US Patent 8950215 Non-contact polishing techniques for reducing roughness on glass surfaces

Apparatus, systems and methods for reducing surface roughness on surface of a glass member using a non-contact polishing process are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for processing a glass member suitable for use in a handheld electronic device includes obtaining the glass member and chemically strengthening the glass member. The glass member has at least one surface, and chemically strengthening the glass member increases roughness associated with the at least one surface. The method also includes applying a first non-contact polishing process to the glass member after chemically strengthening the glass member. Applying the first non-contact polishing process reduces the roughness associated with the at least one surface.