The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. The automotive industry is advancing autonomous vehicle (AV) sensor cleaning technologies such as ultrasonic, compressed air, machine learning, laser, plasma, nanotechnology-based, and self-cleaning coatings to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness. In the last three years alone, there have been over 720,000 patents filed and granted in the automotive industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in automotive: AV sensor cleaning. 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 Foresights, 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, multi-spark ignition, integrated multi-motor drivetrains and vehicle auxiliary drives are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Solar range extenders, turbocharger shaft bearings, and multi-lamellar clutches are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among the maturing innovation areas are auto-transmission lubrication circuits and electroluminscent vehicle displays, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for the automotive industry
AV sensor cleaning is a key innovation area in automotive
AV sensor cleaning involves the use of cleaning systems and devices to clean sensors on autonomous vehicles, such as LiDAR and front cameras. These cleaning systems are designed to ensure that sensors are free of contaminants that can obstruct their function, optimize sensor cleaning fluid usage, and estimate the amount of washer fluid to be consumed in a reservoir of a vehicle.
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 230+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of AV sensor cleaning.
Key players in AV sensor cleaning – 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 AV sensor cleaning
| Company | Total patents (2021 - 2023) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| Faurecia | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Koito Manufacturing | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Toyota Motor | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Baidu | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Alphabet | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Zhejiang Geely | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hyundai Motor | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| General Motors | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kia | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Ford Motor | 14 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Uber Technologies | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| NextEV, U.S. | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Nio | 26 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Beijing TuSimple Future Technology | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Weilai | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Nio, one of the leading patent filers in AV sensor cleaning, has filed a patent recently that focuses on an autonomous vehicle sensor cleaning system using ultrasonic waves. The system, which can operate continuously or triggered, removes dirt and debris from sensors, making autonomous vehicles safer and more reliable. Valeo and Nissan Motor are some of the other key patent filers in AV sensor cleaning.
In terms of application diversity, ABC Technologies leads the pack, while Murata Manufacturing and Huf Hulsbeck & Furst stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Nio held the top position, followed by Aptiv and TDK.
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.
