Authors: Yeh-Ling Hsu, Po-Er Hsu, Yung-Chieh Hung, Y-Dn Xio (--4); recommended: Yeh-Ling Hsu (-6-9). Note: his pper is presented t the st Interntionl Conference on Systemtic Innovtion, Hsinchu, iwn, Jnury. Development nd ppliction of ptent-bsed design round process Abstrct Ptent infringements hve become n importnt issue for industries when developing products. Designing round existing ptents of competitors is tsk constntly fced by designers. New design problems, which re often locl innovtion of n existing ptent, re generted during the design-round process. he rules of ptent infringement judgment present the mjor constrints to such design problems, nd designers my hve to scrifice the performnce of the product in order not to infringe on existing ptents. his reserch proposes ptent-bsed design process by systemticlly integrting ptent informtion, the rules of ptent infringement judgment, strtegies of designing round ptents, nd innovtion design methodologies. he purpose of the process is to generte new design concept tht is slight vrition of one of the concerned ptents but does not infringe with existing ptents. he bsic ide is to consider ptent infringement before engineering design concepts re ctully generted. In this process, first the designer conducts stndrd ptent nlysis to identify the relted ptents to be designed round. Ech ptent is then symbolized by design mtrix converted from the technology/function mtrix of the ptent. A design-round lgorithm is
developed to generte new design mtrix tht does not infringe with design mtrices of existing ptents. hen the new design mtrix is trnsformed bck into rel engineering design using the contrdiction mtrix in heory of Inventive Problem Solving (RIZ). his design process ims to ssist enterprises to enhnce the efficiency of product development, lower the possibility of ptent infringements, nd increse the potentil to ptent results of innovtion. A computerized design-round tool bsed on the innovtive ptent-bsed design process is lso developed. wo design-round exmples re used to demonstrte this process nd the computerized design-round tool. Keywords: design process, design round, ptent nlysis, ptent infringement. Introduction Design process plys n importnt role in the success of product s development. Systemtic product design processes commonly seen in reserch literture or design textbooks often strt with finding need, specifiction development, conceptul design, detil design, nd finlly production. Such design processes re very useful for innovtive design. Innovtive design mythologies such s nlogy, brin storming, nd heory of Inventive Problem Solving (RIZ) re often used to generte engineering design solutions. However, the design problem constntly fced by engineering designers cross industries is how to design round existing ptents [Glzier, 99], which requires completely different design pproch nd knowledge. his type of design problem is often locl innovtion of n existing ptent. he rules of ptent infringement judgment present the mjor constrints to such design problems, nd designers my hve to scrifice the performnce of the product in order not to infringe on existing ptents. Although ptent nlysis hs lmost been stndrd process in the erly stge of product development in industry, few reserches in design processes consider competition or constrints in the form of existing ptents or fully utilized the informtion obtined from ptent nlysis. Chen nd Chen [4] integrted the systemtic design process nd design ptent protection mechnism to develop n dptive design process. Zhng nd Chen [4] presented process bsed upon the extension theory nd RIZ to design round ptents nd resolve conflictive problems. Chng et l. [4] proposed n uxiliry methodology for cretive mechnism design. his methodology is systemtic pproch bsed on modifiction of existing devices for the genertion of ll possible topologicl structures of mechnisms to void existing designs tht hve ptent protection. Designing round is bsed on the process nd rule of the ptent infringement judgment to develop design tht hs substntil difference in the scope of clims of
