Market Context — Why This Technology, Why Now

The increasing complexity of urban environments and the rise of smart infrastructure are fueling demand for discreet, high-performance visual data capture. Regulatory pressures for enhanced vehicle safety and the expansion of IoT ecosystems further necessitate compact, reliable imaging solutions. This technology's ability to provide clear, unobstructed views from virtually any mounting point positions it as a key enabler for next-generation automotive, security, and smart device applications globally.

Key Competitive Advantages
01

Completely Eliminates Mounting Component Reflection: This technology's unique bracket structure thoroughly eliminates reflections of mounting components into the lens. This prevents the image quality degradation common in conventional dashcams, ensuring clear and reliable video recording.

02

Significantly Enhances Installation Flexibility: The miniaturized imaging device, combined with a bracket featuring a mounting plate extending perpendicular to the shooting direction, allows flexible installation in any narrow space inside or outside a vehicle. This ensures optimal shooting angles without compromising design aesthetics.

03

Robust Patent with Proven Stability: This technology successfully obtained patent approval after overcoming two office actions and being compared against eight prior art documents. This rigorous examination process strongly validates the technology's uniqueness and the stability of its rights, providing licensees with confidence for business expansion.

Market Opportunity
In-Vehicle Dashcam Market
$1B–$2B globally (AI est.)
Demand for accident prevention, recording, parking surveillance, and fleet management is growing annually, with high needs for advanced functionality and miniaturization.
Automotive electronics manufacturers Fleet management solution providers Aftermarket dashcam brands
Surveillance & Security Camera Market
$2B–$4B globally (AI est.)
As security and monitoring needs increase in stores, offices, and factories, there is growing demand for small, discreet, high-quality cameras that can be installed anywhere.
Commercial security system integrators Smart building technology developers Retail surveillance equipment suppliers
Embedded IoT Device Market
$3.5B–$7B globally (AI est.)
Demand for high-performance, compact imaging modules that do not compromise design is expanding for integration into various IoT devices such as smart home appliances, robots, and drones.
Smart home device manufacturers Robotics and drone developers Industrial automation sensor providers
IP Defensibility — Why Competitors Can't Replicate This
What This Patent Covers

This patent protects an imaging device and system featuring a unique bracket structure that prevents mounting component reflections and enhances installation flexibility. It specifically covers the combination of a camera-supporting ring and a mounting plate extending away from the lens, ensuring clear, high-quality image capture.

Competitive White Space

This patent primarily covers the mechanical structure for reflection prevention and flexible mounting. It leaves white space for developing advanced image processing algorithms, AI-driven analytics for captured footage, or integration with novel sensor fusion technologies, allowing licensees to build complementary IP.

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

Implementing this technology could reduce dashcam installation time by an average of 5 minutes per unit. For 100,000 units annually, at a labor cost of $20/hour (AI est.), the annual savings could be 100,000 units × (5/60 hours) × $20/hour = ~$150K (AI est.). Additionally, high-quality, reflection-free footage improves accident analysis accuracy, potentially reducing annual loss risks (e.g., $650K (AI est.) from a $65M (AI est.) potential insurance payout) by 10%, yielding ~$50K (AI est.) in savings. Total estimated economic impact is ~$200K per year.

Speed to Market
6× faster than in-house development
This technology focuses on the structure of the camera body and mounting bracket, requiring no significant changes to existing imaging modules or image processing systems. The functional design is complete, and the ring and mounting plate configuration described in the patent claims can be achieved with general manufacturing processes. This allows for integration by only partially modifying existing dashcam or in-vehicle camera housing designs, significantly shortening prototyping and validation periods for rapid market entry.
Competitive Positioning

X: Installation Flexibility & Design
Y: Image Quality & Data Reliability

Business Models & Applications
💰 Technology Licensing for Products
Provides licenses for companies to integrate this technology into their own products (dashcams, in-vehicle cameras, surveillance cameras, etc.). This significantly reduces development time and costs, enabling rapid market entry.
🤝 New Product Creation Through Joint Development
Jointly develop imaging devices or systems with licensees, specialized for specific markets or applications. Leveraging the core competence of this technology, innovative products can be rapidly brought to market, creating new business opportunities.
📦 Provision as a Module Component
Offers camera modules or bracket components incorporating this technology, allowing licensees to integrate them into their final products, reducing design and manufacturing efforts. This contributes to overall supply chain efficiency.
Adjacent Application Opportunities
🚗 Automotive & Mobility
Next-Gen ADAS Auxiliary Camera
This technology could be applied to small auxiliary cameras that complement existing ADAS sensor blind spots. It has the potential to provide wider visual information without compromising vehicle design, contributing to higher levels of autonomous driving. Applications in in-cabin monitoring and mirrorless vehicle systems are also anticipated.
🏠 Smart Home
Design-Centric Monitoring & Security Camera
Compact and discreet, this technology is ideal for smart home monitoring and security cameras. It can be installed in living rooms, children's rooms, or entryways without detracting from interior aesthetics, offering users peace of mind and convenience. It also contributes to privacy protection.
🤖 Robotics & Drones
Vision Sensor for Industrial Robots/Drones
This technology is transferable as a vision sensor for industrial robot arms or small mobile units like drones. Its lightweight and compact design, coupled with clear, reflection-free imaging in complex environments, could enhance the precision of delicate tasks and autonomous flight capabilities.
Integration Roadmap — Estimated 18-Month Deployment
Concept Proof & Design Review
Duration: 3 months
Evaluate technical compatibility with existing products, optimize bracket structure using CAD, select camera modules, and conduct conceptual design of initial prototypes.
Prototype Development & Evaluation
Duration: 6 months
Develop prototypes based on design, verify image quality and reflection prevention effects, conduct durability tests under various environmental conditions, evaluate installability, and perform user tests.
Mass Production Preparation & Market Launch
Duration: 9 months
Optimize manufacturing lines, establish quality control systems, confirm compliance with relevant regulations, and prepare marketing strategies for product market launch.
Technical Feasibility
This technology focuses on the structure of the camera body and mounting bracket, requiring no significant changes to existing imaging modules or image processing systems. The ring and mounting plate configuration described in the patent claims can be achieved with general injection molding or metal processing, allowing for integration by only partially modifying existing product housing designs. This is expected to enable rapid deployment while minimizing new capital investment.
Success Scenario
Implementing this technology could nearly eliminate reflection risks during dashcam installation and potentially reduce installation time by approximately 20%. This would enhance product design flexibility and user satisfaction, potentially increasing annual sales by 10%. Furthermore, the ability to install in various locations is estimated to enable expansion into new vehicle types and applications, contributing to market share growth.
Patent Record
APPLICATION NO.
特願2022-017604
REGISTRATION NO.
7320872
FILING DATE
2022/02/08
GRANT DATE
2023/07/27
EXPIRATION DATE
2042/02/08
PATENT HOLDER
株式会社ユピテル
Examination History
2022年03月01日
出願審査請求書
2023年01月10日
拒絶理由通知書
2023年03月13日
手続補正書（自発・内容）
2023年03月13日
意見書
2023年04月04日
拒絶理由通知書
2023年06月05日
意見書
2023年06月05日
手続補正書（自発・内容）
2023年06月20日
特許査定