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 1996 - 2000 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

TENNESSEE

(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 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Total
520 Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers (includes Classes 520-528) 38 41 23 44 44 190
424 Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions (includes Class 514) 19 29 43 39 32 162
606 Surgery (instruments) 24 40 17 27 18 126
428 Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles 24 21 20 28 22 115
532 Organic Compounds (includes Classes 532-570) 14 23 19 28 24 108
435 Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology 16 13 27 21 22 99
128 Surgery (includes Class 600) 7 11 16 12 15 61
073 Measuring and Testing 12 9 12 11 9 53
210 Liquid Purification or Separation 10 9 11 16 7 53
340 Communications: Electrical 6 10 9 7 15 47
414 Material or Article Handling 8 7 12 10 10 47
081 Tools 7 6 5 14 14 46
156 Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture 8 8 9 7 12 44
623 Prosthesis (i.e., Artificial Body Members), Parts Thereof, or Aids and Accessories Therefor 15 9 9 4 4 41
264 Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes 6 7 13 7 7 40
248 Supports (e.g., for holding articles, etc.) 6 10 5 9 9 39
206 Special Receptacle or Package 3 11 8 8 8 38
219 Electric Heating 7 7 5 9 10 38
473 Games Using Tangible Projectile 7 6 9 9 7 38
029 Metal Working 12 4 6 9 6 37
052 Static Structures (e.g., Buildings) 7 4 11 7 8 37
062 Refrigeration 2 7 11 10 7 37
280 Land Vehicles 6 4 8 7 11 36
250 Radiant Energy 2 5 8 15 5 35
356 Optics: Measuring and Testing 5 5 7 11 6 34
800 Multicellular Living Organisms and Unmodified Parts Thereof and Related Processes 2 8 8 5 10 33
297 Chairs and Seats 7 4 12 1 6 30
439 Electrical Connectors 7 5 2 6 9 29
604 Surgery (Medicators and Receptors) 6 6 8 4 5 29
112 Sewing 7 2 7 6 3 25
423 Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds 4 6 8 3 4 25
702 DP: Measuring, Calibrating, or Testing (Data Processing) 1 4 9 5 6 25
220 Receptacles 4 5 4 8 3 24
015 Brushing, Scrubbing, and General Cleaning 6 4 8 4 1 23
074 Machine Element or Mechanism 3 5 6 5 4 23
324 Electricity: Measuring and Testing 8 5 5 2 3 23
362 Illumination 3 4 4 2 10 23
174 Electricity: Conductors and Insulators 3 6 6 5 2 22
211 Supports: Racks 2 5 7 3 5 22
126 Stoves and Furnaces 4 0 7 3 7 21
348 Television 1 8 1 7 4 21
312 Supports: Cabinet Structure 3 2 5 7 3 20
427 Coating Processes 1 4 5 7 3 20
433 Dentistry 2 4 5 6 3 20
084 Music 2 2 4 7 4 19
119 Animal Husbandry 1 2 6 8 2 19
222 Dispensing (apparatus and process) 5 1 5 5 3 19
285 Pipe Joints or Couplings 4 5 2 4 4 19
310 Electrical Generator or Motor Structure 3 2 3 6 5 19
361 Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices 4 3 7 2 3 19
482 Exercise Devices 5 1 5 5 3 19
165 Heat Exchange 3 4 5 5 1 18
204 Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy 2 0 2 6 8 18
426 Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, and Products 4 2 3 6 3 18
442 Fabric (Woven, Knitted, or Nonwoven Textile or Cloth, Etc.) 2 5 5 3 3 18
451 Abrading 4 4 4 4 2 18
005 Beds 2 5 2 3 5 17
137 Fluid Handling 5 3 2 2 5 17
209 Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids 6 2 2 3 4 17
