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U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
Electronic Information Products Division
Patent Technology Monitoring Team (PTMT)

U.S. Government
Utility Patent Grants,
Calendar Years 1969-2004

- this report has been prepared with support from the National Science Foundation -

BREAKOUT BY TECHNOLOGY CLASS -
PATENTS DISTRIBUTED BY CALENDAR YEAR OF PATENT APPLICATION

NUMBER OF UTILITY PATENTS ASSIGNED ANNUALLY TO
U.S. GOVERNMENT ENTITIES

- Explanation of Data -

Rank Ordered Listing of Technology Classes Receiving 1 or More Utility Patents During the Period

This Table Displays Patent Counts By Technology Class
For Patents Granted To The Following U.S. Government Entity:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

( count of patent grants, as distributed by calendar year of patent application )
( technology class is determined by the primary patent classification - see 'Explanation of Data' )

This table displays annual patent counts for the selected U.S. Government entry.
Counts of granted patents are either distributed by the year of patent grant
or by the year of patent filing.
Class Class Title PRE_1984 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Total
376 Induced Nuclear Reactions: Processes, Systems, and Elements 455 27 18 18 9 6 8 8 8 5 2 0 3 2 6 3 1 2 1 0 0 0 582
250 Radiant Energy 325 8 16 14 9 8 10 14 10 11 16 6 3 3 4 3 3 2 3 1 0 0 469
423 Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds 249 8 9 2 6 5 6 2 10 5 8 4 1 2 0 0 2 5 2 3 0 0 329
073 Measuring and Testing 152 10 4 5 7 7 12 10 7 6 11 4 5 4 4 2 2 0 1 3 0 0 256
372 Coherent Light Generators 86 9 3 13 4 6 16 8 11 10 13 5 2 1 0 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 192
429 Chemistry: Electrical Current Producing Apparatus, Product, and Process 96 12 8 16 3 11 7 3 5 0 3 0 1 0 3 4 1 3 2 0 0 0 178
252 Compositions 105 9 3 2 2 3 6 4 2 2 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 143
204 Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy 81 3 10 3 3 5 3 5 3 5 6 2 1 2 0 1 2 2 3 0 0 0 140
324 Electricity: Measuring and Testing 83 7 6 4 3 4 6 6 6 1 2 1 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 135
359 Optics: Systems and Elements 60 4 4 8 4 4 7 5 6 7 7 0 0 2 1 1 1 3 0 1 0 0 125
356 Optics: Measuring and Testing 64 5 5 2 5 7 9 3 5 4 3 2 4 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 123
315 Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Systems 62 6 1 7 4 12 2 2 7 4 2 0 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 115
427 Coating Processes 79 0 5 1 5 3 3 4 1 3 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 109
428 Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles 57 4 6 7 1 5 3 6 2 2 0 2 0 0 0 1 4 0 1 1 0 0 102
264 Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes 74 2 3 4 2 3 0 2 1 2 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 99
205 Electrolysis: Processes, Compositions Used Therein, and Methods of Preparing the Compositions 56 4 1 1 5 6 4 3 3 4 4 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 97
532 Organic Compounds (includes Classes 532-570) 48 3 3 0 3 5 6 3 9 8 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 1 0 0 96
210 Liquid Purification or Separation 50 2 4 3 4 4 4 4 1 1 3 3 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 90
588 Hazardous or Toxic Waste Destruction or Containment 50 1 0 2 1 3 0 0 1 6 2 0 3 3 4 3 4 2 0 0 0 0 85
219 Electric Heating 43 7 1 2 4 3 6 2 1 1 3 1 1 0 1 2 2 2 1 1 0 0 84
075 Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures 45 2 3 3 4 5 2 1 4 0 3 0 1 1 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 79
148 Metal Treatment 52 4 2 2 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 70
062 Refrigeration 36 9 2 7 1 3 2 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 66
310 Electrical Generator or Motor Structure 37 2 0 2 1 1 1 4 3 1 3 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 63
422 Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing 42 1 1 1 1 1 0 3 2 2 4 1 0 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 63
136 Batteries: Thermoelectric and Photoelectric 33 3 2 1 1 0 3 0 2 3 1 0 1 4 2 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 61
520 Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers (includes Classes 520-528) 34 6 1 2 1 0 2 4 3 3 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 60
420 Alloys or Metallic Compositions 47 2 3 0 2 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 58
378 X-Ray or Gamma Ray Systems or Devices 27 3 1 0 2 1 2 5 3 1 4 0 1 0 1 0 1 2 1 2 0 0 57
029 Metal Working 43 0 2 0 1 2 1 1 1 0 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 56
137 Fluid Handling 39 3 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 52
327 Miscellaneous Active Electrical Nonlinear Devices, Circuits, and Systems 40 2 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 52
436 Chemistry: Analytical and Immunological Testing 22 1 2 3 0 0 4 1 2 4 0 4 2 1 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 52
102 Ammunition and Explosives 22 0 2 1 3 6 2 2 1 3 2 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 49
374 Thermal Measuring and Testing 24 2 0 1 1 1 6 4 2 6 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 49
165 Heat Exchange 41 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 47
313 Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices 32 1 2 2 3 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 46
435 Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology 19 1 4 1 5 3 1 0 6 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 46
126 Stoves and Furnaces 35 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 42
174 Electricity: Conductors and Insulators 34 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 42
502 Catalyst, Solid Sorbent, or Support Therefor: Product or Process of Making 12 1 1 2 2 1 4 2 4 2 2 1 2 3 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 42
095 Gas Separation: Processes 25 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 2 2 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 2 1 0 0 40
166 Wells (shafts or deep borings in the earth, e.g., for oil and gas) 33 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 40
208 Mineral Oils: Processes and Products 21 5 3 4 1 2 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40
361 Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices 29 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40
228 Metal Fusion Bonding 30 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 39
501 Compositions: Ceramic 14 2 1 4 1 3 2 5 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 39
048 Gas: Heating and Illuminating 29 2 0 0 1 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 38
424 Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions (includes Class 514) 21 1 1 3 3 2 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 37
340 Communications: Electrical 19 1 2 0 1 1 0 1 3 0 1 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 35
438 Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process 11 1 4 1 0 4 4 0 4 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 35
060 Power Plants 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 2 0 1 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 33
335 Electricity: Magnetically Operated Switches, Magnets, and Electromagnets 27 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 33
033 Geometrical Instruments 19 0 3 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 28
417 Pumps 17 1 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 1 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27
419 Powder Metallurgy Processes 19 0 0 2 0 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27
505 Superconductor Technology: Apparatus, Material, Process 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 5 5 2 3 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27
110 Furnaces 12 0 2 2 0 3 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 26
333 Wave Transmission Lines and Networks 9 1 0 4 1 0 3 1 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 25
