The technology industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by factors such as the increasing demand for energy-efficient solutions, the rise of smart homes and buildings, and the growing focus on sustainability as well as growing importance of technologies such as LED lighting, wireless communication protocols like Zigbee or Wi-Fi, sensors for occupancy and daylight detection, and centralized control systems. These technologies enable features such as remote control, automation, scheduling, and integration with other IoT devices. With the ability to create personalized lighting environments, optimize energy consumption, and improve user comfort, IoT innovation in smart lighting is propelling market growth and shaping the future of lighting systems. 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: smart lighting. Buy the report here.
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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
Smart lighting is a key innovation area in Internet of Things
Smart lighting refers to an advanced lighting technology that grants users the capability to remotely regulate the brightness and color of their lights. It enables the creation of desired atmospheres within a space and provides control over the energy efficiency of lighting fixtures. Smart lighting systems can be seamlessly integrated into home automation setups, empowering users to manage their lights conveniently using mobile devices or voice-activated digital assistants.
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 185+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established technology companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of smart lighting.
Key players in smart lighting – 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 smart lighting
| Company | Total patents (2010 - 2022) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| Philips Lighting | 38 | Unlock Company Profile |
| LG Electronics | 12 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Samsung Electronics | 19 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Osram Sylvania | 15 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Lumenetix | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Amazon Technologies | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| ABL IP | 36 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Wireless Environment | 14 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Tridonic | 16 | Unlock Company Profile |
| BOE Technology Group | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Toshiba Lighting & Technology | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Enlighted | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Audi | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| MechoShade Systems | 14 | Unlock Company Profile |
| 122 | Unlock Company Profile | |
| Logitech | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Ring | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Lutron Technology | 36 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Panasonic Intellectual Property Management | 85 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Signify | 95 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Johnson Controls Technology | 40 | Unlock Company Profile |
| CABATech | 13 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Koito Manufacturing | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Lutron Electronics | 44 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Leviton Manufacturing | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hon Hai Precision Industry | 13 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Koninklijke Philips | 25 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Know Labs | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sensity Systems | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sony Group | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Digimarc | 17 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Wolfspeed | 22 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Compal Electronics | 23 | Unlock Company Profile |
| EcoSense Lighting | 34 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Yazaki | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Best Digital | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Schreder Group | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Delos Living | 18 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hubble | 16 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Shenghui Lighting | 16 | Unlock Company Profile |
| ASSIA | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Environmental Light Technologies | 18 | Unlock Company Profile |
| CMoo Systems | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| SkyBell Technologies | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Verizon Patent And Licensing | 38 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Federal Law Enforcement Development Services | 47 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sengled Optoelectronics | 18 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Yutou Technology (Hangzhou) | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Shadecraft | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Vaxcel International | 71 | Unlock Company Profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Signify is one of the leading patent filers in smart lighting. One of the company’s patents focuses on a method involving deploying a light source, such as a luminaire or lamp, which is activated and controlled through a first communication channel, while the capability for control through a second communication channel is electronically deactivated. After deployment, if a request for an upgrade is received, activation data is sent to enable the electronic activation of the second communication channel for controlling the light source.
Other prominent patent filers in the space include Alphabet and Panasonic.
By geographic reach, Johnson Controls International leads the pack, followed by Alphabet and Compal Electronics. In terms of application diversity, Alphabet holds the top position, followed by Compal Electronics and EcoSense Lighting.
IoT innovation in smart lighting has transformed the lighting industry by integrating connectivity and intelligence into lighting systems. Smart lighting solutions leverage IoT technology to provide enhanced control, energy efficiency, and personalized lighting experiences.
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.