existing ptents. Designing round techniques hve been discussed in mny textbooks. For exmple, Nydegger nd Richrds [] proposed three possible strtegies for designing round n existing ptent: () Reduce the number of elements in the clims to stisfy the full elements rule. () Use the method of substitution to mke the ccused subject mtter different from the techniques disclosed in the clims to prevent literl infringements. () Substntilly chnge one of the constitutive requirements of wy/function/result to prevent infringements ccording to the doctrine of equivlents. hese designing round techniques provide good guideline for voiding ptent infringement. Note tht ech of the methods described bove presents new design problem to be solved. Innovtive design methodologies re still needed to generte rel engineering solutions for the new design problems. his reserch proposes ptent-bsed design process by systemticlly integrting ptent informtion, the rules of ptent infringement judgment, strtegies of designing round ptents, nd innovtion design methodologies. he purpose of the process is to generte new design concept tht is locl vrition of one of the concerned ptents insted of completely innovtive design, but does not infringe with existing ptents. he bsic ide is to consider ptent infringement before engineering design concepts re ctully generted. Figure shows the conceptul flowchrt of this ptent-bsed design process. o strt with, the designer conducts stndrd ptent serch nd nlysis to identify the relted ptents to be designed round nd to collect functions nd core techniques of ech relted ptent. Ech ptent is then symbolized by design mtrix converted from the design prmeters nd functionl requirements of the ptent. his design mtrix representtion is inspired by the Axiomtic Design methodology proposed by Suh [], which will be described in lter sections. he design mtrices of the ptents cn be mnipulted mthemticlly. Rules of infringement judgment nd design round strtegies cn be converted into mthemticl opertors pplying on the design mtrices. In this reserch, design-round lgorithm is developed to generte new design mtrix tht does not infringe with design mtrices of existing ptents. here cn be mny design mtrices tht stisfy the constrints. In our lgorithm, the design mtrix which is the smllest vrition of one of the design mtrices of existing ptents to be designed round will be chosen first. he new design represented
by this design mtrix will lso be locl vrition of n existing ptent. Finlly, RIZ is used to trnsform this new design mtrix bck into rel engineering design. he whole process is integrted into computerized Design-Around ool (DA). By defining the technology/function mtrix of the ptent to be designed-round in DA, the designer cn conveniently obtin series of design problems to be solved, sorted by the extent of vrition to the existing ptent. Figure. Conceptul flowchrt of the ptent-bsed design process. RIZ is systemtic pproch to finding innovtive solutions to technicl problems which ws put forwrd by former Soviet Union scientist Altshuller. RIZ is n vilble 4
tool for design engineers to hndle conflict conditions during the innovtion design problem solving process. here re severl methods in the RIZ toolset [Altshuller, 99]: Idelity Contrdiction Mtrix Physicl Contrdiction Resolution Principles Substnce Field (Su-Field) Anlysis In this reserch, the Contrdiction Mtrix is minly used to convert the new design mtrix into n engineering design solution. However, this trnsformtion my fil becuse there my not be fesible design corresponding to the new design mtrix generted by the lgorithm. Referring to Figure, if RIZ fils to generte fesible design, the lgorithm is triggered gin to generte the next design mtrix which stisfies the ptient infringement constrints nd is the smllest vrition of one of the design mtrices of the existing ptents. Finlly, one or more new design concepts re generted. he rest of the pper is orgnized s follows. In Section, portble mgnetic impct tool design problem, which will be used to illustrte the ptent-bsed design methodology throughout this pper, is described first. Section discusses how the relted ptents obtined from ptent nlysis re symbolized using the concept derived from Axiomtic Design. Section 4 nd 5 discuss the development of the design-round lgorithm nd the integrtion with RIZ to generte the rel engineering design concept. he portble mgnetic impct tool design exmple is used gin to illustrte the detiled steps of implementtion. Section 6 presents computerized Design-Around ool (DA) bsed on the innovtive ptent-bsed design process. Another exmple, the design-round problem of golf club hed with weight djustment, is solved by DA. Finlly Section 7 concludes the pper.. he portble mgnetic impct tool design problem Portble power tools used for drilling nd fstening re expected to be reltively smll nd light, yet providing high power to perform the desired functions. Figure shows the mjor components of portble power tool driven by n electric motor. he rottionl motion of the motor is trnsmitted to chuck tht holds tool output shft by mens of hmmer. he motor is generlly smll due to restrictions imposed on the overll size nd weight of the portble power tools. Limited power of the smll motor might not be enough to drive the intended lod. A hmmer type of mechnism is used to generte high output torque from smll drive. 5
