Company patents

ABB Schweiz AG

ABB Schweiz AG's patent strategy reveals a surprising shift, with a significant decline in patenting across most categories so far in 2026, including a 64.5% drop in Electric Motors & Generators and a 78.9% decline in Network Management & Monitoring, despite robust growth in these areas in previous years (e.g., +34.8% and +63.6% respectively in 2024). While core areas like Industrial Control Systems (13.4% of portfolio) and Manipulators & Robotics (12.0% of portfolio) remain dominant, the widespread year-to-date declines suggest a potential re-evaluation or refocusing of R&D efforts.

Patent Trend by Technology Area

Yearly patent publications since 2023

Product themes

Product-level themes inferred from filings since 2023, with category chips showing where each theme appears. Select a theme to filter the patents below.

2,106 US filings (since 2023) · 12 categories · 49 themes

Advanced Circuit Protection

Devices and systems designed to protect electrical circuits from overcurrents, short circuits, and other faults, often involving rapid response, high voltage/current handling, and sophisticated interruption mechanisms.

Switches
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155since 2023
+16.2%YoY
Motor System Fault Detection

Methods and systems for identifying anomalies, failures, or impending issues within electric motors or their associated drive and power management circuits, often by monitoring electrical or operational parameters.

Electrical Measurement
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147since 2023
+7.3%YoY
Robot Health Monitoring & Safety

Methods and systems for monitoring the operational status, detecting anomalies, ensuring safe interaction, and preventing damage or injury in robotic systems.

Manipulators & Robotics
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126since 2023
-41.7%YoY
Adaptive Power Disconnection & Reclosing

Intelligent control systems that manage the connection and disconnection of power, including pre-charging capacitive loads, reclosing after faults, or isolating parts of a grid based on detected conditions, often involving smart switches and relays with adaptive logic.

Emergency Protective Circuits
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123since 2023
+86.4%YoY
Remote & Wireless Industrial Control

Systems and methods enabling the monitoring, configuration, and operation of industrial equipment and processes from a distance, often utilizing wireless communication protocols and networked platforms for enhanced flexibility and access.

Industrial Control Systems
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123since 2023
+2.9%YoY
Advanced Power Converter Topologies

Focuses on novel circuit configurations for DC-DC, DC-AC, or AC-DC conversion, often involving resonant operation, multi-level structures, or switched capacitors to improve efficiency, power density, or voltage conversion ratios.

Power Conversion (DC/AC, DC/DC)
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113since 2023
-30.0%YoY
AI/ML for Industrial Process Optimization

Applying machine learning and artificial intelligence models to analyze industrial data, predict system behavior, and optimize control strategies for improved efficiency, quality, or environmental compliance in manufacturing and operations.

Industrial Control Systems
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110since 2023
+19.4%YoY
Advanced Fault Detection

Techniques and circuits for accurately identifying various electrical faults, such as ground faults, overcurrent, short circuits, switch malfunctions, or electrostatic discharge (ESD) events, often utilizing sensors, signal processing, and diagnostic algorithms.

Emergency Protective Circuits
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108since 2023
+80.0%YoY
Arc Extinction Techniques

Methods and structures employed within switches and circuit breakers to safely and efficiently quench electrical arcs generated during contact separation, preventing damage and ensuring reliable interruption.

Switches
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107since 2023
+18.2%YoY
Solid-State & Hybrid Circuit Breakers

Circuit breaker designs that combine mechanical switches with power semiconductors or solely use solid-state components to achieve faster fault interruption, current limiting, and arc suppression in AC or DC power systems.

Emergency Protective Circuits
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102since 2023
+82.4%YoY
Power Systems with Energy Storage & Grid Interaction

Integration of power converters with energy storage devices (batteries, supercapacitors) or grid interfaces, often involving AC/DC conversion, power flow management, and fault handling for hybrid power systems or specific applications like EVs or PV.

Power Distribution & StoragePower Conversion (DC/AC, DC/DC)
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97since 2023
-30.6%YoY
Specialized End-Effectors & Mechanisms

Design and control of advanced robotic grippers, tools, and mechanical linkages for specific manipulation tasks or operating in challenging environments.

Manipulators & Robotics
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87since 2023
-11.1%YoY
Modular & Hybrid Power Supply Systems

Design and control of power supply architectures that combine multiple power sources (e.g., AC grid, DC battery, generators) or modular battery units, often featuring switching, conversion, and redundancy for enhanced reliability and flexibility.

Power Distribution & Storage
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76since 2023
-29.6%YoY
Switch Actuation Mechanisms

Mechanical, electromagnetic, or hydraulic systems used to physically operate the contacts of a switch or circuit breaker, focusing on the linkages, motors, coils, or fluid dynamics involved.

