Market Context — Why This Technology, Why Now

Global industries are facing intense pressure to reduce energy consumption in electronics and enhance device resilience for critical applications. The proliferation of IoT devices demands smaller, more efficient components, while climate change necessitates robust emergency communication systems. This technology aligns with these trends by offering a flexible, low-power antenna solution that can adapt to diverse environments and frequency needs, driving competitive advantage in smart device and disaster preparedness markets.

Key Competitive Advantages
01

Enables flexible frequency tuning by adjusting the dielectric constant of filling material (solid, liquid, gel, etc.) within the tube, separate from the antenna wire. This allows for easy and wide-ranging resonance frequency setting, adapting to diverse communication environments and applications.

02

Offers superior portability and robustness due to its lightweight and flexible tube structure, allowing for compact storage by multiple coiling, making it highly portable for emergencies. It provides stable communication even in harsh conditions, such as during disasters.

03

Achieves power saving for smart devices by functioning as a passive radio, operating by only amplifying and outputting audio signals when connected to smartphones or similar devices. This could significantly reduce battery consumption for licensee devices.

Market Opportunity
🌐 IoT Device Communication Modules
$2B globally (AI est.)
In IoT devices requiring miniaturization and power efficiency, this technology demonstrates high adaptability, contributing to reduced device operating costs and increased installation flexibility.
IoT module manufacturers Smart sensor developers Industrial IoT solution providers
🚨 Disaster and Emergency Communication Equipment
$150M domestically (AI est.)
Portable, passive communication means capable of operating during infrastructure disruptions in disasters are essential for life-saving and information gathering, meeting a high societal demand.
Emergency response equipment suppliers Public safety communication providers Government contractors for disaster relief
⌚ Wearable and Smart Accessories
$0.5B globally (AI est.)
Its flexible structure and power-saving characteristics contribute to the miniaturization, lightweight design, and extended operation of smartwatches, smart glasses, and hearable devices, enhancing user experience.
Consumer electronics brands Wearable device manufacturers Sports and fitness tech companies
IP Defensibility — Why Competitors Can't Replicate This
What This Patent Covers

This patent protects a multi-loop antenna and passive radio system, specifically covering the unique mechanism of tuning resonance frequency by adjusting conductive, dielectric, or insulating materials within a flexible tube, separate from the antenna wire. Its claims were meticulously designed and validated against six prior art documents, overcoming two office actions, establishing a robust and difficult-to-invalidate scope.

Competitive White Space

This patent primarily covers the antenna's physical structure and tuning method. White space exists in developing advanced signal processing algorithms for specific applications or integrating this antenna with novel power harvesting solutions.

Economic Impact
~$1M/year estimated operational cost reduction per facility (est.)
estimated ROI · USD · AI analysis
ROI Calculation Logic

This technology could contribute to reducing communication infrastructure restoration costs during disasters and lowering IoT device operational costs. For example, deploying 1,000 communication devices utilizing this technology in areas with disrupted infrastructure could reduce the annual restoration cost of approximately $10K/unit (AI est.) by 10%. This projects an estimated annual saving of $1M (AI est.) for 1,000 units.

Speed to Market
6× faster than in-house development
This technology features a clear concept of inserting filling materials into a tube to adjust dielectric constant, and its flexibility allows for diverse filling options. This enables rapid development by applying existing material technologies and manufacturing processes without significant new investment. As a research outcome from a national university, fundamental technical validation is presumed complete, significantly shortening prototype development. This could reduce time-to-market by approximately 2.5 years compared to in-house development.
Competitive Positioning

X: Frequency Tuning Flexibility
Y: Miniaturization & Portability

Business Models & Applications
🤝 Product Integration Licensing
Provide licenses for integrating this technology into a licensee's existing products (e.g., IoT sensors, wearable devices, disaster prevention equipment). This enables product differentiation and value enhancement.
💡 Joint Development & Customization
Promote joint development projects to customize this technology, including filling material selection and tube structure optimization, to meet specific licensee needs. This contributes to new market development and targeted problem-solving.
📦 Module Component Supply
Supply this technology as an antenna module, allowing licensees to easily integrate it into their own products. This supports accelerated development and cost-efficient product creation.
Adjacent Application Opportunities
🏥 Healthcare & Medical Devices
Bio-Implantable Devices
Combining biocompatible, flexible tube materials and fillings could enable small, in-vivo frequency-tunable bio-implantable sensors and medical devices. This could minimize external power requirements, potentially reducing patient burden by up to 30%.
🚗 Automotive & Mobility
In-Vehicle Flexible Antennas
This technology could be utilized as a flexible antenna installable along vehicle contours. Tuning the filling material allows adaptation to diverse communication standards like 5G and V2X, potentially improving data throughput by 25% for smart mobility applications.
🏗️ Construction & Infrastructure
Structural Health Monitoring Sensors
Embeddable in large structures like bridges and tunnels, this could serve as an antenna for wireless structural health monitoring sensor networks. Its frequency tunability could extend sensor network lifespan by 15-20% by adapting to environmental changes, aiding long-term infrastructure maintenance.
Integration Roadmap — Estimated 18-Month Deployment
Phase 1: Technology Evaluation and Concept Design
Duration: 4 months
Evaluate the applicability of this technology to the licensee's products, defining target performance and functional requirements. Conduct initial verification through filling material selection, basic tube structure design, and electromagnetic simulations.
Phase 2: Prototype Development and Validation
Duration: 8 months
Based on the design, develop small prototypes and conduct various performance evaluations for practical application, including electromagnetic characteristics, frequency tuning, portability, and robustness. Close collaboration with the licensee will ensure feedback integration at this stage.
Phase 3: Mass Production Design and Testing
Duration: 6 months
Verify adaptability to mass production processes, optimize manufacturing costs, and establish quality control systems. Conduct environmental testing, prepare for certification, and perform final integration testing within the licensee's facilities for market launch.
Technical Feasibility
This technology is characterized by a simple structure involving the insertion of antenna wire and dielectric-adjusting filling material into a loop-shaped tube. This has high compatibility with existing resin molding, filling, and wire processing technologies, enabling implementation without new large-scale capital investment. The wide range of filling options also allows for easy customization to specific frequency bands and environmental requirements, making integration into various products technically feasible.
Success Scenario
Implementing this technology could enable licensee IoT devices to achieve approximately 20% power savings and 30% miniaturization compared to conventional antennas. This could extend battery life and reduce replacement frequency by one-third annually. Furthermore, functioning as a passive radio during disasters, it could enable widespread and stable information gathering, enhancing social contribution and corporate brand value.
Patent Record
APPLICATION NO.
特願2021-163133
REGISTRATION NO.
7761258
FILING DATE
2021/10/01
GRANT DATE
2025/10/20
EXPIRATION DATE
2041/10/01
PATENT HOLDER
国立大学法人福井大学
Examination History
2024年08月23日
出願審査請求書
2025年03月11日
拒絶理由通知書
2025年06月02日
手続補正書（自発・内容）
2025年06月02日
意見書
2025年08月05日
拒絶理由通知書
2025年09月19日
意見書
2025年09月19日
手続補正書（自発・内容）
2025年10月07日
特許査定