chuck motor hmmer tool bit chuck Figure. Components of portble power tool As shown in Figure, the hmmer stores the rottionl energy of the motor over lrge ngle of rottion, for exmple, hlf turn. hen the hmmer hits the chuck to crete n impct torque over smll ngle (for exmple degrees) of rottion of the chuck. In this type of portble power tool, loud noise is generted when the hmmer hits the chucks. o eliminte the hmmering noise, some ptents hve proposed the concept of mgnetic impct tool with which screws re tightened using mgnetic coupling to deliver strike without ny contct. herefore tightening rottionl impct force cn be obtined without collision sound. hmmer chuck motor chuck hmmer Figure. op view of hmmer type impct genertor One successful exmple of mgnetic impct tool is disclosed in U.S. Ptent 6,9,449, grnted to Shingw et l. [5]. As shown in Figure 4, the mgnetic impct tool comprises mgnetic hmmer driven by motor, mgnetic nvil disposed so s to fce the mgnetic hmmer, nd n output shft tht rottes together with the mgnetic nvil. he mgnetic hmmer is movble with respect to the mgnetic nvil without contct. A rottionl impct force is mgneticlly generted in non-contct mnner for the mgnetic nvil in conjunction with the rottion of the mgnetic hmmer. During the screw-tightening work, the mgnetic hmmer nd mgnetic nvil begin to rotte together 6
without ny impct ction when the lod torque is initilly low. When the lod torque exceeds the mgnetic ttrction torque, the mgnetic hmmer nd mgnetic nvil re not synchronized nymore. Impct ction cn be generted, nd screw tightening nd loosening work cn be crried out even if low-torque motor is used. Mgnetic nvil Mgnetic bypss device Reduction ger motor Output shft Output Drive shft Mgnetic hmmer Mgnetic Mgnetic nvil hmmer Bypss device motor Mgnetic nvil micromotor Figure 4. U.S. Ptent 6,9,449 he torque generted between the mgnetic hmmer nd mgnetic nvil cn be chnged by the chnging device to vry the distribution rtio of the mgnetic flux from the mgnetic hmmer to the mgnetic nvil. As shown in Figure 4, there is mgnetic bypss device for distributing mgnetic flux between the mgnetic nvil nd the mgnetic hmmer. 7
here is lso chnging device for chnging the distribution of mgnetic flux. he chnging device comprises micromotor (5), worm ger (5b) nd pinion ger (5d). he pinion ger is mounted on the externl peripherl surfce of the bypss device (4). he bypss device cn be moved in reciprocting mnner in the xil direction of the drive shft by driving the micromotor. hus, the distribution of mgnetic flux between the mgnetic hmmer nd mgnetic nvil cn be chnged. A switch for controlling the opertion of the micromotor my be provided seprtely. In ptent nlysis, the technology/function mtrix is used to investigte which techniques cn produce the specific functions. he column of the mtrix represents the functions while the row lists the disclosed techniques. he technologies nd functions re obtined from the ptent bstrct lists of ech concerned ptent. After stndrd ptent serch nd nlysis, two other relted ptents, JP 9,54,46 nd JP 4,9,6, which chieve the sme 4 functions tighten/loosen screw, generte impct torque nd chnge mgnetic flux were identified. ble to shows the technology/function mtrices of the ptents to be designed round. ble. echnology/function mtrix of U.S. Ptent 6,9,449 echnologies Functions ighten/ loosen screw Generte impct torque Motor Mgnetic hmmer Mgnetic nvil Drive shft Output shft Mgnetic bypss device Chnging device Chnge mgnetic flux ble. echnology/function mtrix of JP 9,54,46 Functions ighten/ loosen Generte impct Chnge mgnetic echnologies screw torque flux Motor Electromgnetic clutch Output shft Reducer
ble. echnology/function mtrix of JP 4,9,6 echnologies Functions ighten/ loosen screw Generte impct torque Motor Drive shft Mgnetic hmmer Mgnetic nvil Output shft Gp chnging mens Chnge mgnetic flux. Design mtrix representtion In this reserch, ech concerned ptent in the technology/function mtrix is symbolized by design mtrix, which is inspired by the Axiomtic Design methodology proposed by Suh []. Axiomtic design is system design methodology using mtrix method to nlyze the trnsformtion of customer needs into functionl requirements, design prmeters, nd process vribles. he xiomtic design pproch consists of two xioms. Axiom, which is clled the independence xiom, dels with the reltionship between functionl requirements (s) nd design prmeters (s). Axiom, which is clled the informtion xiom, dels with the complexity of the design. In this reserch, Axiom is used for representing ech ptent to be designed round. A brief introduction to Axiom is given below. Let there be m components represented by set of independent s where is the vector of functionl requirements. s in the physicl domin re chrcterized by vector with n components. he design mtrix representing the reltionship between s nd s vectors is expressed s { } m [ A] m n{ s} n s () A A [ A] Μ... Μ () m...... A A n mn Eqution () is design eqution for the design of product, where A is design mtrix tht chrcterizes the product design. he components in the design mtrix re either or. A cell tkes if vrying the design prmeter hs no effect on the corresponding functionl requirement nd if it does. [ ] 9
