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

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: PHYSICS
Class:: MEASURING; TESTING
Subclass:: 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

Description

G01S covers systems and methods for determining position, direction, distance, and velocity using radio waves or analogous electromagnetic/acoustic signals. This includes radio navigation systems (GPS, LORAN, beacons), direction-finding equipment, radar and sonar technologies for object detection and ranging, and presence-sensing devices. The subclass encompasses both ground-based and satellite-based navigation, as well as Doppler and time-of-flight measurement techniques. Related optical positioning systems using light-based distance measurement are classified elsewhere in G01S's sister subclasses.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass G01S recorded 358,214 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 14,936 in 2013 to 42,439 in 2023 (+184%), peaking at 45,682 applications in 2022. 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

G01S ranks 4th of 18 subclasses with filings in G01, with 358,214 applications between 2013 and 2023, 7.6% of the class. Annual filings grew 184% 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	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	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

Waves wave motion wave is the mechanism by which energy is transported without the transfer of matter. Waves may be either electromagnetic waves, which do not require a medium to propagate, or mechanical waves, which require a medium, e.g. acoustic waves. Waves are most easily defined in mathematical terms as obeying a so-called wave equation. 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. Navigation is in this subclass limited to position fixing, or determining the velocity or direction of velocity of vehicles or crafts or their distance from other objects. Reflection reradiation means the general physical phenomenon that propagating waves are being scattered by any object, body or target in their path. Scattering can be elastic (i.e. the frequencies of the incoming and outgoing waves are the same) or inelastic (i.e. the respective frequencies are different). Other properties of the wave may change as well. Reflection can be specular or diffuse depending on surface properties of the scattering object. Reradiation further includes the mechanism characteristic of a transponder, i.e. receiving a wave and then transmitting an answering wave. Transponder transponders means an arrangement which reacts to an incoming interrogating or detecting wave by emitting a specific answering or identifying wave. Active systems means systems comprising an artificial source for emitting waves. The propagating waves interact with at least one object and are eventually detected by the system. The interaction may consist in e.g. a reflection. Passive systems means systems detecting waves that are not emitted by the measuring system itself (e.g. by the sun). Object objects an entity that is not part of the measuring device.

Limiting references

Measuring a linear dimension of an object Measuring distances by optical means between spaced objects when propagation effects are irrelevant Passive optical systems for measuring distances in line of sight or transverse to line of sight, respectively , Passive triangulation systems using a parallactic triangle , , , Navigation not using radio waves when propagation effects are not relevant; navigation beyond position fixing, determining velocity of a vehicle or craft or its direction of velocity Determining velocities by optical means when propagation effects are not relevant Determining presence, absence, or direction of movement Prospecting by optical means; detecting the presence of objects or masses by optical means, e.g. by interruption of beams, i.e. light barriers

Application references

Measuring volume flow of fluids or fluid solids by propagation effects of electromagnetic or other waves Measuring direction or velocity of flowing fluids or of solid bodies relative to fluids using propagation effects of waves Radar, Sonar, Lidar, or analogous systems specifically designed for geophysical use Active systems for generating focusing signals Navigation systems for traffic control purposes, i. e. systems in which the navigation is not performed autonomously by or in the vehicles, but where the vehicles are guided by instructions transmitted to them Proximity switches ,

Related Keywords

finding BEARING(S) by radio or radarmeasuring for DEAD-RECKONING of position by radar or analogous techniquesDIRECTION finding by radiomeasuring DISTANCES by radioGUIDING of vehicles by radio navigationHOMING systemsLOCATING by radiolocating or navigating by RADIOmeasuring distance or velocity by RADIORANGE(S) finding by radar or analogous techniquesSCANNING in radar systemsusing SOUND(S) in sonar systemsmeasuring speed or acceleration of VEHICLES by using radarmeasuring VELOCITY by radio

9 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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G01S 1/00 Beacons or beacon systems transmitting signals having a characteristic or characteristics capable of being detected by non-directional receivers and defining directions, positions, or position lines fixed relatively to the beacon transmitters; Receivers co-operating therewith
G01S 11/00 Systems for determining distance or velocity not using reflection or reradiation
G01S 13/00 Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
G01S 15/00 Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems
G01S 17/00 Systems using the reflection or reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. lidar systems
G01S 19/00 Satellite radio beacon positioning systems; Determining position, velocity or attitude using signals transmitted by such systems
G01S 3/00 Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received
G01S 5/00 Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position-line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations
G01S 7/00 Details of systems according to groups , ,

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