Workbook Advanced Patent Analysis Using TRIZ and Other Techniques

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CRAFITTI Innovation Ignition Workshops

September 26-27, 2008

Bangalore

Delegate’s Name:

Organization:

Email:

Work BookAdvanced Patent Analysis

TRIZ and other Techniques

© Crafitti Consulting Private Limited

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What is a Technical System?

Anything that performs a function is a Technical System

Model of a Function

Tool Object

function

Formulation of Functions Correct (If not, Correct it)

Fan cools the Body

Lens magnifies the Object

Hot air dries hair

Incandescent bulb illuminates the room

Air Conditioner improves our comfort

Lightning Rod attracts lightning

Microwave Oven cooks Food

A function is an intended direct (physical) action of the tool on the object


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Exercise 5 minutes (group of 4/5)

You are a patent engineer – you received an Invention

Disclosure as described below – Please write down an

abstract (Maximum 30 words)

A motorbike with wireless connection

to a mobile phone. The mobile phone

controls the bike. When you buy the

bike, mobile phone is given free of cost


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You are a patent engineer – you received an Invention

Disclosure as described below – Please write down an

abstract (Maximum 30 words)


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Exchange the abstract written by your group

with the group next to you






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You are Now a novelty evaluator – you

received the abstract of the ID with you –

Please make relevant keywords and

logical (and, or, not) queries you will use to

search for the prior art in the US PTO!






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You are Now a novelty evaluator – you received the

abstract of the ID with you – Please make relevant

keywords and logical (and, or, not) queries you will use to

search for the prior art in the US PTO!

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Analyzing a Patent – The TRIZ Way

Whiteboard Marker having

arch shaped housing


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Read the Abstract – Identify the Key Element of Invention

Identify the sentence where

the key invention is

mentioned?

Can you also identify the

function or effect produced by

the invention?


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Read the Abstract – Identify the Key Element of Invention

Identify the sentence where the key invention is mentioned?

Can you also identify the function or effect produced by the

invention?


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Technical Field and Prior Art Analysis

What system parameter(s)

have improved in this

invention?


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What system parameter(s) have improved with Whiteboard Markers Over Chalk and Blackboard?

What are the system conflicts in Chalk and Blackboard System?


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What are the system conflicts in whiteboard marker system?


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What are the system conflicts in whiteboard marker system?


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What are the system conflicts in all existing whiteboard marker system?


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What are the system conflicts in existing whiteboard marker system?


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Disclosure of Invention – Technical Problem

What are the system parameters in existing whiteboard marker system that need improvement?


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Disclosure of Invention – Technical Solution


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TRIZ 40 Inventive Principles

1. Segmentation2. Extraction3. Local Quality4. Asymmetry5. Combination6. Universality7. ‘Nested Doll’8. Counterweight9. Prior Counter-Action

10. Prior Action11. Prior Cushioning12. Equi-potentiality13. ‘The Other Way Round’14. Spheroidality15. Dynamics16. Partial or Excessive Action17. Another Dimension18. Mechanical Vibration19. Periodic Action20. Continuity of Useful Action

21. Skipping22. ‘Blessing in Disguise’23. Feedback24. Intermediary25. Self-Service26. Copying27. Cheap/Short Living28. Mechanics Substitution29. Pneumatics and Hydraulics30. Flexible Shells/Thin Films31. Porous Materials32. Colour Changes33. Homogeneity34. Discarding and Recovering35. Parameter Changes36. Phase Transitions37. Thermal Expansion38. Strong Oxidants39. Inert Atmosphere40. Composite Materials


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Summarize the System Conflicts

System Improving Parameter

Undesired Result (Parameter)

Inventive Principle Used

Chalk and Blackboard

NA

White Board Marker (WBM)

Refillable WBMs

Two Sided WBMs

Arch Shaped WBM(Present Invention)

Two Sided ArchShaped WBM

Three sided WBM


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Claims Study

Claim 1

Claim 2

Claim 3


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Claim 4

Claim 5

Claim 6

Claims Study (contd)


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Claim 7

Claim 8

Claim 9

Claims Study (contd)


