The document outlines the use of Patseer for searching and analyzing patents related to switchgear technology, highlighting the importance of switchgear in electrical systems for control and protection. It details a systematic search strategy involving specific keywords and IPC classifications, resulting in a significant dataset of patents and publications categorized by various factors including insulating medium and applications. Key findings include publication trends, top companies in the field, and geographical distribution of research, particularly indicating strong innovation activity in China.

1. Using PatSeer to search and analyze patents
in Switchgear Technology
www.patseer.com
DISCLAIMER: All analysis and charts shown in this report have been prepared online using PatSeer. This report
should not be construed as business advice and the insights are not to be used as the basis for investment or
business decisions of any kind without your own research and validation. Gridlogics Technologies Pvt. Ltd disclaims
all warranties whether express, implied or statutory, of reliability, accuracy or completeness of results, with regards to
the information contained in this report.

2. Switchgear: Overview
• Switchgear is the combination of electrical disconnect switches, fuses or circuit
breakers used to control, protect and isolate electrical equipment
• Switchgears are used both to de-energize equipment to allow work to be done and to
clear faults downstream. This type of equipment is directly linked to the reliability of
the electricity supply
• Typically, switchgears in substations are located on both the high-voltage and low-
voltage side of large power transformers. The switchgear on the low-voltage side of the
transformers may be located in a building, with medium-voltage circuit breakers for
distribution circuits, along with metering, control, and protection equipment

3. Search Strategy and Sequence of steps
Using PatSeer as our database a sequence of steps was used to create our search query. The table below shows sequence of steps we
followed. We started with a combination of keywords & relevant IPC Classes to restrict the result set to relevant records. The results were
then collapsed by Extended Families. The publications included in the report are updated as of 28th June 2014.
Search Search Queries Results
Searched online sources (Wikipedia/journals/portals and other relevant sites) to come up with related terms
1.
TAC:((switchgear* OR switch gear* OR circuit break* OR circuitbreak* OR relay* OR switch*) AND ((air* OR gas* OR SF6 OR
sulfur* hexafluoride* OR oil OR HGIS OR GIS OR vacuum* OR carbon dioxide* OR CO2 OR hybrid*) w3 (circuit break* OR
circuitbreak* OR switchgear* OR switch gear*)))
22272
Increase relevance of results by restricting it to the main IPC classes for switchgears and related technologies
2.
TAC:((switchgear* OR switch gear* OR circuit break* OR circuitbreak* OR relay* OR switch*) AND ((air* OR gas* OR SF6 OR
sulfur* hexafluoride* OR oil OR HGIS OR GIS OR vacuum* OR carbon dioxide* OR CO2 OR hybrid*) w3 (circuit break* OR
circuitbreak* OR switchgear* OR switch gear*))) AND (IC:(H01H* OR "G01R31/327" OR "G01R31/333" OR "H02B3/00" OR
"H02B13/00" OR "H02B5/06" OR "H02B7/01" OR "H02B1/18" OR "H02B13/035" OR "H02B11/00" OR "B66B1/46" or
"B66B1/48" OR "H02H3/00" OR "H02B13/055" OR "H02B13/065" OR "F02P7/00" OR "F02P7/06" OR "F02P7/063" OR
"F02P7/10") OR CPC:(H01H* OR "G01R31/327" OR "G01R31/333" OR "H02B3/00" OR "H02B13/00" OR "H02B5/06" OR
"H02B7/01" OR "H02B1/18" OR "H02B13/035" OR "H02B11/00" OR "B66B1/46" OR "B66B1/48" OR "H02H3/00" OR
"H02B13/055" OR "H02B13/065" OR "F02P7/00" OR "F02P7/06" OR "F02P7/063" OR "F02P7/10") )
16405
Restricted the data set for last 20 publication years
3.
TAC:((switchgear* OR switch gear* OR circuit break* OR circuitbreak* OR relay* OR switch*) AND ((air* OR gas* OR SF6 OR
sulfur* hexafluoride* OR oil OR HGIS OR GIS OR vacuum* OR carbon dioxide* OR CO2 OR hybrid*) w3 (circuit break* OR
circuitbreak* OR switchgear* OR switch gear*))) AND (IC:(H01H* OR "G01R31/327" OR "G01R31/333" or "H02B3/00" OR
"H02B13/00" OR "H02B5/06" OR "H02B7/01" OR "H02B1/18" OR "H02B13/035" OR "H02B11/00" OR "B66B1/46" or
"B66B1/48" OR "H02H3/00" or "H02B13/055" OR "H02B13/065" OR "F02P7/00" OR "F02P7/06" OR "F02P7/063" OR
"F02P7/10") OR CPC:(H01H* OR "G01R31/327" OR "G01R31/333" OR "H02B3/00" OR "H02B13/00" OR "H02B5/06" OR
"H02B7/01" OR "H02B1/18" OR "H02B13/035" OR "H02B11/00" OR "B66B1/46" OR "B66B1/48" OR "H02H3/00" OR
"H02B13/055" OR "H02B13/065" OR "F02P7/00" OR "F02P7/06" OR "F02P7/063" OR "F02P7/10") ) AND PBY:[1994 TO
2014]
10324
Contd…