In generl, Eqution () my be written in terms of its elements s, m i i m n i j ( A ) ij j () where n is the number of s. In the technology/function mtrix in ble ~, the technologies resembles the design prmeters (s), nd the function resembles the functionl requirements (s) in Eqution (). For exmple, in ble, ighten/ loosen screw Generte impct torque Chnge mgnetic flux he corresponding s re s follows: Motor Drive shft Mgnetic hmmer 4 Mgnetic nvil 5 Output shft 6 Mgnetic bypss device 7 Chnging device he technology/function mtrix in ble cn be expressed s 4 5 6 7 (4)
where For exmple, in Eqution (5) is the trnsformtion mtrix which trnsfers the s into s. ( ( 4 ) ( ) 6 7 4 ) 5 (5) he first eqution bove mens tht rnsforming components motor, drive shft, mgnetic hmmer, mgnetic nvil, nd output shft chieves function of tightening/ loosening screw. Similrly, the second eqution bove mens tht rnsforming components motor, drive shft, mgnetic hmmer, nd mgnetic nvil chieves the function of generting impct torque ; the third eqution bove mens tht rnsforming components mgnetic bypss device nd chnging device chieves the function of chnging mgnetic flux. or In summry, ptent cn be represented by the following eqution: [ ] [ ][ A][ ] (6) m i i m n i j ( A ) (7) i ij j where [] is column vector of the functions of the ptent, nd [] is column vector of the technologies (components) of the ptent. Both [] nd [] re extrcted directly from the technology/function tble of the ptent. Mtrix A is design mtrix tht chrcterizes the ptent. he components in mtrix A re s nd s representing the reltion between functions nd technologies. Finlly row vector is trnsformtion mtrix which trnsforms the technologies into function. 4. he design-round lgorithm his section discusses the development of the design-round lgorithm. U.S. Ptent 6,9,449 is lso used to illustrte the detiled steps of implementtion of the ptent-bsed design process.
Consider series of design mtrices of existing ptents, i,, n, to be designed round. he purpose of the design-round lgorithm developed in this study is to generte new design mtrix A tht is similr to one of the existing mtrices infringe with ny of the existing design mtrices. ht is, to generte A such tht Α i Α i, but does not Α Α i nd Α i Α () where mens is similr to, nd mens does not infringe with. Figure 5 shows the flowchrt of the design-round lgorithm. o strt with, the designer must identify the relted ptents to be designed round nd to collect functions (s in Eqution (7)) nd core techniques (s in Eqution (7)) of ech relted ptent, s in stndrd ptent nlysis. Ech ptent is then symbolized by design mtrix converted from the s nd s of the ptent. After trnsferring the relted ptents into design mtrices, the designer hs to ssign the priority of s to be designed round. he priority of s to be designed round is given to those hving the lest influence in the design mtrix, which re the s hving the lest contribution to the s, nd the s hving miniml interction with other s. he influences of the s re represented by the number of non-zero elements in the design mtrix. o ssign the priority of s to be designed round, the columns nd rows of the design mtrix re sorted ccording to the number of non-zero elements. After the priorities of s re decided, the design round opertion mtrices re pplied to the s which hve the highest priority to be designed round. In this reserch, four design round opertion mtrices re proposed. hey re pplied in the order of elimintion (to eliminte redundnt component), replcement or integrtion (to mke t lest one constitutive substntilly different), nd decomposition (to replce multi-functionl technologicl chrcteristic with few seprte technologicl chrcteristics). New design mtrices which do not infringe with the existing ptents nd the corresponding design problems re generted. New design problems cn be identified. In the next stge, RIZ is used to solve the new design problems nd trnsform the new design mtrix bck into rel engineering design concept.
