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CPC Subclass Not Allocatable
G01Q

SCANNING-PROBE TECHNIQUES OR APPARATUS; APPLICATIONS OF SCANNING-PROBE TECHNIQUES, e.g. SCANNING PROBE MICROSCOPY [SPM]

Description

Covers scanning-probe microscopy and related techniques that use a fine probe to mechanically or electrochemically interact with a sample surface to obtain topographical, electrical, magnetic, or chemical information at micro- and nanoscale resolution. Includes atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM), and similar probe-based characterization methods. Encompasses both apparatus design (probe configurations, positioning mechanisms, signal detection systems) and methodology for materials analysis, surface imaging, and nanoscale manipulation. Excludes conventional optical or electron microscopy techniques covered in G01B and other measurement systems not based on scanning-probe interaction principles.

8 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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  • G01Q 80/00 Applications, other than SPM, of scanning-probe techniques (manufacture or treatment of nanostructures B82B3/00; recording or reproducing information using near-field interaction G11B9/12, G11B11/24, G11B13/08)
  • G01Q 90/00 Scanning-probe techniques or apparatus not otherwise provided for

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class G01, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 21,460
  2. ROBERT BOSCH DE 17,801
  3. SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) 17,347
  4. SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY KR 13,192
  5. QUALCOMM US 9,900
  6. HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES GROUP US 9,742
  7. PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NL 7,249
  8. MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION JP 6,503
  9. ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY 6,414
  10. DENSO CORPORATION JP 6,382