Dead-Front Appliance Interface With Light-Transmissive Ink Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cooktop appliances with user interface assemblies face the challenge of presenting a uniform and attractive appearance when features are not illuminated, as the disruption of the background by openings in the paint or coating can make internal components visible, leading to an unattractive 'Dead Front' appearance.
Innovation Solution
A user interface assembly is designed with a light transmissive layer and an opaque coating, where a portion of the secondary surface is uncoated to form a window, allowing light to illuminate features while the ink on the support substrate ensures the interface appears opaque and uniform when not illuminated, using a combination of inks and coatings to maintain a consistent appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If openings are provided in the paint or coating to allow light to illuminate the user interface features, then the text, digits, and symbols become clearly visible when illuminated, but the background is disrupted and internal components become visible when not illuminated, creating an unattractive appearance
Solution Approach 1:
A light transmissive layer is introduced as an intermediary component between the user interface substrate and the external environment. This layer contains openings that allow light to pass through to illuminate the user interface features, while simultaneously providing a uniform opaque background when light is not passing through, thus mediating between the need for visibility and the need for aesthetic uniformity
Solution Approach 2:
The light transmissive layer is designed to change its optical properties based on light transmission. When light passes through the openings, the user interface features become visible and illuminated. When light does not pass through, the layer maintains a uniform opaque appearance, effectively changing its visual state between illuminated and non-illuminated conditions
2Loss of information
If a clear or translucent substrate is used to display illuminated features, then the text, digits, and symbols can be clearly visible when illuminated, but the substrate cannot provide a uniform opaque appearance when features are not illuminated
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is segmented into multiple functional layers: a user interface substrate that provides the structural base, and a separate light transmissive layer that provides the optical functions. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized independently - the substrate for structural integrity and the light transmissive layer for optical performance and uniform appearance
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 provides a uniform and attractive user interface that is clearly visible when illuminated and appears as a uniform color when not in use, effectively hiding internal components and maintaining a 'Dead Front' appearance, enhancing user experience and aesthetics.
Implementation Method 1
an ink is applied to a component of the user interface assembly such that when light is directed toward the ink, the light passes through the ink to the user interface
Implementation Method 2
when light is not directed toward the ink, the features are not illuminated and the user interface appears to be a substantially opaque, uniform color
Data Source
AI summary
An appliance and a user interface assembly configured to provide a uniform user interface background appearance when features of the user interface are not illuminated are provided. More specifically, an ink may be applied to a component of the user interface assembly such that when light is directed toward the ink to illuminate the features, the light passes through the ink to the user interface and the illuminated features of the user interface are clearly visible against the background of the user interface. However, when light is not directed toward the ink to illuminate the features, the user interface appears to be a substantially opaque, uniform color. Thus, the user interface may have a dead front appearance.