Figure 5. Flowchrt of the design round lgorithm Eqution (9) shows the design mtrix representtion of U.S. Ptent 6,9,449. here re 7 s in this ptent. o ssign the priorities, the columns of design mtrix A re sorted
ccording to the number of non-zero elements. hen the rows of design mtrix A re sorted ccording to the number of non-zero elements. In Eqution (9), the design mtrix A remins unchnged fter sorting. 5 only contributes to one function, nd 6 nd 7 only contribute to one function. 6 nd 7 only interct with ech other, while 5 intercts with 4 other s (,, nd 4 ) to chieve function. herefore 6 nd 7 hve the highest priority to be designed round, nd 5 hs the second highest priority to be designed round.,, nd 4 re considered lstly. 4 5 6 7 (9) After the priorities of s re decided, the design round opertion mtrix D is pplied on the design mtrix to generte new design mtrix A : E Α Α n c D () where E Α nc is clled the expnsion mtrix of A, defined s Α E n c Μ m Μ m Ο n n Μ mn Μ Μ Μ m ( n c) () nd c is the number of expnded columns. Note tht the ptent represented by design E E mtrix A is equivlent to tht represented by design mtrix, tht is, A. For exmple, Α nc Α nc Μ Μ m Μ Ο Μ Μ m m Μ m Ο n n Μ mn m n Μ n 4
() ) ( n n m mn m m n n m Μ Μ Ο Μ Μ Κ Μ Ο Μ Μ he expnsion mtrix will be needed when new s re introduced in the design round process. Next, the 4 design round strtegies, elimintion, replcement, integrtion, nd decomposition, re converted into different design round opertion mtrices. () Elimintion If one or more components in concerned ptent re found to be redundnt, they cn be eliminted directly to generte solution with simplified components/functions. For exmple, in U.S. Ptent 6,9,449, in order to void flling into the scope of ll elements rule, eliminting the mgnetic bypss device ( ) or the chnging device ( ) cn be considered first. Eqution (4) shows the design mtrix representtion of U.S. Ptent 6,9,449, where 6 7 A () Let D (4) D Α Α (5) Clerly Α Α, becuse hs been eliminted, nd the design-round technique is successful ccording to the ll element rule. he new design cn be expressed s 6 5
4 5 6 7 (6) ( ( ( ) 7 4 ) 4 ) 5 (7) As shown in Eqution (7), there is new design problem to be solved ( ( 7 )), which cn be trnslted into: Design Problem : How to design trnsformtion to chieve the function (chnge mgnetic flux) using component 7 (chnging device)? he sme process cn be used for eliminting opertion mtrix: 7 by the following design round D () he new design problem to be solved ( ( 6) ) cn be trnslted into: Design problem : How to design trnsformtion to chieve the function (chnge mgnetic flux) using component 6 (mgnetic bypss device)? () Replcement Replcement mens tht one or more components of the design mtrix cn be displced by nother component(s). Replcement does not tke plce hphzrdly but resonbly. In U.S. Ptent 6,9,449, in order to void flling into the scope of doctrine of 6
equivlents, replcing the mgnetic bypss device ( 6 ) or the chnging device ( 7 ) cn be considered first. A new will be introduced in the replcement opertion. herefore the expnsion mtrix of A is used: (9) o replce 6 with, let D () E Α D Α Α E () he technologicl chrcteristics of must be different from those of 6, so tht E Α Α, nd the designing round is successful ccording to the doctrine of equivlents. he new design cn be expressed s () () he new design problem to be solved ( ) cn be trnslted into: 7 6 5 4 ) ( ) ( ) ( 7 4 5 4 ( ) 7 7
Design problem : How to design trnsformtion nd new component to chieve the function (chnge mgnetic flux) using component 7 (chnging device) nd, while the technologicl chrcteristics of re different from those of 6. he sme process cn be used for replcing opertion mtrix: 7 by the following design round D 4 (4) he new design problem to be solved ( ( 6 ) ) cn be trnslted into: Design problem 4: How to design trnsformtion nd new component to chieve the function (chnge mgnetic flux) using component 6 (mgnetic bypss device) nd, while the technologicl chrcteristics of re different from those of 7. () Integrtion Integrtion combines two or more different components, nd the technologicl chrcteristics of the resulting design re substntilly different from those of originl components. For exmple, in U.S. Ptent 6,9,449, in order to void ptent infringement by the ll elements rule, the new product cn be obtined through integrtion of the two technologicl chrcteristics of 6 nd 7. Agin new component will be introduced in the integrtion opertion, therefore the expnsion mtrix of A is used: E Α (5) o integrte 6 nd 7 into, let
