Company patents
THK CO., LTD.
THK CO., LTD's patent strategy shows a surprising shift away from core manufacturing areas, with significant declines in Manipulators & Robotics (down 100% in 2026 so far) and Bearings & Shafts (down 57.1% in 2026 so far), which still represent 11.6% and 27.9% of its portfolio respectively. While Gearing & Transmissions saw a 50.0% growth in 2026 so far, the overall trend suggests a re-evaluation of its traditional strengths, with no clear emerging focus rapidly growing across its smaller categories.
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.
86 US filings (since 2023) · 12 categories · 21 themes
Improvements to the internal components and configurations of rolling element bearings, such as cage designs, separator materials, raceway geometry, or adjustable elements, to enhance performance or lifespan.
Mechanisms that convert rotational input (typically from an electric motor) into precise linear output motion, often employing screw-nut assemblies, ball screws, or cam-follower systems for various applications.
Mechanical assemblies designed to enable controlled rotational movement between components, often incorporating locking features, speed reduction, or eccentric adjustments for precise positioning.
Methods and components for converting power into mechanical motion to drive pump mechanisms, encompassing electric motors, hydraulic actuators, and specialized motion converters like ball screws or solenoids.
Design and control of advanced robotic grippers, tools, and mechanical linkages for specific manipulation tasks or operating in challenging environments.
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.
Bearings that utilize a pressurized gas or liquid film to create a non-contact support surface, reducing friction and wear, often incorporating specific flow restriction or airfoil designs.
Design and integration of bearings within larger mechanical systems or devices, focusing on mounting structures, housing, endplay management, and overall assembly for specific applications.
Focuses on the mechanisms, control, and sensing involved in robots or automated systems accurately grasping, moving, and releasing individual items, often in conjunction with conveyor systems or storage units, including path planning and end effector design.
Methods and devices that determine the position, angle, or distance of an object by detecting changes in magnetic fields or inductive coupling.
Mechanisms and algorithms designed to enhance the stability, precision, and safety of drone flight, including damping systems, rotor dynamics, fault-tolerant control, and transition between flight modes.
Novel configurations and materials for gears and drivetrain components, including specialized profiles, self-aligning features, damping elements, and complex gear train arrangements like planetary, cycloidal, or strain wave gearing.
Design and implementation of capacitive sensors, including methods for improving accuracy, reducing power consumption, compensating for environmental variations (like temperature), and analyzing complex displacement interactions.
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.
Systems and methods for uniquely identifying, tracking, and managing physical items using scannable codes (barcodes, QR codes) or wireless tags (RFID, IoT devices) to link physical objects to digital information, inventory, or services.
Components and designs focused on preventing ingress of contaminants (e.g., dirt, water) or egress of lubricants from bearing systems, often using elastic seals, shields, or labyrinth structures.
Integration of optical sensors, particularly for biometrics or other surface interactions, beneath a display or protective cover, requiring specialized optical paths, illumination, and packaging.
Utilizing sound and vibration analysis to detect malfunctions, assess balance, or monitor the operational health of machinery and structures. This often involves sensors, signal processing, and pattern recognition.
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.
Systems and methods for using drones equipped with various sensors (optical, chemical, LiDAR) to collect data for monitoring environmental conditions, inspecting infrastructure, or assessing agricultural assets.
Drone propulsion and power architectures combining multiple energy sources, such as internal combustion engines, electric motors, batteries, and generators, to extend flight duration, range, or payload capacity.
Patents
Showing 11-20 of 181