利用專利分析方法探索技術發展之趨勢－以碳纖維強化材運用於混凝土構件為例

Abstract

技術的創新被視為推動產業發展的最佳動力。因此，如何有效掌握技術發展的趨勢成為產業界關注的課題。而專利分析方法已經廣泛地被許多產業應用來評估技術實力與趨勢，然而該分析方法卻鮮少被運用在營建產業上。為了讓營建產業對於專利分析方法的應用更有所了解，本研究將以碳纖維強化材(Carbon fiber reinforced polymer ,CFRP)運用於混凝土構件為例，利用「專利地圖分析」 (Patent Map)、「專利評估矩陣」(patent evaluation matrix)以及「技術生命週期」(Technology Cycle Time)三個層次的專利分析方法架構，探索相關技術資訊，解析該項技術領域的發展動向，及預測技術研發趨勢。 透過三個層次的專利分析方法可以得到下列資訊： 1.日本為擁有CFRP技術主要國，專利數量佔總專利數量的4成。 2.由專利矩陣分析結果得知，美國Union Carbide、日本Kureha、日本Mitsubishi Chemical等為該技術領先者，日本Taisei、Shimizu、Takenaka 、美國Fyfe等公司為技術潛力者，其技術發展值得注意。 3.碳纖維應用於混凝土構件的技術群組有三：第一類利用瀝青系碳纖維(pitch-type carbon fiber)直接與混凝土拌合。另一技術群組則以PAN系碳纖維(PAN-type carbon fiber)應用為主。第三類技術群組則利用與其他材料結合製造的碳纖維複合材為主。 4.碳纖維混凝土的生命週期正處於成長階段後期，其技術發展尚未完全成熟，相關技術專利仍掌握在少數的特定廠商中，是極具發展潛力的技術。 研究結果發現專利分析方法可提供了一個聯結科學與技術行為的簡單卻有效率之工具，並且能提供量化與具歷史性的資料給技術預測人員，從事相關預測。而此對具有較少歷史資料的研究領域，如新材料領域等，更有實質上之助益。

Technique innovation is the motive power of industry development; therefore, how to master the trend of technique development becomes the subject of important concern in many industries. Patent analysis has been applied widely in industries to assess and forecast the potential and trend of certain technique; however, it is seldom used in construction industry. The purpose of this study is to apply three patent analysis methods to collect patent information to forecast the trend of technological development. The three analysis methods are “Patent Map”, Patent Evaluation Matrix” and “Technology Cycle Time.” This research uses carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) of concrete components to exemplify the hybrid methods. Through the methods, the followings are found: 1.Japan has 40 percent of all CFRP patents and she is the leading country in this technique. 2.According to the result of patent evaluation matrix, Union Carbide (USA), Kureha (Japan) and Mitsubishi Chemical (Japan) are the leading companies in this technique; Taisei (Japan), Shimizu (Japan), Takenaka (Japan), and Fyfe (USA) are potential companies, whose developments need our attention. 3.There are three ways to apply CFRP in concrete components: The first one is to mix pitch-type carbon fiber with concrete directly. The second one focuses on the application of PAN-type carbon fiber. As to the last one, it uses carbon fiber composites, combination of carbon fiber and other materials, as the main components of construction. 4.In terms of technology cycle time, carbon fiber reinforced concrete is in its later period of the growth stage. Its technique development has not been completely mature. The related technique patents only belong to certain manufacturers; it is, therefore, a potential technique. From the above results, the research can be concluded that the proposed hybrid patent analysis method is a simple and efficient framework to link the science and technology activities and to obtain quantitative and qualitative data for helping researchers forecast technology trend, especially where historical data are rare.