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One reliable way to measure the research activity in the field of engine technology is through the number of patent applications that are submitted to different patent offices in the world. This paper offers a thorough statistical analysis of the innovation trends related to downsizing in Europe, USA, Japan, China and Korea in the field of internal combustion engines during the last 10 years, as seen by the European Patent Office. It demonstrates which technical fields (e.g. super- and turbocharging, direct fuel injection systems, hybrid technology, variable valve actuation, exhaust gas recirculation, etc.) are the most active, who are the most important players and which country attracts the highest number of applications. Subfields of certain technical fields are also analyzed. The technical fields discussed are chosen according to the International Patent Classification (IPC) scheme.

This paper offers a thorough statistical analysis of the innovation trends in Europe, USA and Japan in the field of internal combustion engines during the last 10 years, as seen by the European Patent Office (EPO) through the patent applications in the major Patent Offices. It demonstrates which technical fields (e.g. electronic management, emissions control etc) are the most active, who are the most important patent applicants and which country attracts the highest number of patent applications. Subfields of certain technical fields are also analyzed. The technical fields discussed are chosen according to the International Patent Classification (IPC) scheme, which is used to classify patent documents in Patent Offices all around the world. These technical fields include exhaust apparatus, turbochargers, electronic management of engines, valve control, fuel injection systems, EGR, engine construction etc.

The electromechanical valve train (EMV) technology allows for a reduction in fuel consumption while operating under a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio and preserves the ability to use conventional exhaust gas aftertreatment technology with a 3-way catalyst. Compared with an engine with a camshaft-driven valve train, the variable valve timing concept makes possible an additional optimization of cold start, warm-up and transient operation. In contrast with the conventionally throttled engine, optimized control of load and in-cylinder gas movement can be used for each individual cylinder and engine cycle. A load control strategy using a "Late Intake Valve Open" (LIO) provides a reduction in start-up HC emissions of approximately 60%. Due to reduced wall-wetting, the LIO control strategy improves the transition from start to idle.