Cooktop comprising display device and manufacturing method therefor

Abstract

A cooktop according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may comprise: a cooktop body; a ceramic glass which is disposed on the upper portion of the cooktop body, and which includes a through-portion formed through a portion thereof; a bracket disposed in the through-portion; a glass member coupled to the bracket so as to be disposed in the through-portion; and a display device disposed below the glass member. The bracket can include a metal member and a chromium coating layer coated on the metal member.

Description

Cooktop including a display device and method of manufacturing the same

[0001] Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a cooktop including a display device and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0002] An induction device (or induction heating device) can be used as a heat source to generate heat. In particular, a cooktop (or hob) can be used as a cooking appliance to heat food using an induction device.

[0003] Ceramic glass with excellent heat resistance may be placed on the upper part of the cooktop. Ceramic glass has the advantage of having excellent mechanical strength and thermal conductivity, and rarely undergoes thermal shock fracture.

[0004] Ceramic glass can be classified into white, black, or clear ceramic glass depending on the color. Each type of ceramic glass must possess a specified level of scratch resistance and cleanability.

[0005] To maximize the user experience, various structures for arranging display devices are being developed, rather than devices such as LEDs that simply display numbers.

[0006] The information described above may be provided as related art for the purpose of aiding understanding of the present disclosure. No claim or determination is made as to whether any of the foregoing may be applied as prior art related to the present disclosure.

[0007] A cooktop according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a cooktop body, a ceramic glass disposed on the upper part of the cooktop body and having a through-hole formed in a part thereof, a bracket disposed on the through-hole, a glass member coupled to the bracket so as to be disposed within the through-hole, and a display device disposed on the lower side of the glass member. The bracket may include a metal member and a chrome coating layer coated on the metal member.

[0008] The effects obtainable from the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects can be clearly derived and understood by those skilled in the art to which the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure belong from the description below. That is, unintended effects resulting from the implementation of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can also be derived by those skilled in the art from the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooktop according to one embodiment.

[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a cooktop according to one embodiment.

[0011] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of a cooktop according to one embodiment.

[0012] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 3 according to one embodiment.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3 according to one embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the coating layer structure of a bracket according to one embodiment.

[0015] FIG. 7 is a transmission electron microscope (TEM) image of the coating layer structure of a bracket according to one embodiment.

[0016] FIG. 8 is a graph analyzing the BB linear profile of FIG. 7 according to one embodiment.

[0017] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a top plate of a cooktop according to one embodiment.

[0018] In the following description, the attached drawings are referenced, and specific examples of implementation are illustrated within the drawings. Additionally, other examples may be used and structural modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the various examples.

[0019] The various embodiments used to illustrate the principles of the present disclosure in FIGS. 1 through 9 disclosed below and in this patent document are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure in any way. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any system or device appropriately arranged.

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily practice them. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In relation to the description of the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals may be used for identical or similar components. Furthermore, in the drawings and related descriptions, descriptions of well-known functions and configurations may be omitted for clarity and brevity.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooktop according to one embodiment.

[0022] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a cooktop according to one embodiment.

[0023] All features, components, and / or arrangement relationships between components illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be included, either alone or in combination with, the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in other figures of this specification. Likewise, all features, components, and / or arrangement relationships between components described in relation to FIGS. 3 through 9 may be included, either alone or in combination with, the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0024] The drawings of the cooktop (or cooking appliance) shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are exemplary for convenience of explanation, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited by the illustrated shape and structure.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cooktop (1) according to one embodiment may include a cooktop body (10) and a ceramic glass (100). The ceramic glass (100) may be placed on the upper side of the cooktop body (10). A cooktop (1) according to one embodiment may include at least one of a heater (hereinafter, an induction heating coil (11)), a circuit board (12), or a coil mounting plate (15). Here, the cooktop (1) may be referred to as a cooking appliance.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the main body (10) can form the exterior of the cooktop (1). An induction heating coil (11) can be housed inside the main body (10). The induction heating coil (11) can generate a magnetic field to induce heating of a cooking vessel (2) inside the main body (10). The induction heating coil (11) can be electrically connected to a main board placed inside the main body (10) via a wire (11a).

