Apple iPhone 6 more likely to have Sapphire Laminate Layer Display's

Recently, sapphire glass and Corning Gorilla glass panel can be described as the battle reached the white-hot stage, the former claiming to have better scratch resistance, anti-cracking performance, will become the next generation of smart phone screen Panel; while the latter claimed that the sapphire screen actually not so powerful propaganda, Gorilla glass is still the mainstream choice.

Clearly, the current smart phones generally come with Corning Gorilla glass, the latest third-generation panel, but the phone drop causes the screen cracked still very common thing, so naturally people are very concerned about the new panel technology. As sapphire glass, so far only a handful of luxury mobile phone use, but rumors Apple has invested manufacturer GT Advanced, and signed a multi-year supply agreement, meaning that the next generation iPhone is likely to carry this new screen panel.

So, naturally inevitable war of words. Tony Tripeny, senior vice president of Corning's recent public comments, claiming sapphire glass, Corning product, compared with more disadvantages, such as more expensive, more heavy, light support is not good for the environment, poor display, its performance is totally exaggerated . So who better bottom? Let's look at two company's situation.



Corning 

Connie company dates back to 1851, the current market value exceeded $ 27 billion. Since 1950, the company began in the glass field force, and gradually become the market leader. For Corning, Apple actually played the role of horses, because it is in Jobs' insistence, the first iPhone will be equipped with Corning Gorilla glass to replace traditional plastic panel, this is the first mass-Gorilla glass production, also caused a wave of new wave.

Since then, the Gorilla Glass 2 to reduce the thickness of the Gorilla Glass 3 has a better scratch resistance, greater affordability and better display. Currently, in addition to Apple and Sony declined to disclose the brand they used panel, almost all other mainstream smart phone equipped with a gorilla glass.



Apple's new darling

According to 9to5Mac and other technology to media reports, Apple is very optimistic about the sapphire glass technology, and invest at least $ 500 million in research and development, support GT Advanced screen panel company to become its largest supplier. Currently, only Vetru Ti luxury phone like this with a sapphire screen; addition, Apple iPhone 5s in the Home button and the camera head using a sapphire glass, so relatively Corning Gorilla glass is relatively small minority.

As for GT Advanced company, has been engaged in research polysilicon, sapphire glass research and development, was founded in 2006, the current market value of $ 2.6 billion, compared to Corning's apparently still a novice.

The actual test: in the end who is stronger? 



In last year's MWC communication exhibition, GT Advanced Sapphire glass companies were showing, claiming it is about three times the strength of Corning Gorilla Glass, but the production process is very difficult, second only to diamond material. A few months later, the company released a sapphire material foil screen demo video, proved its superior scratch resistance.

However, Corning were immediately refuted, claiming that although the sapphire glass scratch resistance is strong, but the lack of flexibility gorilla glass, and to confirm this statement through a stress test video. In other words, sapphire glass, Corning insists that is not suitable for use on a mobile phone screen, because it is more brittle.

Apparently, On September 12, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals their intention to add a sapphire laminate to future iDevices like the iPhone and iWatch to provide a stronger glass that is ultimately scratch resistant. It was revealed earlier this week that Apple's new iPhone 5S Home Button is made from laser-cut sapphire crystal. Apple's patent application describes their method of fusing a sapphire laminate sheet to a device's cover glass.

Apple's invention relates to various sapphire structure and laminate structures. One embodiment as noted in our graphic below as FIG, may take the form of a sapphire structure having a first sapphire sheet with a first sapphire plane type forming the major surface and a second sapphire sheet having a second different sapphire plane type forming the major surface. The first and second sapphire sheets are fused together to form the sapphire. Apple notes that the glass structure is less than or approximately equal to 1 mm thick.

Apple's new method also includes lapping and polishing a second side of the sapphire sheet and chemically strengthening the glass sheet.

The use of a sapphire outer surface with a glass inner surface for the display may be used in future iDevices where the two sapphire surfaces are laminated together with the glass providing support for the display and the sapphire providing scratch resistance and durability advantages.

Obviously, the two companies uncompromising, also has its own different judgments and testing standards, before the next generation iPhone has not officially launched, we can not draw accurate conclusions whether apple will use the Sapphire display's on future products or might be just limited to some devices, we hope to know soon.

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