422 Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing 3 2 1 9 2 17
002 Apparel 3 3 3 4 3 16
106 Compositions: Coating or Plastic 1 4 5 5 1 16
148 Metal Treatment 2 0 8 4 2 16
700 DP: Generic Control Systems or Specific Applications (Data Processing) 6 1 1 3 5 16
024 Buckles, Buttons, Clasps, Etc. 1 4 4 2 4 15
030 Cutlery 4 3 1 5 2 15
114 Ships 5 1 3 4 2 15
318 Electricity: Motive Power Systems 0 3 4 3 5 15
047 Plant Husbandry 3 4 1 4 2 14
122 Liquid Heaters and Vaporizers 3 0 5 2 4 14
123 Internal-Combustion Engines 1 3 3 1 6 14
134 Cleaning and Liquid Contact with Solids 2 4 4 4 0 14
180 Motor Vehicles 3 0 5 3 3 14
239 Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing 1 2 1 4 6 14
404 Road Structure, Process, or Apparatus 5 3 2 3 1 14
431 Combustion 2 0 3 6 3 14
602 Surgery: Splint, Brace, or Bandage 2 3 4 3 2 14
607 Surgery: Light, Thermal, and Electrical Application 4 1 2 4 3 14
053 Package Making 1 1 3 1 7 13
055 Gas Separation 2 1 3 4 3 13
301 Land Vehicles: Wheels and Axles 2 4 1 2 4 13
345 Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems 1 3 3 4 2 13
417 Pumps 4 2 1 0 6 13
436 Chemistry: Analytical and Immunological Testing 3 4 3 1 2 13
004 Baths, Closets, Sinks, and Spittoons 1 1 2 4 4 12
033 Geometrical Instruments 2 2 4 3 1 12
043 Fishing, Trapping, and Vermin Destroying 1 1 1 5 4 12
296 Land Vehicles: Bodies and Tops 1 0 1 6 4 12
425 Plastic Article or Earthenware Shaping or Treating: Apparatus 4 2 4 1 1 12
510 Cleaning Compositions for Solid Surfaces, Auxiliary Compositions Therefor, or Processes of Preparing the Compositions 1 2 3 2 4 12
060 Power Plants 5 2 2 0 2 11
095 Gas Separation: Processes 1 2 3 4 1 11
110 Furnaces 2 3 2 2 2 11
241 Solid Material Comminution or Disintegration 2 1 3 3 2 11
429 Chemistry: Electrical Current Producing Apparatus, Product, and Process 3 2 1 2 3 11
588 Hazardous or Toxic Waste Destruction or Containment 3 2 4 2 0 11
705 DP: Financial, Business Practice, Management, or Cost/Price Determination (Data Processing) 0 1 2 6 2 11
008 Bleaching and Dyeing; Fluid Treatment and Chemical Modification of Textiles and Fibers 2 2 3 2 1 10
056 Harvesters 3 0 1 3 3 10
075 Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures 1 3 2 2 2 10
099 Foods and Beverages: Apparatus 2 2 0 2 4 10
242 Winding, Tensioning, or Guiding 2 1 1 4 2 10
405 Hydraulic and Earth Engineering 4 0 3 1 2 10
502 Catalyst, Solid Sorbent, or Support Therefor: Product or Process of Making 0 0 2 3 5 10
036 Boots, Shoes, and Leggings 2 1 2 1 3 9
072 Metal Deforming 0 4 2 2 1 9
083 Cutting 1 0 0 5 3 9
108 Horizontally Supported Planar Surfaces 1 1 2 4 1 9
117 Single-Crystal, Oriented-Crystal, and Epitaxy Growth Processes; Non-Coating Apparatus Therefor 2 1 1 0 5 9
182 Fire Escape, Ladder, or Scaffold 1 3 3 1 1 9
315 Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Systems 2 1 4 1 1 9
379 Telephonic Communications 0 1 1 3 4 9
409 Gear Cutting, Milling, or Planing 0 0 1 2 6 9
034 Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact with Solids 3 1 1 2 1 8
070 Locks 0 0 3 4 1 8
082 Turning (e.g., for metal working) 1 0 3 1 3 8
102 Ammunition and Explosives 1 0 6 0 1 8
124 Mechanical Guns and Projectors 1 1 2 1 3 8
132 Toilet 1 1 1 2 3 8
138 Pipes and Tubular Conduits 1 1 0 4 2 8
162 Paper Making and Fiber Liberation 3 1 2 1 1 8
