ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE

Description

G10H covers electrophonic musical instruments and devices that generate or synthesize musical tones through electromechanical or electronic means rather than purely acoustic mechanisms. This includes electronic keyboards, synthesizers, drum machines, digital audio generators, and hybrid instruments combining mechanical and electronic sound production. The classification encompasses both real-time tone generation via electronic circuits and algorithmic synthesis from stored data or algorithmic models. Related technologies such as MIDI control systems, audio effects processing integrated into instruments, and software-based sound synthesis engines fall within this scope, though purely acoustic instruments with electronic amplification only are typically excluded.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass G10H recorded 18,271 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 1,316 in 2013 to 1,713 in 2023 (+30%), peaking at 1,921 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class G10 are SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY (5,218 applications), GOOGLE (4,644 applications) and FRAUNHOFER (4,601 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings