| After the systematic analysis of the state-of-the-art of research on acquiring patent knowledge and innovation design based on knowledge, a methodology of computer-aided acquiring patent knowledge is originally bring forward for product innovation, aiming at solving some crucial issues in this research area. The primary contributions are as follows.Firstly, a method of acquiring knowledge from homogeneous product patents is presented to acquire the associational knowledge between product function and structure. Namely the method acquiring knowledge based on association rule is proposed. It establishes training sets by extracting featured parts in claims, analyzing objective function and artifice function in the abstract or title, in which featured parts-artifice function and artifice function-objective function is constituted. Then it extracts clearly associational rules hidden between them with the help of the data mining algorithm. Knowledge among featured parts, artifice function and objective function is discovered and used for supporting product innovation continuously. At same time, PCAR is provided to improve the operation efficiency of the algorithm mined associational rules. The method is demonstrated by the hammer drill.Secondly, a method of acquiring knowledge from heterogeneous product patents is presented to use the novelty solution in it. Based on analysis of existed problems in the methods used to acquire heterogeneous product patents, an association-extension method is proposed. Particularly it is advantageous in efficiently acquiring associational heterogeneous product patents. Then, a method is proposed to acquire knowledge from heterogeneous product patents. The process model for triggering design inspiration is constructed by means of heterogeneous product patents. The method and model are demonstrated and examined by creative design of the hammer drill.Thirdly, a method of aiding product innovation by patent knowledge is presented. The method of using patent knowledge for aiding product innovation is provided through analyzing the types and applications of them. First the knowledge contained in patents of heterogeneous and homogeneous products is analyzed. Next the associational knowledge between artifice function and objective function is mined from homogeneous patents by associational rules. Last the heuristic knowledge is acquired by means of inspiration trigger principles to aid product innovation. The method is illustrated by the innovation design of a hammer drill.Finally, research on acquiring patent knowledge system for aiding product innovation is present. A system for acquiring patent knowledge is provided through the research on aiding innovative design with the help of patent knowledge. The system is consisted of knowledge base, patent base and functional modules. The knowledge is acquired from heterogeneous and homogeneous products patents by computer and used to overcome psychology inertia and scarce knowledge. The process of acquiring knowledge and product innovation is shown by the hammer drill. Three product innovation results have been authorized by State Intellectual Property Office of China for invention patents. |