200 Electricity: Circuit Makers and Breakers 0 2 0 2 4 8
224 Package and Article Carriers 0 0 1 6 1 8
277 Seal for a Joint or Juncture 3 2 0 2 1 8
374 Thermal Measuring and Testing 0 2 3 1 2 8
381 Electrical Audio Signal Processing Systems and Devices 0 1 3 2 2 8
382 Image Analysis 3 0 2 1 2 8
446 Amusement Devices: Toys 1 1 5 1 0 8
505 Superconductor Technology: Apparatus, Material, Process 0 0 3 3 2 8
530 Chemistry: Natural Resins or Derivatives; Peptides or Proteins; Lignins or Reaction Products Thereof 0 0 1 3 4 8
019 Textiles: Fiber Preparation 1 2 1 1 2 7
141 Fluent Material Handling, with Receiver or Receiver Coacting Means 1 4 2 0 0 7
205 Electrolysis: Processes, Compositions Used Therein, and Methods of Preparing the Compositions 1 1 1 4 0 7
342 Communications: Directive Radio Wave Systems and Devices (e.g., Radar, Radio Navigation) 0 0 0 4 3 7
351 Optics: Eye Examining, Vision Testing and Correcting 2 1 2 2 0 7
359 Optics: Systems (Including Communication) and Elements 1 2 1 2 1 7
385 Optical Waveguides 1 3 2 0 1 7
411 Expanded, Threaded, Driven, Headed, Tool-Deformed, or Locked-Threaded Fastener 2 2 0 1 2 7
416 Fluid Reaction Surfaces (i.e., Impellers) 1 1 0 3 2 7
454 Ventilation 1 1 1 2 2 7
504 Plant Protecting and Regulating Compositions 2 1 1 2 1 7
040 Card, Picture, or Sign Exhibiting 1 0 2 1 2 6
042 Firearms 2 2 2 0 0 6
049 Movable or Removable Closures 1 0 0 0 5 6
096 Gas Separation: Apparatus 0 3 0 0 3 6
104 Railways 2 1 1 0 2 6
144 Woodworking 0 0 1 3 2 6
157 Wheelwright Machines 0 1 1 1 3 6
229 Envelopes, Wrappers, and Paperboard Boxes 3 0 2 0 1 6
254 Implements or Apparatus for Applying Pushing or Pulling Force 0 3 1 2 0 6
261 Gas and Liquid Contact Apparatus 1 1 2 1 1 6
294 Handling: Hand and Hoist-Line Implements 0 0 1 4 1 6
299 Mining or In Situ Disintegration of Hard Material 2 0 1 1 2 6
337 Electricity: Electrothermally or Thermally Actuated Switches 2 1 1 1 1 6
347 Incremental Printing of Symbolic Information 0 4 0 1 1 6
363 Electric Power Conversion Systems 0 4 1 0 1 6
403 Joints and Connections 0 1 2 1 2 6
057 Textiles: Spinning, Twisting, and Twining 1 1 3 0 0 5
065 Glass Manufacturing 1 1 0 2 1 5
111 Planting 1 0 0 4 0 5
149 Explosive and Thermic Compositions or Charges 0 0 2 3 0 5
172 Earth Working 1 0 3 1 0 5
190 Trunks and Hand-Carried Luggage 2 0 2 1 0 5
223 Apparel Apparatus 0 1 0 2 2 5
227 Elongated-Member-Driving Apparatus 1 0 0 0 4 5
251 Valves and Valve Actuation 1 0 2 1 1 5
252 Compositions 1 0 1 2 1 5
266 Metallurgical Apparatus 2 0 2 1 0 5
273 Amusement Devices: Games 1 2 1 0 1 5
292 Closure Fasteners 2 1 0 0 2 5
368 Horology: Time Measuring Systems or Devices 0 1 1 2 1 5
383 Flexible Bags 0 1 3 0 1 5
408 Cutting by Use of Rotating Axially Moving Tool 1 0 2 2 0 5
410 Freight Accommodation On Freight Carrier 1 1 1 1 1 5
419 Powder Metallurgy Processes 1 0 0 2 2 5
420 Alloys or Metallic Compositions 2 2 0 1 0 5
434 Education and Demonstration 0 2 2 0 1 5
494 Imperforate Bowl: Centrifugal Separators 0 0 1 2 2 5
709 Multiple Computer or Process Coordinating (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) 0 0 3 1 1 5
016 Miscellaneous Hardware 0 1 1 2 0 4
091 Motors: Expansible Chamber Type 1 0 2 1 0 4
101 Printing 0 0 2 2 0 4
105 Railway Rolling Stock 1 1 1 1 0 4
187 Elevator, Industrial Lift Truck, or Stationary Lift for Vehicle 1 2 0 0 1 4
