IEEE Spectrum publishes a ranking of company patent power. The patent benchmarking takes into account not only the size of organizations’ patent portfolios but also the quality, as reflected in characteristics such as growth, impact, originality, and general applicability. DWave Systems (adiabatic quantum computers) ranks 4th behind IBM, HP and Fujitsu in conmputer system patents.
Two newcomers—Intelligent Technologies International and Fluidigm Corp.—have debuted at Nos. 1 and 2 in the Scientific Instruments category. In Communication/Internet Services, three new companies—Airbiquity, Ruckus Wireless, and Wi-LAN—entered the top 10. And newcomers also drove big changes in Automotive and Parts, with Gentex, Gentherm, Grammer, and Ceradyne replacing established names, including Hyundai, Renault, and Delphi.
In Semiconductor Manufacturing, Samsung Electronics and SanDisk Corp. lead the way, but the category also includes much smaller, specialist companies such as Intermolecular and Tela Innovations.
Apple wasn’t able to hold on to the top spot in Electronic patents this year, falling to third behind Canon and Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. (Foxconn), but is still punching well above its weight given the much larger patent portfolios surrounding it. Meanwhile, Google, one of Apple’s main rivals in the smartphone patent wars, continues to strengthen its patent portfolio, knocking Yahoo off the top of the Communication/Internet Services category.
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Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
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