[0027] According to one embodiment, the ceramic glass (100) may include a first glass (100-1) forming a first region (101) and a second glass (100-2) forming a second region (102). The first glass (100-1) and the second glass (100-2) may be formed integrally. However, they are not limited thereto, and the first glass (100-1) and the second glass (100-2) may be formed by being joined by a separate joining device.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the first glass (100-1) may include printed layers (101a, 101b, 101c). The printed layers (101a, 101b, 101c) located on the first glass (100-1) may be coated at positions corresponding to the induction heating coil (11) to guide the heating area. The shape of the printed layers (101a, 101b, 101c) is not limited to that illustrated.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the second glass (100-2) may include an input portion (102b). The input portion (102b) may be located within the second region (102) of the ceramic glass (100), but is not limited thereto. The input portion (102b) may be formed at a location corresponding to the touch portion (14). The input portion (102b) may be formed to overlap vertically with the touch portion (14). The user can control the current flowing through the induction heating coil (11) through the input portion (102b). For example, the user can determine the degree to which the cooking container (2) is heated through the input portion (102b).

[0030] According to one embodiment, the circuit board (12) may be placed on the lower part of the second glass (100-2).

[0031] According to one embodiment, the cooktop (1) may include a display device (13). The display device (13) may be placed in a second area (102), but is not limited thereto. The display device (13) may be electrically connected to a circuit board (12). The display device (13) may be placed in a through-hole formed in the second area (102) through which ceramic glass (100) is formed. For example, the display device (13) may indicate whether the cooking vessel (2) is being heated by an induction heating coil (11). A user may check whether the cooking vessel (2) is being heated through the display device (13). For example, the display device (13) may display visual information such as characters, numbers, images, or videos.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the cooktop (1) may include a touch portion (14). The touch portion (14) may be placed in a second area (102), but is not limited thereto. The touch portion (14) may be electrically connected to a circuit board (12). The touch portion (14) may receive a touch signal. For example, the touch portion (14) may receive input using a capacitive touch method. However, it is not limited thereto, and the touch portion (14) may also receive input using a pressure-sensitive touch method. The user can control the current flowing through the induction heating coil (11) through the touch portion (14) and determine the degree to which the cooking container (2) is heated.

[0033] According to one embodiment, an induction heating coil (11) may be seated on a coil mounting plate (15). The coil mounting plate (15) may be accommodated within a cooktop body (10). A coil mounting hole (15a) for seating the induction heating coil (11) may be provided on the coil mounting plate (15). A plurality of coil mounting grooves (15a) may be provided.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the cooktop body (10) may include a first frame (16) positioned to support the ceramic glass (100). The first frame (16) may be provided to support the ceramic glass (100) on its upper side. The first frame (16) may be formed by extending upward from the four ends of the coil mounting plate (15). The first frame (16) may be positioned to wrap around the edges of the coil mounting plate (15). The first frame (16) may be positioned so that the ceramic glass (100) can be seated and supported on the cooktop body (10).

[0035] According to one embodiment, the cooktop (1) may include at least one of a ceramic glass (100), a bracket (130), a glass member (120), or a display device (140).

[0036] According to one embodiment, the ceramic glass (100) may include a through-hole (110). The through-hole (110) may be formed at a location corresponding to the display device (140). The through-hole (110) may be formed to overlap vertically with the display device (140). The through-hole (110) may be referred to, for example, as a perforation. The through-hole (110) may be formed by perforating a part of the ceramic glass (100).

[0037] According to one embodiment, the bracket (130) may be placed in the through-hole (110) of the ceramic glass (100). The bracket (130) may be placed to wrap around the edge of the through-hole (110). The bracket (130) may be placed to be supported by the outer surface of the through-hole (110). The bracket (130) may be placed between the glass member (120) and the ceramic glass (100).

[0038] According to one embodiment, the bracket (130) may be made of stainless steel or aluminum, but is not limited thereto. The bracket (130) may also perform some thermal insulation between the ceramic glass (100) and the glass member (120).

[0039] According to one embodiment, the glass member (120) may be coupled to a bracket (130). The glass member (120) may be supported by the bracket (130) and disposed within a penetration (110). The glass member (120) may be disposed to correspond to the space formed by the penetration (110). The glass member (120) may be disposed within the penetration (110).

