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100+ Heuristics for Systems Transformations: A brief report of US Patent Fund Study
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Tz-Chin Wei*
Central Research Institute, Tatung Co.
22 Chungshan N. Rd., 3rd Sec., Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
peterwei@ms9.hinet.net
Marco A. de Carvalho, M.Sc.*
CEFET-PR
Av. Sete de Setembro 3165 - Curitiba - PR - Brazil
marco@nupes.cefetpr.br
Semyon D.
Savransky, Ph.D.**
The TRIZ Experts
136 Hackamorte Ln., Fremont, CA 94539, USA
TRIZ_SDS@hotmail.com
One of the most
popular TRIZ tools is the Altshuller’s Matrix [1,2] that includes in its
classical form 40 principles for resolving so-called technical or pair
contradictions. These 40 principles were selected by TRIZ creator from analysis
of huge number of high-level patents [2].
Less known
(even for many TRIZniks from ex-USSR) are the heuristics for technical systems
transformations selected from numerous design works of highly experienced
engineers by A.I. Polovinkin and his co-workers [3-5,2].
It is possible to group these
heuristics into following nine classes [2]:
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SHAPE TRANSFORMATIONS (16 heuristics)
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STRUCTURE TRANSFORMATIONS (18 heuristics)
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TRANSFORMATIONS IN SPACE (16 heuristics)
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TRANSFORMATIONS IN TIME (8 heuristics)
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TRANSFORMATIONS OF MOVEMENTS AND FORCES (15
heuristics)
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TRANSFORMATIONS OF A MATERIAL (23 heuristics)
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EXPEDIENTS OF DIFFERENTIATION (11 heuristics)
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QUANTITATIVE TRANSFORMATIONS (14 heuristics)
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TRANSFORMATIONS IN ACCORDING WITH THE EVOLUTION TRENDS
(8 heuristics)
It is recognized that technical
design is a part of culture. Hence, engineers from different countries usually
follow to dissimilar design rules and traditions. Thus, an experienced user can
often differentiate, e.g., German and Japanese designs of the similar technical
systems or technological processes. A.I. Polovinkin and his co-workers [3-5]
have restricted their knowledge base to technique created mostly in the former
USSR. Nevertheless, it seems that the heuristics for systems
transformations selected by one of the authors [2] are culture-independent. In
order to test this hypothesis, we have analyzed US patents and design practice
in different countries. Some results of our research are presented in this
paper. We plan to publish the full version in the forthcoming book [6] or
elsewhere. In order not to duplicate information that can be easily found at the
Internet, we would refer the reader to the patents (especially their
annotations) that are chosen to illustrate Polovinkin’s heuristics.
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HEURISTICS
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EXAMPLES
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1.1. To use the circular, spiral, treelike,
spherical or other compact shapes.
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US # 4630123:
Facsimile machine is made compact by using semi-circular wall in the
housing
US # 3832121:
Fuel injector for blast furnace
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1.2. To carry out apertures or cavities in a
system.
Inversion of the heuristic.***
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US # 5200573
Projectile having a matrix of cavities on its surface
US # 5839505
Dimpled heat exchange tube
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2.1. To exclude the most intense (loaded) (sub)system.
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Automation of processes: the most loaded subsystem
(human) is eliminated from the process.
US # 5528689
Telephone headset adaptor including a hearing sound tube, a speaking sound
tube, a headset, a telephone ear cup and a telephone mouth cup
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2.2. To exclude a (sub)system at preservation of
all former functions by the system. Due to one subsystem carries out a few
functions the necessity in other subsystems disappears. To remove “superfluous
details” even at loss “of one percent of effect”.
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US # 4541001
Bidirectional power FET with substrate-referenced shield
US # 5261523
Triple-strand roller chain conveyor with accumulating pallets
Kitchen multiprocessors replace mixer, grinder,
cutter and other dedicated appliances.
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3.1. To change traditional orientation of system
in space: a horizontal one on vertical or inclined; to put on a side; to
turn by a bottom upwards; to turn by rotation.
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US # 3945226,
Drum type top-loading washing machine
LCD monitor in portrait orientation
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3.2. To use “an empty space” between
subsystems (one subsystem can pass through a cavity in the other
subsystem).
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US # 5544313
Baton passing optimization scheme for load balancing/configuration
planning in a video-on-demand computer system
In order to reduce the traffic congestion on freeway
during major festival days in Taiwan, the government set up a traffic
regulation called 'vanpool' that every car should be loaded to its seating
capacity when entering the freeway. This forces people to use the empty
spaces in possible cars.
