H04S STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS
Introduced: January 1980
Classification Context
- Section:
- ELECTRICITY
- Class:
- ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- Subclass:
- STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS
Description
H04S covers the transmission, reception, and processing of stereophonic audio signals, including systems for creating, encoding, and reproducing sound with spatial dimension using multiple channels. This classification encompasses stereophonic microphone techniques, stereo signal encoding and decoding methods, and equipment for stereo broadcasting and reproduction. It includes systems for both analog and digital stereophonic transmission, as well as related technologies for surround sound and spatial audio reproduction.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass H04S recorded 22,505 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 1,395 in 2013 to 1,920 in 2023 (+38%), peaking at 2,472 applications in 2019. 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
H04S ranks 9th of 11 subclasses with filings in H04, with 22,505 applications between 2013 and 2023, 0.5% of the class. Annual filings grew 38% from 2013 to 2023, above the class as a whole (+25%).
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | H04L, Transmission of Digital Information, e.g. Telegraphic Communication | Transmission of Digital Information, e.g. Telegraphic Communication | 1,397,397 | 30.0% |
| 2 | H04W, Wireless Communication Networks | Wireless Communication Networks | 1,086,704 | 23.3% |
| 3 | H04N, Pictorial Communication, e.g. Television | Pictorial Communication, e.g. Television | 1,015,361 | 21.8% |
| 4 | H04B, Transmission | Transmission | 440,404 | 9.4% |
| 5 | H04M, Telephonic Communication | Telephonic Communication | 292,116 | 6.3% |
| 6 | H04R, Loudspeakers, Microphones, Gramophone Pick-Ups or Like Acoustic Electromechanical Transducers; Electric Hearing Aids; Public Address Systems | Loudspeakers, Microphones, Gramophone Pick-Ups or Like Acoustic Electromechanical Transducers; Electric Hearing Aids; Public Address Systems | 244,714 | 5.3% |
| 7 | H04Q, Selecting | Selecting | 75,265 | 1.6% |
| 8 | H04J, Multiplex Communication | Multiplex Communication | 58,468 | 1.3% |
| 9 | H04S | Stereophonic Systems | 22,505 | 0.5% |
| 10 | H04H, Broadcast Communication | Broadcast Communication | 20,919 | 0.4% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Additional Content
Glossary
Stereophonic system stereophonic systems two- or more channel system, e.g. quadraphonic, ambisonic or similar systems
Application references
Circuits or components specially adapted for stereophonic broadcast systems Broadcast systems for the distribution of stereophonic information Circuits or components specially adapted for stereophonic broadcast receiving
Related Keywords
4 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- H04S 1/00 Two-channel systems
- H04S 3/00 Systems employing more than two channels, e.g. quadraphonic
- H04S 5/00 Pseudo-stereo systems, e.g. in which additional channel signals are derived from monophonic signals by means of phase shifting, time delay or reverberation
- H04S 7/00 Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class H04, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- QUALCOMM US 97,396
- HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY CN 96,502
- SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY KR 86,981
- TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL) SE 55,869
- HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY 55,349
- LG ELECTRONICS KR 53,649
- CANON 33,341
- SONY CORPORATION JP 32,761
- ZTE CORPORATION CN 32,274
- GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION 28,327