Abstract: The method of dividing a glass substrate into separate pieces includes producing a crack along a dividing line on the substrate and acting on the crack with an aqueous cutting liquid during or immediately after producing the crack. The aqueous cutting liquid used in the method has a special composition that reduces the breaking forces applied to the glass substrate in order to divide it. The aqueous liquid contains an ionic organic compound, which has a cation with a positively charged nitrogen atom and a hydroxyl anion. Quaternary ammonium hydroxide compounds are especially preferred as the ionic organic compound.

Abstract: A method for producing glass plates of any desired contour from sheet glass, comprising the following steps: scribing scribe lines into a least one face of the sheet glass along the contour down to a depth, using a cutting device, and positioning the glass plate on a support. The method is further characterized in that a defined force F is applied to the sheet glass so that it breaks along the scribe lines, said break extending through the entire thickness of the sheet glass. The flat glass may be sandwiched between two flexible plates prior to being placed on a base pad and being subjected to the breaking force.

Abstract: A method for producing glass plates of any desired contour from sheet glass, comprising the following steps: scribing scribe lines into a least one face of the sheet glass along the contour down to a depth, using a cutting device, and positioning the glass plate on a support. The method is further characterized in that a defined force F is applied to the sheet glass so that it breaks along the scribe lines, said break extending through the entire thickness of the sheet glass. The flat glass may be sandwiched between two flexible plates prior to being placed on a base pad and being subjected to the breaking force.

Abstract: A method for producing glass plates of any desired contour from sheet glass, comprising the following steps: scribing scribe lines into a least one face of the sheet glass along the contour down to a depth, using a cutting device, and positioning the glass plate on a support. The method is further characterized in that a defined force F is applied to the sheet glass so that it breaks along the scribe lines, said break extending through the entire thickness of the sheet glass. The flat glass may be sandwiched between two flexible plates prior to being placed on a base pad and being subjected to the breaking force.

Abstract: Method for connecting an optical fiber to a GRIN lens, and a method for producing an optical filter module having an optical fiber and a GRIN lens, comprising arranging the optical fiber in contact with or in the immediate vicinity of the GRIN lens, directing a laser beam onto a part of the optical fiber and/or a part of the GRIN lens, the laser beam heating at least a part of the optical fiber and/or a part of the GRIN lens in such a way that a connection is formed between the optical fiber and the GRIN lens, and the optical axis of the laser beam being aligned oblique to the optical axis of the optical fiber, as well as optical filter modules produced in accordance with the method.

Abstract: A method for producing glass plates of any desired contour from sheet glass, comprising the following steps: scribing scribe lines into a least one face of the sheet glass along the contour down to a depth, using a cutting device, and positioning the glass plate on a support. The method is further characterized in that a defined force F is applied to the sheet glass so that it breaks along the scribe lines, said break extending through the entire thickness of the sheet glass. The flat glass may be sandwiched between two flexible plates prior to being placed on a base pad and being subjected to the breaking force.

Abstract: The method for mechanically breaking a flat workpiece of brittle fracturing material includes scribing spaced-apart parallel scribed lines in respective perpendicular cutting directions on the flat workpiece, especially a flat glass plate, with a laser and, after that, mechanically breaking the flat workpiece along the laser-scribed lines. In this way the flat workpiece can be divided into smaller rectangular workpieces. At least one breaking roller is used to break the flat workpiece along the scribed lines in one cutting direction. To improve the break edge quality and provide a higher yield a breaking bar that is shorter than the smaller of the width and the length of the flat workpiece is used to break the flat workpiece along the scribed lines in the other cutting direction and the breaking bar is pressed against each of those scribed lines in successive overlapping steps.

Abstract: The method of dividing a glass substrate into separate pieces includes producing a crack along a dividing line on the substrate and acting on the crack with an aqueous cutting liquid during or immediately after producing the crack. The aqueous cutting liquid used in the method has a special composition that reduces the breaking forces applied to the glass substrate in order to divide it. The aqueous liquid contains an ionic organic compound, which has a cation with a positively charged nitrogen atom and a hydroxyl anion. Quaternary ammonium hydroxide compounds are especially preferred as the ionic organic compound.

Abstract: A method for producing glass plates of any desired contour from sheet glass, comprising the following steps: scribing scribe lines into a least one face of the sheet glass along the contour down to a depth T, using a cutting device, and positioning the glass plate on a support. The inventive method is further characterized in that a defined force F is applied to the sheet glass so that it breaks along the scribe lines, said break extending through the entire thickness of the sheet glass. The flat glass may be sandwiched between two flexible plates prior to being placed on a base pad and being subjected to the breaking force.

