U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
Information Products Division
Technology Assessment and Forecast (TAF) Branch

Patenting By Geographic Region (State and Country), Breakout By Technology Class
Count of 1997 - 2001 Utility Patent Grants By Calendar Year of Grant

[Explanation of Data]

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

SOUTH CAROLINA

(patent origin is determined by the residence of the first-named inventor)

(technology class is determined by the primary classification assigned to the patent- see 'Explanation of Data')
 
Class Class Title 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Total
428 Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles 23 28 26 21 30 128
520 Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers (includes Classes 520-528) 16 16 30 24 15 101
005 Beds 3 7 6 13 23 52
139 Textiles: Weaving 7 9 11 14 11 52
424 Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions (includes Class 514) 5 15 14 7 11 52
442 Fabric (Woven, Knitted, or Nonwoven Textile or Cloth, Etc.) 8 9 13 4 17 51
219 Electric Heating 6 12 5 15 12 50
279 Chucks or Sockets 3 14 10 6 9 42
427 Coating Processes 11 7 6 9 7 40
361 Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices 5 9 11 4 8 37
532 Organic Compounds (includes Classes 532-570) 5 6 8 12 6 37
106 Compositions: Coating or Plastic 3 12 9 10 2 36
137 Fluid Handling 2 5 9 10 7 33
435 Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology 5 9 5 5 9 33
053 Package Making 9 6 5 6 6 32
206 Special Receptacle or Package 4 6 7 5 9 31
008 Bleaching and Dyeing; Fluid Treatment and Chemical Modification of Textiles and Fibers 4 3 14 5 4 30
052 Static Structures (e.g., Buildings) 6 6 4 6 8 30
156 Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture 4 5 8 8 4 29
426 Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, and Products 5 3 6 6 9 29
482 Exercise Devices 3 3 6 14 3 29
210 Liquid Purification or Separation 4 4 4 8 8 28
073 Measuring and Testing 3 6 7 6 5 27
002 Apparel 4 5 7 4 6 26
029 Metal Working 4 6 2 5 8 25
264 Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes 7 7 2 3 6 25
473 Games Using Tangible Projectile 5 4 6 3 5 23
112 Sewing 8 7 0 2 5 22
152 Resilient Tires and Wheels 3 6 6 2 4 21
162 Paper Making and Fiber Liberation 6 6 0 3 6 21
340 Communications: Electrical 1 4 9 4 2 20
362 Illumination 2 7 5 2 4 20
711 Memory (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) 3 3 5 7 2 20
128 Surgery (includes Class 600) 3 3 3 6 4 19
220 Receptacles 1 6 1 4 7 19
242 Winding, Tensioning, or Guiding 3 5 5 5 1 19
030 Cutlery 3 3 6 5 1 18
205 Electrolysis: Processes, Compositions Used Therein, and Methods of Preparing the Compositions 3 2 2 3 8 18
229 Envelopes, Wrappers, and Paperboard Boxes 0 1 5 6 6 18
384 Bearings 1 7 4 4 2 18
606 Surgery (instruments) 5 7 1 3 2 18
004 Baths, Closets, Sinks, and Spittoons 3 2 5 6 1 17
123 Internal-Combustion Engines 3 6 2 2 4 17
248 Supports (e.g., for holding articles, etc.) 2 4 5 3 3 17
252 Compositions 0 5 5 2 5 17
280 Land Vehicles 3 5 3 2 4 17
028 Textiles: Manufacturing 5 3 2 3 3 16
062 Refrigeration 4 3 1 5 3 16
198 Conveyors: Power-Driven 2 0 5 4 5 16
324 Electricity: Measuring and Testing 1 0 3 5 7 16
057 Textiles: Spinning, Twisting, and Twining 4 5 5 0 1 15