188 Brakes 1 2 0 0 1 4
198 Conveyors: Power-Driven 1 0 0 1 2 4
203 Distillation: Processes, Separatory 1 1 1 0 1 4
215 Bottles and Jars 0 1 0 2 1 4
244 Aeronautics 0 1 1 1 1 4
256 Fences 1 0 1 2 0 4
283 Printed Matter 0 1 0 3 0 4
307 Electrical Transmission or Interconnection Systems 1 0 1 1 1 4
400 Typewriting Machines 2 1 0 1 0 4
418 Rotary Expansible Chamber Devices 1 2 1 0 0 4
440 Marine Propulsion 1 0 1 0 2 4
455 Telecommunications 0 0 1 1 2 4
501 Compositions: Ceramic 1 1 0 0 2 4
706 DP: Artificial Intelligence (Data Processing) 1 2 0 0 1 4
713 Support (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) 0 0 0 1 3 4
089 Ordnance 0 0 2 0 1 3
118 Coating Apparatus 1 0 1 1 0 3
131 Tobacco 1 0 0 2 0 3
164 Metal Founding 2 0 0 0 1 3
175 Boring or Penetrating the Earth 0 0 2 1 0 3
177 Weighing Scales 0 0 0 3 0 3
181 Acoustics 0 1 0 1 1 3
221 Article Dispensing 1 1 0 0 1 3
232 Deposit and Collection Receptacles 1 0 2 0 0 3
235 Registers (e.g., cash registers, calculators, devices for counting movements of devices, etc.) 0 0 2 0 1 3
269 Work Holders 0 1 0 1 1 3
330 Amplifiers 0 0 1 1 1 3
335 Electricity: Magnetically Operated Switches, Magnets, and Electromagnets 0 0 1 1 1 3
338 Electrical Resistors 0 0 2 0 1 3
341 Coded Data Generation or Conversion 0 1 0 1 1 3
343 Communications: Radio Wave Antennas 1 0 0 2 0 3
366 Agitating (e.g., of articles and materials) 1 0 0 1 1 3
367 Communications, Electrical: Acoustic Wave Systems and Devices 2 0 1 0 0 3
376 Induced Nuclear Reactions: Processes, Systems, and Elements 1 0 0 0 2 3
413 Sheet Metal Container Making 1 1 0 0 1 3
430 Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product Thereof 0 0 0 1 2 3
438 Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process 0 1 0 1 1 3
464 Rotary Shafts, Gudgeons, Housings, and Flexible Couplings for Rotary Shafts 2 0 0 1 0 3
472 Amusement Devices 0 2 1 0 0 3
503 Record Receiver Having Plural Interactive Leaves or a Colorless Color Former, Method of Use, or Developer Therefor 0 1 1 0 1 3
601 Surgery: Kinesitherapy 0 1 1 0 1 3
703 DP: Structural Design, Modeling, Simulation, and Emulation (Data Processing) 0 2 0 1 0 3
707 DP: Database and File Management, Data Structures, Or Document Processing (Data Processing) 0 1 1 1 0 3
710 Input/Output (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) 0 0 3 0 0 3
037 Excavating 0 0 0 1 1 2
051 Abrasive Tool Making Process, Material, or Composition 0 0 0 2 0 2
063 Jewelry 1 0 1 0 0 2
071 Chemistry: Fertilizers 0 1 1 0 0 2
100 Presses 2 0 0 0 0 2
116 Signals and Indicators 1 0 1 0 0 2
152 Resilient Tires and Wheels 0 1 0 1 0 2
208 Mineral Oils: Processes and Products 1 0 1 0 0 2
228 Metal Fusion Bonding 0 2 0 0 0 2
236 Automatic Temperature and Humidity Regulation 0 0 0 2 0 2
257 Active Solid-State Devices (e.g., Transistors, Solid-State Diodes) 0 1 0 0 1 2
267 Spring Devices 2 0 0 0 0 2
270 Sheet-Material Associating 0 1 1 0 0 2
298 Land Vehicles: Dumping 1 0 0 1 0 2
313 Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices 1 0 0 1 0 2
323 Electricity: Power Supply or Regulation Systems 1 0 0 0 1 2
333 Wave Transmission Lines and Networks 0 0 2 0 0 2
352 Optics: Motion Pictures 0 0 0 2 0 2
365 Static Information Storage and Retrieval 1 1 0 0 0 2
370 Multiplex Communications 0 0 1 0 1 2
