MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: PHYSICS
Class:: MEASURING; TESTING
Subclass:: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS

Description

G01B covers instruments and methods for measuring linear dimensions, including length, thickness, and diameter of objects using mechanical, optical, or electronic principles. It encompasses angle measurement devices (goniometers, protractors), area determination techniques, and surface irregularity assessment tools such as profilometers and roughness gauges. This subclass includes calibrated rulers, calipers, micrometers, dial indicators, laser measurement systems, and coordinate measuring machines used across manufacturing quality control, engineering, and metrology applications. Adjacent classes like G01C address angular measurements in surveying contexts, while G01D covers general electric/electronic measuring instruments.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass G01B recorded 395,662 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 20,350 in 2013 to 50,276 in 2023 (+147%). The most active applicants in class G01 are SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) (41,447 applications), CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (32,952 applications) and ROBERT BOSCH (16,470 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

In class comparison

G01B ranks 3rd of 18 subclasses with filings in G01, with 395,662 applications between 2013 and 2023, 8.4% of the class. Annual filings grew 147% from 2013 to 2023, above the class as a whole (+138%).

Top 10 of 18 subclasses of class G01 by patent applications, 2013–2023
Rank	Subclass	Title	Applications	Share
1	G01N, Investigating or Analysing Materials by Determining Their Chemical or Physical Properties	Investigating or Analysing Materials by Determining Their Chemical or Physical Properties	1,640,918	34.9%
2	G01R, Measuring Electric Variables; Measuring Magnetic Variables	Measuring Electric Variables; Measuring Magnetic Variables	598,083	12.7%
3	G01B	Measuring Length, Thickness or Similar Linear Dimensions; Measuring Angles; Measuring Areas; Measuring Irregularities of Surfaces or Contours	395,662	8.4%
4	G01S, Radio Direction-Finding; Radio Navigation; Determining Distance or Velocity by Use of Radio Waves; Locating or Presence-Detecting by Use of the Reflection or Reradiation of Radio Waves; Analogous Arrangements Using Other Waves	Radio Direction-Finding; Radio Navigation; Determining Distance or Velocity by Use of Radio Waves; Locating or Presence-Detecting by Use of the Reflection or Reradiation of Radio Waves; Analogous Arrangements Using Other Waves	358,214	7.6%
5	G01M, Testing Static or Dynamic Balance of Machines or Structures; Testing of Structures or Apparatus, Not Otherwise Provided for	Testing Static or Dynamic Balance of Machines or Structures; Testing of Structures or Apparatus, Not Otherwise Provided for	339,843	7.2%
6	G01C, Measuring Distances, Levels or Bearings; Surveying; Navigation; Gyroscopic Instruments; Photogrammetry or Videogrammetry	Measuring Distances, Levels or Bearings; Surveying; Navigation; Gyroscopic Instruments; Photogrammetry or Videogrammetry	271,474	5.8%
7	G01D, Measuring Not Specially Adapted for a Specific Variable; Arrangements for Measuring Two or More Variables Not Covered by a Single Other Subclass; Tariff Metering Apparatus; Transferring or Transducing Arrangements Not Specially Adapted for a Specific Variable; Measuring or Testing Not Otherwise Provided for	Measuring Not Specially Adapted for a Specific Variable; Arrangements for Measuring Two or More Variables Not Covered by a Single Other Subclass; Tariff Metering Apparatus; Transferring or Transducing Arrangements Not Specially Adapted for a Specific Variable; Measuring or Testing Not Otherwise Provided for	207,395	4.4%
8	G01F, Measuring Volume, Volume Flow, Mass Flow, or Liquid Level; Metering by Volume	Measuring Volume, Volume Flow, Mass Flow, or Liquid Level; Metering by Volume	157,084	3.3%
9	G01L, Measuring Force, Stress, Torque, Work, Mechanical Power, Mechanical Efficiency, or Fluid Pressure	Measuring Force, Stress, Torque, Work, Mechanical Power, Mechanical Efficiency, or Fluid Pressure	145,069	3.1%
10	G01K, Measuring Temperature; Measuring Quantity of Heat; Thermally-Sensitive Elements Not Otherwise Provided for	Measuring Temperature; Measuring Quantity of Heat; Thermally-Sensitive Elements Not Otherwise Provided for	118,108	2.5%

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Additional Content

Glossary

Propagation effects propagation effect are relevant if the outcome of a measurement depends on the actual value of a physical quantity characterising the propagation of the wave, i.e. its wavelength, frequency, velocity, or phase. The mere presence or direction of a wave are not considered a propagation effect or to contribute to a propagation effect. To put it in another way, propagation effects are irrelevant, if the radiation may be looked upon as a beam of radiation whose wave nature can be ignored. Examples of measurements where propagation effects are relevant include e.g. measurements of propagation time, phase difference, phase delay, measurements using the Doppler effect, or interference.