[0040] According to one embodiment, the glass member (120) may be one of soda-lime glass, ceramic glass, heat-strengthened glass, or borosilicate glass, but is not limited thereto. The glass member (120) may be a transparent material or a translucent material.

[0041] According to one embodiment, a display device (140) may be positioned below the through-hole (110). A display device (140) may be positioned below the glass member (120). A display device (140) may be positioned in contact with the glass member (120) or spaced apart from the glass member (120) by a predetermined distance. Here, the display device (140) may display visual information such as images, video, or text. The display device (140) may be, for example, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display, a microLED display, an LED display, an E-Ink display, or a quantum dot display.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the ceramic glass (100) may be composed of an opaque material through which light cannot pass. For example, the ceramic glass (100) may be opaque black ceramic glass or opaque white ceramic glass, but is not limited thereto. Accordingly, in order to position a display device (140) for providing visual information to a user toward the top of the cooktop (1), the ceramic glass (100) may be perforated to form a through-hole (110).

[0043] By forming a through-hole (110) in a ceramic glass (100) according to one embodiment and arranging a display device (140) that provides various visual information to the user, the cooktop (e.g., the cooktop (1) of FIG. 1) can provide various visual information without being limited to numbers indicating the degree of heating. By providing various visual information to the user through the display device (140), the user experience can be maximized.

[0044] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of a cooktop according to one embodiment.

[0045] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 3 according to one embodiment.

[0046] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3 according to one embodiment.

[0047] All features, components, and / or arrangement relationships between components illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 5 may be included, either alone or in combination with, the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in other figures of this specification. Likewise, all features, components, and / or arrangement relationships between components described in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIGS. 6 through 9 may be included, either alone or in combination with, the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in FIGS. 3 through 5.

[0048] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, a cooktop according to one embodiment (e.g., cooktop (1) of FIG. 1) may include a ceramic glass (100), a bracket (130), and a glass member (120).

[0049] According to one embodiment, the glass member (120) may have a higher transparency than the ceramic glass (100). Since a display device (e.g., the display device (140) of FIG. 2) is disposed on the lower side of the glass member (120), the glass member (120) may be made of a transparent or translucent material so that a light source output from the display device (140) can pass through.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the bracket (130) may be formed such that a portion thereof is inclined inward. For example, the lower portion of the bracket (130) may be formed to be inclined inward (e.g., towards the center of the penetration portion (110)). Due to this inclined structure, the load of the bracket (130) can be supported by the upper inclined surface formed on the outer circumference of the penetration portion (110).

[0051] According to one embodiment, the bracket (130) may include an outer inclined surface (130b) and an inner inclined surface (130c). The outer inclined surface (130b) may be in contact with the outer circumference of the penetration portion (110). The outer inclined surface (130b) may be supported by the penetration portion (110). The inner inclined surface (130c) may be in contact with the glass member (120). The inner inclined surface (130c) may be positioned to support the load of the glass member (120). That is, the bracket (130) supported by the ceramic glass (100) may be positioned to support the glass member (120).

[0052] According to one embodiment, the lower side of the glass member (120) may form an inclined surface (120b). The inclined surface (120b) of the glass member (120) may be formed to correspond to the inner inclined surface (130c) of the bracket (130). The inclined surface (120b) of the glass member (120) may be positioned to be in contact with the inner inclined surface (130c) of the bracket (130). With this structure, the glass member (120) may be supported by the bracket (130).

[0053] According to one embodiment, the glass member (120) may be assembled with the bracket (130) first, and then the bracket (130) may be assembled to the through-hole (110) of the ceramic glass (100), but the assembly order is not limited thereto.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the cooktop (e.g., the cooktop (1) of FIG. 1) may further include a contamination prevention layer (150). The contamination prevention layer (150) may be placed on the ceramic glass (100), the bracket (130), and the glass member (120). For example, a portion of the contamination prevention layer (150) may be placed on the upper surface (100a) of the ceramic glass (100). The contamination prevention layer (150) may be coated or applied after the bracket (130) and the glass member (120) are assembled into the through-hole (110).