375 Pulse or Digital Communications 0 0 2 0 0 2
378 X-Ray or Gamma Ray Systems or Devices 1 1 0 0 0 2
380 Cryptography 0 1 1 0 0 2
384 Bearings 2 0 0 0 0 2
392 Electric Resistance Heating Devices 0 0 1 0 1 2
432 Heating 1 0 0 1 0 2
445 Electric Lamp or Space Discharge Component or Device Manufacturing 1 0 0 0 1 2
453 Coin Handling 1 0 0 0 1 2
474 Endless Belt Power Transmission Systems or Components 0 1 0 1 0 2
492 Roll or Roller 0 0 1 1 0 2
493 Manufacturing Container or Tube From Paper; or Other Manufacturing From a Sheet or Web 1 0 1 0 0 2
585 Chemistry of Hydrocarbon Compounds 0 0 0 2 0 2
708 Arithmetic Processing and Calculating (Electrical Computers) 0 0 0 2 0 2
711 Memory (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) 0 2 0 0 0 2
714 Error Detection/Correction and Fault Detection/Recovery 2 0 0 0 0 2
725 Interactive Video Distribution Systems 0 0 2 0 0 2
007 Compound Hand Tools 0 0 0 1 0 1
038 Textiles: Ironing or Smoothing 0 0 0 0 1 1
044 Fuel and Related Compositions 0 0 1 0 0 1
048 Gas: Heating and Illuminating 0 0 0 0 1 1
054 Harness (for animals) 0 0 0 0 1 1
068 Textiles: Fluid Treating Apparatus 1 0 0 0 0 1
092 Expansible Chamber Devices 1 0 0 0 0 1
127 Sugar, Starch, and Carbohydrates 0 0 0 1 0 1
135 Tent, Canopy, Umbrella, or Cane 0 1 0 0 0 1
139 Textiles: Weaving 0 1 0 0 0 1
140 Wireworking 0 0 0 0 1 1
150 Purses, Wallets, and Protective Covers 0 0 0 0 1 1
160 Flexible or Portable Closure, Partition, or Panel 1 0 0 0 0 1
166 Wells (shafts or deep borings in the earth, e.g., for oil and gas) 0 0 1 0 0 1
169 Fire Extinguishers 0 0 1 0 0 1
173 Tool Driving or Impacting 0 1 0 0 0 1
178 Telegraphy 0 0 1 0 0 1
184 Lubrication 1 0 0 0 0 1
186 Merchandising 1 0 0 0 0 1
192 Clutches and Power-Stop Control 0 0 0 0 1 1
193 Conveyors, Chutes, Skids, Guides, and Ways 1 0 0 0 0 1
202 Distillation: Apparatus 1 0 0 0 0 1
216 Etching a Substrate: Processes 0 0 0 0 1 1
218 High-Voltage Switches with Arc Preventing or Extinguishing Devices 0 0 1 0 0 1
238 Railways: Surface Track 1 0 0 0 0 1
271 Sheet Feeding or Delivering 0 1 0 0 0 1
289 Knots and Knot Tying 1 0 0 0 0 1
303 Fluid-Pressure and Analogous Brake Systems 0 0 0 1 0 1
327 Miscellaneous Active Electrical Nonlinear Devices, Circuits, and Systems 0 0 0 0 1 1
369 Dynamic Information Storage or Retrieval 0 0 0 1 0 1
372 Coherent Light Generators 0 0 0 1 0 1
373 Industrial Electric Heating Furnaces 0 1 0 0 0 1
388 Electricity: Motor Control Systems 0 1 0 0 0 1
396 Photography 1 0 0 0 0 1
399 Electrophotography 0 0 0 0 1 1
401 Coating Implements with Material Supply 0 0 1 0 0 1
402 Binder Device Releasably Engaging Aperture or Notch of Sheet 0 0 0 1 0 1
406 Conveyors: Fluid Current 0 0 0 1 0 1
415 Rotary Kinetic Fluid Motors or Pumps 0 0 1 0 0 1
441 Buoys, Rafts, and Aquatic Devices 1 0 0 0 0 1
450 Foundation Garments 0 0 0 0 1 1
452 Butchering 0 0 0 1 0 1
463 Amusement Devices: Games 0 0 0 1 0 1
701 DP: Vehicles, Navigation, and Relative Location (Data Processing) 0 0 0 1 0 1
712 Processing Architectures and Instruction Processing, e.g., Processors (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) 0 1 0 0 0 1
717 DP: Software Development, Installation, and Management (Data Processing) 0 0 1 0 0 1
ALL ALL CLASSES 633 644 783 855 781 3696



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 30, 2001