Advanced Patent Analysis Work Book

Crafitti Consulting
Crafting Innovation Together

Crafitti Innovation Ignition Workshop Series
Sep 26-27, 2008, Bangalore, India

Advanced Patent Analysis
using TRIZ and other techniques
crafting innovation together

Practitioner’s Work Book

Delegate Name:
Organization:
Email-Id:

© Crafitti Consulting Private Limited

What is a Technical System?

Anything that performs a function is a Technical System

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

© Crafitti Consulting Private Limited 2

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



You are a patent engineer – you received an Invention Disclosure as described
below – Please write down an abstract (Maximum 30 words)



Exchange the abstract written by your group with the group next to you.




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!




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!


Analyzing a Patent – The TRIZ Way

Whiteboard Marker having
arch shaped housing


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?


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?


Technical Field and Prior Art Analysis

What system parameter(s) have
improved in this invention?



What are the system conflicts in Chalk and Blackboard System?

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



What are the system conflicts in whiteboard

marker system?



What are the system conflicts in whiteboard marker system?



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



What are the system conflicts
in existing whiteboard marker
system?


Disclosure of Invention – Technical Problem

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


Disclosure of Invention – Technical Solution


TRIZ 40 Inventive Principles

1. Segmentation 21. Skipping
2. Extraction 22. ‘Blessing in Disguise’
3. Local Quality 23. Feedback
4. Asymmetry 24. Intermediary
5. Combination 25. Self-Service
6. Universality 26. Copying
7. ‘Nested Doll’ 27. Cheap/Short Living
8. Counterweight 28. Mechanics Substitution
9. Prior Counter-Action 29. Pneumatics and Hydraulics
10. Prior Action 30. Flexible Shells/Thin Films
11. Prior Cushioning 31. Porous Materials

12. Equi-potentiality 32. Colour Changes
13. ‘The Other Way Round’ 33. Homogeneity
14. Spheroidality 34. Discarding and Recovering
15. Dynamics 35. Parameter Changes
16. Partial or Excessive Action 36. Phase Transitions
17. Another Dimension 37. Thermal Expansion
18. Mechanical Vibration 38. Strong Oxidants
19. Periodic Action 39. Inert Atmosphere
20. Continuity of Useful Action 40. Composite Materials


Summarize the System Conflicts

System Improving Undesired Result Inventive Principle
Parameter (Parameter) Used
Chalk and NA
Blackboard
White Board
Marker (WBM)
Refillable WBMs
Two Sided WBMs

Arch Shaped WBM
(Present Invention)
Two Sided Arch
Shaped WBM
Three sided WBM


Claims Study

Claim 1

Claim 2

Claim 3


Claims Study (contd)

Claim 4

Claim 5

Claim 6


Claims Study (continued)

Claim 7

Claim 8

Claim 9


Build Claims Hierarchy

Claim 1
Claim 2
Claim 3
Claim 4
Claim 5
Claim 6
Claim 7
Claim 8

Claim 9

Identify: Independent Claims and Dependent Claims


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


FSA- Build a Design Structure Matrix (DSM)

SE1 SE2 SE3 SE4 SE5 SE6
SE1
SE2
SE3
SE4
SE5
SE6

SE: System Element


FSA- Function Analysis

Adequate Useful Action

Absent Useful Action

Inadequate Useful Action

× Harmful Action


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

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

How close to Ideality is the How can you make it closer to
current Invention? ideality?


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

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

Which sub-systems are closer to What are the conflicts if any sub-
ideality? systems function is intensified?


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

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

What are the Useful functions What more functions can be
provided? combined?


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

Law of Increasing Flexibility Adaptable System

What parts can be made more Based on different environments,
flexible? what changes can be done to make
system functional?


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

Law of Transition to Micro Level Micro level structures

What parts of the system can be What micro materials are
replaced by micro structures? available?


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

Law of Completeness No Human Involvement

What parts of the system has How to eliminate human
human involvement? components?


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

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

What parts of the system have Can one shorten energy flow?
energy flow?


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

Law of increasing controllability Completely controlled
field

How can one control the field – for
What parts of the system non- example changing gravity to
controllable fields? electric field?


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

Law of harmonization of rhythms Perfect resonance of
parts

What parts of the system have How to make these activities in
various time based activities? perfect harmony?


Applications of Patent Analysis

Patents as a trigger for Brainstorming
Technological Alternatives or Design Around a Patent
White Space Identification
Opportunity Finding


Patent as a Trigger for Brainstorming

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.

Inventive Principles (#) Possible Ideas


Ideas Mind Map


Trimming and Design Around a Patent

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 (Contd.)


Alternative Ranking – Using Analytic Hierarchy Process

Relative Alternative Ranking

Non Infringing Technical Feasibility Criticality Economic
Alternative Feasibility

• Distance from Current • Capability to • Enhancement in • R&D Cost
Patent Implement current capability
• Production Cost
• Novelty • R&D Effort • Long Term Benefits

ALTERNATIVE I ALTERNATIVE II ALTERNATIVE III ALTERNATIVE IV ALTERNATIVE V ALTERNATIVE VI


Crafitti Innovation Ignition Workshop Series
Sep 26-27, 2008, Bangalore, India

Advanced Patent Analysis
using TRIZ and other concepts

Crafitti Consulting
Crafting innovation together . . .
www.crafitti.com

Navneet Bhushan (navneet.bhushan@crafitti.com)
Karthikeyan Iyer (karthikeyan.iyer@crafitti.com)


Advanced Patent Analysis Work Book

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