4. Collapsed the Query in Step 3 by Application Number to remove duplicates from result list and get count of Unique Records
4.
TAC:((switchgear* OR switch gear* OR circuit break* OR circuitbreak* OR relay* OR switch*) AND ((air* OR gas* OR
SF6 OR sulfur* hexafluoride* OR oil OR HGIS OR GIS OR vacuum* OR carbon dioxide* OR CO2 OR hybrid*) w3 (circuit
break* OR circuitbreak* OR switchgear* OR switch gear*))) AND (IC:(H01H* OR "G01R31/327" OR "G01R31/333" or
"H02B3/00" OR "H02B13/00" OR "H02B5/06" OR "H02B7/01" OR "H02B1/18" OR "H02B13/035" OR "H02B11/00" OR
"B66B1/46" or "B66B1/48" OR "H02H3/00" or "H02B13/055" OR "H02B13/065" OR "F02P7/00" OR "F02P7/06" OR
"F02P7/063" OR "F02P7/10") OR CPC:(H01H* OR "G01R31/327" OR "G01R31/333" OR "H02B3/00" OR "H02B13/00"
OR "H02B5/06" OR "H02B7/01" OR "H02B1/18" OR "H02B13/035" OR "H02B11/00" OR "B66B1/46" OR "B66B1/48"
OR "H02H3/00" OR "H02B13/055" OR "H02B13/065" OR "F02P7/00" OR "F02P7/06" OR "F02P7/063" OR
"F02P7/10") ) AND PBY:[1994 TO 2014]
9230
Collapsed the Query in Step 3 by Extended Family to get count of INPADOC Families
5.
TAC:((switchgear* OR switch gear* OR circuit break* OR circuitbreak* OR relay* OR switch*) AND ((air* OR gas* OR
SF6 OR sulfur* hexafluoride* OR oil OR HGIS OR GIS OR vacuum* OR carbon dioxide* OR CO2 OR hybrid*) w3 (circuit
break* OR circuitbreak* OR switchgear* OR switch gear*))) AND (IC:(H01H* OR "G01R31/327" OR "G01R31/333" or
"H02B3/00" OR "H02B13/00" OR "H02B5/06" OR "H02B7/01" OR "H02B1/18" OR "H02B13/035" OR "H02B11/00" OR
"B66B1/46" or "B66B1/48" OR "H02H3/00" or "H02B13/055" OR "H02B13/065" OR "F02P7/00" OR "F02P7/06" OR
"F02P7/063" OR "F02P7/10") OR CPC:(H01H* OR "G01R31/327" OR "G01R31/333" OR "H02B3/00" OR "H02B13/00"
OR "H02B5/06" OR "H02B7/01" OR "H02B1/18" OR "H02B13/035" OR "H02B11/00" OR "B66B1/46" OR "B66B1/48"
OR "H02H3/00" OR "H02B13/055" OR "H02B13/065" OR "F02P7/00" OR "F02P7/06" OR "F02P7/063" OR
"F02P7/10") ) AND PBY:[1994 TO 2014]
6430
Search Strategy and Sequence of steps Contd.
Basis for Analysis
• Charts are generated on overall number of records or Unique Records (collapsing
patents and applications from result set) or INPADOC Families (collapsing by
Extended Families)
• For analysis, records were categorized into different insulating medium, applications,
construction type, drive mechanism, relays and disconnector switches

