G04F TIME-INTERVAL MEASURING
Introduced: September 1968
Last revised: July 1974
Classification Context
- Section:
- PHYSICS
- Class:
- HOROLOGY
- Subclass:
- TIME-INTERVAL MEASURING
Description
G04F covers devices and methods for measuring time intervals and durations between events, including stopwatches, timers, and interval measurement instruments. This subclass encompasses mechanical, electronic, and digital mechanisms that measure, display, and control specific time periods for practical applications such as sports timing, industrial processes, and scientific experiments. Excluded are general timekeeping and clock mechanisms (G04B), clocks with specific functions (G04C-G04E), and time-of-day displays without interval measurement capability.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass G04F recorded 5,952 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 400 in 2013 to 596 in 2023 (+49%), peaking at 637 applications in 2017. The most active applicants in class G04 are THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (1,570 applications), ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE (1,409 applications) and CASIO COMPUTER COMPANY (1,172 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Additional Content
Measuring pulse characteristics , e.g. in radar or like systems
Related Keywords
7 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- G04F 1/00 Apparatus which can be set and started to measure-off predetermined or adjustably-fixed time intervals without driving mechanisms, e.g. egg timers
- G04F 10/00 Apparatus for measuring unknown time intervals by electric means
- G04F 13/00 Apparatus for measuring unknown time intervals by means not provided for in groups
- G04F 3/00 Apparatus which can be set and started to measure-off predetermined or adjustably-fixed time intervals with driving mechanisms, e.g. dosimeters with clockwork
- G04F 5/00 Apparatus for producing preselected time intervals for use as timing standards
- G04F 7/00 Apparatus for measuring unknown time intervals by non-electric means
- G04F 8/00 Apparatus for measuring unknown time intervals by electromechanical means
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class G04, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CH 1,570
- ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE CH 1,409
- CASIO COMPUTER COMPANY 1,172
- SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION 1,100
- SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY KR 768
- NIVAROX-FAR CH 750
- MONTRES BREGUET CH 707
- APPLE US 706
- SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION JP 648
- CITIZEN WATCH COMPANY 578