT GLASS INCLUDES FILLING A STRUCTURING SURFACE (2) OF A FORMING TOOL (1) WITH A PASTE-LIKE MATERIAL (2A, 13) AND PRESSING THE FORMING TOOL (1) ON ONE SIDE OF THE FLAT GLASS (3). THE FORMING TOOL (1) IS HEATED LOCALLY SHORTLY PRIOR AND/OR DURING OR AFTER CONTACT WITH THE GLASS SURFACE (3) WITH THE STRUCTURING SURFACE (2) FROM THE OUTSIDE UNTIL THE STRUCTURING SURFACE DOWN TO A DEPTH PREDETERMINED BY THE HEIGHT OF THE STRUCTURES BEING FORMED REACHES A TEMPERATURE AT WHICH A MELTING AND HARDENING OF THE PASTE-LIKE MATERIAL FORMING THE STRUCTURES OCCURS DURING CONTACT WITH THE FLAT GLASS (3). THE LOCAL HEATING OF THE STRUCTURING SURFACE (2) IS PERFORMED BY LASER RADIATION WHICH IS PASSED THROUGH THE FLAT GLASS (3) TO THE STRUCTURING SURFACE (2). ALTERNATIVELY AN INDUCTIVE OR RESISTANCE HEATING CAN BE PERFORMED.