Abstract: The cutting of the flat glass plate (1) into rectangular plates with a predetermined edge length is performed by forming initial cracks at the beginning of cutting lines on the glass plate and moving a laser beam along the cutting lines followed by a cooling spot to induce a thermo-mechanical stress alone the cutting lines. First the glass plate (1) is cut apart into partial plates (2-5) along first parallel cutting lines spaced according to the predetermined edge length. Then the cut apart glass plate is rotated by 90° and the partial plates (2-5) are moved apart from each other. Subsequently the partial plates that have been moved apart are cut apart alone several parallel second cuts (4-9) perpendicular to the first cuts. This method facilitates exact placement of the initial cracks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for removing an edge region of a layer applied to a substrate and for coating a substrate, in particular, with a photoresist layer. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a substrate, onto which a layer, in particular, a photoresist layer for use in a microlithographic process, is applied, wherein an edge region of the layer is removed according to the invention. In the method, a laser beam is imaged onto the edge region, and the edge region is removed by the laser beam. In this manner, the edge region can be removed reliably and precisely, without damage to or contamination of regions of the layer which are not to be removed.

Abstract: Method for connecting an optical fiber to a GRIN lens, and a method for producing an optical filter module having an optical fiber and a GRIN lens, comprising arranging the optical fiber in contact with or in the immediate vicinity of the GRIN lens, directing a laser beam onto a part of the optical fiber and/or a part of the GRIN lens, the laser beam heating at least a part of the optical fiber and/or a part of the GRIN lens in such a way that a connection is formed between the optical fiber and the GRIN lens, and the optical axis of the laser beam being aligned oblique to the optical axis of the optical fiber, as well as optical filter modules produced in accordance with the method.

Abstract: The method for rapid cutting of a workpiece made of brittle material along a predetermined cutting line of any desired shape includes generating laser beams, preferably with a CO or CO2 laser; focusing the laser beams onto the cutting line to form focused laser beams on the cutting line; guiding the focused laser beams one behind the other along the cutting line without melting the brittle material; shaping the respective laser beams so that the respective beam cross-sections forming corresponding focal spots on a surface of the workpiece have predetermined shapes and intensity distributions; moving the workpiece and the laser beams relative to each other along the cutting line so that the focused laser beams induce a thermo-mechanical stress in the brittle material and blowing a fluid cooling medium, such as cold air or an air/water mixture, onto a heated cutting line section of the workpiece for subsequent cooling so as to increase the thermo-mechanical stress in the brittle material above its breaking stre

Abstract: The cutting of these rectangular plates with predetermined edge lengths is typically effected by means of a laser, which is displaced along the cutting lines, in conjunction with a trailing cooling spot for inducing a thermomechanical stress that is greater than the breaking strength of the glass, and by means of a mechanically induced initial crack at the beginning of the cutting line. When the flat glass plate (1) is in an initial position, a number of parallel first cutting lines (1-3) are made. Afterwards, the flat glass plate (1) that is cut up in such a manner is rotated 90°, and the partial plates (2-5) are moved apart by virtue of the fact that a displaceable table segment of a cutting table is assigned to each partial plate. In this position, several parallel second cuts (4-9) are then made that are perpendicular to the first cuts, whereby, on each partial plate, an initial crack is induced on the leading edge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing glass panes of any desired contour from sheet glass, comprising the following steps: scribing scribe lines into a least one face of the sheet glass along the contour down to a depth T glass pane?, using a cutting device, and positioning the glass pane on a support. The inventive method is further characterized in that a defined force F is applied to the sheet glass so that it breaks along the scribe lines, said break extending through the entire thickness of the sheet glass.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for cutting through flat workpieces made of glass can cut through workpieces with greater thickness, e.g. glass panes with a thickness greater than 0.2 mm, than possible up to now with a comparable known method, without micro-fractures, glass fragments or splitter. In the method of the invention a heat radiation spot symmetric to the cutting line is produced on the workpiece. This heat radiation spot has edge portions with elevated radiation intensity and is moved along the cutting line on the workpiece and the heated section of the cutting line is subsequently cooled. A scanner motion produces the heat radiation spot so that edge portions of elevated radiation intensity coincide with a V- or U-shaped curve, which is open at the leading end of the heat radiation spot. The peak portion of the V- or U-shaped curve on the cutting line is at a temperature maximum that is under the melting point of the workpiece material.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for cutting through flat workpieces made of glass can cut through workpieces with greater thickness, e.g. glass panes with a thickness greater than 0.2 mm, than possible up to now with a comparable known method, without micro-fractures, glass fragments or splitter. In the method of the invention a heat radiation spot symmetric to the cutting line is produced on the workpiece. This heat radiation spot has edge portions with elevated radiation intensity and is moved along the cutting line and/or the workpiece and the heated section of the cutting line is subsequently cooled. A scanner motion produces the heat radiation spot so that edge portions of elevated radiation intensity coincide with a V- or U-shaped curve, which is open at the leading end of the heat radiation spot. The peak portion of the V- or U-shaped curve on the cutting line is at a temperature maximum that is under the melting point of the workpiece material.