Abstract: As an important branch of artificial intelligence, the face recognition technology, relying on massive biological data information, has been widely used in smart transportation, internet finance, public security and other fields. The patent analysis in the field of face recognition technology can provide important guidelines for the research and development (R&D) of related industries in China. The technology life cycle theory and the Logistic model are applied to predict the development stage of face recognition technology. It is found that the current face recognition technology is in the growing stage of technology development. Using the incoPat, this paper mainly analyzes the perspectives of geographical distribution, participants, and technical fields. It is found that the global face recognition patents are currently in a continuous growing stage; China, the United States and South Korea have a large number of patents in the world; the current R&D hotspot is face data representation. In the future, China should be guided by the strategic face recognition industry development plan, strive to promote the R&D in key technology fields of face recognition, improve the R&D participant system of face recognition industry, and innovate the application scenarios of face recognition technology.

Key words: Face Recognition, Patent Analysis, Technology Life Cycle, Patent Map