Structural simulation of devices based on patent descriptions

Abstract

The problem of the interaction of patent law and TRIZ is considered in this paper. Su-Field analysis is applied from TRIZ tools. The European claim of the invention is used to describe the device. The claim is divided into technical features for structural simulation. Binary relationships are introduced between features to build hierarchy levels. As a result, an oriented graph is obtained, the nodes of which are features, and the branches show the subordination of features. The elements are at the top level, and the connections between them are at the middle level. The properties of elements and links are at the lower level.  The physical operating principle of the device from the patent description is used for numerical evaluation of the structure. At the middle level of the hierarchy, features of interaction between elements are replaced by mechanical, thermal, electric, and magnetic fields from Su-field analysis. Further, the inventive fields are replaced by the dimensions of the physical quantities in which the fields are measured. For example, the dimensions of ampere, volt, watt, coulomb are used for electric fields, depending on the specific design of the device. The dimensions of physical quantities are given in the Bartini basis with two basic units time T and space L. Two-dimensional diagonal matrices are introduced to describe the weights of graph branches. A weighted and oriented graph mathematically describes the structure of the claim. The purpose of the simulation is to numerically compare the novelty of the claim with the prototype. The novelty coefficient is determined by the degree of asymmetry of the new solution and the prototype. The symmetric part is the inventive features included in the restrictive part of the claims. The inventive features included in the characteristic part form the asymmetry of the claims.