The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity in electronic throttle control is driven by factors such as increased demand for advanced driver-assistance systems, growing popularity of electric vehicles, stricter emission regulations, and growing importance of technologies such as drive-by-wire, variable valve timing, turbocharging, and supercharging. 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: electronic throttle control. Buy the report here.
Smarter leaders trust GlobalData
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 clutchesare 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
Electronic throttle control is a key innovation area in automotive
Electronic throttle control (ETC) is a system that regulates the flow of air into the engine of a vehicle by electronically controlling the opening and closing of the throttle valve. Unlike traditional mechanical throttle systems, electronic throttle control eliminates the need for a physical connection between the accelerator pedal and the throttle valve. Instead, it uses sensors and electronic actuators to transmit the driver's throttle inputs to the engine control unit, which then adjusts the throttle valve accordingly.
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 65+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of electronic throttle control.
Key players in electronic throttle control – 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 electronic throttle control
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Toyota Motor is one of the leading patent filers in electronic throttle control. Toyota's drive-by-wire ETC system uses sensors to detect the driver's pedal position and then sends this information to the engine control unit (ECU). The ECU then calculates the optimal throttle opening and controls the throttle actuator accordingly. This system provides drivers with more precise control over the vehicle and helps to improve fuel efficiency. Toyota's variable valve timing (VVT) ETC system optimizes the timing of the engine's valves, helping to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. Some of the key patent filers in this space include General Motors, Honda Motor, and Nissan Motor.
In terms of application diversity, Johnson & Johnson leads the pack, while Komatsu and CNH Industrial stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Johnson & Johnson held the top position, followed by Komatsu and Nissan Motor.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the automotive industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Automotive.
Data Insights
From
The gold standard of business intelligence.
Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors.
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.
