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40 Inventive Principles
 Inversion (Other Way Round)

a) Instead of performing an action dictated by the specifications of the problem, carry out the reverse action.

b) Make a moving part of the object or the outside environment fixed and the fixed part movable.

c) Turn the object upside down.
 

EXAMPLE:
  1. When cleaning parts with abrasive particles, vibrate the parts instead of the abrasive.
  2. The computer mouse converts the movement of the ball on a static surface into a movement of the cursor on the computer screen. Because of the limited space in laptops, a trackball is used: here, the ball is movable but fixed in the casing, whilst the surface (hand) is movable.
  3. The electric energy generated during the braking of electric machinery can be fed back into the mains supply.