Interference Coated Appliance Cover Plate for Metallic See-Through Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing domestic appliance cover plates lack design flexibility and effective methods for manufacturing, particularly in creating a metallic appearance that harmoniously integrates with metal components while allowing display elements to shine through.
Innovation Solution
A domestic appliance cover plate made of glass or glass ceramic with a semi-transparent metallic coating, comprising a dielectric layer between metallic layers, achieving a metallic appearance and allowing display elements to shine through, while preventing damage and corrosion through a protective dielectric layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a metallic coating is applied to achieve a metallic appearance, then the aesthetic appeal and design possibilities are improved, but the transparency is reduced, preventing display elements from shining through
Solution Approach 1:
The coating is divided into multiple discrete metallic layers (first metallic layer, second metallic layer) separated by dielectric layers. This segmentation allows each layer to contribute to the metallic appearance while the dielectric spacers maintain optical transparency, resolving the contradiction between metallic aesthetic and display visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The coating combines metallic materials (for aesthetic appearance) with dielectric materials (for transparency and spacing) into a composite multilayer structure. This composite approach enables simultaneous achievement of metallic visual effect and sufficient light transmission for display elements.
2Quantity of substance
If the metallic layer is made thinner to increase transparency, then display elements can shine through better, but the metallic appearance and protective function are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single thin metallic layer, the solution employs multiple thinner metallic layers separated by dielectric layers. Each metallic layer provides partial protection and aesthetic contribution, while the cumulative effect maintains sufficient protective function and metallic appearance at reduced individual thicknesses.
Solution Approach 2:
Dielectric layers are introduced as intermediary structures between metallic layers. These dielectric spacers protect the metallic layers from direct contact and corrosion while maintaining the metallic appearance and enabling light transmission, thus enhancing both transparency and reliability simultaneously.
3Reliability
If a thicker metallic coating is used to enhance protective function, then corrosion protection is improved, but the transparency is further reduced, blocking display elements
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is distributed across multiple thinner metallic layers rather than concentrated in a single thick layer. This segmentation maintains cumulative protective capability while reducing individual layer thickness to preserve transparency for display elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Dielectric layers serve as protective intermediaries between metallic layers, providing corrosion protection and electrical isolation. This allows the metallic layers to be thinner while maintaining overall protective function, thereby preserving transparency.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple metallic layers are added to create interference effects, then the iridescent surface and design possibilities are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coating uses composite multilayer structure with alternating metallic and dielectric materials to generate optical interference effects. This composite approach achieves iridescent surfaces and enhanced design possibilities through controlled light interaction while maintaining a systematic manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention controls optical interference effects by adjusting parameters such as layer thickness and material composition. By varying these parameters, different iridescent patterns and colors can be achieved, providing design versatility without fundamentally changing the basic multilayer structure.
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 an aesthetically appealing, iridescent surface with enhanced design possibilities, enabling capacitive touch sensing and maintaining a metallic appearance by ensuring sufficient transparency and interference effects, while protecting the metallic layer from damage.
Implementation Method 1
light transmitted by the semi-transparent layer can be reflected and interfere with the transmitted light in the dielectric layer. This creates a particularly impressive, iridescent surface
Implementation Method 2
to produce a metallically reflecting surface
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention is based on a household appliance cover plate with a carrier plate (10) made of glass or glass ceramic with at least one at least partially transparent area (40) for covering a display element (18) and with a coating (24). It is proposed that the coating (24) comprises at least one semi-transparent metallic layer (22a) with a layer thickness between 10 nm and 50 nm and at least one further metallic layer (22a - 22c) which is separated by a dielectric separating layer (32, 32a, 32b) is separated from the semi-transparent metallic layer (22a) and at least one of the metallic layers (22a - 22c) in the vicinity of an area (38) for covering a touch sensor has an interruption (30) for electrical insulation of the area (38), and the touch sensor (28) is electrically contacted to form a capacitive touch sensor system with the area (38).