Electronics and embedded systems are a steadily growing part of the cost and customer value of automotive products. All kinds of integrated circuits and electronic systems including analog components, communications systems, logic devices, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), sensors and microcontrollers are linked together to enable a safe and enjoyable driving experience. These systems include:
- body electronics (seat positioning, door/window controls, telematics including infotainment, navigation, communication, etc.),
- power train control (engine and transmission monitoring, diagnostics and control, drive-by-wire systems, etc.)
- safety and security systems (ABS, suspension system, steering, tire pressure monitoring, air-bags, proximity detection, lane detection, collision avoidance, automatic parking assistance technology, etc.)
- central command (interconnection of different systems)
The modern vehicle has become, in effect, a highly sophisticated piece of electronics on wheels. As such, following the lead of the electronics and semiconductor industry in actively managing their intellectual property (IP) and patent portfolios, companies in the automotive sector must consider the implications for their competitiveness and profitability.
Better technical intelligence on competitors’ use of electronics assists automotive design teams in developing better solutions while technical and business intelligence on vendor parts supports purchasing departments in price negotiations to improve profitability. An increased understanding of IP positions facilitates lower risk entry into new product or geographic markets and assists in the defense of existing markets against competitors.
Electronics and semiconductor companies selling to the automotive market require technical and business intelligence to help address the unique challenges of automotive applications like EMI, real-time requirements, environmental stress (temperature, humidity and vibration), regulatory standards and cost-sensitivity. Other companies in the automotive sector (whether automotive manufacturers, OEM parts supplier or after-market accessory providers) must be prepared to face aggressive semiconductor patent-holders seeking to assert their patents against high-volume, downstream product vendors.
Automotive Technology and Intellectual Property Management
UBM TechInsights offers technology and business intelligence and intellectual property management services to automakers, parts suppliers and semiconductor companies seeking to do business in, or license technology to, the automotive industry. These include:
- Competitive benchmarking, patent landscaping and patent mapping to assist in market entry due diligence decisions. Understand the intellectual property and technology strengths of your competitors to enable differentiation, guide important technical design decisions and guide the acquisition of patents to enable lower risk market entry.
- Patent monetization services: licensing, infringement and brokerage. We provide experienced, objective 3rd-party analysis at the chip, circuit and system level to support the prosecution of patent claims and brokerage.
- Costing and supplier intelligence: understand the underlying cost structure of components to support price negotiation with vendors.
Over a Decade of Experience in Automotive Applications
Built on our deep expertise in reverse engineering and functional analysis of electronic circuits and embedded software, combined with an unmatched understanding of the intellectual property and patent environment, UBM TechInsights supports your most challenging competitive, technical and intellectual property decisions.
Our work in the automotive sector includes in-depth surveys of the automotive semiconductor market, broad patent landscaping within the automotive electronics sector, development of an extensive VendorKnowledge database of integrated circuits used in automotive applications, custom technical and patent analysis work for a variety of OEM parts providers, as well as feature, design and structural analysis of automotive semiconductors stretching back to 1995.
The Right Partner for Technology and IP Challenges
Whether you are a product manager assessing new markets a lawyer facing patent claims or an IP professional seeking to maximize the return on your company’s intellectual property, UBM TechInsights helps clients operating in the automotive industry to minimize risk, maximize return and achieve sustainable competitive advantage through deep technical insight and the effective management of intellectual property. Contact UBM TechInsights today to see how we can help.