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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, AIR FORCE

( 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
342 Communications: Directive Radio Wave Systems and Devices (e.g., Radar, Radio Navigation) 168 20 6 6 2 0 6 6 3 10 9 11 1 6 3 1 3 5 3 3 3 0 275
244 Aeronautics 119 4 7 3 3 6 0 5 4 5 2 2 0 2 0 1 5 4 5 1 1 0 179
250 Radiant Energy 99 3 6 3 5 2 7 5 2 7 6 5 8 3 5 4 1 1 3 1 0 0 176
359 Optics: Systems and Elements 70 6 8 4 2 4 10 9 9 9 5 4 5 5 3 7 2 3 7 1 1 0 174
520 Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers (includes Classes 520-528) 80 2 4 4 2 6 12 8 6 6 2 2 10 4 2 3 5 3 5 4 0 0 170
372 Coherent Light Generators 98 4 4 5 3 3 2 2 3 4 5 5 2 5 4 0 3 2 3 2 0 0 159
073 Measuring and Testing 106 3 4 4 5 2 3 4 3 4 2 3 0 1 5 1 2 0 1 1 0 0 154
356 Optics: Measuring and Testing 96 2 6 2 0 3 4 1 3 2 1 5 6 4 2 3 4 5 1 0 0 0 150
532 Organic Compounds (includes Classes 532-570) 98 5 3 3 5 3 0 2 1 1 2 0 1 3 2 3 4 4 1 5 0 0 146
060 Power Plants 73 1 6 5 6 5 1 6 6 2 0 1 1 1 0 1 2 2 4 0 0 0 123
343 Communications: Radio Wave Antennas 60 4 2 5 0 3 2 3 1 2 2 2 0 0 2 0 4 1 1 2 0 0 96
324 Electricity: Measuring and Testing 49 4 6 2 3 1 4 1 7 2 3 1 2 2 1 0 4 1 1 0 0 0 94
102 Ammunition and Explosives 71 5 1 2 2 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 91
333 Wave Transmission Lines and Networks 61 7 4 4 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 86
257 Active Solid-State Devices (e.g., Transistors, Solid-State Diodes) 22 1 1 3 2 3 3 1 1 2 3 2 10 5 3 4 1 0 0 0 1 0 68
327 Miscellaneous Active Electrical Nonlinear Devices, Circuits, and Systems 61 2 1 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 68
438 Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process 27 1 3 2 1 0 2 1 0 2 1 7 2 3 1 7 2 0 1 2 3 0 68
089 Ordnance 39 1 3 3 2 3 0 2 1 0 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 62
427 Coating Processes 24 0 3 2 0 3 1 4 2 2 0 1 1 1 4 2 2 1 1 1 2 0 57
340 Communications: Electrical 40 2 1 3 0 1 0 1 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 55
428 Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles 23 5 0 2 0 1 0 0 3 3 3 2 2 3 0 2 0 2 3 0 0 0 54
385 Optical Waveguides 11 0 2 4 2 4 5 4 4 2 1 2 2 2 5 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 52
029 Metal Working 27 2 3 0 0 0 0 4 3 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 1 4 0 0 0 0 49
708 Arithmetic Processing and Calculating (Electrical Computers) 30 3 2 2 0 0 2 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 46
149 Explosive and Thermic Compositions or Charges 34 1 0 0 1 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 44
429 Chemistry: Electrical Current Producing Apparatus, Product, and Process 26 0 3 0 0 1 0 2 6 0 1 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 44
148 Metal Treatment 9 1 1 1 5 2 0 5 0 4 2 4 5 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 43
310 Electrical Generator or Motor Structure 23 2 1 4 1 0 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 40
239 Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing 30 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 39
508 Solid Anti-Friction Devices, Materials Therefor, Lubricant or Separant Compositions for Moving Solid Surfaces, and Miscellaneous Mineral Oil Compositions 29 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 39
128 Surgery (includes Class 600) 14 1 3 4 1 0 1 0 1 2 3 0 0 0 2 1 2 1 2 0 0 0 38
361 Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices 19 3 0 0 0 1 1 3 4 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 38
348 Television 28 1 1 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 35
375 Pulse or Digital Communications 17 1 0 0 3 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 35
117 Single-Crystal, Oriented-Crystal, and Epitaxy Growth Processes; Non-Coating Apparatus Therefor 12 2 6 1 0 2 1 1 3 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 34
165 Heat Exchange 11 0 2 1 3 3 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 32
156 Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture 18 0 3 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 31
415 Rotary Kinetic Fluid Motors or Pumps 13 0 0 6 2 2 0 2 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 31
331 Oscillators 20 3 3 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30
374 Thermal Measuring and Testing 21 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 30
315 Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Systems 16 1 1 1 2 0 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 29
365 Static Information Storage and Retrieval 21 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 29
416 Fluid Reaction Surfaces (i.e., Impellers) 15 1 1 1 0 1 0 2 2 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 29
137 Fluid Handling 26 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 28
264 Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes 11 0 1 0 2 2 1 0 1 0 2 2 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 27
313 Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices 19 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 26
330 Amplifiers 19 1 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26
455 Telecommunications 16 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 26
307 Electrical Transmission or Interconnection Systems 12 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25
423 Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds 18 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24
062 Refrigeration 16 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23
204 Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy 13 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 23
205 Electrolysis: Processes, Compositions Used Therein, and Methods of Preparing the Compositions 13 1 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 22
382 Image Analysis 6 1 0 1 0 3 0 1 2 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 22
702 DP: Measuring, Calibrating, or Testing (Data Processing) 7 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 21
228 Metal Fusion Bonding 5 1 0 4 4 0 2 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20
436 Chemistry: Analytical and Immunological Testing 10 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 20
439 Electrical Connectors 11 0 2 0 1 0 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 20
074 Machine Element or Mechanism 16 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19
136 Batteries: Thermoelectric and Photoelectric 14 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 19
376 Induced Nuclear Reactions: Processes, Systems, and Elements 14 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19
419 Powder Metallurgy Processes 4 0 0 0 2 5 2 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 19
341 Coded Data Generation or Conversion 15 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 18
252 Compositions 8 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 17
435 Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 0 0 17
