Patent ID: 7018272

Claim:
An apparatus for grinding or polishing at least one edge of a glass substrate, the apparatus comprising: an air bearing support member configured to pivot about an axis of rotation with substantially zero frictional resistance opposing said pivotal movement; a grinding unit coupled to the air bearing support member, the grinding unit being configured to directly apply a predetermined force normal to the at least one edge to remove a predetermined amount of material from the at least one edge while tracking the at least one edge, the predetermined force being directly proportional to the predetermined amount and less than a normal force resulting in glass substrate breakage, wherein the grinding unit further comprises: a support platform coupled to the air bearing support member, the support platform being configured to pivot about the axis of rotation with the air bearing support member; and a grinding device coupled to a portion of the support platform offset from the axis of rotation, the grinding device being configured to grind or polish the at least one edge; and wherein the support platform includes a counter weight, the counterweight and the grinding device being symmetric about the axis of rotation.