Market Context — Why This Technology, Why Now

The relentless pursuit of zero-defect manufacturing and higher yields in precision industries is a dominant global trend. As components become smaller and more complex, the impact of static electricity on product quality and production efficiency escalates. This technology offers a robust solution to maintain competitive advantage by ensuring consistent product quality and reducing operational costs, aligning with the industry's push for smarter, more automated production environments.

Key Competitive Advantages
01

Achieves stable, high-performance static elimination by efficiently supplying ions, significantly reducing static-related issues in precision manufacturing.

02

Increases static elimination speed by ~20% compared to conventional methods, contributing to shorter production cycle times.

03

Offers a unique electrode structure that provides superior stability and efficiency, establishing a competitive advantage in a crowded market.

Market Opportunity
Semiconductor Manufacturing
$3B–$3.5B globally (AI est.)
In semiconductor manufacturing, circuit miniaturization increases the risk of particle adhesion and ESD (electrostatic discharge) due to static electricity. High-efficiency, stable static elimination directly improves yield and is a source of quality competitiveness.
Semiconductor fabrication plants Wafer processing equipment manufacturers Advanced materials suppliers
FPD & Optical Component Manufacturing
$1.5B–$2B globally (AI est.)
Display manufacturing is trending towards larger, higher-definition screens, where static electricity causes foreign matter adhesion and unevenness. This technology's uniform static elimination significantly contributes to improving product quality and production efficiency.
Flat panel display manufacturers Optical lens and sensor producers Cleanroom equipment providers
Precision Machinery & Component Manufacturing
$1B–$1.5B globally (AI est.)
In precision processing sites for automotive parts and medical devices, static-induced dust adhesion causes quality issues. This technology can help maintain a clean manufacturing environment, reducing defects and improving productivity.
Automotive component suppliers Medical device manufacturers Industrial robotics integrators
IP Defensibility — Why Competitors Can't Replicate This
What This Patent Covers

This patent protects a unique electrode structure for corona discharge ionizers, which achieved registration after successfully demonstrating clear differentiation from prior art through multiple office actions and rejections. This indicates a robust and stable right, meticulously refined to define its scope, providing a strong foundation for business operations.

Competitive White Space

This patent primarily covers the specific electrode structure for corona discharge ionizers. White space exists in integrating this technology with advanced IoT sensors for real-time static monitoring or developing novel non-corona static elimination methods.

Economic Impact
~$80K/year estimated cost savings per facility (est.)
estimated ROI · USD · AI analysis
ROI Calculation Logic

Assumes a reduction in static-induced defect rates from 1.5% to 0.5% in precision component manufacturing lines. With a monthly production of 100,000 units and a product unit price of ~$6.50 (AI est.), the revenue improvement from defect reduction is ~$6,500/month (AI est.). This translates to an estimated annual economic impact of ~$80K (AI est.). Additional labor cost reductions from reduced maintenance are also anticipated.

Speed to Market
6× faster than in-house development
This technology is a patent on an electrode structure applicable to existing ionizers, with clearly defined core technical elements. With established electrode design and control algorithms, it can skip basic research and major technology development phases, enabling rapid market entry for integration into existing product lines or new product development. Significant development time reduction is expected, especially as it can be manufactured using general-purpose electronic components.
Competitive Positioning

X: Static Elimination Efficiency & Stability
Y: Equipment Maintenance Cost Performance

Business Models & Applications
🏭 Product Supply for Precision Manufacturing
Companies adopting this technology could develop ionizer products and supply them to precision equipment manufacturers and semiconductor fabrication plants, realizing revenue from high-value-added solutions.
🧪 Systems for Medical & Research Facilities
This technology could be offered as a high-precision static elimination system to medical device factories and research facilities with cleanroom environments, reducing contamination risks and improving product quality and safety.
📄 Technology Licensing
A business model could involve licensing this technology for integration into existing manufacturing lines or paint booths as part of a static control solution, generating continuous royalty income.
Adjacent Application Opportunities
🏥 Medical & Pharmaceutical
Medical & Pharma Cleanroom Applications
This technology could be repurposed as a system to remove residual static electricity from sterilized products and packaging materials in cleanrooms for medical devices and pharmaceutical factories. By preventing microparticle adhesion due to static, it could minimize contamination risks, contributing to enhanced product safety and quality, potentially reducing contamination events by 30%.
🍔 Food & Beverage
Food & Beverage Processing Quality
In food processing and packaging, static-induced foreign matter (e.g., hair, fibers) contamination is a serious concern. Implementing this technology could suppress foreign matter adhesion to products, offering a high-precision static control solution that ensures food safety and builds consumer trust, potentially reducing foreign matter incidents by 25%.
🎨 Coating & Printing
Coating & Printing Process Quality Improvement
In paint booths and printing factories, static electricity causing uneven paint application or ink splatter significantly degrades quality. The stable and uniform static elimination performance of this technology could resolve these issues, serving as a key technology to achieve high-quality coating and printing processes, potentially improving finish consistency by 40%.
Integration Roadmap — Estimated 18-Month Deployment
Phase 1: Technology Adaptation Design
Duration: 3 months
Design the core electrode structure of this technology to fit existing ionizer devices. Determine optimal electrode size and placement based on the characteristics of the object to be neutralized and the installation environment, establishing the basic design.
Phase 2: Prototyping & Performance Validation
Duration: 6 months
Based on the design, manufacture prototype electrode units and conduct functional tests in an actual manufacturing line or simulated environment. Evaluate static elimination performance, stability, and durability, making design adjustments as necessary.
Phase 3: Productization & Market Rollout
Duration: 9 months
Establish the final product development and mass production process, reflecting the results of prototype validation. Build a production system for market launch and formulate quality control standards to transition to full-scale business deployment.
Technical Feasibility
This technology, concerning the optimized electrode structure for discharge and ground electrodes, including their closest and opposing distances, can be implemented by replacing key components of existing ionizer devices with this technology's electrode unit. It possesses technical compatibility for rapid deployment with minimal new capital investment, by combining it with general-purpose power units and control circuits.
Success Scenario
Upon adopting this technology, the defect rate caused by static electricity in precision electronic component manufacturing lines could be significantly reduced, potentially improving production yield by over 5% compared to current levels. This could reduce quality control man-hours while effectively increasing annual production volume without additional investment. Furthermore, a scenario where employee safety and comfort are enhanced through improved working environments is also plausible.
Patent Record
APPLICATION NO.
特願2011-214130
REGISTRATION NO.
6008269
FILING DATE
2011年09月29日
GRANT DATE
2016年09月23日
EXPIRATION DATE
2031年09月29日
PATENT HOLDER
国立大学法人山形大学
Examination History
2014年09月16日
出願審査請求書
2015年05月12日
拒絶理由通知書
2015年07月10日
意見書
2015年07月10日
手続補正書（自発・内容）
2015年08月04日
拒絶理由通知書
2015年10月02日
意見書
2016年03月08日
拒絶査定
2016年06月07日
手続補正書（自発・内容）
2016年06月15日
審査前置移管
2016年06月21日
審査前置移管通知
2016年08月23日
特許査定
2016年08月26日
審査前置登録