Editor | On 14, Feb 1998

Professor D. Raviv, Department of Electrical Engineering
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33434 USA
ravivd@acc.fau.edu

1. Description Common problem solving methods will be briefly discussed,
followed by an introduction to TRIZ (Russian acronyms for Systematic Inventive Thinking).
Introduction to Intellectual Property: Patents, Copyright ©, Trademarks ä, Trade Secret,
Unfair Competition.

2. Objectives:

• Introduce systematic inventive thinking and problem solving (The TRIZ methodology)
• Introduce “out of the box” thinking
• Introduce intellectual property, in particular, patents, copyright and trademark

3. Topics:

• Introduction
  • Paradigm shift
  • Defining the problem
  • Generating solutions – common approaches
  • Deciding the course of action
  • Implementation and Evaluation
• The “magic and science” of inventing
  • Introduction to systematic inventive thinking (based on Altschuller’s TRIZ methodology)
  • Principles of inventive thinking
    • The problem/function
    • Understanding an existing system and its relevant components
    • Separation in time and space
    • Ideal final result (IFR)
    • Stating contradiction
    • Contradiction table 39 standard features and 40 inventive principles
    • Substance-field method
    • Levels of inventions
    • Evolution of technical systems
    • Components of technical systems
• Introduction to Intellectual Property: Patents, Copyrights ã.
  • Trademarksâ, Trade Secret, Unfair Competition.
  • *Patents
  • What is a patent?
  • Types of patents: Utility, Design, Plant
  • Patentability (what is patentable)
  • Patentability search
  • Patent application; patent claims (types; how to understand them)
  • Disclosure Document Program (DDP)
  • Provisional Patent Application (PPA)
  • * Copyrightsã
  • What is copyright: copyright protection
  • How to copyright
  • *Trademarksâ
  • Servicemark, Trademark and Tradename
  • SM, TM and â
  • Protectible Trademarks
  • *Trade Secrets
  • What are they? Advantages and disadvantages
  • *Unfair competition
  • *Relationships between Trademarks, Trade secrets, Copyrights and Patents

In this course hands-on puzzles will be used for stimulating the students’ minds.

4. Reference Books/Notes

• Instructor’s Notes
• “Strategies for Creative Problem Solving”, H. S. Fogler and S. E. LeBlanc,
  Prentice Hall, 1995.
• Introduction to TRIZ.. Ideation International, Inc.
• Altschuller, “Creativity as an Exact Science” (Translated from Russian, out of
  print).
• Altschuller, “The Art of Inventing” (“And Suddenly The inventor
  Appeared”).
• D. Pressman, Patent it Yourself”, 5th Edition, NOLO Press, 1996.
• United States Code (USC) 35
• United States Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 37
• United States Manual of Patent Examination Procedures (MPEP)

5. Prerequisite: GPA 2.8 (minimum) 6. Class Time: TBA 7. Classroom:
TBA 8. Instructor:
Dr. Daniel Raviv, Associate Professor
Electrical Engineering and Robotics Center
Office: Science and Engineering Bldg. Rm. 472
Telephone: 367-2773
Office Hours: TBA
9. Grades:
Participation: 60%
Homework and projects; 40%
No Final Exam