Every hardware company, companies that make physical hardware, hinges on this. It's viewed as key to raising any kind of money, it's a cost of entry. Typically companies I hardware will have dozens or hundreds of patents, it's just key. Look at how many patents tesla has, vs this, and one has been successful one not. If you were raising money from serious investors for a hardware project and said you don't have any patents, you should be laughed out of the building. It's what your selling, it's a key part of the ip moat.