119 Animal Husbandry 3 6 1 0 5 15
439 Electrical Connectors 5 1 2 3 4 15
604 Surgery (Medicators and Receptors) 5 2 1 5 2 15
303 Fluid-Pressure and Analogous Brake Systems 2 7 2 2 1 14
335 Electricity: Magnetically Operated Switches, Magnets, and Electromagnets 2 1 4 7 0 14
026 Textiles: Cloth Finishing 1 3 2 2 5 13
174 Electricity: Conductors and Insulators 1 5 4 1 2 13
385 Optical Waveguides 3 1 1 1 7 13
705 DP: Financial, Business Practice, Management, or Cost/Price Determination (Data Processing) 1 3 5 2 2 13
042 Firearms 5 0 1 1 5 12
066 Textiles: Knitting 3 2 2 3 2 12
074 Machine Element or Mechanism 1 1 2 3 5 12
099 Foods and Beverages: Apparatus 4 4 2 0 2 12
173 Tool Driving or Impacting 2 0 2 2 6 12
310 Electrical Generator or Motor Structure 1 4 5 1 1 12
588 Hazardous or Toxic Waste Destruction or Containment 2 2 2 2 4 12
019 Textiles: Fiber Preparation 0 2 4 2 3 11
034 Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact with Solids 4 2 2 3 0 11
101 Printing 4 2 0 3 2 11
114 Ships 2 2 2 2 3 11
366 Agitating (e.g., of articles and materials) 1 4 1 2 3 11
409 Gear Cutting, Milling, or Planing 2 1 3 4 1 11
451 Abrading 4 0 3 3 1 11
710 Input/Output (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) 4 1 2 3 1 11
033 Geometrical Instruments 1 3 1 3 2 10
047 Plant Husbandry 3 3 0 2 2 10
104 Railways 0 2 3 4 1 10
141 Fluent Material Handling, with Receiver or Receiver Coacting Means 1 2 4 2 1 10
251 Valves and Valve Actuation 4 1 1 1 3 10
425 Plastic Article or Earthenware Shaping or Treating: Apparatus 2 3 2 1 2 10
502 Catalyst, Solid Sorbent, or Support Therefor: Product or Process of Making 1 3 3 3 0 10
709 Multiple Computer or Process Coordinating (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) 0 2 2 3 3 10
134 Cleaning and Liquid Contact with Solids 3 3 2 1 0 9
222 Dispensing (apparatus and process) 0 0 3 3 3 9
224 Package and Article Carriers 0 2 3 0 4 9
294 Handling: Hand and Hoist-Line Implements 1 4 2 0 2 9
356 Optics: Measuring and Testing 2 4 0 1 2 9
405 Hydraulic and Earth Engineering 2 2 2 3 0 9
414 Material or Article Handling 4 3 0 0 2 9
431 Combustion 2 1 3 0 3 9
493 Manufacturing Container or Tube From Paper; or Other Manufacturing From a Sheet or Web 0 3 0 5 1 9
713 Support (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) 1 2 3 2 1 9
117 Single-Crystal, Oriented-Crystal, and Epitaxy Growth Processes; Non-Coating Apparatus Therefor 0 0 3 5 0 8
118 Coating Apparatus 2 3 1 2 0 8
122 Liquid Heaters and Vaporizers 0 1 0 3 4 8
188 Brakes 1 1 4 2 0 8
239 Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing 1 2 2 2 1 8
273 Amusement Devices: Games 3 3 1 1 0 8
297 Chairs and Seats 3 1 1 1 2 8
403 Joints and Connections 1 4 1 1 1 8
700 DP: Generic Control Systems or Specific Applications (Data Processing) 1 2 4 1 0 8
701 DP: Vehicles, Navigation, and Relative Location (Data Processing) 2 4 1 1 0 8
015 Brushing, Scrubbing, and General Cleaning 1 3 0 2 1 7
040 Card, Picture, or Sign Exhibiting 1 1 1 2 2 7
043 Fishing, Trapping, and Vermin Destroying 1 0 2 2 2 7
081 Tools 1 3 2 0 1 7
095 Gas Separation: Processes 1 1 1 1 3 7
096 Gas Separation: Apparatus 3 1 1 1 1 7
211 Supports: Racks 1 1 1 2 2 7
254 Implements or Apparatus for Applying Pushing or Pulling Force 0 0 0 3 4 7
