It is understood that since the lithium iron phosphate cathode material has many advantages and good prospects for power lithium-ion batteries, since the application of basic patents from the University of Texas in the United States, in order to further improve the material properties, to avoid the design, to achieve patent follow-out and so on. Although China has filed a large number of patent applications for lithium iron phosphate, it has achieved less industrialization. This has led to a lack of practical products and technologies. In addition, the vast majority of patent applications filed by Chinese companies are domestic applications, and rarely submit patent applications abroad, making it very rare for Chinese companies' products to be exported to foreign countries and occupy a place in foreign markets. (The stock market is risky and investment should be cautious. The stocks mentioned in the article are for reference only and are not used as trading advice.)
China's lithium iron phosphate battery industry needs to achieve patent breakthrough "storage"
In modern society with advanced electronic technology, the demand for batteries is almost ubiquitous. Cell phones, electric toys, automobiles, heavy machinery, etc. have been widely used in the production and life of people. With the development of science and technology, the types of batteries are also increasing. The batteries made of various materials have their own advantages and continue to extend their market reach. Among them, lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries have a long life. , high safety, high temperature performance, large capacity, environmental protection and other advantages have received widespread attention and have developed rapidly in recent years.
China's lithium iron phosphate industry has also developed rapidly in recent years. From the number of patent applications submitted, the number of patent applications for lithium iron phosphate in China ranks first in the world, but among the major suppliers of lithium iron phosphate in the world, China has not seen China. Business figure. In an interview, the reporter learned that although there are a large number of related patent applications filed in this field in China, the quality needs to be improved, and the number of patents that actually realize industrialization is small. In comparison, foreign related giants have a relatively small number of patent applications, but they are of higher quality. They have mastered the core technologies in related fields, and have conducted patent placements worldwide, and have formed a patent alliance.
In response to this situation, experts pointed out that lithium iron phosphate due to its own performance determines its relatively strict requirements on the synthetic process, product stability is not good control, China's relevant companies should start from the perspective of improving product performance, targeted development of key technologies , improve product stability, and conduct patent layout, and promote the industrialization of related technologies. In addition, in recent years, competition in the field of lithium iron phosphate is fierce, and patent lawsuits have been frequent. Domestic related companies should actively guard against patent risks, and the group should respond to the “encirclement and suppression†of foreign patents.
The number of patent applications leading patent conversion needs to be strengthened
Lithium iron phosphate material is a material that has been used in batteries in the 1970s. Due to its characteristics of non-toxicity, rich source of raw materials, high specific capacity, and good cycle performance, it is considered to be the most promising type of lithium ion battery for power. Positive electrode materials have broad development prospects. However, the properties of lithium iron phosphate materials, such as low electrical conductivity, low lithium ion mobility, difficult preparation, and low theoretical density, also determine the requirements for the battery manufacturing process. Lithium iron phosphate materials, in recent years, domestic and foreign companies submitted a large number of patent applications.
In 2014, the State Intellectual Property Office issued the "Battery Industry Patent Analysis Report" (hereinafter referred to as the "Report"). This project was organized by the Examination Department of the Patent Office of the State Intellectual Property Office of the State Intellectual Property Office, the Materials Engineering Invention Review Department and the Patent Examination Collaboration Center in Beijing. The Materials Engineering Invention Examination Department and the Patent Examination Collaboration Center in Beijing are in charge of the implementation of the Ministry of Electric Invention Review. According to the "Report", as of May 1, 2013, the cumulative number of global patent applications for lithium iron phosphate was 1,938, of which the most patent applications from China were 1,385, accounting for 74% of the total number of patent applications; followed by Japan, Accounted for 15% of the total number of patent applications; the United States ranked third in the number of applications, accounting for 4% of the total number of patent applications. Judging from the top ten applicants who submitted patent applications, China has 7 seats and Japan holds 3 seats, of which China’s BYD Co., Ltd., [4.13%] Co., Ltd., Rainbow Group, and Tsinghua University rank among the top three.
However, among the major suppliers of lithium iron phosphate in the world, it is difficult to see Chinese companies. “Phostech Canada, Valence Corporation and A123 Company of Canada have strong capabilities and occupy the major market share of lithium iron phosphate in the world. In comparison, at present, there are more than 100 companies involved in lithium iron phosphate materials in the Chinese mainland, but their industrial scale is very large. Small, there is still a certain gap between the main performance of the product and foreign products,†said Zhu Ke, a member of the research group and an examiner of the Electronic Research Center of the Beijing Center for Reviewing the Invention, in an interview with a China Intellectual Property News reporter.
