Next Generation Augmented Reality Patent Application Trend
Since Pokemon Go went online in Australia and New Zealand on July 6th 2016, the app has been downloaded 500 million times and earned millions dollars through selling items in the app in two month. Although Pokemon is an old game developed in 1995, it makes insurmountable records by combining with augmented reality (AR), such as earning 100 million in 20 days and on top 1 download chart in most countries. Even Candy Crush and Angry Bird cannot surmount it.
In addition to campaign of catching Pokemon, it has switched on the AR market. Digi Capital reported that comparing with 700 million investment amount last year, the investment amount already reached 1.1 billion dollars in March 2016. The main targets of AR business ecosystem are start-ups, hardware companies, service and solutions, marketing and channels. Market forecast that AR will be used on non-entertainment purposes and reach 1.6 billion dollars revenue in 2020.
AR related patents are mainly distributed in two technologies, 3D modeling and optical system. Among all sub-technology, mixed reality of 3D modeling and head-mounted display and indoor lightfield display of optical system are three key technologies. Figure 1 revealed that US patent application amount was growing in decade and growing rapidly after 2010. Especially, there are over thousand patent applications in 2012. The Application trend showed AR technology is on growth period of patent life cycle, and then application amount will rapid increase and tend to be maturity period in 2020.
Worldwide AR patent research result revealed that patent application of US and Korea had explosive growth in 2010, but Korea did not continuously develop AR technology. China patent application grown in 2011, however, the application amount is less than half of application amount in US. According to “China Market of Mobile AR: 2015-2019”marketing report estimated mobile AR market in China will increase by compound annual growth rate 109.74%. Even though China has political control and GPS blockade problems, it is a huge market in AR technology. Therefore, we should actively apply AR related patents in China in the patent growth period.
entertainment, application sides are extending to medical, education, moving tools, information dissemination, and other fields. Since Google, Qualcomm, and Microsoft established relevant business units and project departments, the patent application should follow up and complete the patent landscape. People can grip AR industry development trend through observing technology variety and direction of patents.
Writer: Project Specialist Candice Liao