Semyon D. Savransky

Short Notes about Altshuller's Matrix

The following are not very well organized notes made in different time. Nevertheless I hope they are interesting for newcomers in TRIZ.

The contradiction matrix is one of the effective and visual tools of TRIZ. The idea of the matrix and its initial development was created and worked out by Genrich Saulovich Altshuller in the process of research of about 40,000 patents with the so-called "strong levels of solutions" in several classes of the International Patent Classification. This database was extracted from about 400,000 worldwide patents in the 1960's and seventies . G.S. Altshuller figured out 39 types of 39 engineering parameters on the matrix's axes "Undesired Effect" versus "Feature to Improve" and 40 types of inventive principles [1]. (See the July issue of The TRIZ Journal for illustrations of the original matrix and a tutorial on how to use it.)

This matrix well as many other TRIZ methods are in the public domain due to the goodwill of the author of TRIZ and his coworkers. Since that time this classical contradiction matrix and its elements were reproduced in various books about TRIZ with different examples and even humorous illustrations [2]. The simple software for the classical contradiction matrix can be found on the Internet (see, e.g., the WWW page with URL http://www.iis.nsk.su/~shu/misc/triz/) and this matrix was integrated in various TRIZ packages for personal computers.

The development of the matrix was continued in from the 1970's through the present by TRIZniks in the former Soviet Union. It was shown that 40 initial principles can be squeezed to 36 independent characteristics [3]. On the other hand the Belorussian school of TRIZ added new principles, such as:

49. Dissociation-association

50. Self-organization

so the number of inventive principles was increased to fifty [4]. The author expand this register further.

RE-ORGANIZATION OF TRIZ CONTRADICTION MATRIX FOR NEW DESIGN REQUIREMENTS /ABSTRACTS/

Semyon D. Savransky, Solomon D. Tetelbaum

TRIZ Experts, California, USA E-mail: TRIZexperts@hotmail.com

The contradiction matrix is one of the powerful tools of Methodology of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) for conceptual design. This matrix catalogues 39 engineering parameters on the axes "Undesired Effect" versus "Feature to Improve". The matrix’s cells contain a few principles which should be considered for improvements of one parameter without degradation of another one. The idea of the matrix and its initial development was created and worked out by G.S. Altshuller in the process of research of about 40,000 patents with the so-called "strong levels of solutions" extracted from about 400,000 worldwide patents. G.S. Altshuller figured out also 40 types of inventive principles during patents studies in the 60's and 70's. Since that time this classical Altshuller’s matrix and its elements were reproduced in various TRIZ books and software packages without any expansion. That is why the classical Altshuller’s matrix cannot often be useful for design of new products and processes at the end of century.

The development of the matrix was continued by initially in the former Soviet Union and now in USA from the 1970's to present. It was shown that 40 initial principles can be squeezed to 36 independent characteristics. On the other hand, it is possible to show that all principles can be divided into common (that work in several engineering fields) and particular (that work in a specific engineering field). Often the common principles can be used during design only due to specific interpretation. Such separation of principles into common, specific and particular, and the investigations of patents allow to increase strongly the number of principles. Therefore the several new principles can be added into the matrix. Several new principles founded during patent search will be disclosure in the paper.

A number of the engineering parameters has also been significantly increased due to the patent research in Russia and last years in USA performed by TRIZ Experts. We also made a statistical analysis of the matrix's elements for various engineering fields.

The idea of specific and particular principles was extended to the set of industry field-dependent tensors. It is worth mentioning that a matrix works only with 2 parameters, while a tensor can operate with the same or higher number of the engineering parameters so axes become multidimensional. It is clear that the matrix / tensor cannot exist in some permanent forms, because new fields of technique and engineering will enrich the contradiction matrix/tensor, so we convince that TRIZ development needs.

The efficiency of design increase strongly due to application of the matrix or tensor that includes the specific and particular principles and new parameters. Design solutions can be obtained more timely, although tensors cannot be used as widely as the matrix. The possibility of creating the universal tensor seems reasonable and should be worked out.

The application of specific and particular principles is illustrated by several examples of inventive solutions in the field of heat exchangers obtained (particularly) by the authors. Other weak and strong features of any contradiction matrix/tensor are discussed.

A number of the engineering parameters has been also significantly increased due to our patent research, so new parameters such as "Safety" were added [5,6]. As a result the matrix was enriched by new cells and several columns and rows were added.

For example, a new cell with SAFETY (as the Undesired Effect) versus PRODUCTIVITY (as the Feature to Improve) contains principles # 10,14, 35,38, and 50; and the cell in the classical matrix cell with WASTE OF TIME (as the Undesired Effect ) versus ADAPTABILITY contains principles # 28,35,49.

TRIZniks in Odessa (Ukraine) made a statistical analysis of the matrix elements for various engineering fields [7]. Later this idea was extended to the set of industry field-dependent tensors [6]. It is worth mentioning that a matrix works only with 2 parameters, while a tensor can operate with the same or higher number of the engineering parameters so axes become multidimensional. The possibility of creating the universal tensor seems reasonable and should be worked out.

