Glass-Ceramic Display Plate for Hidden Heating and Full-Color Output

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current glass ceramics used in cooking surfaces have limited visibility options beyond red, making it difficult to display various colors and animations, due to their low transmission of visible light wavelengths other than red, which restricts aesthetic and functional versatility.

Innovation Solution

A display assembly comprising a lithium aluminosilicate glass-ceramic plate with specific optical transmission properties and a polychromatic light device that emits wavelengths between 400 and 500 nm and beyond 500 nm, allowing for a wide range of color perception and animation possibilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If glass-ceramic plate with low visible light transmission is used to hide heating elements, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but color display capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of heating elementsVSAvoidcolor display capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the optical parameters of the glass-ceramic by selecting specific wavelength ranges (400-500 nm and 500-650 nm) where the material has higher transmission properties, while maintaining low transmission in other visible ranges. This allows the plate to remain opaque to the human eye for heating element visibility while transmitting specific wavelengths for color display applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a light device as an intermediary element that emits specific wavelengths (400-500 nm and 500-650 nm) through the glass-ceramic plate. This intermediary light source enables color display functionality without requiring the plate itself to have high overall transmission, thus resolving the contradiction between hiding heating elements and enabling color display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If glass-ceramic plate with high infrared transmission is used for efficient heating, then energy efficiency is improved, but visible light transmission control deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinfrared transmission efficiencyVSAvoidvisible light transmission control
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different optical properties for different wavelength ranges within the same glass-ceramic material. The plate exhibits high transmission in infrared and specific visible ranges (400-500 nm, 500-650 nm) while maintaining low transmission in other visible ranges, allowing simultaneous optimization of heating efficiency and display control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If glass-ceramic composition is optimized for mechanical strength, then impact resistance is improved, but optical transmission properties deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidoptical transmission properties
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials by combining glass-ceramic with specific crystalline phases and controlling the microstructure to achieve both high mechanical strength and optimized optical transmission. The glass-ceramic composite structure allows simultaneous improvement of impact resistance and wavelength-selective transmission properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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

Enables the display of all perceivable shades of color and nuanced light intensities through the glass-ceramic plate, enhancing aesthetic appeal and functional versatility by providing an infinite number of color and light intensity nuances, while ensuring heating elements remain invisible when not in use.

Implementation Method 1

The glass-ceramic plate has an optical transmission of between 0.2% and 4% for a thickness of 4 mm for at least one wavelength between 400 and 500 nm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

a light device (4) comprising a polychromatic light source (5) having at least one first emission of non-zero intensity at a wavelength between 400 and 500 nm and at least one second emission at a wavelength of more than 500 nm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 3

The glass ceramic must still have good energy transmission properties, in particular the infrared radiation produced by the heating elements to allow the food to be brought to the desired temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared radiation transmission: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP2526070B1Display unit including a plate made of glass-ceramic
Publication Date: 2019.11.20 EUROKERA SOC & NOM COLLECTIF
  • EP2526070B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2526070B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2526070B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a display unit (1) including a plate (2) made of glass-ceramic comprising lithium aluminosilicate, and having an optical transmission for a thickness of 4 mm between 0.2 and 4% for at least one wavelength between 400 and 500 nm, as well as a light emitting device (4), characterized in that the light emitting device (4) includes at least one polychromatic light source (5) which has at least one first transmission of non-zero intensity at said wavelength between 400 and 500 nm and at least one second transmission higher than 500 nm, and such that the positioning of said source (5) is suitable for enabling display through said plate (2) made of glass-ceramic.