The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity in thin-film batteries is driven by the demand for longer-range electric vehicles (EVs), cost reduction, faster charging, and safety, and growing importance of technologies such as high-performance computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and printed, flexible, and stretchable technologies. 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: thin-film batteries. Buy the report here.
Smarter leaders trust GlobalData
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.
Thin-film batteries is a key innovation area in batteries
Thin-film batteries are a type of solid-state battery technology that are lightweight and flexible, with the ability to be integrated into various electronic devices. They are made by depositing thin layers of active materials onto a substrate, and typically have higher energy density than traditional batteries.
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 thin-film batteries.
Key players in thin-film batteries – 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 thin-film batteries
| Company | Total patents (2010 - 2022) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| Toyota Motor | 183 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Johnson & Johnson | 273 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Samsung SDI | 55 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Alphabet | 47 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Robert Bosch Stiftung | 64 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Apple | 50 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sion Power | 38 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Carl Zeiss Stiftung | 37 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Nissan Motor | 98 | Unlock Company Profile |
| CEA | 105 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Murata Manufacturing | 101 | Unlock Company Profile |
| PolyPlus Battery | 53 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Cymbet | 38 | Unlock Company Profile |
| GS Yuasa | 79 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Panasonic | 86 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Applied Materials | 269 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Infineon Technologies | 42 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Energizer | 72 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sony Group | 68 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Medtronic | 47 | Unlock Company Profile |
| LG | 217 | Unlock Company Profile |
| International Business Machines | 59 | Unlock Company Profile |
| STMicroelectronics | 52 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Varta | 45 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sumitomo Electric Industries | 31 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Contemporary Amperex Technology | 40 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Imprint Energy | 42 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Optodot | 61 | Unlock Company Profile |
| ITEN | 44 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Samsung Group | 48 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Nagano Automation | 39 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Dyson | 175 | Unlock Company Profile |
| The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission | 192 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan | 31 | Unlock Company Profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Johnson & Johnson is one of the leading patent filers in thin-film batteries for the automotive industry. The company has developed a new thin-film battery technology incorporating higher energy density, longer lifespan, faster charging, and an efficient manufacturing process. The technology could offer benefits like reduced battery replacement costs, faster charging, and reduced battery costs, making EVs more affordable and convenient. Some other key patent filers in this space include Applied Materials and LG.
In terms of application diversity, Carl Zeiss Stiftung leads the pack, while LG and Murata Manufacturing stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Optodot held the top position, followed by Johnson & Johnson and PolyPlus Battery.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the automotive industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Automotive.
Premium 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.