Switches
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72since 2023
+23.5%YoY
Advanced Motor Topologies

Development of novel motor architectures beyond traditional radial flux designs, including linear, axial, or multi-armature configurations, often to optimize for specific performance characteristics like torque density or form factor.

Electric Motors & Generators
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72since 2023
-8.7%YoY
Control & Stability for Power Converters

Techniques and circuits designed to regulate output, manage input variations, mitigate resonance, or ensure stable operation of power converters under diverse load and source conditions. This includes adaptive, predictive, or fault-tolerant control schemes.

Power Conversion (DC/AC, DC/DC)
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70since 2023
+8.7%YoY
IoT Device & Network Management

Methods and systems for monitoring, controlling, and managing Internet of Things (IoT) devices and their communication networks, often involving adaptive or intelligent frameworks for data acquisition, relay, and automation.

Web & Cloud Service Protocols
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55since 2023
-19.0%YoY
Automated Network Provisioning

Systems and methods for automatically deploying, configuring, and updating network devices and services, including software updates, client onboarding, and topology management across various network types.

Network Management & Monitoring
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53since 2023
+12.5%YoY
AM Process Monitoring & Control

Systems and methods for real-time sensing, modeling, and closed-loop control of additive manufacturing parameters to ensure part quality, consistency, and process efficiency. This includes thermal management, atmospheric regulation, and precise material deposition.

Industrial Control Systems
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52since 2023
-40.0%YoY
Stator & Coil Manufacturing

Manufacturing processes and techniques for producing stator cores, windings, and coils, including lamination, impregnation, hairpin winding, and segment coil bending, to improve motor efficiency, power density, or reliability.

Electric Motors & Generators
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51since 2023
-33.3%YoY
Integrated Smart Switches

Switches designed for specific applications within larger systems (e.g., automotive, IoT, industrial control), often incorporating sensors, control logic, wireless communication, or specialized mechanical interfaces.

Switches
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48since 2023
-28.6%YoY
Predictive Maintenance & Anomaly Detection

Utilizing sensor data, historical performance, and analytical models to anticipate equipment failures, diagnose faults, and estimate remaining useful life, thereby enabling proactive maintenance and reducing downtime.

Industrial Control Systems
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47since 2023
-33.3%YoY
EV Charging Systems & Control

Technologies for efficiently delivering power to electric vehicles, encompassing fast charging, wireless charging, and smart grid integration, alongside vehicle-side control and management of the charging process.

Power Distribution & Storage
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45since 2023
-69.2%YoY
Industrial Energy Management Systems

Control systems designed to monitor, optimize, and manage energy generation, storage, distribution, and consumption within industrial facilities or interconnected power networks to improve efficiency and meet regulatory requirements.

Industrial Control Systems
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35since 2023
0.0%YoY
Power Consumption & Current Sensing

Devices and methods for accurately measuring or monitoring electrical current draw and power usage in various systems, often for control, optimization, or safety purposes.

Electrical Measurement
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27since 2023
-92.3%YoY
Autonomous Path Planning

Algorithms and systems for generating, optimizing, and executing trajectories for autonomous vehicles or robots to move through an environment, often involving obstacle avoidance, route validation, and goal reaching.

Manipulators & RoboticsImage Processing
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26since 2023
0.0%YoY
High-Density Magnetic Component Integration

Techniques for designing and manufacturing compact, multi-functional magnetic components, such as inductors, transformers, and coils, often involving embedded structures, multilayer designs, or shared magnetic circuits to achieve higher power density or smaller form factors.

Power Conversion (DC/AC, DC/DC)
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26since 2023
-40.0%YoY
Automated Visual Inspection

Systems that employ imaging and image processing to automatically detect defects, verify states, or ensure quality control in manufactured goods, printed materials, or industrial processes.

Material & Chemical Analysis
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22since 2023
-44.4%YoY
Motor System Integration & Safety

Integration of electric motors into larger systems (e.g., vehicles, power tools) and safety features for high-voltage components, including control interfaces, mechanical integration, and environmental protection (e.g., waterproofing).

Electric Motors & Generators
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18since 2023
+80.0%YoY
Wireless Power Transfer Systems

Systems and methods for transferring electrical energy without physical contact, often utilizing inductive or resonant coupling, including antenna design, resonance tracking, and control mechanisms for efficient power delivery.

Power Distribution & Storage
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17since 2023
-33.3%YoY
Network Operations, Reliability & Traffic

Techniques and systems designed to monitor network health, diagnose issues, optimize traffic flow, and ensure continuous operation and reduced downtime in complex network environments, including cloud and storage area networks.