[0055] For example, a portion of the anti-contamination layer (150) may be placed on the upper surface (130a) of the bracket (130). For example, a portion of the anti-contamination layer (150) may be placed on the upper surface (120a) of the glass member (120). The anti-contamination layer (150) may be coated on the ceramic glass (100), the bracket (130), and the glass member (120) to have a cleaning-resistant function that facilitates the removal of foreign substances.

[0056] If the upper surface (100a) of the ceramic glass (100) has irregularities or a textured surface for scratch resistance, it may be difficult to remove food particles stuck in the gaps between the irregularities. A contamination-preventing layer (150) can be coated on the surface of the ceramic glass (100) to prevent fine food particles from getting stuck between the irregularities, thereby improving cleanability. The contamination-preventing layer (150) may have a waterproof function to prevent liquids such as oil or water generated during the cooking process from seeping in. The contamination-preventing layer (150) may be a heat-resistant material that does not melt or deform even at temperatures of approximately 2500 degrees or higher.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the anti-contamination layer (150) may include a first anti-contamination layer (151) and a second anti-contamination layer (152). The first anti-contamination layer (151) may be applied to the upper side of the ceramic glass (100), bracket (130), and glass member (120). The second anti-contamination layer (152) may be disposed on the upper side of the first anti-contamination layer (151). The composition of the first anti-contamination layer (151) and the second anti-contamination layer (152) may be different. For example, the first anti-contamination layer (151) may be manufactured with water-repellent performance in mind, and the second anti-contamination layer (152) may be manufactured with water-resistant performance in mind. In FIG. 5, the thickness of the first anti-contamination layer (151) and the second anti-contamination layer (152) is exaggerated for convenience of explanation, so the scope of the present disclosure is not limited by the size shown.

[0058] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the coating layer structure of a bracket according to one embodiment.

[0059] All features, components, and / or arrangement relationships between components illustrated in FIG. 6 may be included, either alone or in combination with, the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in other figures of this specification. Likewise, all features, components, and / or arrangement relationships between components described in relation to FIG. 1 through 5 and FIG. 7 through 9 may be included, either alone or in combination with, the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in FIG. 6.

[0060] FIG. 6 may be a schematic cross-sectional view of an enlarged portion of the upper part of a bracket (600) (e.g., bracket (130) of FIG. 1). In FIG. 6, the chrome coating layer (620) and the anti-contamination layer (630) are shown in an exaggerated size for convenience of explanation.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 6, a bracket (600) according to one embodiment (e.g., bracket (130) of FIG. 1) may include a metal member (610), a chrome coating layer (620), and an anti-contamination layer (630) (e.g., anti-contamination layer (150) of FIG. 5).

[0062] According to one embodiment, the metal member (610) may include stainless steel or aluminum, but is not limited thereto.

[0063] According to one embodiment, a chrome coating layer (620) may be coated or placed on a metal member (610) to prevent corrosion. The chrome coating layer (620) may contain a chrome component. The chrome coating layer (620) must be coated on the surface of the metal member (610) with sufficient adhesion so as not to detach from the surface of the metal member (610).

[0064] According to one embodiment, the chrome coating layer (620) may include at least one of an adhesive chrome layer (621), a high-content chrome layer (622), or a main chrome layer (623).

[0065] According to one embodiment, an adhesive chrome layer (621) may be disposed on a metal member (610). The adhesive chrome layer (621) may be a coating layer containing chrome and having enhanced adhesion. The adhesive chrome layer (621) may be disposed on the upper surface of the metal member (610). The adhesive chrome layer (621) may be referred to, for example, as a primer layer. The adhesive chrome layer (621) may be a coating layer prepared to enhance adhesion before disposing of a main chrome layer (623).

[0066] According to one embodiment, the thickness of the adhesive chrome layer (621) may be 0.02 μm to 0.06 μm, but is not limited thereto.

