Patent ID: 8539795

Claim:
A method for cutting a fragile material ( 10 ) comprising the steps of: separating the fragile material along a separation path ( 12 ) into a first portion ( 14 a ) and second portion ( 14 b ) by heating the fragile material with a laser ( 50 ) along the separation path ( 12 ), wherein at least the first portion ( 14 a ) is separated from the second portion ( 14 b ) with the first portion ( 14 a ) including a first thermal affected zone ( 16 a ) extending along the separation path; and then subsequently splitting at least part of the first thermal affected zone from the remainder of the first portion along a first split path ( 18 a ) extending a first distance (L 1 ) laterally spaced from the separation path, wherein the subsequent splitting occurs as a consequence of heating the fragile material during the step of separating.