THE USE OF TRIZ TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LICENSING EXECUTIVE SOCIETY ATLANTA, GA 2/21/01

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THE USE OF TRIZ TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTYLICENSING EXECUTIVE
SOCIETYATLANTA, GA2/21/01

• Jack Hipple Mark Reeves
• Idea Connections Inventive Solutions
• Urbana, IL St. Paul, MN
• www.innovation-triz.com

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TOPICS

• Patterns of invention
• Lines of evolution
• Applying TRIZ to increase the value of
  intellectual property

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1945 Patent for processing peppers. Force air
inside of the peppers. Suddenly reduce the
pressure. Seeds and stems separate from pepper
body.
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PATTERNS OF INVENTION

• Removing stems from bell peppers
• Removing shells form sunflower seeds
• Cleaning filters
• Unpacking parts wrapped in protective paper
• Splitting diamonds along micro-cracks
• (27 years after pepper patent)
• Producing sugar powder from sugar crystals
• And 200 more!!!

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WHAT IS TRIZ ?

• A Russian acronym
• Theoria Resheneyva Isobretatelskehuh Zadach
• (Theory of Solving Problems Inventively)

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WHAT IS TRIZ ?

• A set of problem solving and forecasting tools
  based on the study of the worlds most inventive
  patents and the inventive principles used in them
• There are only so many and we keep reusing!

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AN OPERATOR

• THE fundamental concept underlying TRIZ

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AN OPERATOR

• Operator Example
• Specific problem Specialized solution
• 3x25x2 0 x ????

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AN OPERATOR

• Operator Example
• Specific problem Specialized solution
• 3x25x2 0 x -1, -2/3

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AN OPERATOR

• Operator Example in Math
• Abstract problem Abstract solution
• ax2bxc 0 x(-b/-/b24ac)/2a
• Specific problem Specialized solution
• 3x25x2 0 x -1, -2/3
• Trial and error
• THINK ABOUT THE REVERSE OF THIS!!

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WHAT IS AN OPERATOR?

• Slowly raise pressure and suddenly reduce it
• A path to a solution
• An approach to solving a problem
• A direction towards an answer
• A recommendation on how to change a system
• Derived from patterns of invention and patterns
  of product evolution

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PATTERNS OF INVENTION

• Altshuller recognized that the same fundamental
  problem (contradiction) had been addressed by a
  number of inventions in different areas of
  technology
• He also observed that the same fundamental
  solutions were used over and over again, often
  separated by many years
• He reasoned that if the latter inventor had had
  knowledge of the earlier solution, their task
  would have been straightforward
• He sought to extract, compile, and organize such
  information

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TRIZ IS BASED ON PATTERNS IN THE PATENT DATABASE

Patents (Worldwide)
200,000
40,000
Today over 2,000,000 patents have been
investigated.
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PATTERNS OF EVOLUTIONDIRECTED EVOLUTION
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PATTERNS OF EVOLUTION OF TECHNICAL SYSTEMS
1. Stages of Evolution 2. Evolution Toward
Increased Ideality 3. Non-Uniform Development of
Systems Elements 4. Evolution Toward Increased
Dynamism and Controllability 5. Increased
Complexity then Simplification (Reduction) 6.
Evolution with Matching and Mismatching
Components 7. Evolution Toward Micro-level and
Increased Use of Fields 8. Evolution Toward
Decreased Human Involvement
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NON-UNIFORM DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEM ELEMENTS

• Each system component has its own S-curve
• Different components usually evolve according to
  their own schedule (airplane)
• Different system components reach their inherent
  limits at different times, resulting in
  contradictions (think about the auto!)
• The component that reaches its limit first is
  holding back the overall system
• Elimination of contradictions allows the system
  to continue to improve

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INVENTIONS DRIVE NEW IDEAS!
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WHEN WERE THESE TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPED?