277 Seal for a Joint or Juncture 0 1 3 0 3 7
318 Electricity: Motive Power Systems 1 2 1 1 2 7
345 Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems 2 2 3 0 0 7
348 Television 0 4 1 2 0 7
376 Induced Nuclear Reactions: Processes, Systems, and Elements 1 0 2 2 2 7
417 Pumps 2 0 4 1 0 7
422 Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing 2 3 0 1 1 7
501 Compositions: Ceramic 5 0 0 1 1 7
717 DP: Software Development, Installation, and Management (Data Processing) 0 1 5 1 0 7
036 Boots, Shoes, and Leggings 0 2 2 1 1 6
060 Power Plants 0 0 3 0 3 6
070 Locks 1 1 2 2 0 6
084 Music 1 0 3 1 1 6
091 Motors: Expansible Chamber Type 0 3 1 1 1 6
135 Tent, Canopy, Umbrella, or Cane 0 2 2 1 1 6
221 Article Dispensing 1 0 2 2 1 6
250 Radiant Energy 2 0 2 0 2 6
296 Land Vehicles: Bodies and Tops 0 2 1 2 1 6
312 Supports: Cabinet Structure 1 1 2 2 0 6
379 Telephonic Communications 1 2 2 0 1 6
401 Coating Implements with Material Supply 0 0 5 0 1 6
433 Dentistry 1 2 2 1 0 6
450 Foundation Garments 1 1 1 2 1 6
714 Error Detection/Correction and Fault Detection/Recovery 0 1 1 1 3 6
055 Gas Separation 0 2 1 2 0 5
065 Glass Manufacturing 1 1 0 3 0 5
072 Metal Deforming 0 1 2 1 1 5
075 Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures 0 0 0 1 4 5
083 Cutting 0 3 1 0 1 5
148 Metal Treatment 1 1 1 1 1 5
182 Fire Escape, Ladder, or Scaffold 1 0 3 1 0 5
200 Electricity: Circuit Makers and Breakers 3 1 0 1 0 5
241 Solid Material Comminution or Disintegration 0 3 2 0 0 5
256 Fences 0 1 1 1 2 5
327 Miscellaneous Active Electrical Nonlinear Devices, Circuits, and Systems 2 2 1 0 0 5
411 Expanded, Threaded, Driven, Headed, Tool-Deformed, or Locked-Threaded Fastener 0 1 2 1 1 5
416 Fluid Reaction Surfaces (i.e., Impellers) 0 3 1 1 0 5
418 Rotary Expansible Chamber Devices 0 0 0 1 4 5
423 Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds 3 1 0 1 0 5
434 Education and Demonstration 2 2 1 0 0 5
464 Rotary Shafts, Gudgeons, Housings, and Flexible Couplings for Rotary Shafts 1 0 2 1 1 5
510 Cleaning Compositions for Solid Surfaces, Auxiliary Compositions Therefor, or Processes of Preparing the Compositions 0 3 0 2 0 5
516 Colloid Systems and Wetting Agents, Subcombinations Thereof, Processes of Making, Stabilizing, Breaking, or Inhibiting 1 1 1 1 1 5
530 Chemistry: Natural Resins or Derivatives; Peptides or Proteins; Lignins or Reaction Products Thereof 0 1 2 1 1 5
602 Surgery: Splint, Brace, or Bandage 0 2 2 1 0 5
607 Surgery: Light, Thermal, and Electrical Application 0 3 0 1 1 5
623 Prosthesis (i.e., Artificial Body Members), Parts Thereof, or Aids and Accessories Therefor 0 1 0 1 3 5
702 DP: Measuring, Calibrating, or Testing (Data Processing) 1 2 0 1 1 5
016 Miscellaneous Hardware 0 1 1 1 1 4
056 Harvesters 0 2 2 0 0 4
131 Tobacco 0 1 0 0 3 4
144 Woodworking 1 1 1 0 1 4
165 Heat Exchange 1 0 2 0 1 4
226 Advancing Material of Indeterminate Length 2 1 1 0 0 4
232 Deposit and Collection Receptacles 1 2 0 0 1 4
292 Closure Fasteners 0 2 1 1 0 4
307 Electrical Transmission or Interconnection Systems 0 0 0 1 3 4
347 Incremental Printing of Symbolic Information 2 2 0 0 0 4
363 Electric Power Conversion Systems 2 2 0 0 0 4
382 Image Analysis 0 1 0 0 3 4
408 Cutting by Use of Rotating Axially Moving Tool 2 1 1 0 0 4