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4.1. To transfer a fulfillment of action on other
operation time. To carry out required action prior of the beginning or
after closing -up of (sub)system’s work.
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US # 6055609
Apparatus and method for improving bus usage in a system having a shared
memory
US # 5941795
Control system for a single servo during multiple speed changes
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4.2. To proceed from the continuous submission of
energy (substance) or continuous action (process) to a periodic or
pulsing.
Inversion of the heuristic.
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US # 5299296
Multi-function machine with interleaved job execution
US # 5439652
Use of controlled periodic illumination for an improved method of
photo-catalysis and an improved reactor design
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5.1. To change a direction of rotation.
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US # 5452988
Blade pitch change mechanism
US # 6047669
Engine rotation reversal mechanism
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5.2. To replace forward (rectilinear) or
reciprocation movement by rotation. Inversion of the heuristic.
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US # 4134233
Sliding door for railway passenger car compartment
US # 5692876
Hydrostatic transmission for end dog carriage drive
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6.1. To carry out the considered (sub)system and (sub)systems
cooperating with it from the same material or from a material with similar
properties. Inversion of expedient.
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US # 5847297
Tremolo with spaced saddles for a stringed musical instrument
US # 5986306
Thin-film transistor having a heat sink that exhibits a high degree of
heat dissipation effect
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6.2. To carry out an (sub)system or his(its)
surface from “porous” material. To fill holes by a substance.
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US # 5726464
Light emitting device using porous semi-conductor material
US # 5480827
Use of porous polycrystalline aragonite as a support material for in vitro
culture of cells
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7.1. To divide a driven flow (substance, energy,
information) on two or several.
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US # 4625747
Pressure responsive flow divider valve for servo-powered steering devices
US # 5392071
Apparatus and method for processing image data
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7.2. To divide friable, liquid or gaseous (sub)system
on parts.
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US # 5578209
Centrifugal fluid separation device
US # 5900046
Froth separation apparatus |
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8.1. To change parameters of a (sub)system
(its elements) or environment.
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US # 6079353
Chamber for reducing contamination during chemical vapor deposition for
electronic device manufacture
US # 5999627
Method for exponentiation in a public-key cryptosystem
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8.2. To increase (or to reduce) a number identical
or similar each other of (sub)systems in the system. To change number of
simultaneously working or processable subsystems (e.g., engines,
instruments, etc.).
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US # 5962955
Piezoelectric device for ink jet printer head
US # 5949718
Method and system for selected source during read and programming of flash
memory
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In conclusion,
let us note that Polovinkin’s heuristics can be used for resolution of various
technical problems, especially in the framework of the Agents Method [2]. It
seems interesting to include some of the heuristics for systems transformations
as well as other “new” heuristics selected by one of the authors (SDS) into
the extended Altshuller’s Contradiction Matrix [2]. This work is in progress
now.
References
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Altshuller, G. S., 40
Principles: TRIZ Keys to Technical Innovation, Technical Innovation Center,
1997
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Savransky, S. D.,
Engineering of Creativity: Introduction to TRIZ Methodology of Inventive
Problem Solving, CRC Press, 2000****
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Polovinkin, A. I., Laws of
Organization and Evolution of Technique, VPI, Volgograd, 1985.(in Russian).
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Polovinkin, A. I., Theory of
New Technique Design: Laws of Technical Systems and their Applications,
Informelektro, Moscow, 1991 (in Russian).
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Polovinkin, A. I., The ABC
of Engineering Creativity, Mashinostroenie, Moscow, 1988 (in Russian).
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Belousov, V., Doncean, G.,
Plahteanu, B., Salamatov, Yu.P., Savransky, S. D., Wei, T. C., de Carvalho,
M. A., et. al. Guide for Inventors, RO-INI (to be published in
2001)*****
Footnotes:
* Virtual TRIZ College alumni -
http://www.trizexperts.net
** Corresponding Author
** Many ofPolovinkin’s
heuristics have “The mirror expedient” or “Inversion of the heuristic”.
For example, the heuristic 1.2. "To carry out apertures or cavities in a
system" would have the following complete description: “To make an
aperture or and cavity in a system, OR to exclude an aperture and or cavity from
a system”. Therefore, the instruction “Inversion of the heuristic”
recommends to make the converse transformation or to search in the opposite
direction. Counting all these “mirror expedients”, one can conclude
that the number of heuristics is about 150 [3-5].
**** The book is available:
http://www.trizexperts.net
***** The book will be
available: http://www.trizexperts.net
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