H01H ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- ELECTRICITY
- Class:
- ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- Subclass:
- ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
Description
H01H covers electric switches, relays, selectors, and emergency protective devices—the fundamental electromechanical and electromagnetic components used to control, interrupt, or route electrical circuits. This subclass includes mechanical switches (push-button, toggle, rotary), electromagnetic relays, contactors, solenoid-operated devices, and circuit protection equipment such as thermal and magnetic overload devices. Applications span industrial control systems, household appliances, automotive electrical systems, and power distribution networks. Related switching technologies implemented in semiconductor form (transistors, diodes) are classified separately under H01L.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass H01H recorded 242,774 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 16,532 in 2013 to 24,974 in 2023 (+51%), peaking at 27,753 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class H01 are TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY (43,574 applications), SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY (42,206 applications) and LG CHEM (21,383 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
In class comparison
H01H ranks 6th of 14 subclasses with filings in H01, with 242,774 applications between 2013 and 2023, 6.1% of the class. Annual filings grew 51% from 2013 to 2023, below the class as a whole (+58%).
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | H01L | 1,327,660 | 33.2% | |
| 2 | H01M, Processes or Means, e.g. Batteries, for the Direct Conversion of Chemical Energy Into Electrical Energy | Processes or Means, e.g. Batteries, for the Direct Conversion of Chemical Energy Into Electrical Energy | 862,000 | 21.5% |
| 3 | H01R, Electrically-Conductive Connections; Structural Associations of a Plurality of Mutually-Insulated Electrical Connecting Elements; Coupling Devices; Current Collectors | Electrically-Conductive Connections; Structural Associations of a Plurality of Mutually-Insulated Electrical Connecting Elements; Coupling Devices; Current Collectors | 480,976 | 12.0% |
| 4 | H01B, Cables; Conductors; Insulators; Selection of Materials for Their Conductive, Insulating or Dielectric Properties | Cables; Conductors; Insulators; Selection of Materials for Their Conductive, Insulating or Dielectric Properties | 250,733 | 6.3% |
| 5 | H01F, Magnets; Inductances; Transformers; Selection of Materials for Their Magnetic Properties | Magnets; Inductances; Transformers; Selection of Materials for Their Magnetic Properties | 244,753 | 6.1% |
| 6 | H01H | Electric Switches; Relays; Selectors; Emergency Protective Devices | 242,774 | 6.1% |
| 7 | H01Q, Antennas, i.e. Radio Aerials | Antennas, i.e. Radio Aerials | 196,719 | 4.9% |
| 8 | H01J, Electric Discharge Tubes or Discharge Lamps | Electric Discharge Tubes or Discharge Lamps | 110,789 | 2.8% |
| 9 | H01G, Capacitors; Capacitors, Rectifiers, Detectors, Switching Devices, Light-Sensitive or Temperature-Sensitive Devices of the Electrolytic Type | Capacitors; Capacitors, Rectifiers, Detectors, Switching Devices, Light-Sensitive or Temperature-Sensitive Devices of the Electrolytic Type | 104,471 | 2.6% |
| 10 | H01S, Devices Using the Process of Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation [LASER] to Amplify or Generate Light; Devices Using Stimulated Emission of Electromagnetic Radiation in Wave Ranges Other Than Optical | Devices Using the Process of Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation [LASER] to Amplify or Generate Light; Devices Using Stimulated Emission of Electromagnetic Radiation in Wave Ranges Other Than Optical | 85,133 | 2.1% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Additional Content
Glossary
Acting or action means a self-induced, e.g. not manually caused, movement of parts at one stage of the switching. These connotations apply to all parts of the verbs "to operate"; "to actuate", and "to act", and to words derived therefrom, e.g. to "actuation" or "actuating" Driving mechanism Driving mechanisms refers to the means by which an operating force applied to the switch is transmitted to the moving contact or contacts Key keys same as push button Operating is used in a broader sense than "actuating" Push button means a knob or button that allows the manual operation of a switch in order to e.g. close an electric circuit Relay Relays means a switching device having contacts which are operated from electric inputs which supply, directly or indirectly, all the mechanical energy necessary to cause both the closure and the opening of the contacts Switch switches means a single point of mechanically operable electrical connection (or interruption) Contacts contact means the necessary elementary components of a switch that ensure the electrical connection, each switch comprising at least two contacts, and possibly more than two Selector Selectors means an array of electric switches which selectively connect some inputs out of a plurality of inputs to some outputs out of a plurality of outputs Switch site means the physical location where the contacts can touch each other
Limiting references
Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -braking Contact cables Electrolytic self-interrupters Bases, casings, or covers accommodating two or more switching devices or for accommodating a switching device as well as another electric component, e.g. bus-bar, line connector Mechanical details directly producing electronic effects
Application references
Switching arrangements for the supply or distribution of electric power For telephone communication Keyboards for special applications, see the relevant subclasses or groups, e.g. , , , ,
Related Keywords
47 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open
- H01H 1/00 Contacts
- H01H 11/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches
- H01H 13/00 Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
- H01H 15/00 Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for actuation in opposite directions, e.g. slide switch
- H01H 17/00 Switches having flexible operating part adapted only for pulling, e.g. cord, chain
- H01H 19/00 Switches operated by an operating part which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and which is acted upon directly by a solid body external to the switch, e.g. by a hand
- H01H 21/00 Switches operated by an operating part in the form of a pivotable member acted upon directly by a solid body, e.g. by a hand
- H01H 23/00 Tumbler or rocker switches, i.e. switches characterised by being operated by rocking an operating member in the form of a rocker button
- H01H 25/00 Switches with compound movement of handle or other operating part
- H01H 27/00 Switches operated by a removable member, e.g. key, plug or plate; Switches operated by setting members according to a single predetermined combination out of several possible settings
- H01H 29/00 Switches having at least one liquid contact
- H01H 3/00 Mechanisms for operating contacts
- H01H 31/00 Air-break switches for high tension without arc-extinguishing or arc-preventing means
- H01H 33/00 High-tension or heavy-current switches with arc-extinguishing or arc-preventing means
- H01H 35/00 Switches operated by change of a physical condition
- H01H 36/00 Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding
- H01H 37/00 Thermally-actuated switches
- H01H 39/00 Switching devices actuated by an explosion produced within the device and initiated by an electric current
- H01H 41/00 Switches providing a selected number of consecutive operations of the contacts by a single manual actuation of the operating part
- H01H 43/00 Time or time-programme switches providing a choice of time-intervals for executing one or more switching actions and automatically terminating their operation after the programme is completed
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class H01, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY TW 43,574
- SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY KR 42,206
- LG CHEM KR 21,383
- APPLIED MATERIALS US 20,441
- LG ENERGY SOLUTION KR 20,279
- SAMSUNG DISPLAY KR 19,725
- CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 19,400
- TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION 18,819
- SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) 18,082
- TOKYO ELECTRON JP 17,634