Application references

Measuring human body, see the relevant places, where such exist, e.g. , , Measuring appliances combined with walking-sticks Measuring methods or devices specially adapted for metal-rolling mills Measuring, gauging or adjusting equipment for machines for working metal or other material Measuring or gauging equipment specially adapted for grinding or polishing operations , Combinations of measuring devices with writing-implements Devices for metering predetermined lengths of running material Measuring devices for spinning or twisting machines Measuring devices for determining the length of threads in sewing machines Devices for checking, measuring, recording existing surfacing of roads or like structures, e.g. profilographs Measuring diameter of boreholes or wells Geodetical, nautical or aeronautical measuring, surveying, rangefinding Photogrammetry or videogrammetry Investigating or analysing particle size, investigating or analysing surface area of porous material Radio direction-finding, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves Measuring length or roll diameter of film in cameras or projectors Methods or arrangements for converting the position of a manually-operated writing or tracing member into an electrical signal Measuring elapsed travel of recording medium in recording or playback equipment, sensing diameter of record in autochange gramophones Means structurally associated with electric rotary current collectors for indicating brush wear Indicating consumption of electrodes in arc lamps

Related Keywords

measuring ALIGNMENT of axles or wheelsmeasuring ANGLE(S)measuring AREASmeasuring alignment of AXLE(S)measuring CALIBERSmeasuring CLEARANCEmeasuring CONTOURSmeasuring CURVATUREmeasuring DEFORMATIONDENDROMETERSmeasuring DEPTHmeasuring DIAMETERSmeasuring DIMENSIONSmeasuring angular DISPLACEMENTmeasuring lengthDIVIDERS for measuring lengthsmeasuring EXTENSIONGAUGE(S) for strainmeasuring HEIGHTproviding INTEGRATION of measured values in planimetersmeasuring IRREGULARITIES of surfacesmeasuring LENGTHmeasuring LINEAR dimensionsinstruments for MATHEMATICSsounding OCEANSmeasuring PARALLELISMPLANIMETERSmeasuring or checking PROFILE(S)PROTRACTOR(S)measuring ROUGHNESSRULERSSCALE(S) for measuring lengths or anglesSCANNING-PROBE TECHNIQUES for dimensional measurementmeasuring dimensions of SCREW(S)checking SHAPE(S)measuring dimensions of SHEET(S)STANDARD(S) for linear dimensionsmeasuring STRAINSTRAIN gauges used for measuring strain or deformationmeasuring irregularities or roughness of SURFACE(S)measuring TAPERSmeasuring THICKNESSmeasuring TORSIONmeasuring WEARmeasuring alignment of WHEEL(S)measuring WIDTHmeasuring dimensions of WIRE(S)

10 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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G01B 1/00 Measuring instruments characterised by the selection of material therefor
G01B 11/00 Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques
G01B 13/00 Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of fluids
G01B 15/00 Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of electromagnetic waves or particle radiation, e.g. by the use of microwaves, X-rays, gamma rays or electrons
G01B 17/00 Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic vibrations
G01B 21/00 Measuring arrangements or details thereof, where the measuring technique is not covered by the other groups of this subclass, unspecified or not relevant
G01B 3/00 Measuring instruments characterised by the use of mechanical techniques
G01B 5/00 Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques
G01B 7/00 Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of electric or magnetic techniques
G01B 9/00 Measuring instruments characterised by the use of optical techniques

Top Applicants

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

SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) 41,447
CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 32,952
ROBERT BOSCH DE 16,470
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY KR 10,052
SINOPEC (CHINA PETROCHEMICAL CORPORATION) 9,573
ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY 9,529
GUANGDONG POWER GRID CORPORATION 8,615
TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY 7,805
HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES GROUP US 7,796
QUALCOMM US 7,171