Clothing care apparatus and manufacturing method therefor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clothing care apparatuses face issues with securing reflectivity and visibility while being vulnerable to electrical conduction and limited design flexibility due to the use of metal or metal oxide materials in the door's construction.
Innovation Solution
A laminated structure for the control panel comprising a glass with a coating layer made of SiNx or SiNOx, a first print layer, and a second print layer, along with a protective layer, which enhances insulating properties and allows for higher reflectivity and transmittance, while preventing electrical conduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If metal or metal oxide materials are used in the door construction, then reflectivity is improved, but electrical conduction vulnerability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a multi-layer composite structure consisting of a glass substrate, coating layer (SiOx, SiNx, or SiNOx), color print layer, and logo/UI print layer. This composite structure replaces traditional metal or metal oxide materials, achieving high reflectivity through the coating layer while the glass substrate provides electrical insulation, thereby resolving the contradiction between reflectivity and electrical conduction vulnerability.
Solution Approach 2:
The glass substrate acts as an intermediary material between the reflective coating layer and the control panel electronics. The glass provides electrical insulation while allowing the coating layer to deliver high reflectivity, mediating between the optical performance requirement and the electrical safety requirement.
2Illumination intensity
If metal or metal oxide materials are used in the door construction, then reflectivity is improved, but design flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-layer composite structure (glass substrate + coating layer + color print layer + logo/UI print layer) enables design flexibility through independent optimization of each layer. The color print layer can be customized with various colors and patterns, the logo/UI print layer can display different information, while the coating layer maintains high reflectivity. This modularity allows extensive design variations without compromising reflectivity.
3Reliability
If a coating layer is applied on glass, then electrical insulation is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the coating layer (thickness: 30-100 nm, composition: SiOx, SiNx, or SiNOx with 70-90 wt% content) to achieve the required electrical insulation performance (resistance ≥500 MΩ at 1,000 V). By controlling these parameters, the manufacturing process becomes more predictable and repeatable, reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the additional layer.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures high reflectivity and visibility, while addressing electrical conduction issues, thereby improving the overall functionality and design flexibility of the clothing care apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
the coating layer may contain one or more selected from a group comprising of SiNx or SiNOx and a combination thereof... When 1,000 V is applied from an insulation tester, a resistance of the coating layer may be 500 MΩ or more
Implementation Method 2
A reflectivity of the control panel may be 70% or less, and a transmittance thereof may be 20% or more
Implementation Method 3
A reflectivity of the control panel may be 70% or less, and a transmittance thereof may be 20% or more
Implementation Method 4
etching the coating layer and the color print layer with a fiber laser
Implementation Method 5
laminating a color print layer after performing strengthening heat treatment on the formed coating layer
Data Source
AI summary
A clothing care apparatus comprises: a body including a clothing care room; and a door rotatably coupled to the body and including a control panel formed at the front surface thereof, wherein the control panel comprises: glass; a coating layer provided on the glass while having an aperture; a first print layer laminated on the coating layer and having a shape corresponding to the coating layer; and a second print layer laminated on the first print layer and provided adjacent to the glass.