電子書閱讀器上游廠商之專利分析

Abstract

本研究利用美國專利商標局(U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, USPTO)的專利資料，分析四家電子書閱讀器上游廠商，即E Ink、SiPix、Kent Displays與Bridgestone在1994~2008年的技術發展歷程與專利品質分析。首先，我們憑藉專利引證網絡分析電子書閱讀器上游技術發展與技術移轉過程；並且利用專利品質指標，評估電子書閱讀器上游廠商的專利創新能力與影響力表現。接下來我們更進一步透過統計方法，檢定廠商之間在專利引證網絡與專利品質的差異性。最後，透過檢定結果探討我國廠商購買E Ink與SiPix，是否會為台灣電子書閱讀器產業發展帶來助益。 由檢定結果本研究發現：(1)發現隨著時間改變，E Ink與SiPix兩家廠商在專利引證網絡中的地位與重要性越來越重要，這兩家已經從技術的學習者，躍升為其他廠商的專利引證對象。(2)E Ink與SiPix這兩家廠商的專利創新能力表現上也比Kent Displays和Bridgestone佳。故我們認為E Ink與SiPix應是目前最具實力的電子書閱讀器上游廠商，他們的加入應該有助於我國在電子書閱讀器的發展。因此，台商應多利用機會多與E Ink和SiPix互動交流，才能真正成為電子書閱讀器產業的技術領先者。

This thesis analyzes the technology development and the patent’s qualities of the four major e-paper firms – E Ink, SiPix, Kent Displays, and Bridgestone– during 1994 and 2008 by using the patent data in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). First we analyze the developing process and the technology spillover of the upstream firms of the e-book reader industry. And then, we also evaluate the performance of the four e-paper firms’ patent. Next, using T-test investigates the difference between the four e-paper firms. Last, we try to figure out whether merging E Ink and SiPix will bring some benefits for Taiwan’s e-book reader industry. According to the test results, we tell that E Ink and SiPix become more and more importance in the patent citation networks. They are no longer the technology learners, but have become the most significant cited plants for the other e-paper firms. In addition, their performances of patent innovation are also better than Kent Displays and Bridgestone. In the summary of our findings, we believe that the mergence – PIV and E Ink, AUO and SiPix – will be positive for the growth of Taiwan’s e-book reader industry.