• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 2013

We analyzed the patent trends for whole drilling bits to reveal the main R&D directions, focusing on patents applied for and registered in Korea, the USA, Japan, and Europe. The technology was classified into two groups as a primary classification step (reaming systems and fixed systems), and into seven groups as a secondary classification step (sliding, odex, horizontal pivot, vertical pivot, concentric, eccentric, and etc.). A total of 33,614 patents were retrieved and 870 patents were selected for final effective analysis by data deduplication and filtering. A portfolio analysis using the correlation between the number of patents and the applicants for each patents revealed a sliding system as the key technology with greatest growth potential. From an analysis of the barriers to patents being granted, we emphasize the need to avoid similar topics existing patents or patent applications and to develop differential technology.