The technology industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by the increasing demand for high-performance storage solutions in data centres, the rowing popularity of portable devices, and the declining cost of flash memory. This has also resulted in the growing importance of technologies such as NAND (NOT AND) flash memory, controller chips, and advanced data management algorithms. 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: SSD memory devices. 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, 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
SSD memory devices is a key innovation area in technology
Solid-state drives (SSD) memory devices utilize flash memory technology to store data, offering faster and more reliable performance compared to traditional hard drives. Their popularity is rising in both consumer and enterprise applications due to these advantages.
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 130+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established technology companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of SSD memory devices.
Key players in SSD memory devices – 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 SSD memory devices
| Company | Total patents (2010 - 2022) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| Silicon Motion Technology | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Alps Alpine | 14 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Qualcomm | 132 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Grandis ZAO | 18 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Avalanche Technology | 35 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Rambus | 35 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Netac Technology | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing | 13 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hitachi | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| CEA | 37 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Japan Science and Technology Agency | 32 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Dell Technologies | 17 | Unlock Company Profile |
| TDK | 152 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Renesas Electronics | 16 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sony Group | 114 | Unlock Company Profile |
| IBM | 33 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Honeywell International | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Toshiba | 162 | Unlock Company Profile |
| NEC | 16 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Intel | 103 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Pure Storage | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Micron Technology | 57 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Crocus Technology | 35 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Global Foundries | 18 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kioxia | 15 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Centre National Research Scientific | 21 | Unlock Company Profile |
| The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission | 33 | Unlock Company Profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Toshiba is one of the top patent filer in the SSD memory devices space. One of the company’s patents describe a memory card that is attached to a host device and contains a data control unit for synchronizing data transfer with the rising and falling edges of a clock signal from the host device.
Other prominent patent filers in the space include Samsung Group and TDK.
By geographic reach, Microchip Technology leads the pack, followed by Rambus and Acacia Research. In terms of application diversity, TDK holds the top position, followed by Sony Group and Intel.
SSD memory devices offer faster access times, improved reliability, and higher data transfer rates compared to traditional hard drives. This makes them crucial in enhancing overall system performance, enabling faster boot times, quicker application loading, and efficient data processing. The compact form factor, low power consumption, and resistance to physical shocks further contribute to their significance, making SSD memory devices a preferred choice for both personal and professional computing needs.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the technology industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Technology.
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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.