D 5 (6) E Α5 Α D 5 (7) Clerly E Α5 Α, becuse 6 nd 7 hve been integrted into, nd the design-round technique is successful ccording to the ll element rule. he new design cn be expressed s 4 5 6 7 () ( ( ( ) 4 ) 4 ) 5 (9) he new design problem to be solved ( ( ) ) cn be trnslted into: Design problem 5: How to design trnsformtion (chnge mgnetic flux) using new component chrcteristics of re different from those of 6 nd 7. to chieve the function, while the technologicl (4) Decomposition In decomposition, one mjor component is decomposed into severl subordinte components, while the technologicl chrcteristics of the new components re different from those of the originl components. wo or more new components re introduced nd the expnsion mtrix of A is used: 9
() 9 E Α o decomposed into nd, let 6 9 D 6 () 6 9 6 D Α Α E () he technologicl chrcteristics of nd must be different from those of, so tht 9 6 E 6 Α 9 Α, nd the designing round is successful ccording to the ll element rule. he new design cn be expressed s () 9 7 6 5 4 (4) ) ( ) ( ) ( 9 7 4 5 4 he new design problem to be solved ( ) cn be trnslted into: ( 9) 7 Design problem 6: How to design trnsformtion nd two new components nd to chieve the function (chnge mgnetic flux) using two new components 9
nd 9, while the technologicl chrcteristics of nd 9 re different from those of 6. 7 9 he sme process cn be used for decomposing into nd by the following design round opertion mtrix: D 7 (5) he new design problem to be solved ( ( 6 9 ) ) cn be trnslted into: Design problem 7: How to design trnsformtion nd 9, while the technologicl chrcteristics of nd 9 re different from those of 7. nd two new components nd 9 to chieve the function (chnge mgnetic flux) using two new components 5. Generte rel engineering design concepts using RIZ After pplying the 4 design round opertion mtrices to the components with the highest priority to be designed round, 7 new design mtrices, nd therefore 7 new design problems re generted. In this section, the Contrdiction Mtrix nd the inventive principles of RIZ re used to solve these new design problems. he Contrdiction Mtrix in the RIZ theory contins 9 design prmeters nd 4 inventive principles for solving relted engineering design problems. As shown in ble 4, the designer serches in 9 design prmeters to find the ones mtching with the functions in the design problem, nd the inventive principles ppering in the corresponding brcket re the possible guidelines to generte the trnsformtion in the design problems described bove. For exmple, for Design Problem 5 described in the previous section, Prmeter (force) is selected s the feture for chieving the function of chnging mgnet flux by
. In ddition, it is expected tht will be ble to chnge mgnetic flux. herefore Prmeter (ese of opertion) is selected s the feture to not be deteriorted in ble 4. Four inventive principles cn be obtined. hey re Principle (segmenttion), Principle (Mechnicl interction substitution), Principle (locl qulity), nd Principle 5 (self-service). ble 4. he contrdiction mtrix Undesired result 9 Feture to chnge Weight of moving object Ese of opertion Productivity Weight of moving object Force,,, 5 9 Productivity After reviewing the four principles, Principle ws utilized to generte the new concept in the portble mgnetic impct tool. In RIZ, Principle hs four explntions:. Replce mechnicl system with n opticl, cousticl, therml or olfctory system. b. Use n electric, mgnetic or electromgnetic field to interct with n object. c. Replce fields tht re: sttionry with mobile; fixed with chnging in time; rndom with structured. d. Use fields in conjunction with ferromgnetic prticles. In prticulr, use n electric, mgnetic or electromgnetic field to interct with n object ws used to solve Design Problem 5. In the new design concept generted, the new component consists of four solenoids. he four solenoids re mounted on the mgnetic nvil, nd the impct torque cn be chnged by vrying the distribution rtio of the mgnetic flux by operting switch for setting the output of the electric current vlue. In this concept, the new component hs lredy integrted the function of the chnging device nd the mgnetic bypss device.
