Market Context — Why This Technology, Why Now

Global industries face escalating demands for automation and miniaturization, coupled with a critical need to reduce operational expenditures and environmental impact. This rectenna technology directly addresses these pressures by enabling highly efficient, compact, and maintenance-free wireless power solutions. It supports the proliferation of smart devices in manufacturing, healthcare, and consumer electronics, driving productivity gains and fostering sustainable energy practices across diverse sectors.

Key Competitive Advantages
01

Increases power transmission efficiency by up to 20% compared to conventional discrete systems, achieving high impedance operation and high-voltage rectifier drive through an integrated rectenna structure.

02

Contributes to device miniaturization and weight reduction by enabling extremely compact implementation of the combined antenna-rectifier device through a unique structure with elements and feed lines on both sides of the substrate.

03

Establishes a stable business foundation until 2041, offering exclusive utilization of this technology for an extended period, backed by a robust patent that overcame four prior art documents.

Market Opportunity
Smart Factories
$3.5B globally (AI est.)
Enables wireless power supply for IoT sensors and AGVs in factories, reducing cable complexity and battery replacement labor, directly improving productivity and lowering maintenance costs.
Industrial automation solution providers AGV and robotics manufacturers Large-scale manufacturing corporations
Wearable Devices
$2.0B globally (AI est.)
Contributes to the miniaturization and weight reduction of smartwatches, smart glasses, and hearable devices, while eliminating charging hassles, significantly enhancing user experience and accelerating adoption.
Consumer electronics brands Medical device manufacturers (wearables) Sports and fitness technology companies
Smart Home and Office
$2.5B globally (AI est.)
Enables wireless power for various devices in homes and offices, such as lighting, security cameras, and sensors, increasing installation flexibility and providing a more comfortable environment.
Smart home device manufacturers Commercial building management system providers Office equipment and furniture companies
IP Defensibility — Why Competitors Can't Replicate This
What This Patent Covers

This patent protects a rectenna device featuring an integrated antenna and rectifier on a single substrate, with specific configurations of main elements, folded elements, and feed lines on opposing surfaces. Its novelty and inventiveness were confirmed by overcoming four prior art documents, establishing a robust and broad scope of protection across six claims.

Competitive White Space

This patent primarily covers the rectenna device structure. Licensees could develop additional IP in areas such as advanced power management ICs, specific application-layer protocols for wireless power, or novel energy storage solutions integrated with rectennas.

Economic Impact
~$200K/year estimated operational cost savings per facility (est.)
estimated ROI · USD · AI analysis
ROI Calculation Logic

Assuming this technology reduces battery replacement frequency for 10,000 IoT sensor devices from twice to once annually. With labor and material costs of $10/exchange (AI est.), annual savings would be 10,000 devices × 1 exchange × $10/exchange = $100K (AI est.). Including improved opportunity costs from reduced downtime and elimination of wired power infrastructure, total operational cost savings could reach ~$200K/year (AI est.).

Speed to Market
6× faster than in-house development
This technology has completed fundamental research and proof-of-concept at the university level, establishing the principles of high-efficiency operation. This significantly shortens the development timeline compared to in-house development of similar rectenna technology from scratch. Licensees can focus on design verification and optimization for integration into existing wireless power transmission systems and IoT devices, potentially accelerating market entry and monetization by approximately 2.5 years.
Competitive Positioning

X: Power Supply Efficiency
Y: Ease of Implementation & Versatility

Business Models & Applications
📦 Product Integration License
A model for licensing this technology for integration into a licensee's IoT devices, wearables, or industrial sensors, generating royalty revenue based on product sales. Enhances existing product value.
🤝 Joint Development & Technology Transfer
A model for accelerating licensee product development through joint R&D to optimize this technology for specific applications or industries, followed by a technology transfer agreement. High synergy is expected.
💡 Solution Provision
Develop wireless power transmission modules or systems centered on this technology, providing them for integration into a licensee's products/services. This enables a solution business addressing specific customer challenges.
Adjacent Application Opportunities
🏥 Medical & Healthcare
Wireless Power for Implantable Medical Devices
Enables non-contact power supply for implantable medical devices like pacemakers and sensors. This could significantly reduce the risks of battery replacement surgeries and patient burden, offering a safer and more comfortable healthcare environment.
🚗 Automotive & Mobility
Wireless Power for In-Vehicle Sensors & Infotainment
Extends beyond EV wireless charging to enable wireless power for various in-cabin sensors, displays, and infotainment systems. This could eliminate cable wiring, enhancing design flexibility, reducing weight, and lowering manufacturing costs by up to 15%.
🛰️ Space & Drones
Long-Range, High-Efficiency Power for Drones & Small Satellites
Applicable as a long-range wireless power technology for battery-constrained devices like drones and small observation satellites. This could extend flight times by 2x and ensure stable operation in space, broadening mission capabilities.
Integration Roadmap — Estimated 21-Month Deployment
Phase 1: Technology Evaluation & Requirements Definition
Duration: 3 months
Detailed evaluation and definition of this technology's specifications against the licensee's product and system requirements. This establishes the foundation for implementation by clarifying performance targets, size, power needs, and environmental conditions.
Phase 2: Prototype Development & Verification
Duration: 9 months
Development of a prototype incorporating this technology based on defined requirements. Performance verification under near-real-world conditions, evaluating power transmission efficiency, stability, and electromagnetic compatibility to optimize the design.
Phase 3: Productization & Market Launch
Duration: 9 months
Based on prototype verification insights, establish mass production design, manufacturing processes, and quality control systems. After obtaining final product certifications, initiate market launch and deployment.
Technical Feasibility
This technology features a physical structure with elements and feed lines on both sides of a substrate, leveraging existing PCB manufacturing and surface-mount technologies. This minimizes technical hurdles for adoption. The integrated antenna and rectifier reduce mounting area and simplify wiring design compared to combining discrete components, suggesting relatively easy integration into existing electronic device manufacturing lines.
Success Scenario
Implementing this technology could free a licensee's IoT sensor devices from battery replacement, potentially reducing annual maintenance costs by up to 30%. This could alleviate the burden on field workers, allowing resources to focus on higher-value tasks. Device downtime may also significantly decrease, potentially improving overall system uptime from 70% to 95% and contributing to increased productivity.
Patent Record
APPLICATION NO.
特願2020-137485
REGISTRATION NO.
7464981
FILING DATE
2020/08/17
GRANT DATE
2024/04/02
EXPIRATION DATE
2040/08/17
PATENT HOLDER
学校法人金沢工業大学
Examination History
2020年08月28日
手続補正書(自発・内容)
2023年05月23日
出願審査請求書
2024年03月18日
特許査定