Olympus 2012 Annual Report Download - page 59

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2. Breakdown of Patents in Core Competence Areas as Part of All Patents
Held
Beginning in fiscal 2012, Olympus will report the core competence area
ratios among all domestic and overseas patents held instead of the ratios
among domestic patents held as reported in previous reports.
Patents in core competence areas account for 59% of all domestic and
overseas patents held. Electronic and Imaging Technology and Optical
Technology account for 47% of the total.
Number of Patents Held by Country and Business
Change in the number of patents held by country over the past eight years is
as follows. In fiscal 2012, as in fiscal 2011, Olympus engaged in patent
acquisition activities based on a policy of sorting out patents held from the
perspective of return on investment in Japan and of increasing the number
of patents acquired overseas.
The number of patents held in Japan in fiscal 2012 increased by 11%
year on year as the number of new registrations exceeded the combined
numbers of abandonments and expirations. The number of patents held
overseas increased by 14%, and the ratio of overseas patents to all patents
held increased to 49%.
The number and ratio of Olympus’ patents held in each business area as of
March 31, 2012, are shown in the table below. Olympus’ core Medical
Business and Imaging Business account for 69% of all patents held.
Number of Patent Applications Published Overseas
in Core Competence Areas
Core Competence Area Ratios as Part of All Patents Held
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 (FY)
(Number of published patent applications)
300
150
0
140
152 178
180 211
221 256
272
230
279
257
160
195
230
Optical Technology Electronic and Imaging
Technology
Precision Technology Biomechanical and Biological
Fundamental Technology
55
31
66
48
87
62
93
70
53
44
57
27
62
68
Number of Patents Held by Country
20062005 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 (FY)
(N
um
b
er o
f
pa
t
en
t
s
)
Japan
United States
China
Others
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
Optical Technology
30%
Electronic and Imaging
Technology
17%
Precision
Technology
8%
Biomechanical and Biological
Fundamental Technology
4%
Other product-related
technologies
41%
Cautionary Statement
Foward-looking statements concerning Olympus’ plans, prospects, and strategies may be revised
as a result of changes in the future business environment and other factors.
Medical Life Science &
Industrial Imaging
Number % Number % Number %
Japanese
patents 3,284 42 1,251 16 2,036 26
U.S. patents 1,209 28 598 13 1,535 35
Chinese
patents 548 43 90 7 525 41
Other patents 1,353 73 216 12 117 6
Total 6,394 42 2,155 14 4,213 27
R&D/Monozukuri
Innovation Total
Number % Number %
Japanese
patents 1,293 16 7,864 100
U.S. patents 1,048 24 4,390 100
Chinese
patents 109 9 1,272 100
Other patents 173 9 1,859 100
Total 2,623 17 15,385 100
Number and Ratio of Patents Held by Business Group
OLYMPUS 󱚈 Annual Report 2012 57