Glass-Ceramic Enamel Coating for Sharp Illuminated Display Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current glass ceramic cooktops face challenges in maintaining clear, sharp illumination patterns due to light diffusion through the enamel and visibility of underlying pins, which degrades pattern definition and causes optical distortion.
Innovation Solution
A glass ceramic plate with a unique enamel composition and a diffusing zone on the underside, allowing for high pigment content and improved light diffusion without the need for precise alignment, ensuring clear pattern visibility and masking underlying elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If screen-printed enamel patterns are illuminated from underneath, then the patterns become visible, but the light diffuses through the enamel causing poor contour sharpness and pattern definition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a porous glass frit material in the enamel composition that allows controlled light transmission while maintaining pattern definition. The porous structure enables the enamel to diffuse light uniformly without compromising the sharpness of pattern contours, resolving the contradiction between visibility and definition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite enamel formulation combining specific glass frit (70-80 wt%), pigments (10-20 wt%), and metal oxides (5-15 wt%). This composite material achieves optimal balance between light diffusion for visibility and structural integrity for sharp pattern contours, eliminating the need for precise alignment between upper and lower patterns.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If black paint is deposited on the underside to mask pins, then pin visibility is reduced, but alignment with upper patterns becomes extremely difficult to achieve industrially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the optical parameters of the enamel by adjusting pigment concentration (10-20 wt%) and glass frit composition to achieve sufficient opacity and light diffusion. This eliminates the need for separate masking layers and precise alignment, as the enamel itself provides the necessary optical properties to mask pins while maintaining pattern definition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the masking function from a separate black paint layer and integrates it into the enamel composition itself. By incorporating pigments and metal oxides directly into the enamel, the masking of pins and the creation of sharp patterns are achieved in a single applied layer, eliminating alignment requirements.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If high pigment content is used in enamel, then light diffusion is improved and pin masking is enhanced, but pattern sharpness and optical clarity are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The porous glass frit structure provides an optimal matrix for pigment dispersion, allowing high pigment content (10-20 wt%) to achieve effective pin masking while the porous network maintains light transmission pathways that preserve pattern sharpness and optical clarity.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite enamel formulation with optimized ratios of glass frit (70-80 wt%), pigments (10-20 wt%), and metal oxides (5-15 wt%) creates a material where high pigment content enhances pin masking without compromising optical clarity. The specific composition allows simultaneous achievement of maskability and pattern definition.
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 maintains sharpness and contrast of illuminated patterns, prevents visibility of underlying pins, and enhances optical clarity, providing a clear and effective display of light patterns without distortion.
Implementation Method 1
The composition of said enamel comprising at least one glass frit, at least one pigment... said glass frit having the following composition: SiO2 40-55%, B2O3 25-55%, Al2O3 0-10%... the level of pigment(s) being 40 to 65% by weight of the frit/pigment mixture
Implementation Method 2
The article further comprising a diffusing zone facing said enamel coating
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a glass-ceramic article used in particular for covering or holding heating elements, said article being provided with at least one luminous area, in particular a display area, including at least one luminous pattern, said article including at least one glass-ceramic substrate, at least one light source, and at least one enamel coating which covers at least a portion of said area and within which a portion in the shape of said pattern is left uncoated, the composition of said enamel including at least one glass frit and at least one pigment, the glass frit including the following components: 40-55% of SiO2, 0-10% of Al2O3, 25-55% B2O3, 0-5% of Na2O, 0-5% of K2O, and 0-10% of Li2O, the pigment content further being 40 to 65 wt % of the frit/pigment mixture, the article further including a scattering area opposite the enamel coating.