441 Buoys, Rafts, and Aquatic Devices 0 2 1 1 0 4
454 Ventilation 0 1 0 2 1 4
707 DP: Database and File Management, Data Structures, Or Document Processing (Data Processing) 0 1 2 1 0 4
076 Metal Tools and Implements, Making 1 1 0 0 1 3
082 Turning (e.g., for metal working) 0 1 2 0 0 3
116 Signals and Indicators 0 0 2 0 1 3
126 Stoves and Furnaces 1 1 1 0 0 3
132 Toilet 1 0 1 1 0 3
138 Pipes and Tubular Conduits 0 0 0 1 2 3
160 Flexible or Portable Closure, Partition, or Panel 3 0 0 0 0 3
180 Motor Vehicles 0 0 1 0 2 3
203 Distillation: Processes, Separatory 1 1 1 0 0 3
204 Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy 0 1 0 2 0 3
209 Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids 1 2 0 0 0 3
213 Railway Draft Appliances 0 0 2 0 1 3
216 Etching a Substrate: Processes 1 2 0 0 0 3
359 Optics: Systems (Including Communication) and Elements 0 0 0 0 3 3
370 Multiplex Communications 1 0 1 0 1 3
404 Road Structure, Process, or Apparatus 0 1 0 1 1 3
436 Chemistry: Analytical and Immunological Testing 1 1 1 0 0 3
440 Marine Propulsion 0 0 1 0 2 3
446 Amusement Devices: Toys 0 0 0 0 3 3
601 Surgery: Kinesitherapy 2 0 0 0 1 3
704 DP: Speech Signal Processing, Linguistics, Language Translation, and Audio Compression/Decompression (Data Processing) 0 1 1 0 1 3
071 Chemistry: Fertilizers 1 0 0 0 1 2
100 Presses 1 0 1 0 0 2
102 Ammunition and Explosives 0 0 1 0 1 2
109 Safes, Bank Protection, or a Related Device 0 2 0 0 0 2
228 Metal Fusion Bonding 0 0 1 1 0 2
235 Registers (e.g., cash registers, calculators, devices for counting movements of devices, etc.) 0 0 1 0 1 2
246 Railway Switches and Signals 0 1 0 1 0 2
266 Metallurgical Apparatus 1 0 0 0 1 2
283 Printed Matter 0 1 1 0 0 2
313 Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices 0 0 0 1 1 2
315 Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Systems 1 0 0 0 1 2
320 Electricity: Battery or Capacitor Charging or Discharging 0 0 0 1 1 2
343 Communications: Radio Wave Antennas 0 1 1 0 0 2
407 Cutters, for Shaping 0 0 1 1 0 2
410 Freight Accommodation On Freight Carrier 0 0 1 0 1 2
415 Rotary Kinetic Fluid Motors or Pumps 0 0 0 1 1 2
429 Chemistry: Electrical Current Producing Apparatus, Product, and Process 0 0 1 0 1 2
430 Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product Thereof 0 0 0 2 0 2
432 Heating 1 1 0 0 0 2
463 Amusement Devices: Games 1 0 0 0 1 2
504 Plant Protecting and Regulating Compositions 1 0 0 1 0 2
508 Solid Anti-Friction Devices, Materials Therefor, Lubricant or Separate Compositions for Moving Solid Surfaces, and Miscellaneous Mineral Oil Compositions 0 0 0 1 1 2
585 Chemistry of Hydrocarbon Compounds 1 0 0 1 0 2
703 DP: Structural Design, Modeling, Simulation, and Emulation (Data Processing) 0 1 0 0 1 2
012 Boot and Shoe Making 0 0 1 0 0 1
027 Undertaking 0 1 0 0 0 1
037 Excavating 1 0 0 0 0 1
044 Fuel and Related Compositions 0 0 0 1 0 1
048 Gas: Heating and Illuminating 1 0 0 0 0 1
059 Chain, Staple, and Horseshoe Making 1 0 0 0 0 1
089 Ordnance 0 0 0 1 0 1
092 Expansible Chamber Devices 0 1 0 0 0 1
105 Railway Rolling Stock 0 0 0 0 1 1
110 Furnaces 0 1 0 0 0 1
111 Planting 0 1 0 0 0 1
140 Wireworking 1 0 0 0 0 1
164 Metal Founding 0 0 0 0 1 1
166 Wells (shafts or deep borings in the earth, e.g., for oil and gas) 0 1 0 0 0 1