5. Definitions of IPC Classes referred to in search query
IPC Description
H01H Electric switches; relays; selectors; emergency protective devices
G01R31/327 Testing of circuit interrupters, switches or circuit-breakers
G01R31/333 Testing of switching capacity of high-voltage circuit-breakers
H02B3/00 Apparatus for manufacture, assembly, or maintenance of boards or switchgear
H02B5/06 Gas-insulated non- enclosed substations
H02B7/01 Gas-insulated enclosed substations
H02B1/18 Disposition or arrangement of fuses
H02B13/00 Switchgear in which switches are enclosed in, or structurally associated with, a casing
H02B13/035 Gas-insulated switchgear
H02B13/055 Features relating to the gas
H02B13/065 Means for detecting or reacting to mechanical or electrical defects
H02B11/00 Switchgear having carriage withdrawable for isolation
B66B1/46 Adaptations of switches or switchgear
B66B1/48 Adaptations of mechanically-operated limit switches
H02H3/00 Emergency protective circuit arrangements
F02P7/00 Arrangement of distributors, circuit-makers, circuit-breakers or pick-up devices for electric
spark ignition
F02P7/06 Circuit-makers or -breakers, pick-up devices to sense particular points of timing cycle
F02P7/063 Mechanical pick-up devices, circuit-makers or -breakers
F02P7/10 Drives of distributors or of circuit-makers or -breakers

6. Publication Trend (By Individual Publications)
The chart shows number of patents and applications published in the last 20
years for all. The number of applications published are steadily increasing from
2006.

7. Top Companies
The chart shows top 15 companies in the field of switchgear. The count represents the
number of unique INPADOC families. It can be seen maximum records are owned by
Toshiba followed by Hitachi and ABB.

8. Filing trend for key companies
The chart shows filing trend for key companies with respect to INPADOC Families and earliest priority
year from 1995 - 2013. While most of the companies have a similar trend in terms of filing patents,
Hyundai shows a constant rise in filings since 2002.

9. Priority Country Map – Where is research being done ?
The map shows the geographical spread of patents first filed in switchgears. It shows perfect
indication of where innovation is taking place. It can be seen China has 2942 filings (INPADOC
Families) closely followed by Japan and Korea with 1678 and 695 filings respectively. The
strength of the colouring represents the proportion of patent publications.

10. Distribution of top 5 origins,1994-2014
Chart shows year wise applications for top 5 priority countries based on unique
records. China has the maximum number of applications closely followed by Japan.
Research in China practically doubled after 2009. Applications in Germany have
decreased substantially since the first application.

11. Switchgear: Insulating Medium
The chart shows classification of patents based on the sub categories of insulating
medium. The record count represents number of INPADOC Families. It can be seen
vacuum and gas interrupters are more frequently used in circuit breakers with about
70% of patents talk about vacuum switchgears.

12. The chart represents the technology spread of patent portfolios of top 15 companies across
various insulating medium. The record count represents number of INPADOC Families.
The chart provides a clear idea of competitor’s areas of interest with respect to major technology
subclasses by comparing the number of patents it holds in each of these subclasses. It can be
seen Hitachi focuses mainly on gas insulated switchgear. ABB and Alstom are the only
companies focusing on hybrid switchgear.
Companies across different insulating medium

13. Companies across different drive mechanisms
The table represents number of INPADOC Families of top 15 companies around different drive
mechanisms. ABB has maximum number of patents around motor operated mechanism closely
followed by Eaton. Eaton focuses on research around solenoid & manually operated
mechanisms.

14. Top Companies across different construction type
The chart represents the technology spread of patent portfolios of top companies across
different construction types. The record count represents number of INPADOC Families.
Alstom focuses primarily on metal clad and metal enclosed construction type.

15. Top Companies across key application areas
Automobile
Industry
Power Sector

16. About PatSeer - I
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Hit Analysis
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