OBJECT CARDINALITY

ATTRIBUTE DIMENSIONALITY

FUNCTION DISTRIBUTION

SCOPE VARIATION

 01 segmentation

A divide an object into independent parts

B make an object easy to assemble or disassemble

C increase the degree of fragmentation or segmentation

 02  extraction

A separate an interfering part or property from an object

B single out the only necessary part or property of an object

 03  local quality

A change an object’s structure from uniform to non-uniform

B change an external environment (or external influence) from uniform to non-uniform

C make each part of an object function in conditions most suitable for its operations

D make each part of an object fulfill a different and/or complementary useful function

 04  asymmetry

A change the shape or properties of an object from symmetrical to asymmetrical

B change the shape of an object to suit external asymmetries

C if an object is asymmetrical, increase its degree of asymmetry

 05 merging

A bring closer together (or merge) identical or similar objects or operations in space

B make objects or operations contiguous or parallel; bring them together in time

 06  universality

A make a part or object perform multiple functions, thereby eliminating the need for other parts or objects

B use standardized features

 07  nesting

A place one object inside another

B place multiple objects inside others

C make one part pass (dynamically) through a cavity in the other

 08  anti-weight

A to compensate for the weight of an object, merge it with other objects that provide lift

B to compensate for the weight of an object, make it interact with the environment in a way that creates lift

 09 preliminary anti-action

A if it will be necessary to perform an action with both harmful and useful effects, this action should be complemented with actions to control harmful effects

B create beforehand actions in an object that will oppose known undesirable working stresses later on

 10  preliminary action

A perform, before it is needed, the required change of an object (either fully or partially)

B pre-arrange objects such that they can come into action from the most convenient place and without losing time for their delivery

 11  beforehand cushioning

A prepare emergency means beforehand to compensate for the relatively low reliability of an object

 12  equi-potentiality

A in a potential field, limit position change

 13 inversion

A invert the action used to solve the problem

B make movable parts fixed, and fixed parts movable

C turn the object or process "upside-down"

 14   spheroidality-curvature

A instead of using rectilinear parts, surfaces, or forms, use curvilinear ones; move from flat surfaces to spherical ones; from parts shaped as a cube (parallelepiped) to ball-shaped structures
B use rollers, balls, spirals, domes

C go from linear to rotary motion (or vice versa)

D use centrifugal forces

 15  dynamics

A allow (or design) the characteristics of an object, external environment, or process to change to be optimal or to find an optimal operating condition

B divide an object into parts capable of movement relative to each other

C if an object (or process) is rigid or inflexible, make it movable or adaptive

16  partial or excessive actions

A if 100 percent of an object is hard to achieve using a given solution method then, by using 'slightly less' or 'slightly more' of the same method, the problem may be considerably easier to solve

 17 another dimension

A to move an object in two- or three-dimensional space

B use a multi-story arrangement of objects instead of a single-story arrangement

C tilt or re-orient the object, lay it on its side

D use 'another side' of a given area

 18 mechanical vibration

A cause an object to oscillate or vibrate

B increase its frequency (even up to the ultrasonic)

C use an object's resonant frequency

D use piezoelectric vibrators instead of mechanical ones
E use combined ultrasonic and electromagnetic field oscillations

 19 periodic action

A instead of continuous action, use periodic or pulsating actions

B if an action is already periodic, change the periodic magnitude or frequency

C use pauses between impulses to perform a different action

20  continuity of useful action

A carry on work continuously; make all parts of an object work at full load, all the time

B eliminate all idle or intermittent actions or work

 21 skipping

A conduct a process, or certain stages (e.g. destructible, harmful or hazardous operations) at high speed

 22  "blessing in disguise" or "turn lemons into lemonade"

A use harmful factors (particularly, harmful effects of the environment or surroundings) to achieve a positive effect

B eliminate the primary harmful action by adding it to another harmful action to resolve the problem

C amplify a harmful factor to such a degree that it is no longer harmful

 23  feedback

A introduce feedback (referring back, cross-checking) to improve a process or action

B if feedback is already used, change its magnitude or influence

 24  intermediary

A use an intermediary carrier article or intermediary process

B merge one object temporarily with another (which can be easily removed)

 25 self-service

A make an object serve itself by performing auxiliary helpful functions

B use waste resources, energy, or substances

 26  copying

A instead of an unavailable, expensive, fragile object, use simpler and inexpensive copies

B replace an object, or process with optical copies

C if visible optical copies are already used, move to infrared or ultraviolet copies

 27  cheap short-living objects

A replace an inexpensive object with a multiple of inexpensive objects, comprising certain qualities (such as service life, for instance)

 28  mechanics substitution

A replace a mechanical means with a sensory (optical, acoustic, taste or smell) means

B use electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields to interact with the object

C change from static to movable fields, from unstructured fields to those having structure

D use fields in conjunction with field-activated (e.g. ferromagnetic) particles

 29 pneumatics and hydraulics

A use gas and liquid parts of an object instead of solid parts (e.g. inflatable, filled with liquids, air cushion, hydrostatic, hydro-reactive)

 30  flexible shells and thin films

A use flexible shells and thin films instead of three dimensional structures

B isolate the object from the external environment using flexible shells and thin films

 31  porous materials

A make an object porous or add porous elements (inserts, coatings, etc.)

B if an object is already porous, use the pores to introduce a useful substance or function

 32  color changes

A change the color of an object or its external environment

B change the transparency of an object or its external environment

 33 homogeneity

A make objects interacting with a given object of the same material (or material with identical properties)

 34  discarding and recovering

A make portions of an object that have fulfilled their functions go away (discard by dissolving, evaporating, etc.) or modify these directly during operation

B conversely, restore consumable parts of an object directly in operation

 35  parameter changes

A change an object's physical state (e.g. to a gas, liquid, or solid)

B change the concentration or consistency

C change the degree of flexibility

D change the temperature

36  phase transitions

A use phenomena occurring during phase transitions (e.g. volume changes, loss or absorption of heat, etc.)

 37 thermal expansion

A use thermal expansion (or contraction) of materials

B if thermal expansion is being used, use multiple materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion

 38  strong oxidants

A replace common air with oxygen-enriched air

B replace enriched air with pure oxygen

C expose air or oxygen to ionizing radiation

D use ionized oxygen

E replace ozonized (or ionized) oxygen with ozone

 39  inert atmosphere

A replace a normal environment with an inert one

B add neutral parts, or inert additives to an object

 40  composite materials

A change from uniform to composite (multiple) materials