117 Single-Crystal, Oriented-Crystal, and Epitaxy Growth Processes; Non-Coating Apparatus Therefor 9 2 0 1 3 1 2 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 23
257 Active Solid-State Devices (e.g., Transistors, Solid-State Diodes) 6 2 0 0 2 2 2 2 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 23
065 Glass Manufacturing 7 2 2 1 0 0 1 3 2 0 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22
118 Coating Apparatus 14 2 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 22
307 Electrical Transmission or Interconnection Systems 14 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22
209 Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids 12 0 0 0 1 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 21
149 Explosive and Thermic Compositions or Charges 14 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20
251 Valves and Valve Actuation 16 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20
044 Fuel and Related Compositions 9 1 2 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 19
330 Amplifiers 14 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19
414 Material or Article Handling 10 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 19
200 Electricity: Circuit Makers and Breakers 11 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18
318 Electricity: Motive Power Systems 13 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 18
405 Hydraulic and Earth Engineering 11 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18
439 Electrical Connectors 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18
089 Ordnance 3 1 3 0 1 1 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17
096 Gas Separation: Apparatus 6 0 4 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 17
156 Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture 10 1 1 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17
363 Electric Power Conversion Systems 9 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17
385 Optical Waveguides 2 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 2 4 2 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 17
425 Plastic Article or Earthenware Shaping or Treating: Apparatus 13 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17
277 Seal for a Joint or Juncture 10 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 16
382 Image Analysis 7 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 16
074 Machine Element or Mechanism 12 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15
128 Surgery (includes Class 600) 12 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 15
216 Etching a Substrate: Processes 8 2 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15
248 Supports (e.g., for holding articles, etc.) 7 0 1 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15
285 Pipe Joints or Couplings 10 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15
082 Turning (e.g., for metal working) 10 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14
331 Oscillators 10 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14
348 Television 6 1 2 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 14
451 Abrading 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 14
494 Imperforate Bowl: Centrifugal Separators 12 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14
708 Arithmetic Processing and Calculating (Electrical Computers) 12 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14
220 Receptacles 7 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 13
342 Communications: Directive Radio Wave Systems and Devices (e.g., Radar, Radio Navigation) 5 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13
377 Electrical Pulse Counters, Pulse Dividers, or Shift Registers: Circuits and Systems 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13
700 DP: Generic Control Systems or Specific Applications (Data Processing) 6 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 13
072 Metal Deforming 10 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12
104 Railways 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 4 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12
138 Pipes and Tubular Conduits 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12
164 Metal Founding 6 0 0 1 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12
175 Boring or Penetrating the Earth 7 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 12
367 Communications, Electrical: Acoustic Wave Systems and Devices 7 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12
702 DP: Measuring, Calibrating, or Testing (Data Processing) 4 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 12
106 Compositions: Coating or Plastic 7 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 11
294 Handling: Hand and Hoist-Line Implements 4 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 11
299 Mining or In Situ Disintegration of Hard Material 8 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 11
336 Inductor Devices 10 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11
384 Bearings 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11
244 Aeronautics 6 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10
398 Optical Communications 5 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10
585 Chemistry of Hydrocarbon Compounds 4 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10
322 Electricity: Single Generator Systems 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9
323 Electricity: Power Supply or Regulation Systems 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9
341 Coded Data Generation or Conversion 5 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9
430 Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product Thereof 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 9
122 Liquid Heaters and Vaporizers 5 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8
134 Cleaning and Liquid Contact with Solids 3 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8
141 Fluent Material Handling, with Receiver or Receiver Coacting Means 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8
239 Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing 2 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 8
338 Electrical Resistors 7 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8
403 Joints and Connections 6 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8
415 Rotary Kinetic Fluid Motors or Pumps 7 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8
431 Combustion 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 8
034 Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact with Solids 5 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7
052 Static Structures (e.g., Buildings) 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7
181 Acoustics 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7
345 Computer Graphics Processing and Selective Visual Display Systems 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7
375 Pulse or Digital Communications 2 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7
380 Cryptography 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7
053 Package Making 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6
055 Gas Separation 2 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6
123 Internal-Combustion Engines 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6
241 Solid Material Comminution or Disintegration 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6
242 Winding, Tensioning, or Guiding 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6
261 Gas and Liquid Contact Apparatus 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6
266 Metallurgical Apparatus 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 6
290 Prime-Mover Dynamo Plants 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6
365 Static Information Storage and Retrieval 3 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6
366 Agitating (e.g., of articles and materials) 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0