A Study on International Comparison of R&D Activities of Capacitors Focusing on Failure Modes Using Patent Information

Abstract

The environment surrounding the automobile industry is currently in a period of change. It is no longer necessary for the automotive industry to maintain a competitive advantage on its own. Electronic components are one of the technologies that support automobiles in the information field. Electronic components require not only processing speed, but also reliability and durability. In particular, automobiles are expensive and used for long periods of time. Therefore, electronic components are expected to operate stably without malfunctioning until the end of use. Obtaining a competitive advantage in the technological development of electronic components has a significant impact on spillovers to various areas. However, there has not been much progress in research analyzing the technological development of the electronic component industry from the perspective of supporting automobile safety and security from the perspective of low failure. In this study, an international comparison of the current status of technological development by companies in various countries is conducted in the field of electronic components, which are indispensable for the safety and security of next-generation automobiles. Specifically, the number of patents and the status of response to failure modes in patent information, which are indicators of technological development capability, are analyzed. The results show that Japanese firms have characteristics that differ from those of firms in other countries in these fields.