Top Taiwanese LED chip manufacturer Epistar has been aggressive in its patent strategies, and has acquired key LED filament bulb patents to build up its core advantages, reported Liberty Times recently.

The company acquired key patents in Taiwan, China, U.S. and Europe, and is in the process of licensing patents to prevent competitors from ignoring Epistar’s intellectual property rights.

In recent years, Epistar has been promoting its Co-activation Service to clients, which attempts to integrate the LED industry’s upstream and downstream to spur LED applications and commercialize products. LED filament bulbs have been one of the best examples.

The company is cooperating with downstream clients to design LED filament bulbs that are similar to traditional omnidirectional incandescent bulbs, such as A19, B35 and F35 specs. The lights are used in traditional luminaire applications, such as incandescent bulbs, crystal chandeliers, candle lights and others. These LED filament bulbs have been very popular on the market since its release in 2012 because of its luminous efficacy, and has been most popular in the European market.

To protect its R&D results, Epistar has been deploying its LED filament bulb patent strategy fairly early in Taiwan, China, U.S. and Europe. One of Epistar’s key patents is using adhesives to place multiple LEDs on a thin transparent substrate.

By licensing Epistar’s LED filament patents to strategic partners, client’s products can be fully protected. It can also prevent patent infringement from becoming rampant in the industry.

Epistar Chairman B.J. Lee also revealed in a UDN report, the company’s intends to stay ahead of competition by advancing its technology and building up technology barriers that are difficult to penetrate.

Lee projected the global LED market demand would increase 30%, but prices would fall 20%.

As for future market opportunities, Lee highlighted smart lighting, medical lighting, and agricultural lighting. If food shortages emerge in the next five to 10 years, agricultural lighting or grow lights might eventually overtake general lighting market, said Lee. People would place more emphasis on agricultural lighting especially as traditional farming methods are converted into vertical farming methods. Vertical farming largely relies on greenhouses and using artificial lighting to grow plants.

Lee recommended Taiwanese manufacturers should start developing comprehensive lighting solutions, instead of relying solely on component sales. He also suggested Taiwanese manufacturers should control the smart LED lighting market and integrate sensors, LED chips, and acquire their own LED bulb production line. For smart LED lighting applications, manufacturers should also consider purchasing LED bulbs from Chinese companies.