Transparent Glass-Ceramic Worktop for Large Flat Multifunction Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional glass-ceramic cooking surfaces are limited to specific uses and dimensions, making it difficult to produce large, flat, and versatile surfaces for both domestic and professional applications, while existing materials face challenges in flatness and handling, and are not designed for multiple functions beyond cooking.
Innovation Solution
A large-sized, transparent monolithic glass worktop with integrated heating elements and light sources, allowing for various uses such as cooking, display, and object support, achieved by modifying the glass-ceramic production process to enhance flatness and versatility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional glass-ceramic production processes are used, then cooking functionality is achieved, but the surface area is limited to less than 0.4 m2 and flatness problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the glass-ceramic production process by changing key parameters: reducing the heating rate from conventional rates to 3-10°C/min, extending holding time at transformation temperatures, and controlling cooling rates. These parameter changes enable the production of large surfaces (greater than 0.4 m2) while maintaining acceptable flatness by allowing more uniform heat distribution and stress relaxation across the extended surface area.
2Ease of manufacture
If glass-ceramic plates are designed for cooking use with low visible transmission, then heating elements are concealed when off, but user safety is compromised by inability to detect heating elements in operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies optical coloring agents to the glass-ceramic material that create a wavelength-selective transmission characteristic. The material appears opaque or translucent in the visible spectrum (concealing heating elements when off) but maintains high transmission in the infrared spectrum (allowing detection of heating elements when in operation through infrared radiation from the heated surface or embedded indicators).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates different optical properties in different regions or wavelengths: the glass-ceramic exhibits low visible transmission for aesthetic purposes while simultaneously exhibiting high infrared transmission for safety purposes. This local quality differentiation in the optical properties allows both aesthetic appearance and user safety to be satisfied.
3Reliability
If specialized glass-ceramic plates are produced for exclusive cooking use, then cooking performance is optimized, but versatility for other activities is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the glass-ceramic worktop to serve multiple functions: it provides a cooking surface with integrated heating elements, simultaneously offers a transparent or translucent display surface for information presentation, and maintains structural integrity for supporting various objects. The material's optical properties and mechanical strength enable it to fulfill both cooking and information display functions, as well as general worktop purposes.
4Area of stationary object
If large-sized glass-ceramic plates are produced, then surface area is increased, but handling and installation become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the glass-ceramic production parameters including extended holding time at transformation temperatures and controlled cooling rates, which reduce internal stresses and improve dimensional stability. This results in large plates (greater than 0.4 m2) that maintain flatness and structural integrity, making them easier to handle and install despite their size.
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 stable, multi-functional surface that can be used for cooking, displaying information, and supporting objects, offering improved flatness, safety, and comfort, while overcoming the limitations of traditional glass-ceramic surfaces in terms of size and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
at least one heating element (in particular under the substrate and hidden by the latter when this heating element is not in operation/is turned off)
Implementation Method 2
said substrate exhibiting a light transmission TL of greater than 10%
Data Source
AI summary
An item of equipment includes a worktop formed of at least one substrate made of transparent monolithic glass material with a surface area of greater than 0.7 m2. The substrate exhibits a light transmission TL of greater than 10% and an opacity indicator between 5 and 90. The substrate is predominantly or completely bare or provided with coating(s) such that the substrate, thus coated, exhibits a haze of less than 15% and/or a light transmission TL of greater than 60% and/or an opacity indicator of less than 85. The item of equipment also includes a heating element and a light source to mark one or more zones or one or more elements or displays of the substrate. The item of equipment also includes at least one interface for communication with at least one element of the worktop and/or with at least one external element for wireless communication.