F21W INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES , , and , RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
Introduced: January 2000
Classification Context
- Section:
- MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- Class:
- LIGHTING
- Subclass:
- INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES , , and , RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
Description
F21W is an indexing classification that organizes lighting inventions according to their specific uses and applications rather than technical construction. It serves as a supplementary classification tool to cross-reference inventions covered in F21 lighting subclasses by their functional purpose or field of use (such as emergency lighting, decorative lighting, or specialized industrial applications). This scheme facilitates retrieval of lighting patents based on application context, complementing the structural classifications found in other F21 subclasses. Examiners and searchers use F21W codes alongside primary F21 classifications to ensure comprehensive prior art searches and precise patent positioning.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass F21W recorded 138,500 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 6,548 in 2013 to 14,889 in 2023 (+127%), peaking at 19,247 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
9 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- F21W 102/00 Exterior vehicle lighting devices for illuminating purposes
- F21W 103/00 Exterior vehicle lighting devices for signalling purposes
- F21W 104/00 Exterior vehicle lighting devices for decorative purposes
- F21W 105/00 Combinations of lighting devices covered by groups
- F21W 106/00 Interior vehicle lighting devices
- F21W 107/00 Use or application of lighting devices on or in particular types of vehicles
- F21W 111/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in groups
- F21W 121/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in groups
- F21W 131/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems not provided for in groups
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class F21, 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