F21 LIGHTING
Description
Class F21 covers devices, systems, and methods for producing artificial light and controlling its distribution. This includes electric and non-electric light sources (lamps, LEDs, gas discharge tubes), luminaires and fixtures, lighting control systems, and associated optical components such as reflectors and diffusers. The class also encompasses specialized lighting applications including searchlights, signaling lights, and emergency lighting. Excluded are combustion-based heating devices and weapons systems, which are classified elsewhere in Section F.
Filing statistics
CPC F21 recorded 541,014 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 7 subclasses. Annual filings declined from 43,514 in 2013 to 31,767 in 2023 (-27%), peaking at 67,175 applications in 2018. The most active applicants in class F21 are VALEO VISION (2,820 applications), SIGNIFY HOLDING (2,374 applications) and KOITO MANUFACTURING COMPANY (1,890 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
7 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- F21H INCANDESCENT MANTLES; OTHER INCANDESCENT BODIES HEATED BY COMBUSTION
- F21K NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21L LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF, BEING PORTABLE OR SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR TRANSPORTATION
- F21S NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21V FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21W INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
- F21Y INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- VALEO VISION FR 2,820
- SIGNIFY HOLDING NL 2,374
- KOITO MANUFACTURING COMPANY JP 1,890
- KOITO MANUFACTURING COMPANY 1,722
- LG INNOTEK COMPANY KR 1,624
- OSRAM DE 1,507
- LG ELECTRONICS KR 1,458
- PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY JP 1,433
- ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING AT 1,349
- PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 1,275