[0067] According to one embodiment, a high-content chromium layer (622) may constitute an intermediate layer of the chromium coating layer (620). The high-content chromium layer (622) may be placed between the adhesive chromium layer (621) and the main chromium layer (623). The high-content chromium layer (622) may have a higher chromium content than the main chromium layer (623). The high-content chromium layer (622) may serve as a protective layer to prevent corrosion of the chromium coating layer (620), for example. The high-content chromium layer (622) may further strengthen the adhesive strength together with the adhesive chromium layer (621), for example, so that the main chromium layer (623) can be more firmly adhered to the metal member (610). The high-content chromium layer (622) can alleviate interlayer stress by mitigating the difference in physical or chemical properties between the main chromium layer (623) and the metal member (610), and as a result, may have a role in improving cracking or peeling problems of the chromium coating layer (620).

[0068] According to one embodiment, the thickness of the high-content chromium layer (622) may be 0.05 μm to 0.10 μm, but is not limited thereto.

[0069] According to one embodiment, the main chrome layer (623) can enable the bracket (130) to have durability against friction and scratches. The main chrome layer (623) can protect the metal member (610) from oxidation and chemical damage. The main chrome layer (623) has a high-gloss appearance and high reflectivity, providing a luxurious finish to the surface of the metal member (610), thereby improving the aesthetic appeal of the product. Since the main chrome layer (623) does not deform even in a high-temperature environment, it can protect the metal member (610) from the high-temperature cooking environment of a cooktop (e.g., cooktop (1) of FIG. 1).

[0070] According to one embodiment, the thickness of the main chrome layer (623) may be 0.3 μm to 1.2 μm, but is not limited thereto.

[0071] According to one embodiment, the total thickness of the chrome coating layer (620) may be 0.75 μm to 1.05 μm, but is not limited thereto.

[0072] According to one embodiment, the anti-contamination layer (630) may include a first anti-contamination layer (631) (e.g., the first anti-contamination layer (151) of FIG. 5) or a second anti-contamination layer (632) (e.g., the second anti-contamination layer (152) of FIG. 5).

[0073] According to one embodiment, the first anti-contamination layer (631) may be coated or disposed on a chrome coating layer (620). The first anti-contamination layer (631) may be coated or disposed on a main chrome layer (623). The first anti-contamination layer (631) shown in FIG. 6 may be part of a first anti-contamination layer (e.g., the first anti-contamination layer (151) of FIG. 5) applied to a ceramic glass (100) on a bracket (600) (e.g., the bracket (130) of FIG. 5) and a glass member (e.g., the glass member (120) of FIG. 5).

[0074] According to one embodiment, the second anti-contamination layer (632) may be coated or disposed on the first anti-contamination layer (631). The second anti-contamination layer (632) may have a different structure, material, or characteristics from the first anti-contamination layer (631). The second anti-contamination layer (632) shown in FIG. 6 may be part of a second anti-contamination layer (e.g., the second anti-contamination layer (152) of FIG. 5) applied to a ceramic glass (100) and a bracket (600) (e.g., the bracket (130) of FIG. 5) and a glass member (e.g., the glass member (120) of FIG. 5).

[0075] According to one embodiment, the thickness of the anti-contamination layer (630) may be 20 nm to 40 nm. The first anti-contamination layer (631) may be coated using a silane coating method.

[0076] According to one embodiment, the first anti-contamination layer (631) can be adhered to the surface by a silane compound reacting with water. The first anti-contamination layer (631) can be configured to have high chemical resistance and wear resistance to firmly support the second anti-contamination layer (632) placed on top, even in extreme environments.

[0077] According to one embodiment, the second anti-contamination layer (632) may be coated using a water-repellent coating method. The second anti-contamination layer (632) may include a fluorine component. The second anti-contamination layer (632) may have waterproof and anti-fouling performance so that water does not adhere well to the surface. The second anti-contamination layer (632) may have a self-cleaning effect that allows water droplets to flow down along the surface and remove dust or contaminants together.

[0078] As described above, the anti-contamination layer (630), which is sequentially coated with a silane coating and a water-repellent coating, can be configured to be removable even if contaminated by an oil-based pen. Experimental results confirmed that it is possible to remove contaminants such as cooking oil, kimchi oil, lard oil, and butter at 100 degrees Celsius. Contaminants such as cooking oil, kimchi oil, lard oil, and butter that have hardened after being left at room temperature following heating to 100 degrees Celsius can also be removed.

