The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by autonomous driving, connectivity, electrification and safety features requirements and growing importance of technologies such as integrated brake controls (IBC) and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD). 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: braking system fluid circuit. 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, multi-spark ignition, integrated multi-motor drivetrains and vehicle auxiliary drives are useful technologies that are in the early stages of wider 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 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

Braking system fluid circuit is a key innovation area in automotive

A hydraulic brake circuit is a configuration of braking mechanisms that transfers pressure from the controlling mechanism to the braking mechanism, which utilizes brake fluid that usually comprises glycol ethers or diethylene glycol.

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 120+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of braking system fluid circuit.

Key players in braking system fluid circuit – 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 braking system fluid circuit

Continental is one of the top patent filers in the braking system fluid circuit segment. The company is creating wheel brake solutions for new vehicle architectures and new environmental brake requirements. Other leading patent filers in braking system fluid circuit include Robert Bosch Stiftung, Toyota, HL Mando, and Aisin.

In terms of application diversity, Alps Alpine held the top position, while SZ DJI Technology and Barnes Group stood in second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Vista Equity Partners leads the pack, followed by SZ DJI Technology and Barnes Group.

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the automotive industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Automotive.

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.