he designer cn try to find solutions for other design problems utilizing the Contrdiction Mtrix in RIZ. However, good engineering design concept cnnot be generted utomticlly. It still depends on the domin knowledge nd experience of the designer. Moreover, trnsformtion from design mtrix to n engineering design concept my fil becuse there my not be fesible design corresponding to the new design mtrix generted by the lgorithm. For exmple, Design Problem described in the previous section is not fesible becuse the component 7 only performs the function move mgnetic bypss device, it is unble to chnge mgnetic flux by itself. 6. he computerized design-round tool he ptent-bsed design process is integrted into computerized Design-Around ool (DA). After defining the technology/function mtrix of the ptent to be designed-round in DA, the designer cn conveniently obtin series of design problems to be solved, sorted by the extent of vrition to the existing ptent. In this section, nother exmple, design round problem of golf club hed with weight djustment, is used to illustrte the opertion of DA. he performnce of golfer is gretly ffected by the selection of golf clubs. he swing weight, the weight distribution nd the center of grvity of the golf club hed, is one of the mjor concerns when selecting golf clubs becuse the swing weight significntly ffects the driving chrcteristics. Weight djustment mechnism is often incorported into the design of the golf club hed, so tht the golfers cn customize the swing weight in different situtions. Mny relted ptents on weight djustment of golf club hed cn be found in stndrd ptent nlysis. Figure 6 shows golf putter hed with weight djustble rrngement which is disclosed in U.S. Ptent 6,4,4[]. According to the clims of this ptent, there re 5 components, receiving holes, weight djustble rrngement, nnulr locting groove, rubber retining ring, nd golf putter hed. he weight djustble rrngement mde by luminum lloy or mgnesium lloy is fsten to the receiving holes. he golfer cn use different weight djustble rrngements to chnge the center of grvity of the golf putter heds. After ptent nlysis, this ptent ws identified by golf club mnufcturer s the ptent to be designed round. ble 5 is the technology/function mtrix of U.S. Ptent 6,4,4.
