Patents & Researchers
Inventors of the Year
Every year since 1995, Siemens has rewarded 12 employees for inventions that have significantly improved the technological performance and business success of the company. The fact that these "Inventors of the Year" hail from ten countries around the world illustrates just how international Siemens and its "Global Network of Innovation" really is. With an eye on the section entitled Networked Vehicles, we would like to introduce two of last year's Inventors of the Year who have made driving safer and more comfortable.
Sound Design for Car Engines
You don't like the sound of your engine? You'd like it to sound a little more sporty or a bit quieter? "No problem," says Ian McLean from Siemens VDO in Tilbury, Canada.
Ian McLean's invention lets engines sound exactly the way the customer wants them to
McLean's solution to the question of what an engine should sound like utilizes modern digital electronics. A microphone records the noise at one of its main sources: the air intake scoop. A digital signal processor then creates a signal in phase opposition, which is then transferred to the air intake via a loudspeaker. This "anti-noise" virtually eliminates unwanted engine noise by creating interference through opposing sound waves. However, that is by no means the end of the story: Since all types of sound waves can be generated and fed into the system, the invention makes real sound design possible. McLean's system is also much smaller and more robust than conventional sound dampeners, while costing roughly the same amount. It also improves the air flow, thereby increasing engine power.
Putting Vehicle Instruments in the Best Light
Correct instrument panel illumination is an essential safety factor. If the dashboard is too colorful or bright, it will irritate and distract the driver. If it's too muted, the driver might overlook an important piece of information.
Whether it's light-emitting diodes or a projection on the windshield - Heinrich Noll's inventions help to ensure that drivers never lose sight of the essentials
Heinrich Noll from Siemens VDO Automotive AG, Babenhausen, Germany, has been working on lighting solutions for vehicle instrument clusters for many years now. He played a vital role in replacing the little bulbs in these instruments with reliable, colorful light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Recently, Noll came up with new solutions for the optimum illumination of analog displays by directing light to the instrument-dial axis, which is made of light-conducting material, and then guiding this light to the display using a deviating prism. Here, an LED that emits ultraviolet light is used as the light source. This light is transformed into visible light only in the display, thereby ensuring an extremely even level of instrument illumination, regardless of the dial position. Noll is currently busy optimizing so-called head-up displays. Here, important information is reflected onto the bottom part of the windshield, causing an image to appear as if suspended at the end of the hood. The driver therefore no longer needs to take his or her eyes off the road when reading the information.
Global Patent Strategies
Interview with Wilhelm von Lieres
For companies involved in global competition, patents granted in countries outside their traditional home market are becoming increasingly relevant. Wilhelm von Lieres, Spokesman for the Board at Siemens Corporate Intellectual Property, talks about the importance of such patents
How expensive is it to obtain patents in several countries?
von Lieres:The costs are relatively easy to estimate. Before a patent is approved in ten countries (let's say four in Europe, three in Asia and three in America), we would have to spend about 30,000 on agency fees and representatives, and another 10,000 for internal processing.
That's a lot, considering the thousands of patents Siemens registers every year. Would it make sense to cut costs here?
In countries where we don't have a patent, a third party could come up with the same or a similar invention and patent it. Such a patent could impede our business in that market. We have to weigh two factors here: First of all, since Siemens operates globally, we should make sure that we have patents around the world. But we also have to ensure that the benefits are in proportion to the costs. The only way to do this is to employ application strategies based on years of experience and a good sense of what's at stake. In a company with a global network of research, development and marketing, other essential ingredients include intelligent organization and processes.
Recent News:
Licensing agreements pertaining to patents for the GSM/GPRS mobile communications standard that were signed in January 2002 have guaranteed Siemens royalties worth more than 10 mill. over the next five years.
Is there a general application strategy?
Our application strategy is part of our patent strategy, which was drawn up for Siemens as a whole and for many business areas and Groups in close cooperation with the Intellectual Property department. We have two options here, first, to pursue a proactive patent strategy that focuses primarily on royalties and access to external technologies. This strategy concentrates on inventions that are attractive for our competitors and is therefore geared toward patent applications in major markets and important manufacturing countries. The second option is to pursue a strategy of protecting our products against imitation. This includes concentrating on the inventions integrated in our products and applying for the appropriate patents in the products' most important markets. Both strategies have to take country-specific factors into account, such as whether and how patents can be obtained or protected in disputes.
Does it make a difference in which country a patent is initially applied for?
The first application can be submitted to the national patent office, the European Patent Office or an international patent organization. Additional applications can be made in other countries for a period of up to 12 months afterwards. Applications to national patent offices usually produce the fastest results in terms of approval. However, when combined with applications in several other countries, they can be rather costly. In such cases, it makes the most sense to mix and match options very carefully. At present, for every Siemens patent approved, there are usually patents in five to six other countries.
Does it matter where an invention was made?
No. Every Siemens unit applies for patents according to the same principles. This ensures that Siemens' inventions are treated the same way everywhere, regardless of where they were made, and regardless of which of the intellectual property organizations around the world processed the patent application.
Interview conducted by Hartmut Runge
Locations of Siemens' Intellectual Property Departments