Estudio patentométrico de las investigaciones y las invenciones relacionado con la diagnosis a vehículos pesados.

Introduction: The patentometric study is an evaluation method associated with the identification of the strengths and weaknesses of science and technology. Patent analysis as a decision-making strategy through the examination of the records of inventions and innovations related to the diagnosis of heavy vehicles, aimed at avoiding failures or errors in the parts of the equipment and the saving from heavy financial charges. Objective: to determine trends in research and inventions through patents related to the diagnosis of heavy vehicles. Materials and methods: analyticalsynthetic, inductive-deductive and historical-logical methods were used in the search for the information contained in different sources. During the period 2001-2010, the evolution, origin and destination of technology are analyzed; as well as the most outstanding applicants, inventors and areas of invention, using patent databases of the United States Office, the World Intellectual Property Organization and the European Patents Organization. Results: patents were obtained that showed areas of invention that have been protected, preferentially related to the diagnosis of vehicles using digital methods in the most productive areas, the most emerging technologies and the main countries in these matters. Conclusions: the patent analysis reveals the main trends related to the diagnosis of vehicles, in addition to verifying that the existing technology and the experience transferred have led to proactive behavior optimizing business operations and reducing production costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]