F21 LIGHTING
Classification Context
- Section:
- MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- Class:
- 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
IPC F21 recorded 1,412,643 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 7 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 99,074 in 2013 to 105,863 in 2023 (+7%), peaking at 173,300 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class F21 are PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (3,883 applications), VALEO VISION (2,797 applications) and KOITO MANUFACTURING COMPANY (2,531 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 , , and , RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
- F21Y INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES , , and , 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
- PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 3,883
- VALEO VISION FR 2,797
- KOITO MANUFACTURING COMPANY 2,531
- OPPLE LIGHTING COMPANY 2,343
- SIGNIFY HOLDING NL 2,275
- TOSHIBA LIGHTING & TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION 1,982
- KOITO MANUFACTURING COMPANY JP 1,766
- LG INNOTEK COMPANY KR 1,651
- SUZHOU OPPLE LIGHTING COMPANY 1,633
- MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION 1,591