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IPC Subclass
G21K

HANDLING OF PARTICLES OR IONISING RADIATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; IRRADIATION DEVICES; GAMMA RAY OR X-RAY MICROSCOPES

Introduced: September 1968

Last revised: July 1974

Classification Context

Section:
PHYSICS
Class:
NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
Subclass:
HANDLING OF PARTICLES OR IONISING RADIATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; IRRADIATION DEVICES; GAMMA RAY OR X-RAY MICROSCOPES

Description

G21K covers apparatus and methods for handling particles and ionizing radiation that do not fall within more specialized nuclear physics or engineering classes, including irradiation devices and microscopy systems using gamma rays or X-rays. This subclass encompasses equipment for directing, controlling, and applying particle beams and radiation sources in industrial, medical, and research applications, as well as microscopes that utilize high-energy photons for imaging. Typical technologies include radiation shielding systems, beam transport apparatus, irradiation chambers, and gamma/X-ray microscopy instruments. Excluded from this class are nuclear reactors (G21B), nuclear fuel processing (G21C), and nuclear power plant safety systems (G21D), which are covered by more specific nuclear engineering divisions.

Additional Content

Ionising radiation ‘Ionising radiation’ consists of particles or electromagnetic waves that are sufficiently energetic to detach electrons from atoms or molecules, thus ionising them. Particle particles ‘Particle’ means a molecular, atomic or sub-atomic particle

Related Keywords

FOCUSING of electromagnetic radiation or particlesGUIDING of electromagnetic radiation or particlesguiding, directing or focusing sub-atomic PARTICLES

5 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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  • G21K 3/00 Ionising radiation filters, e.g. X-ray filters
  • G21K 4/00 Conversion screens for the conversion of the spatial distribution of particles or ionising radiation into visible images, e.g. fluoroscopic screens
  • G21K 7/00 Gamma ray or X-ray microscopes

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class G21, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. CHINA GENERAL NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION 2,364
  2. CGN POWER COMPANY 1,899
  3. CHINA NUCLEAR POWER ENGINEERING COMPANY 1,870
  4. NUCLEAR POWER INSTITUTE OF CHINA 1,517
  5. KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE KR 1,367
  6. WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION US 1,295
  7. KOREA HYDRO & NUCLEAR POWER COMPANY KR 1,196
  8. CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 1,044
  9. CHINA INSTITUTE OF ATOMIC ENERGY 1,011
  10. HITACHI-GE NUCLEAR ENERGY 955