G05B CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
Description
G05B covers general-purpose control and regulating systems, encompassing feedback mechanisms, closed-loop controllers, and functional components applicable across industrial and technical domains. This subclass includes control system theory, functional elements (sensors, actuators, controllers), and diagnostic or testing apparatus for verifying system performance. It addresses both mechanical and electromechanical control solutions, as well as the methodologies for monitoring system operation, but excludes subject-specific control systems assigned to other G05 subclasses (such as G05D for particular regulated variables like speed or temperature) and systems integrated with their end applications in specialized technical fields.
Filing statistics
CPC subclass G05B recorded 340,646 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 14,970 in 2013 to 29,724 in 2023 (+99%), peaking at 38,428 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class G05 are FANUC (6,367 applications), SIEMENS (5,963 applications) and FANUC (4,535 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
16 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- G05B 1/00 Comparing elements, i.e. elements for effecting comparison directly or indirectly between a desired value and existing or anticipated values
- G05B 11/00 Automatic controllers (G05B13/00 takes precedence)
- G05B 13/00 Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion (G05B19/00 takes precedence)
- G05B 15/00 Systems controlled by a computer (G05B13/00, G05B19/00 take precedence; automatic controllers with particular characteristics G05B11/00)
- G05B 17/00 Systems involving the use of models or simulators of said systems (G05B13/00, G05B15/00, G05B19/00 take precedence)
- G05B 19/00 Program-control systems
- G05B 21/00 Systems involving sampling of the variable controlled (G05B13/00 - G05B19/00 take precedence)
- G05B 2219/00 Program-control systems
- G05B 2223/00 Indexing scheme associated with group G05B23/00
- G05B 23/00 Testing or monitoring of control systems or parts thereof (monitoring of program-control systems G05B19/048, G05B19/406)
- G05B 24/00 Open-loop automatic control systems not otherwise provided for
- G05B 5/00 Anti-hunting arrangements
- G05B 6/00 Internal feedback arrangements for obtaining particular characteristics, e.g. proportional, integral or differential
- G05B 7/00 Arrangements for obtaining smooth engagement or disengagement of automatic control
- G05B 9/00 Safety arrangements (G05B7/00 takes precedence; safety arrangements in program-control systems G05B19/048, G05B19/406)
- G05B 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class G05, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- FANUC JP 6,367
- SIEMENS DE 5,963
- FANUC 4,535
- MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION JP 4,201
- ROBERT BOSCH DE 4,010
- LG ELECTRONICS KR 3,802
- SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY KR 3,143
- FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES US 2,889
- TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION 2,778
- OMRON CORPORATION JP 2,743