我們針對O2Micro在美國所核准的專利進行調查,到2005年8月4日止,O2Micro所取得的美國專利數目為58件專利。
在58件專利中,分別隸屬於該集團之兩個公司,其一為O2Micro International Ltd.與O2Micro Inc.其中依據專利權人國家(註冊地)與對應專利件數如表一所示。為了進一步瞭解兩個不同公司是否分屬不同研發團隊進行,我們亦針對表一相關專利既進行發明人調查,並彙整發明人所對應的發明人國家別,其中O2Micro Inc.五個專利均為發明人所記錄國籍均為美國。O2Micro International Ltd.發明人主要以美國和台灣為主。可見O2Micro的研發團隊為以美國和台灣為主的多國研發能量。
表一 凹凸電子專利權人與公司所在地分佈 |
凹凸電子 |
專利權人國家(專利件數) |
對應發明人國家 |
O2 Micro International Ltd. |
|
- US(51)
- Taiwan(4)
- Japan(2)
- Singapore(1)
|
O2 Micro Inc. |
|
|
Source: 本文整理 |
表二 凹凸電子美國核准專利之相關日期分佈 |
|
Filed Year |
Priority Year* |
Publication Year |
2005 |
|
|
15 |
2004 |
1 |
1 |
19 |
2003 |
17 |
16 |
8 |
2002 |
11 |
12 |
6 |
2001 |
14 |
14 |
7 |
2000 |
8 |
8 |
0 |
1999 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
1998 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1997 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1996 |
2 |
2 |
|
1995 |
1 |
1 |
|
* 在58筆專利資料中,有1筆專利資料引用台灣專利為優先權 | |
表三 主要IPC |
IPC Code- 4 digit |
Items |
% |
H02M Electricity; Generation, Conversion, or Distribution of Electric Power; Apparatus for Conversion BE |
13 |
17.80% |
G06F Physics; Instruments; Computing; Calculating; Counting (score computers for games |
11 |
15.10% |
H01M Electricity; Basic Electric Elements; Processes or Means, e.g. Batteries, for the Direct Conversion |
8 |
11.00% |
H05B Electricity; Electric Techniques Not Otherwise Provided For; Electric Heating; Electric Lighting NO |
8 |
11.00% |
G05F Physics; Instruments; Controlling; Regulating; Systems for Regulating Electric or Magnetic Variable |
7 |
9.50% |
H02J Electricity; Generation, Conversion, or Distribution of Electric Power; Circuit Arrangements or SYS |
7 |
9.50% |
G11B Physics; Instruments; Information Storage; Information Storage Based on Relative Movement Between R |
3 |
4.10% |
G01R Physics; Instruments; Measuring (counting G06M); Testing; Measuring Electric |
2 |
2.70% |
G09G Physics; Instruments; Educating; Cryptography; Display; Advertising; Seals; Arrangements or Circuit |
2 |
2.70% |
H02H Electricity; Generation, Conversion, or Distribution of Electric Power; Emergency Protective Circui |
2 |
2.70% |
H03F Electricity; Basic Electronic Circuitry; Amplifiers (measuring, testing G01R |
2 |
2.70% |
H03K Electricity; Basic Electronic Circuitry; Pulse Technique (measuring pulse characteristi |
2 |
2.70% |
表四 主要UPC |
U.S. Class- 3 digit |
Items |
% |
320 Electricity: Battery or Capacitor Charging or Discharging; |
15 |
16.00% |
363 Electric Power Conversion Systems; |
13 |
13.80% |
315 Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Systems; |
12 |
12.80% |
710 Electrical Computers and Digital Data Processing Systems: Input/Output; |
10 |
10.60% |
713 Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Support; |
7 |
7.40% |
323 Electricity: Power Supply or Regulation Systems; |
6 |
6.30% |
327 Miscellaneous Active Electrical Nonlinear Devices, Circuits, and Systems; |
5 |
5.30% |
702 Data Processing: Measuring, Calibrating, or Testing; |
3 |
3.10% |
011 |
2 |
2.10% |
112 Sewing; |
2 |
2.10% |
330 Amplifiers; |
2 |
2.10% |
345 Computer Graphics Processing and Selective Visual Display Systems; |
2 |
2.10% |
361 Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices; |
