Research on digital characterization and identification process model of functional genes for intelligent innovative design

•Inheritance of organisms is introduced into innovation design.•Computer digital coding technology is introduced into intelligent innovative design process.•Histogram similarity algorithm intelligently identifies functional genes. The inheritance and variation of functional knowledge is an important way to achieve product innovation. Analogous biological genetic inheritance can solve the problems with the inheritance and variation of functional knowledge. However, the different expressions of functional knowledge in different domains lead designers to consuming a lot of time for functional knowledge characterization and identification, which reduces the efficiency of functional knowledge application. Therefore, in order to solve the problem of inefficient application of functional knowledge in the genetic process caused by irregular expression of functional knowledge, the paper proposes a digital characterization and identification process model of functional genes for product intelligent innovative design. The process model enables product intelligent innovative design through digital characterization of functional genes and rapid identification of functional genes using computer assistance. The process model consists of four following steps. First, extract functional knowledge from patents and perform preliminary functional gene characterization. Second, characterize functional genes digitally by using computerized digital coding techniques. Third, identify the required functional genes by using image similarity matching algorithm. It assists designers to quickly identify the functional genes required for the target system. Fourth, obtain the target product design scheme. By “transcribing” and “translating” the required functional genes and using TRIZ tools to solve the translated scheme, the product innovative design scheme is finally obtained. The feasibility and effectiveness of the model are verified by the intelligent innovative design of shared bicycle parking management device.