Updated on May 11, 2026

Inventive principle

Inventive principle is an abstract model of a solution that provides generalized recommendations for modifying the system to solve the problem formulated as the contradiction.

Overview

The concept of inventive principles originated from G. Altshuller’s extensive research into patents across various engineering fields. By focusing on patents that resolved contradictions rather than those aimed at optimization, Altshuller identified patterns among innovative solutions. Through systematic analysis and classification of thousands of patents, he discovered that problems modeled as similar engineering contradictions often shared conceptually similar solutions. These generalized approaches were distilled and formalized into 40 inventive principles.

The inventive principles are proposed models of solutions for both engineering contradictions and physical contradictions. Depending on the type of contradiction, and thus the tool used to process it, a different set of principles will be proposed to solve the problem. In other words, the contradiction matrix will lead to different solution models than the algorithm for resolving physical contradictions.

40 inventive principles

  1. Divide the object into independent parts.
  2. Make the object easy to disassemble.
  3. Increase the degree of fragmentation or segmentation of the object.
  1. Separate any interfering parts or properties from the object, or single out the only necessary part (or property) of the object.
  1. Change the object’s structure from uniform to non-uniform, change the external environment (or external influence) from uniform to non-uniform.
  2. Ensure that each part of the object functions in conditions most suitable for its operation.
  3. Ensure that each part of the object fulfills a different and useful function.
  1. Change the shape of the object from symmetrical to asymmetrical.
  2. If the object is asymmetrical, increase its degree of asymmetry.
  1. Bring closer together (or merge) identical or similar objects, assemble identical or similar parts to perform parallel operations.
  2. Make operations contiguous or parallel; bring them together in time.
  1. Make a part of the object, or the entire object perform multiple functions; eliminate the need for other parts.
  1. Place one object inside another; place each object, in turn, inside the other.
  2. Pass one part through a cavity in the other.
  1. To compensate for the weight of the object, merge it with other objects that provide some support.
  2. To compensate for the weight of the object, make it interact with the environment (e.g., use aerodynamic, hydrodynamic, buoyancy, and other forces).
  1. If it is necessary to perform an action with both harmful and useful effects, a counteraction should be performed first to control the harmful effects.
  2. Create stresses in the object in advance to oppose known undesirable working stresses later on.
  1. Make any changes in the object (either fully or partially) before such changes are required.
  2. Pre-arrange objects so that they can be quickly activated without losing time delivering them.
  1. Prepare an emergency equipment beforehand to compensate for any objects that are not reliable.
  1. In any potential field, limit position changes (e.g., change operating conditions to eliminate the need to raise or lower objects in a gravity field).
  1. Invert the action(s) taken to solve the problem (e.g., instead of cooling the object, heat it).
  2. Make movable parts (or the external environment) stationary, and stationary parts movable.
  3. Turn the object (or process) “upside down”.
  1. Instead of using rectilinear parts, surfaces, or forms, use curvilinear ones; change from flat surfaces to spherical ones; from cube-shaped (paralllelepiped) parts to ball-shaped structures.
  2. Use rollers, balls, spirals, domes.
  3. Go from linear to rotary motion; use centrifugal forces.
  1. Allow changes (or design such changes) in the characteristics of the object, external environment, or process that optimize the object, or that optimize the operating conditions.
  2. Divide the object into parts capable of moving relative to each other.
  3. If the object (or process) is rigid or inflexible, make it movable or adaptable.
  1. If 100% of an effect is hard to achieve using a given method for solving a problem, then by using “lightly less” or “slightly more” of the same method, the problem may be considerably easier to solve.
  1. Move the object in two- or three-dimensional space.
  2. Use a multistory arrangement for the objects instead of a single-story arrangement.
  3. Tilt or re-orient the object, put it on its side.
  4. Use a different side of the given area.
  1. Cause the object to oscillate or vibrate.
  2. Increase its frequency (even up to the ultrasonic).
  3. Use the object’s resonant frequency.
  4. Use piezoelectric vibrators instead of mechanical ones.
  5. Use combined ultrasonic and electromagnetic field oscillations.
  1. Instead of continuous action, use periodic or pulsating actions.
  2. If an action is already periodic, change the periodic magnitude or frequency.
  3. Use pauses between impulses to perform a different action.
  1. Carry on work continuously; make all parts of the object work at full load, all the time.
  2. Eliminate all idle or intermittent actions or work.
  1. Conduct a process, or certain stages of it (e.g., destructible, harmful or hazardous operations) at high speed.
  1. Use harmful factors (particularly, effects that are detrimental to the environment or surroundings) in such a way as to achieve a positive effect.
  2. Eliminate the primary harmful action by adding it to another harmful action to resolve the problem.
  3. Amplify a harmful factor to such a degree that it is no longer harmful.
  1. Introduce feedback (referring back, cross-checking) to improve a process or an action.
  2. If feedback is already used, change it.
  1. Use an intermediary carrier article or intermediary process.
  2. Merge one object temporarily with another (which can be easily removed).
  1. Make the object serve itself by performing auxiliary helpful functions
  2. Use waste resources, energy, or substances.
  1. Instead of an unavailable, expensive, fragile object, use simpler, inexpensive copies.
  2. Replace the object or process with optical copies.
  3. If visible optical copies are already used, move to infrared or ultraviolet copies.
  1. Replace an expensive object with a multitude of inexpensive objects that compromise certain qualities (service life, for instance).
  1. Replace mechanical means with sensory (optical, acoustic, taste or smell) means.
  2. Use electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields to interact with the object.
  3. Change from static to movable fields, from unstructured fields to structured.
  4. Use fields in conjunction with field-activated (e.g., ferromagnetic) particles.
  1. Use gas and liquid parts of the object instead of solid parts (e.g., inflatable, filled with liquids, air cushioned, hydrostatic, hydro-reactive).
  1. Use flexible shells and thin films instead of three-dimensional structures
  2. Isolate the object from the external environment using flexible shells and thin films.
  1. Make the object porous or add porous elements (inserts, coatings, etc.).
  2. If the object is already porous, use the pores to introduce a useful substance or function.
  1. Change the color of the object or its external environment.
  2. Change the transparency of the object or its external environment.
  1. Make objects interacting with any given object of the same material (or material with identical properties).
  1. Eliminate portions of the object that have fulfilled their function (discard by dissolving, evaporating, etc.) or modify these during the operation of the object. 
  2. Conversely, restore consumable parts of the object during the operation of the object.
  1. Change the object’s physical state (e.g., to a gas, liquid, or solid).
  2. Change the concentration or consistency.
  3. Change the degree of flexibility.
  4. Change the temperature.
  1. Use phenomena occurring during phase transitions (e.g., volume changes, loss or absorption of heat, etc.).
  1. Use thermal expansion (or contraction) of materials.
  2. If thermal expansion is being used, use multiple materials with different thermal expansion coefficients.
  1. Replace air with oxygen-enriched air.
  2. Replace enriched air with pure oxygen.
  3. Expose air or oxygen to ionizing radiation.
  4. Use ozonized oxygen.
  5. Replace ozonized (or ionized) oxygen with ozone.
  1. Replace a normal environment with an inert one.
  2. Add neutral parts, or inert additives to the object.
  1. Change from uniform to composite (multiple) materials.
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