Technology Class Leaders

Top patent holder in each of the 100 largest CPC technology subclasses, drawn from US patents granted 2015–2025 (USPTO via PatentsView). See our methodology.

The Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system, jointly maintained by the USPTO and European Patent Office, organizes US patents into 670 technology subclasses tracked by PlainPatent. Each subclass represents a coherent technology domain — semiconductor lithography, antibody therapeutics, internal-combustion engine valves, and so on — and the company that holds the most grants in a given subclass is, by volume, the dominant patent producer in that domain. The 100 subclasses ranked below are the 100 most active by overall grant count between 2015 and 2025.

Volume leadership does not always equal market leadership. A company can dominate a CPC subclass without leading the corresponding product category — for example, a defense contractor may hold many patents in a software subclass without selling commercial software. Treat this leaderboard as a structural map of who is filing where, then use the per-technology pages to read the rest of the field and the per-company pages to see whether a leader's patents reflect a product strategy or a defensive moat.

# Technology Class Top Company
1 G06F
ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
International Business Machines Corporation
2 H04L
TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
International Business Machines Corporation
3 H04W
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
QUALCOMM Incorporated
4 H04N
PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
5 H01L
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
6 A61B
DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
Covidien LP
7 A61K
PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
The Regents of the University of California
8 G06Q
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
International Business Machines Corporation
9 G06T
IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
10 A61P
SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
The Regents of the University of California
11 Y02E
REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
12 G01N
INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
The Regents of the University of California
13 G02B
OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
14 H04B
TRANSMISSION
QUALCOMM Incorporated
15 Y10T
TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
16 H10D
INORGANIC ELECTRIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
17 G06V
IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
18 G06N
COMPUTING ARRANGEMENTS BASED ON SPECIFIC COMPUTATIONAL MODELS
International Business Machines Corporation
19 Y02T
CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
20 C12N
MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
Monsanto Technology LLC
21 Y02P
CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
22 H01M
PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
23 G09G
ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
24 H05K
PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
25 C07K
PEPTIDES
The Regents of the University of California
26 A61M
DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY ; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY ; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
Becton, Dickinson and Company
27 C07D
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
28 G11C
STATIC STORES
Micron Technology, Inc.
29 G01R
MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
30 B29C
SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
The Boeing Company
31 G02F
OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
32 G01S
RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
QUALCOMM Incorporated
33 A61F
FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRS
The Procter & Gamble Company
34 H10K
ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
35 H02J
CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
36 H04M
TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
37 G05B
CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
FANUC CORPORATION
38 Y02D
CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE
Intel Corporation
39 B01D
SEPARATION
SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
40 B60R
VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
41 G16H
HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
KONINIKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
42 E21B
EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
43 B60W
CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
44 B32B
LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
45 G05D
SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
46 C08L
COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
LG CHEM, LTD.
47 B01J
CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
BASF SE
48 H01R
ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
49 G10L
SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING
Google LLC
50 Y02B
CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
51 B60K
ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
52 H02M
APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
53 H04R
LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
Apple Inc.
54 H05B
ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
55 C07C
ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
BASF SE
56 Y02A
TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Monsanto Technology LLC
57 G01C
MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
HERE GLOBAL B.V.
58 C12Q
MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS ; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES
The Regents of the University of California
59 H10B
ELECTRONIC MEMORY DEVICES
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
60 H10F
INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
61 A61N
ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
Medtronic, Inc.
62 H03K
PULSE TECHNIQUE
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
63 F05D
INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
General Electric Company
64 B60L
PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES ; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES ; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL ; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICL
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
65 H01Q
ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
66 C23C
COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
Applied Materials, Inc.
67 B62D
MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
68 B65D
CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
The Procter & Gamble Company
69 C08G
MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
70 C09K
MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
71 C08K
Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
LG CHEM, LTD.
72 F16H
GEARING
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
73 C09D
COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR
SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
74 G06K
GRAPHICAL DATA READING ; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
75 G08G
TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
76 H02K
DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
77 G03G
ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
78 B41J
TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
79 G08B
SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
Google LLC
80 H10H
INORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING POTENTIAL BARRIERS
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
81 A61L
METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
The Procter & Gamble Company
82 F01D
NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES
General Electric Company
83 H01J
ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
Applied Materials, Inc.
84 F21V
FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
85 H10N
ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
International Business Machines Corporation
86 C08F
MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
LG CHEM, LTD.
87 B29L
INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
The Boeing Company
88 B82Y
SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
89 B29K
INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR ; MOULDS, ; REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
The Boeing Company
90 G01B
MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
Mitutoyo Corporation
91 B64D
EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
The Boeing Company
92 G03B
APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
93 H01F
MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
94 G03F
PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR;
ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
95 B25J
MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES
FANUC CORPORATION
96 G11B
INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
Seagate Technology LLC
97 C08J
WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
LG CHEM, LTD.
98 H03M
CODING; DECODING; CODE CONVERSION IN GENERAL
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
99 B23K
SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
100 G07C
TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
Ford Global Technologies, LLC

Top 100 of 670 active technology classes. Source: USPTO PatentsView 2015–2025.

All 670 classes →