[0079] According to another embodiment, the anti-contamination layer (630) may be a coating layer coated using polysilazane, unlike what is illustrated. In this case, the anti-contamination layer (630) may consist of a single layer. The thickness of the anti-contamination layer (630) may be 100 nm to 500 nm. Coating with polysilazane can form a silicon dioxide glass film, providing excellent hydrophobicity and durability. The anti-contamination layer (630) formed using polysilazane may not lose its cleanability even after repeating the process of heating a stainless steel frying pan at maximum heat for 1 minute and 30 seconds and then leaving it for 2 minutes more than 30 times. The anti-contamination layer (630) formed using polysilazane may be configured to be easily removed with a wet wipe or neutral detergent for mixtures of food such as lard, kimchi juice, and soy sauce that may spill during cooking.

[0080] FIG. 7 is a transmission electron microscope (TEM) image of the coating layer structure of a bracket according to one embodiment.

[0081] FIG. 8 is a graph analyzing the BB linear profile of FIG. 7 according to one embodiment.

[0082] All features, components, and / or arrangement relationships between components illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 may be included, either alone or in combination with, the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in other figures of this specification. Likewise, all features, components, and / or arrangement relationships between components described in relation to FIGS. 1 through 6 and FIG. 9 may be included, either alone or in combination with, the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0083] Figure 7 is an image of a cross-section of a part of the bracket observed with a transmission electron microscope.

[0084] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a bracket according to one embodiment (e.g., bracket (130) of FIG. 1 or bracket (600) of FIG. 6) may include a metal member (610) and chrome coating layers (621, 622, 623). FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional image of a portion of the metal member (610), an adhesive chrome layer (621), a high-content chrome layer (622), and a portion of the main chrome layer (623).

[0085] According to one embodiment, the adhesive chrome layer (621) may be coated or deposited on the metal member (610) by a primer treatment method. In the cross-section of the adhesive chrome layer (621) shown in FIG. 7, the three dark stripes observed may have a relatively higher oxygen content compared to other parts. In the cross-section of the adhesive chrome layer (621), the area between the dark stripes may have a relatively higher chrome content compared to other parts.

[0086] According to one embodiment, the average chromium content of the high-content chromium layer (622) may be higher than the average chromium content of the main chromium layer (623). For example, the average chromium content of the high-content chromium layer (622) may be 75 wt% to 85 wt%, but is not limited thereto. For example, the average chromium content of the main chromium layer (623) may be 65 wt% to 75 wt%, but is not limited thereto.

[0087] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a top plate of a cooktop according to one embodiment.

[0088] All features, components, and / or arrangement relationships between components illustrated in FIG. 9 may be included, either alone or in combination with, the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in other figures of this specification. Likewise, all features, components, and / or arrangement relationships between components described in relation to FIG. 1 through 8 may be included, either alone or in combination with, the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in FIG. 9.

[0089] Here, the top plate of a cooktop (e.g., cooktop (1) of FIG. 1) may include ceramic glass (e.g., ceramic glass (100) of FIG. 1), a bracket (e.g., bracket (130) of FIG. 1 or bracket (600) of FIG. 6), and a glass member (e.g., glass member (120) of FIG. 1). For example, the top plate of the cooktop (1) may refer to a state in which the bracket (130) and the glass member (120) are combined with a through-hole (e.g., through-hole (110) of FIG. 1) of the ceramic glass (100).

[0090] Referring to FIG. 9, a method for manufacturing a top plate of a cooktop (e.g., cooktop (1) of FIG. 1) according to one embodiment may include a process (910) of coating a bracket (600). In the process of coating the bracket (130), a chrome coating layer (620) may be coated on a metal member (610). When coating the chrome coating layer (620), an adhesive chrome layer (621), a high-content chrome layer (622), and a main chrome layer (623) may be coated by sequentially depositing them.

[0091] According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a top plate of a cooktop (1) may include a process (920) of combining a glass member (120) and a bracket (600). The glass member (120) may be inserted into the inner side of the bracket (600) and combined with the bracket (600). The glass member (120) may be positioned to receive a load from the bracket (600). The bracket (600) may have, for example, a square shape with roughly rounded corners, but is not limited thereto. An adhesive member may be used to strengthen the bond between the glass member (120) and the bracket (600).

