Silicon Carbide (SiC) Patent Monitor

Get updated data on SiC-related patent activity for power electronics: New patent applications, patents newly granted, expired or abandoned patents, latest patent transfers, patent litigations and oppositions.

Key Features of the service

Every quarter an up-to-date Excel database including:

• New patent families
• Patent applications newly granted
• Expired or abandoned patents
• Transfer of IP rights (re-assignment, licensing) and IP collaborations (co-filings)
• Patent litigations and oppositions
• Patents categorized by position in the value chain and technological challenges: Bulk, substrates, diodes, MOSFET (trench, planar), packaging, modules, thermal issues, parasitics, die-attach, circuits, applications, etc.

Every quarter a PDF report including:

• Key fact & figures of the quarter
• Graphs and comments covering the patent landscape evolutions
• A close look at the key IP players and technologies

Access to IP analyst for 100h per year:

• Q&A sessions and discussions with our IP analysts regarding quarterly report results, trends, analyses, specific patented technologies, or companies' IP portfolios in the field of SiC for power electronics.

Why implementing a power SiC patent monitoring service now?

In the Silicon Carbide (SiC) IP landscape 2022, KnowMade pointed out that the global intellectual property (IP) competition for SiC power devices was on the rise. On the one hand, many well-established IP players and IP leaders, who used to focus on certain regions to protect their inventions, were now patenting their inventions in additional geographical areas, especially in Europe and China. As electric vehicles (EV) were driving the emerging power SiC market, companies had been adapting their IP strategies accordingly. On the other hand, notable market players that hadn't been significantly involved in the patenting activity, started protecting new inventions related to SiC power devices. Considering the level of investments that has been required to establish a robust SiC supply chain, patents may be an important tool for early SiC companies to secure their market share as new competitors enter the market.

Furthermore, Chinese research organizations and companies have progressively ramped up their inventive activity since 2015. In 2023, Chinese players have produced more than 70% of all power SiC patent publications. In 2022, KnowMade released an analysis of the emerging Chinese SiC ecosystem based on the patenting activities of Chinese players across the SiC supply chain. Even though the quality of such patents may be questioned, this situation brings about new challenges for global competitors in the semiconductor market looking to develop their manufacturing and business activities in China.

In 2021, two of the main early players in the power SiC market were sued by a US academic player, leveraging two fundamental patents related to planar MOSFET technology, to seek damages and get potential royalties from their IP. In the next few years, more litigation cases are expected between SiC players, as most of the main players in the SiC power device landscape have significantly improved their IP position since 2022, in terms of granted patents. The acceleration of IP activities is even more sensitive for trench MOSFET technology, which may become one of the main directions for the power SiC market. Yet it has become a very busy IP space, making it difficult for challengers to protect new gate trench designs.

Importantly, several players apparently lack an IP strategy consistent with their ambitions in the power SiC market. This situation suggests that important moves (IP/manufacturing partnerships, M&A, ...) are yet to come, further reshaping the SiC patent landscape.

In this context, it is crucial to monitor patent activity and IP strategies of key players. Such knowledge can assist in understanding your competitors' R&D roadmap and strategies, evaluate the risks, and detect business opportunities. The SiC patent monitoring service allows you to take advantage of a quarterly-updated Excel database and benefit from both quarterly analysis reports and direct interaction with our analysts.

Benefits of the patent monitoring service

Keep a watch on your competitors' IP activities and their future intentions.

With the help of the patent monitoring service, you will be aware of your competitors' current patenting activities, their IP dynamics, patent transfers including acquisitions and licenses, patent litigation, technology development and R&D strategies. You will also be able to early detect new entrants in your business area.

Keep track of the latest technology developments and be ahead of technology trends.

By keeping note of any recent patent filings, you can track the newest innovations in the field. You will get details on claimed inventions and you can follow technology developments. New technical solutions could inspire and improve your R&D activity.

Prevent registration of IP rights that may be harmful to your business.

You will obtain information on patent applications filed even before exclusive rights have been granted and you can react in time to prevent registration of IP rights that may be harmful to your business.

React in time to infringements and mitigate legal risks.

Monitoring newly-issued patents allows you to regularly assess your freedom-to-operate, ensuring your products or processes are not covered by patents, and thus that they can be manufactured, sold or used safely without infringing valid IP rights owned by others.

Take advantage of free technologies and decrease R&D project risks.

By tracking both expired patents and abandoned patents, you will be able to identify inventions entering the public domain that you can use safely for your development.

Understand the current IP trends and IP strategy of competitors

On a quarterly basis, the report will provide the IP trends over the three last months, with a close look to key IP players and key patented technologies. Main patent applicants and their inventions, blocking patents, promising patents and key patents newly expired or abandoned will be highlighted.

Access to the IP analyst

Take advantage of direct interaction with our analysts by phone call and/or email and get specific input for specific patented technologies and company IP portfolios through Q&A session and open discussion (100h a year).