The technology industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by the increasing demand for energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions, the need for faster and more reliable switching capabilities, compact form factors, and advancements in optoelectronic technologies, and the growing importance of optoelectronic materials, such as LEDs or OLEDs, and advanced semiconductor devices. In the last three years alone, there have been over 1.5 million patents filed and granted in the technology industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in technology: light emitting switches. 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.
185+ innovations will shape the technology industry
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the technology industry using innovation intensity models built on over 1.6 million patents, there are 185+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Within the emerging innovation stage, non-volatile flash memory, neuromorphic computing, and haptic feedback interfaces are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. RAID transmission error detection, projector-camera system, and optimized vector processing are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are resistive touch displays and digital watermarking, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for the technology industry
Light emitting switches is a key innovation area in technology
Light-emitting switches are versatile devices that integrate the functions of a light switch and a light source. They are commonly utilised to provide illumination in dimly lit spaces like closets, hallways, and stairwells. When activated, light emitting switches emit a bright light, which automatically dims or turns off when not in use. These switches are gaining popularity owing to their energy-efficient operation and convenient functionality, offering a practical solution for efficient lighting control.
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 110+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established technology companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of light emitting switches.
Key players in light emitting switches – a disruptive innovation in the technology 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 light-emitting switches
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Apple is one of the leading patent filers in the light-emitting switches space. One of the company’s patents describes a light-emitting assembly used in a keyboard assembly for an electronic device. The assembly includes a phosphor structure, transparent material on the side surfaces, and an epoxy layer on the back surface. It also includes a mask layer on the top surface and a light source within the phosphor structure for emitting light.
Other prominent patent filers in the space include Primax Electronics and Lite-On Technology.
By geographic reach, Worldline leads the pack, followed by Lutron Electronics and Rohinni. In terms of application diversity, Primax Electronics holds the top position, followed by Lite-On Technology and Dell Technologies.
Light-emitting switches provide illumination in areas where traditional switches alone may not suffice, such as closets, hallways, and stairwells. Light-emitting switches offer a practical and efficient solution for lighting control, enhancing user experience, and providing added functionality in various residential and commercial settings.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the technology industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Technology.
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.
