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IPC Subclass
H04R

LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS

Introduced: September 1968

Last revised: January 1995

Classification Context

Section:
ELECTRICITY
Class:
ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
Subclass:
LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS

Description

H04R encompasses devices that convert between acoustic signals and electrical signals for sound reception, reproduction, or amplification. This subclass covers loudspeakers and related output transducers, microphones and input transducers, gramophone pick-ups, and acoustic-electromechanical transducers of similar type. It also includes electric hearing aids designed to amplify sound for hearing-impaired individuals and public address systems that project audio to large audiences. Excluded are purely mechanical sound reproduction devices and non-acoustic applications of electromagnetic transducers.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass H04R recorded 244,714 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 13,395 in 2013 to 22,792 in 2023 (+70%), peaking at 30,255 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class H04 are QUALCOMM (97,396 applications), HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY (96,502 applications) and SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY (86,981 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

In class comparison

H04R ranks 6th of 11 subclasses with filings in H04, with 244,714 applications between 2013 and 2023, 5.3% of the class. Annual filings grew 70% from 2013 to 2023, above the class as a whole (+25%).

Top 10 of 11 subclasses of class H04 by patent applications, 2013–2023
RankSubclassTitleApplicationsShare
1H04L, Transmission of Digital Information, e.g. Telegraphic CommunicationTransmission of Digital Information, e.g. Telegraphic Communication1,397,39730.0%
2H04W, Wireless Communication NetworksWireless Communication Networks1,086,70423.3%
3H04N, Pictorial Communication, e.g. TelevisionPictorial Communication, e.g. Television1,015,36121.8%
4H04B, TransmissionTransmission440,4049.4%
5H04M, Telephonic CommunicationTelephonic Communication292,1166.3%
6H04RLoudspeakers, Microphones, Gramophone Pick-Ups or Like Acoustic Electromechanical Transducers; Electric Hearing Aids; Public Address Systems244,7145.3%
7H04Q, SelectingSelecting75,2651.6%
8H04J, Multiplex CommunicationMultiplex Communication58,4681.3%
9H04S, Stereophonic SystemsStereophonic Systems22,5050.5%
10H04H, Broadcast CommunicationBroadcast Communication20,9190.4%

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Additional Content

Acoustic Sound sounds cover the technical field dealing with ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves Deaf aid hearing aid Loudspeaker Loudspeakers transducer generally mounted in a casing for producing sound Microphone microphones transducer generally mounted in a casing for collecting sound Stereophonic system stereophonic systems two- or more channel system, e.g. quadraphonic, ambisonic or similar system Transducer Transducers a device that converts an electrical signal to an acoustic signal with a frequency which is determined by the frequency of the electrical signal applied to the transducer, or vice versa

Related Keywords

pick-ups for GRAMOPHONE(S)LOUDSPEAKERSMAGNETS used in electro-mechanical transducersMICROPHONESMOUTHPIECES for electro-mechanical transducersPICK-UP(S) for gramophonestransducers for telephonic RECEIVERStransducers for REPRODUCTION of soundcone speakersmicrophones for STETHOSCOPESelectromechanical transducers for TELECOMMUNICATIONtelephone receiverstransducers for TELEPHONE(S)transducers for telephonic TRANSMITTERS

16 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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  • H04R 29/00 Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements
  • H04R 31/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of transducers or diaphragms therefor

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class H04, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. QUALCOMM US 97,396
  2. HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY CN 96,502
  3. SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY KR 86,981
  4. TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL) SE 55,869
  5. HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY 55,349
  6. LG ELECTRONICS KR 53,649
  7. CANON 33,341
  8. SONY CORPORATION JP 32,761
  9. ZTE CORPORATION CN 32,274
  10. GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION 28,327