This paper introduces the concept of Law Encoding Diagrams, LEDs, and argues that they have had a significant role in scientific discovery, which has not been previously recognised. A LED is a representation that correctly encodes the underlying relations of a law, or a system of simultaneous laws, in the structure of a diagram by the means of geometric, topological and spatial constraints. Examples of LEDs in the history of science are discussed and the benefits of using LEDs in discovery are considered. LEDs are distinguished from other forms of diagrammatic representation. Previous work on the computational modelling of diagrammatic law induction is reinterpreted in terms of the search for diagrammatic constraints of LEDs. A general characterization of the role of LEDs in discovery is considered and a framework for classifying processes of discovery based on LEDs is proposed.
N.B. For a revised and extended version of the report see/request: Cheng, P. C.-H. (1996). Scientific discovery with law encoding diagrams. Creativity Research Journal, 9(2&3), 145-162.