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

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: ELECTRICITY
Class:: ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
Subclass:: 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

Description

H01S covers laser devices and stimulated emission sources operating across electromagnetic spectrum ranges from ultraviolet through microwave frequencies. The subclass encompasses laser construction (optical cavities, active media, pumping mechanisms), laser types (solid-state, gas, semiconductor, fiber, dye lasers), and masers and related devices operating at non-optical wavelengths. Related amplification and generation of electromagnetic radiation through stimulated emission principles fall within this classification, while specific laser applications in materials processing, measurement, or communications are typically addressed in specialized classes (B, G, H sections).

Filing statistics

IPC subclass H01S recorded 85,133 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 5,897 in 2013 to 8,425 in 2023 (+43%), peaking at 9,425 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

H01S ranks 10th of 14 subclasses with filings in H01, with 85,133 applications between 2013 and 2023, 2.1% of the class. Annual filings grew 43% from 2013 to 2023, below the class as a whole (+58%).

Top 10 of 14 subclasses of class H01 by patent applications, 2013–2023
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	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	85,133	2.1%

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Additional Content

Glossary

active medium a medium providing for optical gain by the stimulated emission effect when excited by an excitation (pump) energy source laser lasers It is the acronym for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation” but it also refers, in broader sense, to any device using stimulated emission of radiation by excited atoms or molecules. Hence, for example, the expressions “semiconductor laser”, “dye laser”, “optical fibre laser” or “X-ray laser”. pumping the process of providing the active medium for excitation energy

Limiting references

Superluminescent diodes

Application references

Eye surgery using laser Radiation therapy using laser light Sintering by using laser light Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring Joining of preformed parts by using laser light Laser printers , Ring laser gyrometers; Fibre laser gyrometers , Investigating or analysing colour or spectral properties of materials by using tunable lasers Apparatus specially adapted for photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces Laser heads for recording or reproducing Laser recording associated with non-optical reproducing, or laser reproducing associated with non-optical recording Trimming by laser in the manufacture of resistors Transmission systems employing light, e.g. all-optical repeaters , Photolithographic processing on semiconductor bodies

Related Keywords

AMPLIFIERS for amplifying phase-coherent energy waves using stimulated-emmission devicesDEMODULATION of phase-coherent energy waves using stimulated-emission devices(3) FREQUENCY changing or phase changing of phase-coherent energy waves, using stimulated-emission devicesGENERATION of phase-coherent energy waves by using stimulated emission devicesINVERSION of energy levels in lasers or masersLASER(S)MASERSMODULATION of phase-coherent energy waves using stimulated-emission devicesgenerating electric OSCILLATIONS by stimulated emissions(3) pumping in lasers or masersQUENCHING of energy in lasers or masersdevices using STIMULATEDlasers or masers for

4 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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H01S 1/00 Masers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the microwave range
H01S 3/00 Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
H01S 4/00 Devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in wave ranges other than those covered by groups , or , e.g. phonon masers, X-ray lasers or gamma-ray lasers
H01S 5/00 Semiconductor lasers

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