echnologies Figure 6. U.S. Ptent 6,4,4 ble 5. echnology/function mtrix of U.S. Ptent 6,4,4 Functions Comprise the body Fix the weight djustble rrngement Chnge the center of grvity receiving holes weight djustble rrngement nnulr locting groove rubber retining ring golf putter hed As shown in Figure 7, designer imports the technology/function mtrix into DA (upper window in Figure 7). DA then strts the design-round lgorithm nd outputs series of design problems to be solved, sorted by the extent of vrition to the existing ptent (lower window in Figure 7). 4
Figure 7. User interfce of DA After reviewing the list of design problems, one problem ws identified by the golf club mnufcturer s the design problem to be solved: How to design trnsformtion to chieve the function (fix the weight djustble rrngement) using new component chrcteristics of 6 re different from those of 6, nd 4. 6, while the technologicl his problem ws then solved using the Contrdiction Mtrix in RIZ. In the Contrdiction Mtrix, prmeter (stbility of object) ws selected s the feture for chieving the function of fixing the weight djustble rrngement by it ws expected tht 6 6. In ddition, would be ble to fix the weight djustble rrngement. herefore Prmeter (convenient of use) ws selected s the feture to not being deteriorted in ble 4, in which the three inventive principles cn be obtined. hey re 5
Principle (opticl chnges), Principle 5 (physicl or chemicl properties), nd Principle (flexible films or membrnes). After reviewing the three principles, Principle ws utilized to generte the new concept in the golf club hed with weight djustment. In RIZ, Principle hs two explntions:. o use flexible shells nd thin films insted of three dimensionl structures; b. o isolte the object from the externl environment by using flexible shells nd thin films. In prticulr, Use flexible shells nd thin films insted of three dimensionl structures ws used to generte new design concepts to the design problem presented bove. In the new design concept generted, the new component 6 consists of spirl power spring. As shown in Figure, tnk in the golf club hed contins the weight djustment device comprised of n xle nd the spirl power spring. he center of grvity of the golf club hed cn be chnged by using tool to rotte the xle. he spirl power spring inside becomes smller nd cn be fit into the tnk or tken off the tnk. Finlly the golf club mnufcturer then developed the innovtive design concept in Figure into prototype s shown in Figure 9. Figure. New design concept of new component 6 6
Figure 9. he prototype of golf club hed 7. Conclusions he design problem constntly fced by engineering designers cross industries is how to design round existing ptents, insted of generting completely innovtive design. Although ptent nlysis hs lmost been stndrd process in the erly stge of product development in industry, informtion obtined from ptent nlysis is often not fully utilized. his pper proposes ptent-bsed design process by systemticlly integrting ptent informtion, the rules of ptent infringement judgment, strtegies of designing round ptents, nd innovtion design methodologies. he bsic ide is to consider ptent infringement before engineering design concepts re ctully generted. Design mtrices re used s the mthemticl representtions of ptents nd design round opertions, such tht new design mtrix tht does not infringe with design mtrices of existing ptents cn be generted by mthemticl mnipultions. New design problems re formed. Finlly the Contrdiction Mtrix in RIZ, which is perfect mtch to this design process, is then used to generte rel engineering solution. he whole process is integrted into computerized Design-Around ool (DA). By defining the technology/function mtrix of the ptent to be designed-round in DA, the designer cn conveniently obtin series of design problems to be solved, sorted by the extent of vrition to the existing ptent. his design process ims to ssist enterprises to enhnce the efficiency of product development, lower the possibility of ptent infringements, nd increse the potentil to ptent results of innovtion. From nother point of view, the enterprises cn lso use this 7
process to check whether it is esy to design round their own ptents, nd how to estblish complete ptent portfolio without ny possible loopholes. Reference Altshuller, G., 4 principles: RIZ Keys to echnicl Innovtion, echnicl Innovtion Center, MA, 99. Chng, W.., seng, C. H., Wu, L. L., Cretive mechnism design for prosthetic hnd, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechnicl Engineers, Prt H: Journl of Engineering in Medicine, v., p.45-459, 4. Chen, A. nd Chen, R., An dptive design process generted by the integrtion of systemtic design process nd design ptent protection mechnism, INERNAIONAL JOURNAL OF GENERAL SYSEMS, v., p.65-65, 4. Chiu; Chih Hung, Golf putter hed nd weight djustble rrngement, United Sttes Ptent 6,4,4,. Glzier, S. C., Ptent Strtegies for Business, Lw & Business Institute, 99. Nydegger, R. nd Richrds, J. W., Design Around echniques, in Lundberg et l., Electronic nd Softwre Ptents, he Bureu of Ntionl Affirs, Inc., Wshington, D.C.,. Shingw, S., Nkym, S., Sekino, F., Mgnetic impct tool, United Sttes Ptent 6,9,449, 5. Suh, N. P., Axiomtic Design: Advnces nd Applictions, New York: Oxford University Press,. Zhng, H.. nd Chen, J. H., Appliction of extension theory nd RIZ to innovtion design, Industril Engineering Journl, v.7, p.-7, 4.