YOUR TWO BRAINS

Reverse Engineering

•General concepts
•Right and left brain thinking
verbal
•Application to product study
analytical
critical

Example Left Brain

A uniform beam 3 m long weighs 82 kg/m. It is pinned at
2.0 m
one end and supported by a cable at a point 2 m along T
the beam. What is the tension in the cable?
1.5 m

Rx

Ry
3 x 82 x 9.81

Right Brain The most creative decision making and problem

solving come about when both sides of the brain
• Why is this beam here? bring their various skills to the table: the left brain
• Why is it so heavy? analyzing issues, problems, and barriers; the right
• Why is it pinned at the left end? brain generating fresh approaches; and the left
• Do we really need a cable? brain translating them into plans of action.”
• Why is it orange?

Edwards (1979). Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.

1
 PRODUCT STUDY
Reverse Engineering
• EXAMPLE: computer mouse
–what is it? input device for computer
–what does it do? translate the motions
of your hand into signals the computer
can use
BACKGROUND
• 1946 ENIAC - first electronic computer
(based on vacuum tubes)
• 1950 IBM invents dot matrix printer
• 1950 Yoshiro Nakamoto invents disc drive
• 1958 Jack Kirby invents silicon chip

–how does it work? let’s have a look...

BACKGROUND
• 1968 Douglas Engelbart invents the
mouse as an input device for mainframe
computers (the PC doesn’t exist yet). He
had been a radar technician in WWII and
was working at Stanford Research Institute.
Nothing much happens with it.
BACKGROUND
• 1971 Intel invents the microprocessor
• 1975 Edward Roberts invents the personal
computer
• 1977 Rank-Xerox invents the laser printer
• ~1979 Bill Gates established Microsoft
(MS-DOS operating system; no hardware
yet)

BACKGROUND MOUSE

• 1983 Apple Computers (Steve PRODUCT

STUDY
Jobs) attaches a mouse to the
Macintosh. (Microsoft is by now first step - sketch of
overall device,
building PC’s, but has to get to Windows 3.1 noting relevant
before they support the mouse) features

2
 PRODUCT STUDY
MOUSE
Reverse Engineering - grey-beige hard plastic
what is the material? (what type of metal? casing (type=?)
what type of plastic?) - foot (1.5m) flex cord
with molded strain relief
what is the function of the component? (can you
-molded plastic connector
tell by looking?) (RS232 serial connector?)

what colour is the component? why? are there -3 button switches on top
other sensible things about the component -mystery switch on side
(sound, texture, smell, taste) labelled “MS/PC”

PRODUCT STUDY Exploded

Reverse Engineering view
how do the individual components relate to
next step -
others? (exploded diagrams work well here) begin disassembly,
and make sketch(es)
how are the components fastened to each as you proceed
other? (make notes)
identify what you can
and make notes of
what is the shape of the component? why is it questions to be answered
this shape?

Exploded Exploded
view view
- 1 Phillips-head screw -may use centrelines
to undo, and comes apart to assist in visualizing
arrangement of components
- exploded view is part observed,
part visualized - arrange -individual components
components so they project
down and across into their are numbered and
actual places in the device identified

3
 Details Details
“button piece” (1) and -top cover includes a locating
“top cover” (2) snap together cage for track ball and a
on mating plastic tabs (not threaded post for screw (11)
shown) and are pried apart
with some effort Q: why slots in button piece?

top cover held in place with ...perhaps to reduce stiffness

stand-offs which slot over of bending section, giving
tabs in base (10) more compliant “feel”?

Details Details
-assembly of roller (3), pin (4), - cable (9) includes molded
lever (5), and spring (6) plastic connector with 2
creates a lever arm which knurled screws at one end
keep track ball (7) in contact (previous diagram) and
with encoder wheel shafts strain relief at the other
in base (10) (shown) which slots into
circuit board (8)
cover plate (12) slides into
hole in base (10) and confines 2 input wires (power)
track ball, which projects 2 output wires (information)
through opening

PRODUCT
Details STUDY
-Q: why is circuit board mouse
such a weird shape?
key components:
-A: clue to mechanical-to-
electrical conversion (1) a ball which
touches the desktop
-wheels are mechanical
elements interposed between and rolls when the
2 electrical elements mouse moves
-switches (3 “contact”, 1 “two-
position” ) are mated with mechanical drive elements

4
 PRODUCT PRODUCT
STUDY STUDY
mouse mouse
key components: (3) two shafts, one
connected to (or
(2) two rollers
integral with) each
which touch the
roller, which spin
ball, at 90° to each
disks with holes in
other (X and Y
them (or slots or
motions)
contact strips)

PRODUCT PRODUCT
STUDY STUDY
mouse mouse
(4) paired (5) an on-board
photodiodes) and microprocessor
phototransistors which turns the
(optical encoders) on optical pulses into
either side of the data, and passes
wheels the data to the
computer

Details Important Paradox

CPU chip is labeled
“HM8350A 9317B
N34G2” How much you get from a
circuit board also product study depends a lot on
includes resistors,
capacitor(s)?, two zener how much you already know.
diodes, 2 transistors,
and one “5A1 53J”
(???)

5
 Product study often leads to questions
you cannot answer right away

www.howstuffworks.com
www.mcmaster.com
www.uspto.gov/web/menu/pats.html
Be comfortable with having
incomplete information

Product study suggestions:

use a methodical approach
think about your drawing layout before you
draw
go beyond the first (superficial) level

Don’t be afraid of questions, and be

prepared to have questions remaining

What constitutes a good product

study?

• Completeness – all parts considered

• Geometry/Materials/Interactions
• Manufacturing considered
• Identification of functions
• Leading questions provided
• Depth of analysis