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Claim 7

Claim 8

Claim 9

Build Claims Hierarchy

Claim 1

Claim 2

Claim 3

Claim 4

Claim 5

Claim 6

Identify: Independent Claims and Dependent Claims


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Function and Structure Analysis (FSA) (Identify the Key Elements of the system)


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FSA- Build a Design Structure Matrix (DSM)

SE1 SE2 SE3 SE4 SE5 SE6

SE1

SE2

SE3

SE4

SE5

SE6


SE: System Element

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FSA- Function Analysis

Adequate Useful Action

Absent Useful Action

Inadequate Useful Action

X Harmful Action


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Law of Increasing Degree of Ideality (Cardinal Law) Fully Functional System No Resources No Harm

How close to Ideality is

the current Invention?How can you make it

closer to ideality?

1. Law of Increasing Degree of Ideality - Increasing Ratio -> Benefits/Harm (cost)


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Law of Non-uniform evolution of sub-systems More Complex System means more non-uniformity

Which sub-systems are

closer to ideality?What are the conflicts if any sub-

systems function is intensified?

2. Law of Non-uniform evolution of subsystems -> Leads to System Conflicts


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Law of Transition to a Higher level system Multi-functional system

What are the Useful

functions provided?What more functions can be

combined?

3. Law of Transition to a higher Level system -> from simple to more complex


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Law of Increasing Flexibility Adaptable System

What parts can be made

more flexible?

Based on different environments,

what changes can be done to make

system functional?

4. Law of Increasing dynamism (flexibility) -> More adaptable to change


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Law of Transition to Micro Level Micro level structures

What parts of the

system can be replaced

by micro structures?

What micro materials are

available?

5. Law of Transition to micro-level -> Increasing fragmentation


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Law of Completeness No Human Involvement

What parts of the

system has human

involvement?

How to eliminate human

components?

6. Law of Completeness -> Gradual Elimination of Human Component


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Law of shortening of Energy Flow Path Energy Flow in the system is close to zero

What parts of the

system have energy

flow?

Can one shorten energy flow?

7. Law of Shortening of Energy Flow Path -> Reduction in Energy/Info transformation stages


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Law of increasing controllability Completely controlled field

What parts of the

system non-controllable

fields?

How can one control the field –

for example changing gravity to

electric field?

8. Law of Increasing controllability -> Evolution of controlled interactions of system elements


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Law of harmonization of rhythms Perfect resonance of parts

What parts of the

system have various

time based activities?

How to make these activities in

perfect harmony?

9. Law of Harmonization of rhythms -> Synchronization of natural frequencies of elements


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Technological Alternatives or Design Around a Patent

Applications of Patent Analysis

Patents as a trigger for Brainstorming

White Space Identification

Opportunity Finding


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Map the conflicts identified for the whiteboard marker patent to

the Contradiction Matrix and identify the relevant Inventive

Principles. Generate ideas for each of those principles to solve the

problems or generally think about a new whiteboard marker.

Patent as a Trigger for Brainstorming


Inventive Principles (#) Possible Ideas

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Ideas Mind Map

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Designing around the patent means changing the

Function and Structure Analysis Picture in some way so that it is

different from the one in the original patent, but that delivers the

Same (or better) useful functions to the user. Look at the Function

and Structure Analysis picture for the whiteboard marker patent.

How can it be altered – can some element be eliminated from the

system completely?

Trimming and Design Around a Patent


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Trimming and Design Around a Patent (Contd.)


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© CREAX Information Technologies Ltd.

Relative Alternative Ranking

Non Infringing

Alternative

Technical

Feasibility

Criticality Economic

Feasibility

• Distance from

Current Patent

• Novelty

• Capability to

Implement

• R&D Effort

• Enhancement

in current

capability

• Long Term

Benefits

• R&D Cost

• Production

Cost

ALTERNATIVE I ALTERNATIVE II ALTERNA

TIVE IIIALTERNATIVE

IV

ALTERNATIVE V ALTERNATIVE VI

Alternative Ranking – Using Analytic Hierarchy Process

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Thank You

Crafitti Consulting Pvt Ltd |www.crafitti.com

([email protected])


Business

Workbook Advanced Patent Analysis Using TRIZ and Other Techniques