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2022　Utilization of Intelligent Information Resources and Patents

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Academic unit or major
Graduate major in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Instructor(s)
Yoshii Kazuo 
Class Format
Lecture    (Livestream)
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Thr7-8()  
Group
-
Course number
EEE.G401
Credits
1
Academic year
2022
Offered quarter
1Q
Syllabus updated
2022/3/28
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
Access Index

Course description and aims

This course focuses on the positioning and influence of the patent system in the Research and Development activities of enterprises in the society, and a series of flows from the filing of a patent application to the registration of the patent corresponding thereto.
This course aims at making an introduction to a patent system-relating career, which is useful for a career in practical enterprise.
Topics include:
explaining that an "invention" is a technical idea, and is produced from a novel combination of various kinds of elements;
explaining that the requirements for patent include industrial applicability, novelty and inventive step;
explaining the employee's invention system, and patent systems of foreign countries;
explaining points for making a proposal of invention, and a specification for filing a patent application;
A first special topic includes a short history of Japanese Patent No. 2 628 404, concerning Mr. Shuji Nakamura's invention relating to a blue light-emitting diode (LED), which is based on preceding inventions of Mr. Akasaki and Mr. Amano. Mr. Nakamura's invention in itself is a pioneer invention, which not only actually causes the R&D of the blue LED to be directly connected to the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2014, but also causes a certain enterprise (which once employed Mr. Nakamura) to achieve a rapid growth to a global enterprise. That is, the patent system is a very influential tool for legally making a monopoly of a market, and it sometimes governs ups and downs of an enterprise.
Specifically, this course focuses on fundamental points of the patent system, which are immediately useful for building a patent-relating career (i.e., an inventor, a staff in an intellectual property division, or a patent attorney) in a practical enterprise. The fundamental points include minimum legal explanation but include abundant topics in practical enterprise. This also focuses on an insight for discerning an important invention.

Student learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Explain that an important embodiment of the Management of Technology (MOT) is a patent.
2) Explain that the subject of a patent is an invention (i.e., a technical concept).
3) Explain that all of science students may be an inventor, as long as they have a "prepared mind".
4) Begin to build a patent-relating career (i.e., an inventor, or a staff in the intellectual property division of enterprise).

Course taught by instructors with work experience

✔ Applicable How instructors' work experience benefits the course
This course was taught by an instructor who has practical experience related to a large number of patents as a patent attorney at a patent office, utilizing his practical experience. This course provides how to use of intellectual property from the understanding of patentable inventions, specific and practical knowledge for patent system, to writing the specification of patent. Students will be able to use the intellectual property as the leader of a company's research and development department in the future.

Keywords

intellectual property, patent right, invention, requirements of patent, employee's invention, novelty, inventive step, foreign patent, patent application

Competencies that will be developed

✔ Specialist skills Intercultural skills Communication skills Critical thinking skills ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

At the end of each class, a simple and practical "inventive idea" is discussed in a group, in order to realize a practice of "making an invention" or "preparing a proposal of invention".

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 A summary of MOT (Management of Technology) and "product-life cycle", and the influence of a patent right. Explain the positioning of patent in the R&D activities of an enterprise and influence thereof.
Class 2 "The intellectual property rights" in national laws, and the positioning of a "patent right". Explain the civil law as the fundamental law of the property right and the positioning of intellectual property right, and patent right.
Class 3 A summary of the patent system, a series of flow of patent application filing→publication of application→substantial examination→registration of patent. Explain a series of activities constituting a flow from patent application filing to registration of patent.
Class 4 An invention or technical idea, and a novel combination of elements. Explain that an "invention" as an immaterial technical idea is a novel combination of various elements, and show what the practical meanings of the "invention" are.
Class 5 Major requirements of patent, i.e., industrial applicability, novelty and inventive step. Explain the practical meanings of major requirements of patent, i.e., industrial applicability, novelty and inventive step.
Class 6 A summary of "employee's invention" and "foreign patent systems". Explain the practical meanings of "employee's invention" as an important knowledge of a researcher, and a summary of foreign patent systems.
Class 7 Points of how to prepare a "specification" for filing a patent application, and a "proposal of invention". Explain points of how to prepare a "specification" for filing patent application, and a "proposal of invention" to be connected to the patent application.

Out-of-Class Study Time (Preparation and Review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to other course material.

Textbook(s)

Course materials will be provided.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Hirose, Takayuki. Kigyoujin-Daigakujinn-no-tameno-Titekizaisanken-Nyuumon: Tokyo Kagaku doujinn; ISBN-13: 978-4807907564. (Japanese)

Assessment criteria and methods

Presentation of small invention and its availability as patent 50%, and final report 50%

Related courses

  • ENR.J409 ： Introduction to Intellectual Property System

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

None in particular.

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