A PROCESS OF CONCEPTUAL ENGINEERING DESIGN FOR NEW PATENTABLE PRODUCTS
Year: 2011
Editor: Culley, S.J.; Hicks, B.J.; McAloone, T.C.; Howard, T.J. & Ion, B.
Author: Lloveras, Joaquim
Series: ICED
Section: Design Education
Page(s): 78-87
Abstract
The conceptual design phase is a few-structured phase, and it is especially true for to create a new product that can be patented. In this paper is proposed a procedure to do a conceptual design phase of a new product. A well-structured top-down search of solutions with creativity techniques in successive levels of solutions, with Ecodesign strategies and of writing patent, helps to have new concrete ideas of solution and to prepare the design to the phase of detailed design. Three stages are identified: Conceptual design directed; conceptual design defined, and conceptual design viable. This initial procedure it is basically followed in a new free elective course of UPC called: Creativity, Ecodesign and Patents. This course is especially thought for product design initial phases. Writing a patent of product in this initial conceptual phase of design, helps to clarify and refine easily some solutions and to think alternatives of solution. This redaction prepares the final patent redaction when the detailed design ends. An example of work of one-group students, about the recovery of the energy of falling wastewater of a high building, is showed.
Keywords: STAGES OF CONCEPTUAL PHASE; PATENT REDACTION; ECO-DESIGN; CREATIVITY