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 KOREA

(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
438 Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process 176 241 292 349 454 1512
365 Static Information Storage and Retrieval 120 185 207 240 216 968
257 Active Solid-State Devices (e.g., Transistors, Solid-State Diodes) 59 145 181 140 147 672
348 Television 89 100 104 82 84 459
375 Pulse or Digital Communications 43 80 77 76 89 365
369 Dynamic Information Storage or Retrieval 66 85 73 63 74 361
327 Miscellaneous Active Electrical Nonlinear Devices, Circuits, and Systems 31 55 79 91 101 357
360 Dynamic Magnetic Information Storage or Retrieval 55 92 68 55 46 316
062 Refrigeration 31 88 92 64 31 306
345 Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems 17 57 66 68 94 302
349 Liquid Crystal Cells, Elements and Systems 18 62 62 73 84 299
359 Optics: Systems (Including Communication) and Elements 41 70 54 71 48 284
430 Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product Thereof 34 70 58 51 58 271
219 Electric Heating 27 49 65 52 34 227
313 Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices 30 49 42 42 60 223
370 Multiplex Communications 19 36 46 53 63 217
399 Electrophotography 18 35 72 41 50 216
361 Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices 24 48 43 36 52 203
455 Telecommunications 5 18 45 58 76 202
424 Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions (includes Class 514) 31 31 39 44 47 192
520 Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers (includes Classes 520-528) 26 31 29 55 46 187
532 Organic Compounds (includes Classes 532-570) 21 29 35 52 48 185
382 Image Analysis 9 39 60 39 32 179
386 Television Signal Processing for Dynamic Recording or Reproducing 41 41 35 26 24 167
379 Telephonic Communications 6 46 64 28 11 155
714 Error Detection/Correction and Fault Detection/Recovery 10 32 41 37 34 154
068 Textiles: Fluid Treating Apparatus 28 40 43 14 8 133
315 Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Systems 15 29 32 18 39 133
341 Coded Data Generation or Conversion 29 31 26 27 20 133
713 Support (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) 3 19 38 37 25 122
340 Communications: Electrical 13 23 36 29 16 117
358 Facsimile and Static Presentation Processing 10 26 31 28 22 117
710 Input/Output (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) 8 25 31 28 22 114
347 Incremental Printing of Symbolic Information 9 16 22 36 30 113
318 Electricity: Motive Power Systems 16 30 31 16 19 112
385 Optical Waveguides 3 19 11 31 42 106
073 Measuring and Testing 8 33 23 15 22 101
435 Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology 8 15 29 14 32 98
428 Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles 12 10 19 28 28 97
363 Electric Power Conversion Systems 16 20 32 10 16 94
310 Electrical Generator or Motor Structure 5 26 27 12 17 87
427 Coating Processes 11 18 20 24 11 84
324 Electricity: Measuring and Testing 11 18 10 20 22 81
250 Radiant Energy 8 16 19 13 20 76
118 Coating Apparatus 5 16 16 22 16 75
156 Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture 5 16 14 20 20 75
475 Planetary Gear Transmission Systems or Components 10 16 29 7 12 74
326 Electronic Digital Logic Circuitry 9 13 8 16 26 72
242 Winding, Tensioning, or Guiding 17 25 15 7 7 71
708 Arithmetic Processing and Calculating (Electrical Computers) 8 18 23 8 14 71
429 Chemistry: Electrical Current Producing Apparatus, Product, and Process 7 13 14 10 25 69
210 Liquid Purification or Separation 12 22 15 5 14 68
700 DP: Generic Control Systems or Specific Applications (Data Processing) 5 8 12 14 28 67
417 Pumps 8 20 15 11 12 66
029 Metal Working 6 17 11 11 16 61
280 Land Vehicles 19 10 7 17 8 61
477 Interrelated Power Delivery Controls, Including Engine Control 16 15 22 3 5 61
704 DP: Speech Signal Processing, Linguistics, Language Translation, and Audio Compression/Decompression (Data Processing) 10 18 10 16 7 61
123 Internal-Combustion Engines 16 15 10 8 10 59
165 Heat Exchange 11 15 21 9 3 59
701 DP: Vehicles, Navigation, and Relative Location (Data Processing) 6 9 14 14 16 59
015 Brushing, Scrubbing, and General Cleaning 5 15 22 8 6 56
