RFID Technology Innovations: Use of Patent Data

Yen-Chun Wu

Tzu-Chin Yen National Kaohsiung First University of Science &Technolog

y

Agenda

Abstract Definition and Application of RFID Difference between RFID Tags and

Traditional Bar Codes How RFID Works Introduction to Patent Analysis RFID Patent Mapping Analysis Conclusions

Abstract

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) RFID market - US$92 million （ 2003） - US$1.3 billion （ 2008） Database - USPTO Analysis Tool – Patent Guider Research Motive – With systematic tools, it can help ex

plore tens of thousands of patent documents in details to produce patent information for data mining and analysis by experts in order to turn the information into knowledge of business values.

FIG. 1 Ratio of North American Firms Using RFID

1. Definition and Application of RFID

Accenture(2001) ： RFID is a technology which enables electronic

tags and the item identification system to communicate through radio frequency. It is a technology free from spatial limits and capable of faster data exchange, item tracking, categorization, statistics, analysis and acquisition of related data.

2. Difference between RFID Tags and Traditional Bar Codes

The major difference between bar coding and RFID lies in the fact that RFID can automatically read 250 tags per second, contain more data and monitor inventory in real time. Compared with the bar coding currently in use, RFID can automate product registration, significantly reducing labor costs and enhancing operation efficiency.

3. How RFID Works

FIG. 2 How RFID WorksSource: IDTechEx, 2004

4. Introduction to Patent Analysis

One of the most effective methods to keep in touch with technology innovations;

A tool to find out the connection between technology development and economic growth;

To help understand the processes of technology innovations by local and international enterprises.

5. RFID Patent Mapping Analysis

Patent mapping can provide technology developers and enterprise managers clear and comprehensive guidelines. Patent mapping can provide technology developers and enterprise managers clear and comprehensive guidelines.

5.1 Technology Life Cycle Analysis

5.1.1 Patent/Assignee Count

FIG. 3 Patent Counts/Assignees Technology Lifecycle Chart

5.1 Technology Life Cycle Analysis

5.1.2 Patent/Inventor Count

FIG. 4 Patent Counts/Inventors Technology Lifecycle Chart

5.1 Technology Life Cycle Analysis

5.1.3 Patent Count by Year

FIG. 5 Application Date & Issue Date by Year

5.2 Patent/Assignee Count by Country Analysis

Country Patents Assignees

US 131 78

Canada 4 3

Germany 4 4

Britain 2 2

Bermuda 2 1

Netherlands 2 1

Table 1 Patents and Assignees by Country

5.3 Company R&D Capability Comparison

CompanyRelative R&D

Capability

Relative R&D Capability Indicator

Micron Technology 26 100

3M Innovative 16 60

Intermac IP Corp. 16 58

NCR Corporation 14 50

Microchip Technology 12 43

Marconi Communications 12 42

TABLE 2 Company R&D Capabilities

5.4 Detailed R&D Capability Indicator Analysis

CompanyPatentcounts

R&D(Year)

Inventorcounts

Patentage

Micron Technology, Inc. 12 4 17 4

Intermec IP Corp. 7 2 18 4

NCR Corporation 6 3 2 2

3M Innovative Properties 6 2 21 3

Marconi Communications 5 3 5 3

Moore North America, Inc.

4 3 4 3

Microchip Technology 4 3 8 3

TABLE 3 Detailed R&D Capability Indicators

5.4 Detailed R&D Capability Indicator Analysis

5.4.1 Ranking - (1)

Rank Company Patents

1 Micron Technology, Inc. 7

2 Intermec IP Corp. 6

3 HID Corporation 3

4 Motorola, Inc. 2

TABLE 4 Patents Ranking (Prior To 2000)

5.4 Detailed R&D Capability Indicator Analysis

5.4.1 Ranking - (2)

Rank Company Patents

1 3M Innovative Properties 6

1 NCR Corporation 6

3 Marconi Communications Inc. 5

3 Micron Technology, Inc. 5

5 Microchip Technology Incorporated 3

5 Moore North America, Inc. 3

TABLE 5 Patent Ranking (After 2000)

5.4 Detailed R&D Capability Indicator Analysis

5.4.2 Patent Count by Year

FIG. 6 Patent Ranking (After 2000)

5.4 Detailed R&D Capability Indicator Analysis

5.4.3 Citation Analysis for top firms

CompanyCitations by

OthersTotal Citations

CitationRate

SAMSys Technologies Inc.