• Aircraft with 12 wings
• Helicopter
• Combustion engine
• Jet engine
• Propellers
• Gyroscopic auto-pilot

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INCREASED COMPLEXITY AND THEN SIMPLIFICATION

• Eyeglasses and sunglasses
• Tires

Mono-system Poly-system Improved
(Simplified) Mono-system
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THE TRANSITION

• MeThChEM
• (Mechanical, Thermal, Chemical, Electronic,
  Magnetic, Electromagnetic)
• Ex Polymer Processing
• Toothbrushes

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PROBLEM FORMULATORINNOVATION WORKBENCH
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PROBLEM FORMULATOR

• Graphically defines the problem
• Creates a nearly exhaustive list of ways to solve
  or at least improve the situation
• Links to database of previously solved problems
  and patents

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CHEMICAL PRODUCTION
A
B
Undesired mix
Undesired mix
Desired mix
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Chemical ProductionProblem Formulator Diagram
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Chemical Production REFINED Problem Statements
for a Selected Box
1. Change the undesired action of the
(Drops of liquid A meet). 2. Consider easy
and timely detection of the action of the
(Drops of liquid A meet) or its undesired
results. 3. Provide a counteraction to the
undesired action of the (Drops of
liquid A meet). 4. Introduce isolation of
the undesired action of the (Drops of liquid
A meet). 5. Exclude the source of the
undesired action of the (Drops of liquid A
meet).
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WORKING WITH KNOWLEDGE BASE
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Working with Knowledge Base
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(No Transcript)
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CHEMICAL PRODUCTION WITH ELECTRICAL CONTROL

-
A
B
No undesired mix
No undesired mix
Desired mix
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HOW DO WE USE THESE PRINCIPLES TO INCREASE THE
VALUE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY?
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COFFEE CUP HOLDER PATENT
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CUP OF COFFEE
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CUP OF COFFEE
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CUP OF COFFEE
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CUP OF COFFEE
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DIRECTIONS - HARMFUL FUNCTIONS
Stop the source
Stop the action
Reduce the consequences
Develop a degradable foam
Make the cups less visible
Start a recycling program
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CUP OF COFFEE
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CUP OF COFFEE
Enhance the results
Find a different way of achieving result
Get the result without intermediate step
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DIRECTIONS--USEFUL FUNCTION
Enhance the results
Find a different way of achieving result
Get the result without intermediate step
Heat or cool blade
MeThChEM
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THE SOLUTION SPACE
Mechanical Effects Technology
Thermo-Dynamics
P
roblem
Chemical Effects Technology
Electrical Magnetic Effects Technology
S
olution
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DIRECTIONS--USEFUL FUNCTION
Enhance the results
Find a different way of achieving result
Get the result without intermediate step
Heat or cool blade
MeThChEM
Prescore base material
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CUP OF COFFEE
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CONTRADICTIONS

• Resolve not compromise
• Separate requirements
• Space
• Time

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CUP OF COFFEE
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SECONDARY PROBLEMS

• State as new primary problem to be solved
• Identify what is needed to solve this and monitor
  patents and literature

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SYSTEMS APPROACH
Insulating Containers Thermos Jug Sleeping
Bag Molten Steel Ladle Catalytic Converter
Coffee Cup
Paper Containers Plates, Bowls Boxes Parts Bins
Plastic Enclosures Rocket Nose
Cone Dishpans Pipes
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CUP OF COFFEE
Can you get the feeling of well being by an
alternative means?
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LINES OF EVOLUTION
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OPERATORS/LINES OF EVOLUTION
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OPERATORS/LINES OF EVOLUTION
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OPERATORS/LINES OF EVOLUTION
This suggests a cup with a part that moves.
Perhaps a sleeve that is attached to the cup but
is flat against it in shipping and storage but is
moved to give it separation from the cup wall
either manually or by stimulus from the heat of
the coffee.
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OPERATORS/LINES OF EVOLUTION
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SUMMARY OF TECHNIQUES
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TECHNIQUES--I
Problem Formulator

• Useful Functions
• Better, Different, or Without
• Harmful Functions
• Stop the source, action, or consequences
• Resolve Contradictions

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TECHNIQUES--II
Lines of Evolution

• Forecasting Future Developments
• in patent filings
• in next generation RD
• Discovering Past Steps
• Niche markets
• Lower tech solutions

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TECHNIQUES-III
Overcome Roadblocks

• Address Secondary Problems
• Solve as primary problem
• Identify and watch for needed developments

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TECHNIQUES-IV
Apply Systems Approach

• Find solutions in other industries
• Broaden claims

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ADDITIONAL TRIZ APPLICATIONS

• Engineering problem solving
• Product/process development
• Cost reductions
• Failure analysis and prevention
• Hidden source of failures
• Predict failures before they occur
• Non-technical problem solving

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IN CONCLUSION..
TRIZ

• Is a powerful problem solving methodology
• Can be applied to increase the value of
  intellectual property
• Strengthen patent applications
• Circumvent competitive patents