Future intelligent connected vehicles are a perfect combination of bicycle intelligence and vehicle networking. During the driving process, intelligent connected vehicles not only need to achieve intelligent driving, but also need to interact in real-time with the surrounding environment, vehicles, and road conditions; Therefore, the combination of bicycle intelligence and networking has become the most scientific technological route to achieve intelligent connected vehicles. Tesla’s electric vehicle intelligence and networking are constantly developing. During the product update process, software upgrades are constantly being made to gradually enhance intelligent functions. It has achieved remote diagnosis, battery estimation, destination charging prompt, speed planning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, 3D navigation and other functions.
From the perspective of policies related to the intelligence of electric vehicles, the government is also actively promoting the development of intelligent electric vehicles, listing the intelligence of electric vehicles as a key technology direction for new energy vehicles, proposing to master the core technologies of automotive informatization and intelligence, and enhance the engineering and industrialization capabilities of core technologies such as intelligent control.
Data source: “Zhongshan Electric Vehicle Patent Navigation Research Report”, analyzed and organized by Zhongshan Yunchuang
Figure 1 Distribution of global patents related to intelligent technology for electric vehicles
From the perspective of global patents related to intelligent technology for electric vehicles, the United States, Japan, and China have become gathering places for patents, which is closely related to the technological development and market capacity of their respective regions. China has become the largest market country for electric vehicles, attracting many foreign companies to lay out patents in China.
Data source: “Zhongshan Electric Vehicle Patent Navigation Research Report”, analyzed and organized by Zhongshan Yunchuang
Note: As of the date of patent research, some patents from 2015 and 2016 have not been made public
Figure 2 Analysis of Global Electric Vehicle Intelligent Technology Related Patents
Since 2010, there has been a significant increase in the number of patent applications related to intelligent technology for electric vehicles worldwide. Among the existing patented technologies, there are many patents for vehicle communication control and positioning/navigation technology. There are relatively few patents for technologies such as vehicle to vehicle communication, IoT technology between charging stations and vehicles or power grids, billing/payment management, and scheduled charging management, which are in the initial stage of development. Enterprises can seize the opportunity to conduct technology research and development and reserve, and seize the initiative. During the research and development process, conducting enterprise micro navigation helps to understand the development status of existing technologies, avoid redundant research and development, and improve research and development efficiency.
Data source: “Zhongshan Electric Vehicle Patent Navigation Research Report”, analyzed and organized by Zhongshan Yunchuang
Figure 3 Global Patent Applicant Ranking for Intelligent Electric Vehicles
In the field of intelligent patent technology for electric vehicles, the top companies are mainly Japanese and Korean companies, especially Toyota, which has more patent layouts in intelligent technology. There is a certain gap between Chinese companies and industry leaders in the development of intelligent technology and patent layout for electric vehicles. When analyzing and utilizing patent data during the research and development process, intelligent technology strong enterprises in Japan, South Korea, the United States, and Europe can be the focus of analysis.
When optimizing research and development through technology reference, it is possible to understand existing patented technologies, analyze optimization directions, and form a layout of technology optimized patents. Taking a modern V2V communication patent (201410265915.5) as an example, it discloses a method for transmitting traffic information communication between vehicles. During the driving process, Car 100 collects vehicle status information through ECU and sensors, including vehicle deceleration, speed, operation/deployment of anti lock braking system (ABS) and electronic stability control system (ESC), Δ steering angle and yaw rate, obstacles (falling objects) detected by radar or image sensors, etc. Car 100 determines whether the collected information constitutes the information that needs to be warned based on the collected information and the judgment criteria for whether it becomes an accident. For example, when the deceleration is below a certain value, it is judged as the information that needs to be warned. Car 100 sends out information on driving direction, location, and warning, while car 200 receives the information and periodically forwards it during a specific time or distance of travel. Car 300 receives information from Car 200, verifies its own speed and warning information, and determines whether to issue an alert to the driver. This patent detects the behavior of vehicles and transmits it to other vehicles through V2V communication, providing drivers of the following vehicles with information on the traffic situation ahead, preventing traffic accidents, and improving traffic flow.
After learning about the patented technology, R&D personnel can use this existing technology to diverge their thinking and consider optimizing the patented technology from multiple aspects, such as optimizing the condition judgment of forwarding information for car 200, and how to achieve information forwarding in the absence of incoming cars. On the basis of these optimization plans, form its own intellectual property layout.
When forming one’s own intellectual property rights, attention should be paid to the reasonable protection of the claims to avoid insufficient protection of one’s intellectual property rights after applying for a patent. From this patent, it can be seen that the claims only protect the method of vehicle to vehicle communication and transmission of traffic information, but not the vehicle to vehicle communication system, because it involves communication between vehicles. When collecting evidence of infringement, it is necessary to cause infringement in specific circumstances during the driving process, which increases the difficulty of safeguarding rights. Therefore, when making patent layouts, it is necessary to consider the quality of patent applications and form high-quality patent layouts. When drawing on patents, it is also necessary to analyze the scope of patent rights, determine the risk of patent infringement, and take corresponding avoidance measures in a timely manner.
