A Study on the Integration of Methods and Strategies for Patent-Based Product Design

• Main Authors: Jia-Lin Chen, 陳佳麟
• Other Authors: Ching-Huan Tseng
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2002
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/94012625445726155272

博士 === 國立交通大學 === 機械工程系 === 90 === This study proposes a systematic product design method by integrating patent information, the conventional design methodologies, the rules of patent infringement judgement, and methods of patent design around. This product design method can assist enterprises to enhance the efficiency of product development, lower the possibility of patent infringements, and increase the patentability of results of innovation. The management of patent information and its importance are firstly presented to understand which information can be obtained from the patent database and how to apply them into the product design. Patent strategy and rules of patent infringement judgement are then proposed to solve the innovation barriers and possible patent disputes. In addition, the influences of customer requirements on the function design of products, the fundamental concepts, methods, and skills of product innovation as well as relationships between innovation methods are introduced. Since customer requirements, obtainable relevant information for the R&D personnel, characteristics of markets, and competitiveness of products will be changed in the progress of product, appropriate design methods should be adopted according to the characteristics of stages in the product life cycle. Design of a multi-speed hub for bicycles is then employed as an example to depict how to incorporate the characteristics of each innovation methods and analysis of patent information into design process. This example is also used to interpret how to use the rules of patent infringement judgement to judging whether the results of innovation will fall into the existing patents. Finally, this study integrates the rules of patent infringement judgement, collection and analysis of patent information, and the application of innovation methods to develop the flowchart, implementing steps and approaches of patent design around. The relationships between methods of patent design around and other conventional design methodologies are further presented. Design of multi-speed sprockets for bicycles is used as an example to illustrate the application of patent design around. The systematic product design method and flowchart established in this study based on patent information can facilitate technology followers to develop competitive products in a short time while avoiding infringing others’ patents.