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Section G: Physics

~16,035,253

Applications (2013–2023)

PATSTAT worldwide

15

Classes

87

Subclasses

918

Main Groups

9,601

IPC

38,254

CPC

Description

Section G encompasses inventions in physics and physical sciences, covering measurement, testing, navigation, timekeeping, and the detection or analysis of physical phenomena. This broad section includes technologies such as optical instruments, electrical measuring devices, timing mechanisms, and instruments for analyzing matter and energy. It serves as the foundational category for numerous specialized technical fields where physical principles are applied in measurement, control, and scientific instrumentation.

Visualizations

Size of each class by number of subgroups

Classes in section G by descendant count
ClassTitleDescendants
G01MEASURING; TESTING9,901
G02OPTICS2,355
G03PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY3,288
G04HOROLOGY998
G05CONTROLLING; REGULATING9,363
G06COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING5,380
G07CHECKING-DEVICES786
G08SIGNALLING587
G09EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS1,151
G10MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS1,302
G11INFORMATION STORAGE2,565
G12INSTRUMENT DETAILS31
G16INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS126
G21NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING564
G99SUBJECT MATTER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR IN THIS SECTION2

IPC and CPC are identically structured here. All 15 subcodes exist in both systems.

1 shared codes have differing titles between IPC and CPC.

Child Classifications

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Top Applicants

Top Applicants (IPC)

Section G,2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY KR 110,693
  2. SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) 84,380
  3. IBM (INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION) US 69,497
  4. CANON 57,957
  5. BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP COMPANY 51,775
  6. HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY CN 48,763
  7. MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING US 43,834
  8. CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 43,518
  9. GOOGLE US 37,613
  10. INTEL CORPORATION US 32,962

Top Applicants (CPC)

Section G,2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY KR 148,195
  2. IBM (INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION) US 71,144
  3. BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP COMPANY CN 54,996
  4. HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY CN 54,066
  5. MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING US 47,160
  6. SAMSUNG DISPLAY KR 43,138
  7. SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) 42,142
  8. GOOGLE US 41,164
  9. CANON JP 36,945
  10. INTEL CORPORATION US 35,961