1 1 0.5

Microchip Technology Incorporated

1 1 0.25

3M Innovative Properties 1 1 0.167

TABLE 6 Citation Analysis

5.5 Inventor Analysis - (1) Inventor Company Patents

Ovard, David K. Micron Technology 6

Forster, Ian J. Marconi Communications 5

Tuttle, Mark E. Micron Technology 4

Tuttle, ohn R. Micron Technology 4

Goodwin, III John C. NCR Corporation 4

St. Amand, Roger Microchip Technology 3

Piotrowski, Chester 3M Innovative Properties 3

Pax, George E. Micron Technology 3

Lake, Rickie C. Micron Technology 3

King, Patrick F. Marconi Communications 3

TABLE 7 Top 10 Logistics Inventors

5.5 Inventor Analysis - (2)

FIG. 7 Patent Counts VS Inventor by Year

5.6 Citation Analysis for top patents

Patent No. Citations Patent Title Assignees

US6509828 1Interrogating tags on multiple frequencies and synchronizing databases using transferable agents

PRC Inc.

US6496806 1 Method and system for tracking clustered itemsSAMSys

Technologies Inc.

US6486780 1Applications for radio frequency identification systems

3M Innovative Properties

US6480110 1Inductively tunable antenna for a radio frequency identification tag

Microchip Technology Incorporated

US6476756 1Method and apparatus to determine the direction to a transponder in a modulated backscatter communication system

TC

TABLE 8 Top 10 Key Patents

5.7 IPC Analysis

5.7.1 IPC Analysis Chart – (1)

FIG. 8 IPC Analysis (3-tier)

5.7 IPC Analysis

IPC Code (3-tier)

DescriptionPatent Counts

ProcessingDays

Means

ProcessingDaysS.D.

G08B

SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS, ORDER TELEGRAPHS, ALARM SYSTEMS

34 904 264

G06K

RECOGNITION OF DATA, PRESENTATION OF DATA, RECORD CARRIERS, HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS

29 945 344

H04Q SELECTING 24 1286 341

Table 9 Top 3 IPC Areas

5.7.1 IPC Analysis Chart – (2)

5.7 IPC Analysis

5.7.2 Patent Count of Competitors by IPC

FIG. 9 Top 3 IPC Areas

5.8 UPC Analysis

5.8.1 UPC Analysis Chart - (1)

FIG. 10 UPC Analysis (2-tier)

5.8 UPC Analysis 5.8.1 UPC Analysis Chart - (2)

UPC Code (2-tier)

DescriptionPatent Counts

ProcessingDays

Means

ProcessingDaysS.D.

340/572.100Detectable device on protected article (e.g., "tag")

31 1053 324

340/010.100

New category. This is the residual home for subject matter, not elsewhere classified, relating to communication by means which are in part or in whole electrical.

25 1166 364

340/572.700 Specified antenna structure 14 926 358

TABLE 10 Top 3 UPC AREAS)

5.8 UPC Analysis

5.8.2 Patent Counts of Competitors by UPC

FIG. 11 Top 5 Competitors by UPC

Conclusions

RFID is being widely applied in the industries ; the future development of RFID is expected to move

toward identification of smaller items and smarter tags; The company should adopt a patent application strategy

that focuses on quality and quantity to supplement its technological insufficiency and to prevent its competitors from entering the market through design-around schemes.

The End!