I would like to note that the inventive principles work not only in technical contradictions. It is possible to use this tool in business and education. For example, we figured out that the contradiction between a small number of the real specialists in TRIZ and a big current demand for TRIZ training on the one hand, and the native Russian language for almost all TRIZ experts now and the international representation of people who want to know TRIZ on the other hand. We resolve these contradictions by offering hands-on TRIZ training by using the Internet as the mediator (the principle # 24) and translators as the principle # 26. [8]

Although the classical matrix is in the public domain, anybody should remember that its idea is belongs to G.S. Altshuller. Other TRIZniks can claim on the intellectual properties concerning development or illustration of the matrix but not on the matrix itself or its elements. Some other TRIZniks and I do not consider that the matrix or even the universal tensor can exist in some permanent form, because new fields of technique and engineering will enrich the contradiction matrix/tensor. I believe that TRIZ development needs the same support as other sciences through federal and international organizations.

References:

1.G.S. Altshuller "Algorithm of Inventions" Moscow 1969, 1973 (in Russian) /will be translated in English/

2. U. Fedoseev and G. Altshuller The Contradiction Matrix and its Components: Album (in Russian) Petrazavodsk, 1984. - 42 pp. (Translated in English by Lev Shulyak, 1997, see http://www.ultranet.com/~TIC/index.htm )

3. S.D. Savransky, http://www.jps.net/semyon/inventiveprincipes.htm

4. N.N. Khomenko e.a. An additional list of the inventive principles (in Russian) 1989, 5 pp. /see also http://www.jps.net/semyon/matrix93.htm

5. S.D. Savransky, S.E.Sofronev e.a. Unpublished results 1982 -1993

6. S.D. Savransky, http://www.jps.net/semyon/savransky-triz-papers.htm

7. S. Telbaum, Unpublished results 1990.

8. http://www.jps.net/semyon/vu-triz.htm for information on the training class

The studies performed by the author include also the following technique independent Parameters such as:

Safety, Stability of parameters, Accuracy of operation, Information, Tolerances, Susceptibility, Ergonomic, Aesthetic, etc.;

and common physical Parameters such as:

Electrical impedance, Optical transparency, Viscosity, Friction, Corrosion resistance, Noise Transient processes in condensed matter, etc.

These Parameters can be included in the Matrix for removal of typical technical contradictions. In fact the lightly expanded Matrix will be presented later in this lesson. In order to be included in the Matrix each new Parameter should be confirmed by several high-Level inventions from various engineering fields. Some of the Parameters from this so-called Savransky’s List already passed this test (described later in this lesson). …..

Very hard implementation procedure is applied by The TRIZ Experts to any of new Principles in order to confirm their importance. The threshold for a new Principle to become a TRIZ heuristic and to enter a specific cell of the Contradiction Matrix is it repeatability in many high-Level patents in various engineering fields. There is no common opinion about the number of such inventions, the lowest 10 and the highest 500 according to the different TRIZniks opinions. G. S. Altshuller estimated threshold at about several dozens of patents, but he was not consistent, and sometimes he incorporated the Principle that he had figured out only in a few inventions in the Matrix, and sometimes he did not include another Principle that he figure out in many patents. Of course this threshold connected with the overall number S of Inventive Principles that can be found. We do NOT know how many various TRIZ heuristics (including Principles) exist, but almost all TRIZniks believe that their quantity is a finite number. Some estimation can help find an answer to this question. Let set first the number N in such a way that we can find only N patents at the Level 4 for the each Inventive Principle, 10N inventions at the Level 3 and 100N patents at the Level 2 for the each Principle. We can write that the total number of patents P is P = P1 + P2 + P3 + P4 + P5 ~ 20,000,000, where Pi is the number of patents at the Level i. It is simple to calculate each Pi due to known statistics of inventions that are belong to the each Level (see the lesson in Hands-On TRIZ Course). Let assume that S is in one-three orders of magnitude smaller than P5 ~ 200,000. It means that to find a new Principle as or even more difficult as to discover a new phenomena. This assumption is taken from the history of science that shows that scientist more often discovered a new phenomenon than a new approach to conduct researches. This assumption leads to S values from 200 up to 20,000. Because we are interested in the Principles that would work for various engineering fields only, let set the number S = 2,000 or 0.01% of all patents, i.e. S = P/104. Therefore, each Principle in average has been applied in 5000 different technical solutions that are incorporated into existing patents. Let stress that each Inventive Principle ("old" known or "new) assists to find many new patentable solutions of different problems . Now it is easy to calculate that N is approximately 200. Because more or less 10% of all patents have been studied already in the framework of TRIZ only. It leads to the estimation that the threshold is around couple dozen of patents. In other words, a new Inventive Principle can be incorporated in the Matrix if it can be confirmed by 20 or more patents which were studied by TRIZniks. Another good sign to include a new Inventive Principle into the Matrix is the applicability to use this new Principle for resolution of contradictions between a considerable number of different inventive Parameters within various clusters. On the other hand, the estimation of number of patent that can be studied by a TRIZnik during a year is about 10,000. (Unfortunately, TRIZ does not become the object of regular academic research yet, so no one TRIZnik can spend or allow the whole working time just for studies of patents.). Let assume that a TRIZnik’s goal is to find a ONE new Inventive Principle in a year, that seems concordant to our previous estimation. Therefore, the goal "to find a new Principle" seems reasonable for newcomers in TRIZ who have good knowledge of their engineering field. Let note, that when a new Inventive Principle is discovered in so-called theoretical TRIZ it is more easy to figure out this particular Inventive Principle in different technical solutions conducting the experimental TRIZ researches. Right now several Inventive Principle are in the state of approval. Because the update version of the Matrix as well as new Parameters and Inventive Principle are in the proprietary domain most TRIZniks still use the original Althuller’s Matrix that will be presented in expanded form later in this lesson.