700 DP: Generic Control Systems or Specific Applications (Data Processing) 2 0 1 0 0 3 0 1 1 0 2 0 2 0 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 17
714 Error Detection/Correction and Fault Detection/Recovery 6 0 1 0 2 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 17
398 Optical Communications 5 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 16
434 Education and Demonstration 12 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16
118 Coating Apparatus 6 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 15
174 Electricity: Conductors and Insulators 10 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 15
219 Electric Heating 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14
370 Multiplex Communications 6 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 14
420 Alloys or Metallic Compositions 10 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14
002 Apparel 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13
701 DP: Vehicles, Navigation, and Relative Location (Data Processing) 3 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 13
351 Optics: Eye Examining, Vision Testing and Correcting 5 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12
422 Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing 8 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12
430 Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product Thereof 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 12
033 Geometrical Instruments 9 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11
285 Pipe Joints or Couplings 7 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11
345 Computer Graphics Processing and Selective Visual Display Systems 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 11
377 Electrical Pulse Counters, Pulse Dividers, or Shift Registers: Circuits and Systems 7 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11
378 X-Ray or Gamma Ray Systems or Devices 8 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11
451 Abrading 6 0 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11
210 Liquid Purification or Separation 3 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 10
323 Electricity: Power Supply or Regulation Systems 3 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10
384 Bearings 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10
403 Joints and Connections 6 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10
065 Glass Manufacturing 4 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9
248 Supports (e.g., for holding articles, etc.) 6 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9
277 Seal for a Joint or Juncture 6 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9
318 Electricity: Motive Power Systems 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 9
367 Communications, Electrical: Acoustic Wave Systems and Devices 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 9
396 Photography 8 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9
414 Material or Article Handling 6 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9
710 Input/Output (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) 3 2 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9
052 Static Structures (e.g., Buildings) 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 8
106 Compositions: Coating or Plastic 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 8
188 Brakes 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 8
220 Receptacles 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 8
349 Liquid Crystal Cells, Elements and Systems 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8
380 Cryptography 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8
442 Fabric (Woven, Knitted, or Nonwoven Textile or Cloth, Etc.) 7 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8
501 Compositions: Ceramic 4 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 8
072 Metal Deforming 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7
075 Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7
164 Metal Founding 4 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7
222 Dispensing (apparatus and process) 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7
242 Winding, Tensioning, or Guiding 3 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7
292 Closure Fasteners 5 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7
326 Electronic Digital Logic Circuitry 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 7
362 Illumination 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7
363 Electric Power Conversion Systems 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 7
411 Expanded, Threaded, Driven, Headed, Tool-Deformed, or Locked-Threaded Fastener 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7
604 Surgery (Medicators and Receptors) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 7
138 Pipes and Tubular Conduits 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6
606 Surgery (instruments) 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6
703 DP: Structural Design, Modeling, Simulation, and Emulation (Data Processing) 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6
706 DP: Artificial Intelligence (Data Processing) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 6
134 Cleaning and Liquid Contact with Solids 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 5
206 Special Receptacle or Package 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
254 Implements or Apparatus for Applying Pushing or Pulling Force 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
294 Handling: Hand and Hoist-Line Implements 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
329 Demodulators 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
332 Modulators 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
355 Photocopying 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
360 Dynamic Magnetic Information Storage or Retrieval 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
381 Electrical Audio Signal Processing Systems and Devices 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 5
410 Freight Accommodation On Freight Carrier 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
417 Pumps 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 5
431 Combustion 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
505 Superconductor Technology: Apparatus, Material, Process 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
709 Multicomputer Data Transferring or Plural Processor Synchronization (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
005 Beds 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
091 Motors: Expansible Chamber Type 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
123 Internal-Combustion Engines 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 4
200 Electricity: Circuit Makers and Breakers 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4
216 Etching a Substrate: Processes 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4
235 Registers (e.g., cash registers, calculators, devices for counting movements of devices, etc.) 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0