169 Fire Extinguishers 0 0 0 1 0 1
172 Earth Working 0 1 0 0 0 1
175 Boring or Penetrating the Earth 1 0 0 0 0 1
177 Weighing Scales 1 0 0 0 0 1
181 Acoustics 0 1 0 0 0 1
184 Lubrication 0 0 0 0 1 1
187 Elevator, Industrial Lift Truck, or Stationary Lift for Vehicle 0 1 0 0 0 1
190 Trunks and Hand-Carried Luggage 0 0 0 1 0 1
191 Electricity: Transmission To Vehicles 1 0 0 0 0 1
193 Conveyors, Chutes, Skids, Guides, and Ways 1 0 0 0 0 1
202 Distillation: Apparatus 0 1 0 0 0 1
212 Traversing Hoists 0 0 1 0 0 1
236 Automatic Temperature and Humidity Regulation 0 0 0 0 1 1
249 Static Molds 0 0 1 0 0 1
261 Gas and Liquid Contact Apparatus 0 0 0 1 0 1
267 Spring Devices 0 0 1 0 0 1
285 Pipe Joints or Couplings 0 0 0 1 0 1
293 Vehicle Fenders 0 0 1 0 0 1
299 Mining or In Situ Disintegration of Hard Material 0 0 0 0 1 1
301 Land Vehicles: Wheels and Axles 0 0 0 1 0 1
322 Electricity: Single Generator Systems 1 0 0 0 0 1
333 Wave Transmission Lines and Networks 0 0 1 0 0 1
336 Inductor Devices 0 0 0 1 0 1
341 Coded Data Generation or Conversion 1 0 0 0 0 1
342 Communications: Directive Radio Wave Systems and Devices (e.g., Radar, Radio Navigation) 0 0 0 1 0 1
349 Liquid Crystal Cells, Elements and Systems 0 0 0 1 0 1
351 Optics: Eye Examining, Vision Testing and Correcting 0 1 0 0 0 1
358 Facsimile and Static Presentation Processing 1 0 0 0 0 1
367 Communications, Electrical: Acoustic Wave Systems and Devices 0 0 0 1 0 1
368 Horology: Time Measuring Systems or Devices 1 0 0 0 0 1
374 Thermal Measuring and Testing 0 1 0 0 0 1
378 X-Ray or Gamma Ray Systems or Devices 0 1 0 0 0 1
383 Flexible Bags 0 0 0 0 1 1
392 Electric Resistance Heating Devices 0 0 0 1 0 1
402 Binder Device Releasably Engaging Aperture or Notch of Sheet 1 0 0 0 0 1
419 Powder Metallurgy Processes 0 0 0 0 1 1
438 Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process 0 0 0 0 1 1
445 Electric Lamp or Space Discharge Component or Device Manufacturing 0 0 0 1 0 1
455 Telecommunications 0 0 0 1 0 1
474 Endless Belt Power Transmission Systems or Components 1 0 0 0 0 1
475 Planetary Gear Transmission Systems or Components 0 0 1 0 0 1
492 Roll or Roller 0 0 0 0 1 1
503 Record Receiver Having Plural Interactive Leaves or a Colorless Color Former, Method of Use, or Developer Therefor 0 1 0 0 0 1
507 Earth Boring, Well Treating, and Oil Field Chemistry 0 0 0 0 1 1
706 DP: Artificial Intelligence (Data Processing) 0 1 0 0 0 1
708 Arithmetic Processing and Calculating (Electrical Computers) 0 0 1 0 0 1
712 Processing Architectures and Instruction Processing, e.g., Processors (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) 0 0 0 1 0 1
800 Multicellular Living Organisms and Unmodified Parts Thereof and Related Processes 1 0 0 0 0 1
ALL ALL CLASSES 430 570 560 531 565 2656



TAF Contacts

Questions regarding these reports should be directed to:

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Information Products Division - TAF Branch
PK3- Suite 441
Washington, DC 20231

tel: (703) 306-2600
FAX: (703) 306-2737
email: oeip@uspto.gov

address of TAF Internet pages : http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/tafp.html
ftp download of TAF reports from : ftp.uspto.gov/pub/taf/

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Last Modified: April 9, 2002