Page 335 - Design for Six Sigma a Roadmap for Product Development

Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) 305

Nut

Workpiece
Loose
body

Vacuum
pump

Flexible shells

Approach 4: Separation between components and the set of the components.
This is an approach that has a set of components made, where every
single component must have one property but the whole set of compo-
nents will have another property.
Example 9.11
Problem. A remote-control unit (e.g., a TV set) is comprised of an infrared
radiator, a capacitor, a power source (storage battery), and key-type control
elements. The capacitor is permanently charged by the battery. When any
of the panel keys are pressed, the capacitor discharges into the infrared
radiator, which emits a controlling electromagnetic impulse. However, a
high-value capacitor operating in charging or waiting mode has consider-
able leakage current. This is responsible for wasted discharge of the battery.
A decrease in the capacitor value leads to a decrease in the range of the
panel’s action. An increase in the power element value causes an increase in
the mass and cost of the panel.
Technical contradiction. We want to reduce leakage current by reducing
the capacitor value, but the power of the emitted controlling impulse
decreases. Obviously it is a typical technical contradiction since improving
one parameter degrades another parameter.
Physical contradiction. In order to improve leakage current and avoid
deterioration of the power, the capacitor should be in low value when it is
charged and in high value when it discharges. So, the technical contra-
diction that relates to the whole system is changed into a physical con-
tradiction that only relates to one component.
Solution. It is proposed to divide the energy flow while charging the
capacitors and to combine the energy flow while exciting the infrared
radiator. To do this, the capacitor is formed as a set of low-value capaci-
tors combined in a battery so that their summed value is equal to the
value of the panel’s initial capacitor. The total summed leakage current of
the battery of the capacitor is less than the leakage current of one high-
value capacitor. The power of the emitted controlling pulse is kept the
same as before.