Market Context — Why This Technology, Why Now

The global push for decarbonization and sustainable manufacturing is intensifying, making energy-efficient thermal management a critical competitive advantage across industries. Miniaturization in electronics and medical devices, coupled with the rising thermal demands of EV batteries, necessitates innovative cooling and heating solutions beyond conventional approaches. This technology directly addresses these pressures by offering a scalable, material-based method for precise thermal control, reducing reliance on energy-intensive active cooling systems and supporting global sustainability goals.

Key Competitive Advantages
01

Enables precise, dynamic temperature modulation at stress concentration points through notch pattern design, achieving localized temperature changes difficult with conventional thermal control.

02

Applicable to both superelastic and general linear elastic materials, significantly expanding potential applications across diverse industrial sectors.

03

Demonstrates high uniqueness with only one prior art document cited by the examiner. The patent overcame rejections, resulting in a robust and stable intellectual property right.

Market Opportunity
Precision Equipment & Electronics
$3.5B globally (AI est.)
Increasing heat generation from high-performance components and miniaturization demands require highly efficient localized thermal management. This technology could enhance device reliability.
High-performance semiconductor manufacturers Consumer electronics OEMs Data center cooling solution providers
Automotive & Mobility
$2B globally (AI est.)
Efficient thermal management for EV batteries and in-vehicle electronics is critical for range and safety. Lightweight, high-efficiency thermal control solutions are in high demand.
Electric vehicle battery pack manufacturers Automotive electronics suppliers Autonomous vehicle component developers
Medical & Healthcare Devices
$1.5B globally (AI est.)
Medical devices and wearables requiring localized cooling or heating could benefit from precise temperature control technology that minimizes patient burden.
Surgical instrument manufacturers Wearable medical device companies Diagnostic equipment developers
IP Defensibility — Why Competitors Can't Replicate This
What This Patent Covers

This patent protects a temperature modulation member featuring specific notch patterns that induce dynamic temperature changes via the elastocaloric effect, applicable to a broad range of elastic materials. Its claims cover the core technology and its application scope, having overcome examiner rejections with only one prior art citation, indicating strong uniqueness and a robust, well-defined scope.

Competitive White Space

White space could include advanced sensor integration for real-time feedback loops, AI-driven predictive thermal management algorithms, or novel material compositions beyond linear elastic materials that exhibit enhanced elastocaloric properties.

Economic Impact
~$0/year estimated energy cost reduction per facility (est.)
estimated ROI · USD · AI analysis
ROI Calculation Logic

If a company applies this technology to its thermal management systems, it could reduce energy required for cooling/heating by approximately 30% compared to conventional systems. For example, if the annual energy cost for temperature control in precision equipment is ~$50K (AI est.), implementing this technology could yield annual savings of ~$0 (AI est.). This is achieved by efficiently utilizing the material's elastocaloric effect to suppress unnecessary energy consumption.

Speed to Market
6× faster than in-house development
This technology provides detailed disclosures on specific notch patterns for elastocaloric temperature modulation members and their measurement methods. The mechanism for precise temperature change detection using LIT measurement is established, indicating completed principle verification. This could significantly shorten initial phases like material selection, pattern design, and evaluation method establishment, saving approximately 2.5 years compared to developing equivalent technology in-house, enabling faster product commercialization and market entry.
Competitive Positioning

X: Precision & Localized Temperature Control
Y: Material Applicability Range

Business Models & Applications
🏭 Advanced Material Licensing
Offer manufacturing licenses for temperature-modulating materials based on this technology to material producers, securing revenue in the next-generation thermal control materials market.
💡 Thermal Management Solution Development
Design, develop, and sell high-efficiency thermal management modules and systems incorporating this technology for precision equipment and automotive applications.
🔬 Material Characterization Services
Provide contract services for precise evaluation of elastocaloric effects in newly developed materials using the specialized test pieces, accelerating R&D timelines.
Adjacent Application Opportunities
🏥 医療デバイス
Non-Invasive Localized Thermo-Cooling Devices
This technology could enable devices for precise, localized temperature control during surgery, thermal therapy, or aesthetic treatments, potentially reducing side effect risks and optimizing therapeutic outcomes. It offers a drug-free physical approach, targeting specific areas with sub-millimeter precision.
👕 ウェアラブル
Smart Personal Thermal Regulation Wearables
Integrating this technology into clothing, smartwatches, or wristbands could provide localized cooling or heating based on wearer body temperature and environment. This could enhance comfort, prevent heatstroke, and improve winter insulation, creating a new market for personal climate control with up to 30% energy efficiency gains.
🔋 次世代バッテリー
High-Performance Battery Thermal Management
This technology could develop systems for efficiently removing localized heat from specific cells or modules in high-performance batteries for EVs or drones. This could extend battery life by 15-20%, enhance safety, and optimize charging efficiency, contributing to improved product longevity and performance.
Integration Roadmap — Estimated 18-Month Deployment
Technology Validation & Material Selection
Duration: 3 months
Select suitable materials from existing company inventories, validate basic elastocaloric behavior, and conduct initial notch pattern design verification.
Prototype Development & Evaluation
Duration: 6 months
Develop small-scale temperature modulation member or test piece prototypes using selected materials and optimized notch patterns. Perform performance evaluation and design refinement via LIT measurement.
Demonstration & Commercialization Prep
Duration: 9 months
Demonstrate prototypes under conditions close to actual application environments, evaluating durability and stability. Establish manufacturing processes for mass production and finalize product design.
Technical Feasibility
This technology is achievable by combining physical processing to form 'notch patterns' on tension-stressed members with existing LIT measurement techniques. The patent claims specify concrete arrangements and directions for these notch patterns, suggesting applicability with existing manufacturing line laser or mechanical processing technologies. LIT measurement is a common non-contact temperature measurement method, which could be integrated into existing material evaluation equipment without significant new capital investment.
Success Scenario
Implementing this technology could enable products to achieve more precise and localized thermal control. For example, it may efficiently cool specific chips within a smartphone, potentially extending battery life. This could allow for both enhanced product performance and miniaturization while suppressing energy consumption, establishing a clear differentiator against competing products. Ultimately, this could lead to increased customer satisfaction and market share expansion.
Patent Record
APPLICATION NO.
特願2020-218997
REGISTRATION NO.
7541343
FILING DATE
2020/12/28
GRANT DATE
2024/08/20
EXPIRATION DATE
2040/12/28
PATENT HOLDER
国立研究開発法人物質・材料研究機構
Examination History
2023年11月28日
出願審査請求書
2024年06月11日
拒絶理由通知書
2024年06月18日
手続補正書（自発・内容）
2024年06月18日
意見書
2024年06月19日
手続補正書（自発・内容）
2024年06月19日
意見書
2024年08月06日
特許査定