2 |
2.10% |
369 Dynamic Information Storage or Retrieval; |
2 |
2.10% |
表五 Derwent Class(全部) |
Derwent Class - all |
Items |
U24 Amplifiers and Low Power Supplies. |
35 |
T01 Digital Computers. |
26 |
X16 Electrochemical Storage. |
14 |
U21 Logic Circuits, Electronic Switching and Coding. |
12 |
X26 Lighting. |
12 |
T04 Computer Peripheral Equipment. |
10 |
W05 Alarms, Signalling, Telemetry and Telecontrol. |
10 |
W01 Telephone and Data Transmission Systems. |
9 |
U14 Memories, Film and Hybrid Circuits. |
7 |
U22 Pulse Generation and Manipulation. |
5 |
W03 TV and Broadcast Radio Receivers. |
5 |
B02 Fused ring heterocyclics. |
3 |
P85 Education, cryptography, adverts (G09). |
2 |
U13 Integrated Circuits. |
2 |
V04 Printed Circuits and Connectors. |
2 |
V05 Valves, Discharge Tubes and CRTs. |
2 |
W02 Broadcasting, Radio and Line Transmission Systems. |
2 |
W04 Audio/Video Recording and Systems. |
2 |
X12 Power Distribution/Components/Converters. |
2 |
no class |
1 |
S01 Electrical Instruments. |
1 |
S03 Scientific Instrumentation. |
1 |
T03 Data Recording. |
1 |
T06 Process and Machine Control. |
1 |
U11 Semiconductor Materials and Processes. |
1 |
V01 Resistors and Capacitors. |
1 |
W06 Aviation, Marine and Radar Systems. |
1 |
X22 Automotive Electrics. |
1 |
表六 主要Derwent Manual Code |
Derwent Manual Code |
Items |
T01-L01 Power supplies, stand-by arrangements |
14 |
U21-B05C Power converters and power switching |
11 |
U21-B01B Switching using field effect transistors |
9 |
U24-D02 DC-DC converters |
9 |
U24-D01A3 For FETs |
8 |
T01-M06A1A Hand-held: notepads, palm-tops, personal organisers |
7 |
U24-D01A Generation of control voltages |
7 |
U24-D05 DC-AC converter |
7 |
X26-C01B2A Inverters |
7 |
U14-K01A4C LCD illumination arrangements |
6 |
W01-C01D3C Portable; hand-held |
6 |
X16-G Battery chargers |
6 |
X16-G01 Using ac mains |
6 |
U24-E02 Feedback systems |
5 |
U24-E02B For DC |
5 |
X26-C01B5 For low pressure discharge lamps |
5 |
表七 高被引證專利 |
U.S. References- patents cited by items in the set |
Items |
US5619402 Higher-efficiency cold-cathode fluorescent lamp power supply |
14 |
US5615093 Current synchronous zero voltage switching resonant topology |
12 |
US5875103 Full range soft-switching DC-DC converter |
12 |
US5930121 Direct drive backlight system |
12 |
US6114814 Apparatus for controlling a discharge lamp in a backlighted display |
12 |
若根據上述58篇專利進行相關年份的統計,可以獲得相對應的申請日、優先權日與核准日如表二所示。由日期基本表格可以發現,除了有一篇專利事先在台灣申請並引用該台灣專利申請日為優先權日外,其餘均先在美國申請。
表三與表四為主要IPC與UPC,表五與表六為Derwent Class與Derwent Manual Code。其中IPC與UPC與Derwent Code的技術內容定義可參考:
IPC與UPC的說明與閱讀方式可參考一般書籍,本文說明Derwent Manual Code閱讀方式。以「T01-L01 Power supplies, stand-by arrangements」,為例,L01為某種產品的電源供給與管理,其中對應到的產品為T01,因此對應回Derwent Class,其中T01的Derwent Class為Digital Computers(應用於電腦中),因此「T01-L01 Power supplies, stand-by arrangements」就是應用於電腦的電源供應與管理產品,其實就是電源管理晶片。再舉一例,「U21-B05C Power converters and power switching」其實就是應用於邏輯電路、電子切換或是編碼(U21 Logic Circuits, Electronic Switching and Coding)的電源轉換與切換器。
除了上述基本統計資料外,我們根據引證關係找出O2Micro的引證次數較多的專利,列表於表七,其中以US5619402之「Higher-efficiency cold-cathode fluorescent lamp power supply」為受到最多次引證的專利。其餘進一步的研究,讀者依所需內容繼續深入討論。 (655字)
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