The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by early identification of profound shifts, posing high risk of being disrupted if detected too late, and the growing importance of technologies such as eccentric crankshaft gears mechanism, which is an improvement of the present generation of gear mechanism and has many advantages. In the last three years alone, there have been over 1.7 million patents filed and granted in the automotive industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in automotive: eccentric crankshaft gears. Buy the report here.
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However, not all innovations are equal, and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.
Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.
300+ innovations will shape the automotive industry
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresight, which plots the S-curve for the automotive industry using innovation intensity models built on over one million patents, there are 300+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Within the emerging innovation stage, integrated multi-motor drivetrains, electric power steering (EPS), and post-collision handing are useful technologies that are in the early stages of wider application and should be tracked closely. Variable compression engines, V2V distance monitoring, and turbocharger shaft bearings are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) and plasma-jet ignition, which are now well-established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for the automotive industry
Eccentric crankshaft gears is a key innovation area in automotive
An eccentric in mechanical engineering is a circular disc (eccentric sheave) solidly attached to a rotating axle with its centre offset from the axles (hence the word eccentric, out of the centre).
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 30+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of eccentric crankshaft gears.
Key players in eccentric crankshaft gears – a disruptive innovation in the automotive industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Patent volumes related to eccentric crankshaft gears
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Sumitomo Heavy Industries is one of the leading patent filers in eccentric crankshaft gears. It recently launched a product named E CYCLO® High Precision Gearboxes ECY Series. The product acts as a reducer that supports the high-speed shaft. Grease is packed in the sealed structure, and it is simple to mount on the device or motor. Also, the diameter of the high-speed hollow shaft is large, which allows for effective use of its space; for passing cables, as a space for the shaft, and so on. Some other key patent filers in eccentric crankshaft gears for the automotive industry include Nabtesco, JTEKT, Nidec, and Denso.
In terms of application diversity, Aisin held the top position, while Ford Motor and NTT stood in second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Nissan Motor leads the pack, followed by WEG and LG Display.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the automotive industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Automotive.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