Zhu Ke said that although China submitted a large number of patent applications related to lithium iron phosphate, but the real realization of less industrialization, which led to the lack of practical products and technologies. In addition, the vast majority of patent applications filed by Chinese companies are domestic applications, and rarely submit patent applications abroad, making it very rare for Chinese companies' products to be exported to foreign countries and occupy a place in foreign markets.
Patent Litigation Frequently Occurs in Forming Alliances with Foreign Giants
It is understood that lithium iron phosphate cathode materials have many advantages and good prospects for power lithium-ion batteries. Since the basic patent was applied for at the University of Texas, the United States, to further improve the performance of the material, to avoid the design, to achieve patent follow-out, etc. The patent layout in the field of lithium iron phosphate cathode materials is in full swing, and patent litigation has also occurred frequently.
In 1997, the University of Texas submitted the first core patent of lithium iron phosphate battery (patent number: US5910382), and successively submitted dozens of series of patents involving more than 20 countries and organizations, forming a global layout. The original patent pool of lithium iron phosphate batteries. The University of Texas later licensed the patent to Hydro, Canada, and its subsidiary, Phostech, and initiated a series of patent litigations against competitors.
Since 2001, the University of Texas and Quebec, Canada have filed patent litigations with NTT, Black&Decker, the world's largest maker of power tools, and A123, a battery maker. Phostech negotiated the core patents for lithium iron phosphate coated carbon technology with Chinese battery manufacturers and put forward the rigorous requirements for paying huge patent license fees. In 2012, three companies, including Quebec Hydro, Canada, Paris CNRS, and Montreal United, filed suit before the court for dissatisfaction with the decision made by the Patent Reexamination Board of the State Intellectual Property Office of China regarding the invalidity of patents for lithium iron phosphate batteries. In the end, the above three companies ended in losing their lawsuits.
“The majority of the basic patents for lithium iron phosphate have been mastered by foreign companies, and these large companies have formed a patent alliance. There are many manufacturers of lithium iron phosphate cathode materials in China, but there are currently no real leading companies and there is a lack of independent knowledge. The core technology of property rights, therefore, is in a weak position in patent litigation. From a current point of view, the trend of frequent patent litigation in the lithium iron phosphate field will continue for some time to come. Domestic companies should be alert to the risk of infringement and take evasive measures as soon as possible.†Zhu Ke said.
Strengthen R & D to seek breakthroughs and make concerted efforts to prevent risks
Relevant data show that at present, China's annual output of lithium iron phosphate battery is about 10,000 tons, and it will maintain high-speed growth in the next few years. How to break through the plight of patents and strive for more space for development has become a concern of related companies.
It is understood that lithium iron phosphate due to its own performance determines its low energy density, conductivity is not good enough, and the synthetic process requirements are relatively harsh, the product stability is not well controlled, there is no obvious advantage in the price, resulting in its current development has been Great restrictions. In view of this weakness, Zhu Ke believes that manufacturers should start from the perspective of improving performance and strengthen key technology research and development. For example, carbon coating can be used to improve the conductivity and energy density can be increased by doping or other means. At present, many of China's patent applications for lithium iron phosphate are low-level repeated studies. The research and development of lithium iron phosphate is still in the stage of following foreign technologies. It lacks substantive innovation and major breakthroughs. Domestic related enterprises should have a deep understanding of what foreign companies hold. The specific content of patents bypasses the scope of its patents and avoids risks. At the same time, it seeks patent technology blanks and develops key independent intellectual property technologies. While owning the patented technology, it is also necessary to strengthen the marketization of the patent and avoid the technology staying in the laboratory.
In addition, the frequent patent litigation in the field of lithium iron phosphate has also brought challenges to the development of related domestic companies. "Because of the lack of leading enterprises in the field of lithium iron phosphate in China, it is difficult to win the patent war with foreign patent giants because of the strength of a single company. It is difficult for domestic enterprises to suffer patent disputes with foreign leading companies. Actively respond and respond to criticism, especially when the interests of the entire industry are affected, domestic companies can hold back foreign patents 'encirclement and suppression', and industry associations to focus on common defense, for the entire industry to crack the patent dilemma to survive, avoid being trapped in the passive Situation." Zhu Ke said.
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