Benefits on Prior Art Search to Korean Language Documents

Korea becomes one of the largest pools of patent publications in the world. In every year, KIPO receives over 350,000 domestic patent applications with specifications written in Korean. Furthermore, Korea already had the largest number of patent applications per year in the world in several technology fields. For example, Korea is the leading country in semiconductor chip area and LCD or OLED display panels. The table below shows the statistic of LCD panel market shares in 2012.

Accordingly, it is necessary to search and review patent materials in Korean for prior art searches. Nonetheless, it is really difficult to fully understand Korean texts because Korean is a language far remote from English. Usually it has been our experience that we can often find a critical prior art written in Korean that was never considered during patent examination in EPO or USPTO.

Search is not simple. Rather it requires expertise in strategy and deep understanding of technology. We have been entrusted for prior art search by large companies who have multinational patent litigations. Our experienced experts can provide high value-added search strategy and results for analyzing and compiling of patent database information.

While there are a lot of search and analysis experiences in smart phones, semiconductor, video data processing, auto parts, just as an example, we listed up technology areas in detail regarding Display technology.

1) LCD

i) TFT: TFT structure, metal wiring, LTPS polysilicon semiconductor, Oxide semiconductor, Organic semiconductor,
ii) Pixel layout (patterned pixel)
iii) Organic/inorganic insulating layer, C/F, BM, column spacer, Color filter on array, Black matrix on array
iv) Liquid crystal mode: TN, VA, SVA, IPS, PLS, OCB, PDLC
v) Timing controller, Data/Gate Driving IC, COG, ASG, Backlight dimming
vi) LED, optical film (LGP, prism, diffuser, microlens), polarizer
vii) 5 mask/4 mask/3 mask process, nanoimprint, inkjet, Roll print

2) OLED

i) TFT: TFT structure, metal wiring, LTPS polysilicon semiconductor, Oxide semiconductor, Organic semiconductor, buffer layer
ii) Emitting material: EL, Quantum Dot, HITL, HIL, HTL, EITL, EIL, ETL
iii) PDL(pixel defined layer), Spacer, anode/cathode, Top/bottom emission display
iv) Encapsulation, polarizer
v) Fine metal mask, nanoimprint, inkjet, Roll print
vi) Protection Window

3) Miscellaneous

i) Touch screen panel
ii) Flexible display
iii) Digital Information Display
iv) Rounded display
v) 3D display
vi) Liquid crystal lens
vii) Smart watch