The technology industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by the increasing complexity of modern vehicles necessitating advanced diagnostic solutions to effectively identify and address issues. Secondly, the demand for proactive maintenance and predictive analytics in the automotive sector has surged, leading to greater adoption of IoT-enabled diagnostic scanners. The growing importance of technologies in IoT-based vehicle diagnostic scanners including wireless connectivity protocols such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular networks, as well as cloud-based platforms for data storage and analysis provides valuable insights into the health and performance of vehicles. 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 Internet of Things in technology: vehicle diagnostic scannersBuy the report here.

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, predictive collision detection, real-time fault monitoring and smart inspection are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. D2D communication, low-power NFC and fog computing are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas is NFC broadcasting, which is now well established in the industry.

Innovation S-curve for Internet of Things in the technology industry

Vehicle diagnostic scanners is a key innovation area in Internet of Things

Vehicle diagnostic scanners are electronic tools employed to identify and resolve issues in vehicles encompassing areas such as engines, brakes, fuel systems, and electrical systems. Typically, these devices establish a connection with the vehicle's onboard computer through an OBD-II port, furnishing comprehensive data regarding the vehicle's state. In addition to this, certain diagnostic scanners offer supplementary features like service light reset, code reset, and module reprogramming.

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 180+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established technology companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of vehicle diagnostic scanners.

Key players in vehicle diagnostic scanners – 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 vehicle diagnostic scanners

Company Total patents (2010 - 2022) Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies
Kymco Motors 12 Unlock Company Profile
Mitchell International 10 Unlock Company Profile
Kohler 11 Unlock Company Profile
eBay 19 Unlock Company Profile
Mercedes-Benz Group 17 Unlock Company Profile
Toyota Motor 59 Unlock Company Profile
SPX Technologies 40 Unlock Company Profile
Launch Tech 30 Unlock Company Profile
Hyundai Motor 110 Unlock Company Profile
Midtronics 13 Unlock Company Profile
Snap-on 227 Unlock Company Profile
Hitachi 22 Unlock Company Profile
Airbiquity 14 Unlock Company Profile
Caterpillar 17 Unlock Company Profile
Renault 9 Unlock Company Profile
Honda Motor 90 Unlock Company Profile
Mitsubishi Electric 13 Unlock Company Profile
Service Solutions US 21 Unlock Company Profile
Bayerische Motoren Werke 26 Unlock Company Profile
Boeing 41 Unlock Company Profile
Honeywell International 14 Unlock Company Profile
Denso 48 Unlock Company Profile
Opus Inspection 10 Unlock Company Profile
KDDI 9 Unlock Company Profile
Kia 52 Unlock Company Profile
Sumitomo Electric Industries 13 Unlock Company Profile
Ford Motor 38 Unlock Company Profile
AVL Ditest 10 Unlock Company Profile
Neology 9 Unlock Company Profile
Innova Electronic 47 Unlock Company Profile
ATEQ 10 Unlock Company Profile
Geotab 20 Unlock Company Profile
Nexion 9 Unlock Company Profile
Autel Intelligent Technology 56 Unlock Company Profile
Verizon Patent And Licensing 17 Unlock Company Profile
Repairify 22 Unlock Company Profile

Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics

Robert Bosch Stiftung is the leading patent filer in vehicle diagnostic scanners, followed by Snap-on and Hyundai Motor. Other prominent patent filers in the space include Honda Motor, Toyota Motor and Autel Intelligent Technology.

By geographic reach, eBay leads the pack, followed by Airbiquity and Sumitomo Electric Industries. In terms of application diversity, Hyundai Motor holds the top position, followed by Robert Bosch Stiftung and Honda Motor.

IoT innovation has revolutionized vehicle diagnostic scanners, enabling advanced capabilities and transforming the automotive industry. These smart scanners utilize IoT technology to wirelessly connect with vehicles and gather real-time data on their performance, allowing for efficient and accurate diagnostics.

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the technology industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Internet of Things.

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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.