G01C MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- PHYSICS
- Class:
- MEASURING; TESTING
- Subclass:
- MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
Description
G01C encompasses instruments and methods for determining spatial relationships and positioning information essential to surveying, navigation, and mapping applications. This subclass covers distance measurement technologies (ranging, leveling), bearing and direction determination (compasses, gyroscopes), navigation systems (inertial, satellite-based), and image-based positioning techniques (photogrammetry, videogrammetry). The classification includes both traditional surveying equipment and modern electronic/digital systems for geolocation, route guidance, and spatial data acquisition across terrestrial, marine, and aerial domains.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass G01C recorded 271,474 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 13,375 in 2013 to 33,228 in 2023 (+148%). 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
G01C ranks 6th of 18 subclasses with filings in G01, with 271,474 applications between 2013 and 2023, 5.8% of the class. Annual filings grew 148% from 2013 to 2023, above the class as a whole (+138%).
| 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 | 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 | 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
Navigation means determining the position and course of land vehicles, ships, aircraft, and space vehicles 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.
Limiting references
Measuring liquid level Traffic control systems
Related Keywords
14 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open
- G01C 1/00 Measuring angles
- G01C 11/00 Photogrammetry or videogrammetry, e.g. stereogrammetry; Photographic surveying
- G01C 13/00 Surveying specially adapted to open water, e.g. sea, lake, river or canal
- G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups
- G01C 17/00 Compasses; Devices for ascertaining true or magnetic north for navigation or surveying purposes
- G01C 19/00 Gyroscopes; Turn-sensitive devices using vibrating masses; Turn-sensitive devices without moving masses; Measuring angular rate using gyroscopic effects
- G01C 21/00 Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups
- G01C 22/00 Measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, persons, animals or other moving solid bodies, e.g. using odometers or using pedometers
- G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
- G01C 25/00 Manufacturing, calibrating, cleaning, or repairing instruments or devices referred to in the other groups of this subclass
- G01C 3/00 Measuring distances in line of sight; Optical rangefinders
- G01C 5/00 Measuring height; Measuring distances transverse to line of sight; Levelling between separated points; Surveyors' levels
- G01C 7/00 Tracing profiles
- G01C 9/00 Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
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