IPC Subclass
H01R ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- ELECTRICITY
- Class:
- ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- Subclass:
- ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
Description
H01R encompasses electrical connection devices and systems that establish conductive pathways between electrical components. This subclass covers connectors, coupling devices, plugs, sockets, terminal assemblies, and current collectors used across diverse applications from consumer electronics to industrial equipment. It includes technologies for organizing and insulating multiple electrical conductors within a single connector body, as well as mechanisms for reliable and repeated connection/disconnection of circuits. Adjacent classes H01M (electrochemical devices) and H01G (capacitors) are excluded; H01R focuses specifically on mechanical and structural aspects of electrical connections rather than energy storage or conversion devices.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass H01R recorded 480,976 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 29,386 in 2013 to 56,173 in 2023 (+91%). 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
H01R ranks 3rd of 14 subclasses with filings in H01, with 480,976 applications between 2013 and 2023, 12.0% of the class. Annual filings grew 91% from 2013 to 2023, above 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 | 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 | 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
Related Keywords
BAYONET(S) connections between electric coupling partselectric BINDING(S) postsCLIPS forming electric connectorsconnections for CONDUCTORSelectric CONNECTIONS providing electric contact to components or apparatus in generalelectric COUPLING(S)CRIMPING to form electric connectionselectric current DISTRIBUTORS (commutators)electrical connectors with EYE(S)HOLDERS for electric connectionsHOOK(S) forming electric connectorsJUMPERS [= electric connectors]JUNCTION(S) of electric conductorsholders for electric LAMP(S)holders for electric lamps in LIGHTING -devicesconnectors forming electric OUTLETSelectric PLUGSPROBE(S) forming electric connectorsRIVETING of electric connectionsforming electric connections by SCREWINGelectric SOCKET(S)SOLDERING of electric connectionsTWISTING or tying wires togetherWELDING of electric connections
20 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- H01R 101/00 One pole
- H01R 103/00 Two poles
- H01R 105/00 Three poles
- H01R 107/00 Four or more poles
- H01R 11/00 Individual connecting elements providing two or more spaced connecting locations for conductive members which are, or may be, thereby interconnected, e.g. end pieces for wires or cables supported by the wire or cable and having means for facilitating electrical connection to some other wire, terminal, or conductive member, blocks of binding posts
- H01R 12/00 Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
- H01R 13/00 Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups or
- H01R 24/00 Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure
- H01R 25/00 Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits
- H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
- H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series/parallel selection
- H01R 3/00 Electrically-conductive connections not otherwise provided for
- H01R 31/00 Coupling parts supported only by co-operation with counterpart
- H01R 33/00 Coupling devices specially adapted for supporting apparatus and having one part acting as a holder providing support and electrical connection via a counterpart which is structurally associated with the apparatus, e.g. lamp holders; Separate parts thereof
- H01R 35/00 Flexible or turnable line connectors
- H01R 39/00 Rotary current collectors, distributors or interrupters
- H01R 4/00 Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
- H01R 41/00 Non-rotary current collectors for maintaining contact between moving and stationary parts of an electric circuit
- H01R 43/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
- H01R 9/00 Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, e.g. terminal strips or terminal blocks; Terminals or binding posts mounted upon a base or in a case; Bases therefor
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