The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity in gallium nitride (GaN) battery chargers is driven by the increasing demand for EVs, and smaller, lighter, and more efficient battery designs, and growing importance of technologies such as gallium oxide (Ga2O3) transistors, GaN-on-silicon (Si) transistors, integrated circuits, and wireless charging. 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 Batteries in automotive: GaN battery chargers. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over one million patents to analyze innovation intensity for the automotive industry, there are 300+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
GaN battery chargers is a key innovation area in batteries
GaN battery chargers refer to battery charging devices that utilize gallium nitride semiconductor technology in their design. GaN is known for its superior electrical properties, such as high electron mobility and low power losses, which make it suitable for efficient power conversion in battery chargers. These chargers can provide faster charging speed, higher power density, and improved energy efficiency compared to traditional chargers.
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 GaN battery chargers.
Key players in GaN battery chargers – 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 GaN battery chargers
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Hyundai Motor is one of the leading patent filers in GaN battery chargers. One of the latest patents granted to the company was for a new charger that uses gallium nitride and can charge an electric vehicle battery in half the time of a conventional charger. Some other key patent filers in this space include Kia Motors and Toyota Motor.
In terms of application diversity, Hitachi leads the pack, while Sharp and Panasonic stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Mitsubishi Electric held the top position, followed by Wisk Aero and Sumitomo.
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.