Network Management & MonitoringWeb & Cloud Service Protocols
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16since 2023
0.0%YoY
Network Data Management

Systems and methods for collecting, processing, and ensuring the quality and consistency of data used for network monitoring, asset management, and operational decision-making, including conflict detection and reliability scoring.

Network Management & Monitoring
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15since 2023
+133.3%YoY
Distributed Cloud/Edge Processing

Techniques for distributing computational tasks, data storage, and service logic across cloud data centers, edge devices, and user equipment to improve performance, resilience, or resource utilization. This includes architectures for split rendering, decentralized ledgers, and microservices.

Web & Cloud Service Protocols
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14since 2023
0.0%YoY
Sensor-based Environment Perception

Techniques and hardware for autonomous systems to gather and interpret data about their surroundings, including obstacle detection, object recognition, and depth estimation, to inform control decisions.

Manipulators & Robotics
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14since 2023
-50.0%YoY
Advanced Material Characterization

Techniques and systems for precisely measuring electrical or electromagnetic properties of materials or components, often involving specialized resonators, waveguides, or multi-range measurement systems to ensure accuracy.

Electrical Measurement
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14since 2023
-90.0%YoY
Surge & ESD Protection Circuits

Specialized circuits and devices designed to protect electrical and electronic systems from transient overvoltages caused by electrostatic discharge (ESD) or power surges, often involving suppressor diodes, gas discharge tubes (GDTs), or voltage clamping mechanisms.

Emergency Protective Circuits
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13since 2023
-25.0%YoY
Advanced Magnetic Powder Materials

Development and processing of metal powders with specific magnetic properties, including soft magnetic alloys, permanent magnet materials, and insulated powders for electronic components, often involving precise control of particle size, morphology, and composition.

Electric Motors & Generators
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12since 2023
-66.7%YoY
Digital Twins & Blockchain for Assets

Creating virtual representations (digital twins) of physical industrial assets or processes for simulation and analysis, often combined with blockchain technology for secure data traceability and distributed control.

Industrial Control Systems
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11since 2023
+33.3%YoY
Semiconductor Electrical Test

Techniques and apparatus for electrically testing semiconductor devices, integrated circuits, or wafers during manufacturing or post-assembly, including built-in self-test (BIST) and contact reliability assessment.

Electrical Measurement
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8since 2023
+300.0%YoY
Battery Management Systems

Software, algorithms, and associated hardware for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing battery performance, safety, and lifespan, including charge/discharge cycles, thermal regulation, and system integration.

Power Distribution & StorageElectrical Measurement
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7since 2023
-66.7%YoY
Advanced Biomarker Detection Assays

Methods and compositions for identifying, quantifying, or characterizing specific biological molecules (e.g., nucleic acids, proteins, metabolites, antibodies) or microbial species, often for diagnostic, prognostic, or quality control applications.

Material & Chemical Analysis
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5since 2023
+100.0%YoY
Damage Detection & Structural Assessment

Automated systems using image processing and artificial intelligence to identify, classify, and assess the extent of damage to structures or objects, supporting maintenance or insurance claims.

Image Processing
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3since 2023
+300.0%YoY
AI for Medical Diagnostics

Utilizing machine learning, particularly deep learning, to analyze medical data such as images, sensor readings, or physiological signals for disease prediction, diagnosis, or treatment assessment.

Image Processing
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3since 2023
new
Magnetic Resonance Sensing

Methods and apparatus for measuring magnetic fields or utilizing magnetic resonance principles for medical diagnostics, material analysis, or precise localization, including gradient field measurement in MRI.

Electrical Measurement
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3since 2023
0.0%YoY
Green Network Optimization

Techniques and systems for reducing energy consumption in computer networks while maintaining or improving performance, often involving predictive modeling, simulation, and dynamic adjustments to network infrastructure.

Network Management & Monitoring
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3since 2023
0.0%YoY
3D Reconstruction & Modeling

Processes for creating or manipulating three-dimensional digital representations of objects or environments, including mesh generation, surface fitting, and depth estimation from multiple views.

Image Processing
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1since 2023
new
Illuminated Key Switches

Design and manufacturing of key switches and keycaps that incorporate lighting elements for backlighting, indication, or aesthetic purposes, often involving translucent materials and light-shielding layers.

Switches
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1since 2023
new
Data Integration & Content Delivery Platforms

Platforms and methods for aggregating data from diverse sources, generating dynamic content, and delivering it efficiently to users, often involving social media, programmatic advertising, or interactive experiences within cloud environments.

Web & Cloud Service Protocols
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1since 2023
new
Solar Power Integration & Applications

Systems that incorporate solar panels as a primary or auxiliary power source for various applications, including visual displays, remote devices, and portable battery charging, often emphasizing efficiency and adaptability.

Power Distribution & Storage
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1since 2023
n/a

Patents

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