This pioneering guide offers a proven method for thinking like an inventor and generating innovative, viable ideas.

The "eureka moment" is when breakthrough ideas occur. "The Eureka Method" is a proven approach to making those moments happen! There are many books on inventing, most of which address how to secure and protect a patent, how to license and market an invention, or the history of inventions. This book uniquely focuses on the HOW of inventing, addressing the root issue--the one everyone wants to know--how to make the leap from being a tinkerer to actually inventing things that will sell. It does so by presenting an analytical framework that allows the would-be inventor to see the non-obvious opportunities for invention, to bring the invention forth, and to use the patent system to protect the invention.

Success in inventing isn't just a matter of coming up with a new device or add on--it also involves understanding which directions are most likely to succeed, what potential customers want, and current trends in social evolution. Filled practical hints, this original guide teaches inventors of all levels how to recognize opportunities for technical innovation and illustrates how to exploit them in a practical manner.

"The Eureka Method"Offers practical advice from a technical inventor based on years of real-world experienceLeads you through the various levels of difficulty in inventing--from improving existing devices to combining different technologies to completely new innovationsDemonstrates the desirability of harvesting intellectual capital from others to synthesize an even better inventionTeaches practical exercises for uncovering opportunities for inventionEmphasizes the need to focus on the bottom-line--is the idea valuable and worth the expense of creating it?Explains what makes an idea patentableReveals how to spot the changes in technology, culture, and law that create opportunities for inventorsHelps you improve your inventive efficiency

About the Author

John Hershey has a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and has been granted 134 US Patents. He has served the adjunct faculty at the University of Colorado, Boulder; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; and Union College, Schenectady, New York. Dr. Hershey also served five years as a Program Evaluator for ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). He is an elected Fellow of the IEEE and the author/co-author of seven books, including Cryptography Demystified (McGraw-Hill, 2002). Dr. Hershey was the co-founder and was co-editor-in-chief (1991-1993) of Academic Press' Digital Signal Processing.

Table of Contents

Part I: Thinking Like an Inventor Chapter 1. The Three Questions That Should Follow a Eureka! Moment Chapter 2. Improvement Inventions Chapter 3. Developing an Inventive Mindset by Gaming the System Chapter 4. Increasing Dimensions to Spark Eureka! Moments Chapter 5. Combination Inventions Part II: Seeking a Eureka! Moment Chapter 6. Law, Regulation, and Standards Chapter 7. Overcoming and Using Constraints Chapter 8. Be Driven by the Bottom Line Part III: Appendixes Appendix A. Patents: Mileposts of Invention Appendix B. U.S. Patent 6004596 "Sealed Crustless Sandwich" Appendix C. Inventors and Inventorship Index