[0092] According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a top plate of a cooktop (1) may include a process (930) of joining a combined glass member (120) and a bracket (600) to a penetration (110) of a ceramic glass (100). With the glass member (120) mounted inside the bracket (600), the bracket (600) can be joined to the penetration (110). At this time, the load of the bracket (600) can be supported by the inclined surface of the edge of the penetration (110). An adhesive member may be used to strengthen the bonding ability between the bracket (600) and the penetration (110).

[0093] According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a top plate of a cooktop (1) may include a process (940) of coating a contamination-preventing layer (e.g., the contamination-preventing layer (150) of FIG. 5) on the upper surface of the top plate of the cooktop (1). The contamination-preventing layer (150) may be coated or deposited entirely on the upper surface of the top plate of the cooktop (1). The contamination-preventing layer (150) may be coated or deposited on the upper surface of the ceramic glass (100), the upper surface of the bracket (600), and the upper surface of the glass member (120).

[0094] According to one embodiment, the process of coating the anti-contamination layer (150) may be carried out in multiple steps with time intervals. For example, after depositing and drying the first anti-contamination layer (151), a second anti-contamination layer (152) may be deposited and dried on the first anti-contamination layer (151). The composition and characteristics of the first anti-contamination layer (151) and the second anti-contamination layer (152) may differ. A cooktop (1) according to one embodiment may include a cooktop body (10), a ceramic glass (100) disposed on the upper part of the cooktop body (10) and having a through-hole (110) formed in a part thereof, a bracket (130, 600) disposed in the through-hole (110), a glass member (120) coupled to the bracket (130, 600) to be disposed within the through-hole (110), and a display device (140) disposed on the lower side of the glass member (120). The bracket (130, 600) may include a metal member (610) and a chrome coating layer (620) coated on the metal member (610).

[0095] According to one embodiment, the ceramic glass (100) may be an opaque or white ceramic glass (100).

[0096] According to one embodiment, the glass member (120) may be made of a transparent or translucent material.

[0097] According to one embodiment, the metal member (610) may be made of stainless steel or aluminum.

[0098] According to one embodiment, the glass member (120) may be soda-lime glass, ceramic glass (100), heat-strengthened glass, or borosilicate glass.

[0099] According to one embodiment, the chrome coating layer (620) may include an adhesive chrome layer (621) disposed on the metal member (610), a high-content chrome layer (622) disposed on the adhesive chrome layer (621), and a main chrome layer (623) disposed on the high-content chrome layer (622). The chrome content of the high-content chrome layer (622) may be higher than the chrome content of the main chrome layer (623).

[0100] According to one embodiment, the thickness of the adhesive chrome layer (621) may be 0.02 μm to 0.06 μm.

[0101] According to one embodiment, the thickness of the high-content chromium layer (622) may be 0.05 μm to 0.10 μm.

[0102] According to one embodiment, the thickness of the main chrome layer (623) may be 0.3 μm to 1.2 μm.

[0103] According to one embodiment, the cooktop (1) may further include an anti-fouling layer (150, 630) coated on the upper side of the ceramic glass (100), the bracket (130, 600), and the glass member (120).

[0104] According to one embodiment, the anti-contamination layer (150, 630) may be coated on the upper side when the bracket (130, 600) and the glass member (120) are assembled in the through-hole (110) of the ceramic glass (100).

[0105] According to one embodiment, the anti-contamination layer (150, 630) may include a first anti-contamination layer (151, 631) and a second anti-contamination layer (152, 632) coated on the upper side of the first anti-contamination layer (151, 631).

[0106] According to one embodiment, the first anti-contamination layer (151, 631) may be configured to be deposited by a silane coating method.

[0107] According to one embodiment, the second anti-contamination layer (152, 632) may be configured to be deposited in a water-repellent coating manner.

[0108] According to one embodiment, the anti-fouling layer (150, 630) may be configured to be coated using polysilazane. The terms used in this disclosure are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this disclosure. For example, a component expressed in the singular should be understood as a concept including a plurality of components unless the context clearly implies only the singular. Each of the phrases used in this disclosure, such as “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one of A or B,” “A, B or C,” “at least one of A, B and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C,” may include any one of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase, or all possible combinations thereof. It should be understood that the term “and / or” used in this disclosure encompasses any possible combination of one or more of the listed items. Terms such as “comprising,” “having,” and “consisting of” used in this disclosure are intended merely to specify the existence of the features, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in this disclosure, and the use of such terms is not intended to exclude the existence or addition of one or more other features, components, parts, or combinations thereof. Expressions such as “first,” “second,” used in this disclosure may modify various components regardless of order and / or importance, and are used only to distinguish one component from another and do not limit said components.

