TRIZ For Dummies

Appendix D

The Separation Principles

Once you have identified that you have a Physical Contradiction (see Chapter 3), you need to work out how to separate what you want in Time (T), Scale (S) or Condition (C). You can then look up in the table below which of the 40 Inventive Principles will be most useful for generating solutions.

Inventive Principle	Separate in Time	Separate in Space	Separate on Condition	Separate by System
1. Segmentation	T	S	S
2. Taking Out	S
3. Local Quality	S	S
4. Asymmetry	S
5. Merging	S
6. Multi-Function	S
7. Nested Doll	T	S
8. Counterweight	S
9. Prior Counteraction	T
10. Prior Action	T
11. Cushion in Advance	T
12. Equal Potential	S
13. The Other Way Round	S	S
14. Spheres and Curves	S
15. Dynamism	T
16. Partial or Excessive Action	T
17. Another Dimension	S
18. Mechanical Vibration	T
19. Periodic Action	T
20. Continuous Useful Action	T
21. Rushing Through	T
22. Blessing in Disguise	S
23. Feedback	S
24. Intermediary	T	S
25. Self-service	S
26. Copying	T	S
27. Cheap, Short-Living Objects	T	S
28. Replace Mechanical System	C
29. Pneumatics and Hydraulics	T	C
30. Flexible Membranes and Thin Films	S
31. Porous Materials	C
32. Colour Change	C
33. Uniform Material	S
34. Discarding and Recovering	T
35. Parameter Change	C
36. Phase Changes	C
37. Thermal Expansion	T
38. Boosted Interactions ...