Patents are often by-products of a design and R&D process. Ideas with IPR possibility come up naturally in the early ideation phase. I also have workshops with Clients to produce potentially patentable ideas.
Patent applications are costly. Understandably in Nokia we had better resources to apply patents. I was third in number of Submitted Inventions in Nokia Top Inventors 2010.
Patents
Distributed adaptive and predictive heating control system and method
Patent EP2866117A1
www.fourdeg.com
Patent EP2866117A1
www.fourdeg.com

Beddit Sleep Tracker utilize a similar solution as US 7868757 B2 (source: beddit.com)

Withings Aura Sleep Sensor utilize a similar solution as US 7868757 B2 (source: withings.com)