[0109] The expression “configured to” as used in this disclosure may be appropriately substituted depending on the context, for example, with “suitable for,” “capable of,” “designed to,” “modified to,” “made to,” or “capable of.” The term “configured to” may not necessarily mean only that which is “specially designed” in hardware. Instead, in some situations, the expression “device configured to” may mean that the device is “capable of” together with other devices or components. For example, the phrase “device configured (or set) to perform A, B, and C” may mean a device dedicated to performing the said operation, or a general-purpose device capable of performing various operations including said operation.

[0110] Meanwhile, terms such as “upper side,” “lower side,” and “front-rear direction” used in this disclosure are defined based on the drawings, and the shape and position of each component are not limited by these terms.

[0111] Although the foregoing description in this disclosure has focused on specific embodiments, this disclosure is not limited to such specific embodiments and should be understood to encompass all various modifications, equivalents, and / or substitutions of various embodiments.

Claims

1. Cooktop body (10); Ceramic glass (100) disposed on the upper part of the cooktop body (10) and including a through-hole (110) in which a portion is formed through; A bracket (130, 600) disposed in the above penetration part (110); A glass member (120) coupled to the bracket (130, 600) so as to be disposed within the penetration portion (110); and It includes a display device (140) positioned on the lower side of the glass member (120), and The above bracket (130, 600) comprises a metal member (610) and a chrome coating layer (620) coated on the metal member (610). Cooktop.

2. In Paragraph 1, The ceramic glass (100) above is, Opaque or white ceramic glass (100), Cooktop.

3. In Paragraph 1 or 2, The above glass member (120) is, material that is transparent or translucent Cooktop.

4. In Paragraph 3, The metal member (610) is made of stainless steel or aluminum. Cooktop.

5. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 4, The above glass member (120) is, soda-lime glass, ceramic glass (100), heat-strengthened glass or borosilicate glass, Cooktop.

6. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 5, The above chrome coating layer (620) is, An adhesive chrome layer (621) disposed on the metal member (610); A high-content chromium layer (622) disposed on the adhesive chromium layer (621); and It includes a main chromium layer (623) disposed on the high-content chromium layer (622) above, and The chromium content of the above high-content chromium layer (622) is higher than the chromium content of the above main chromium layer (623). Cooktop.

7. In Paragraph 6, The thickness of the adhesive chrome layer (621) is, 0.02 μm to 0.06 μm, Cooktop.

8. In Paragraph 6 or 7, The thickness of the above high-content chromium layer (622) is, 0.05 μm to 0.10 μm, Cooktop.

9. In any one of paragraphs 6 through 8, The thickness of the main chrome layer (623) is, 0.3 μm to 1.2 μm, Cooktop.

10. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 9, Further comprising an anti-fouling layer (150, 630) coated on the upper side of the ceramic glass (100), the bracket (130, 600), and the glass member (120). Cooktop.

11. In Paragraph 10, The above-mentioned anti-contamination layer (150, 630) is, Coated on the upper side in a state where the bracket (130, 600) and the glass member (120) are assembled in the penetration portion (110) of the ceramic glass (100), Cooktop.

12. In Paragraph 10 or 11, The above-mentioned anti-contamination layer (150, 630) is, A first anti-contamination layer (151, 631) and a second anti-contamination layer (152, 632) coated on the upper side of the first anti-contamination layer (151, 631), Cooktop.

13. In Paragraph 12, The above first contamination prevention layer (151, 631) is, configured to be deposited by a silane coating method, Cooktop.

14. In Paragraph 12, The above second contamination prevention layer (152, 632) is, Configured to be deposited by a water-repellent functional group coating method, Cooktop.

15. In Paragraph 10, The above-mentioned anti-contamination layer (150, 630) is, configured to be coated using polysilazane, Cooktop.

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