711 Memory (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) 4 8 12 15 15 54
320 Electricity: Battery or Capacitor Charging or Discharging 10 9 15 11 7 52
343 Communications: Radio Wave Antennas 2 9 7 13 21 52
271 Sheet Feeding or Delivering 4 3 14 18 12 51
356 Optics: Measuring and Testing 7 22 6 13 3 51
396 Photography 14 13 12 7 5 51
445 Electric Lamp or Space Discharge Component or Device Manufacturing 4 11 9 14 13 51
137 Fluid Handling 12 15 11 6 6 50
204 Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy 12 9 4 14 10 49
264 Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes 6 13 11 3 15 48
134 Cleaning and Liquid Contact with Solids 3 12 16 8 8 47
381 Electrical Audio Signal Processing Systems and Devices 7 15 10 8 5 45
074 Machine Element or Mechanism 4 12 9 8 11 44
252 Compositions 2 9 16 5 12 44
323 Electricity: Power Supply or Regulation Systems 12 10 8 6 8 44
439 Electrical Connectors 5 3 12 13 11 44
501 Compositions: Ceramic 6 9 11 10 8 44
216 Etching a Substrate: Processes 6 14 9 9 5 43
128 Surgery (includes Class 600) 5 7 6 14 9 41
372 Coherent Light Generators 8 12 8 7 5 40
400 Typewriting Machines 3 12 11 10 4 40
454 Ventilation 6 17 7 6 4 40
248 Supports (e.g., for holding articles, etc.) 7 9 6 10 6 38
414 Material or Article Handling 7 9 10 6 6 38
002 Apparel 2 4 7 15 9 37
312 Supports: Cabinet Structure 7 14 10 3 3 37
330 Amplifiers 3 5 8 14 7 37
331 Oscillators 6 10 6 9 6 37
008 Bleaching and Dyeing; Fluid Treatment and Chemical Modification of Textiles and Fibers 7 7 11 6 3 34
148 Metal Treatment 6 7 9 5 7 34
296 Land Vehicles: Bodies and Tops 1 5 1 8 19 34
502 Catalyst, Solid Sorbent, or Support Therefor: Product or Process of Making 5 6 5 8 10 34
187 Elevator, Industrial Lift Truck, or Stationary Lift for Vehicle 1 2 13 7 10 33
725 Interactive Video Distribution Systems 4 6 4 11 8 33
174 Electricity: Conductors and Insulators 2 4 6 8 12 32
423 Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds 1 8 9 5 9 32
099 Foods and Beverages: Apparatus 7 7 5 6 6 31
333 Wave Transmission Lines and Networks 2 6 6 10 7 31
702 DP: Measuring, Calibrating, or Testing (Data Processing) 4 4 8 10 5 31
709 Multiple Computer or Process Coordinating (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) 2 7 8 6 8 31
180 Motor Vehicles 3 11 8 3 4 29
206 Special Receptacle or Package 6 5 4 6 8 29
228 Metal Fusion Bonding 3 2 6 12 6 29
426 Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, and Products 2 7 4 6 9 28
353 Optics: Image Projectors 10 9 5 1 2 27
384 Bearings 1 4 16 6 0 27
016 Miscellaneous Hardware 1 3 6 9 7 26
451 Abrading 3 3 6 3 11 26
707 DP: Database and File Management, Data Structures, Or Document Processing (Data Processing) 0 3 7 6 10 26
362 Illumination 6 4 5 5 5 25
473 Games Using Tangible Projectile 2 7 9 1 5 24
060 Power Plants 5 5 5 1 7 23
307 Electrical Transmission or Interconnection Systems 2 8 6 5 2 23
418 Rotary Expansible Chamber Devices 6 5 0 7 5 23
222 Dispensing (apparatus and process) 1 5 11 2 3 22
235 Registers (e.g., cash registers, calculators, devices for counting movements of devices, etc.) 0 6 3 9 4 22
380 Cryptography 2 9 5 4 2 22
117 Single-Crystal, Oriented-Crystal, and Epitaxy Growth Processes; Non-Coating Apparatus Therefor 1 3 7 4 6 21
303 Fluid-Pressure and Analogous Brake Systems 9 4 2 2 4 21
070 Locks 3 4 4 5 4 20
422 Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing 2 4 5 1 7 19
434 Education and Demonstration 3 5 4 3 4 19
606 Surgery (instruments) 4 7 3 2 3 19
712 Processing Architectures and Instruction Processing, e.g., Processors (Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems) 1 5 4 5 4 19
034 Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact with Solids 4 2 3 7 2 18
075 Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures 2 3 5 1 7 18
084 Music 6 3 4 2 3 18
132 Toilet 2 1 2 7 6 18
706 DP: Artificial Intelligence (Data Processing) 6 10 0 1 1 18
052 Static Structures (e.g., Buildings) 3 1 3 4 6 17
297 Chairs and Seats 1 5 5 0 6 17
342 Communications: Directive Radio Wave Systems and Devices (e.g., Radar, Radio Navigation) 1 2 4 3 7 17
355 Photocopying 4 5 3 3 2 17
420 Alloys or Metallic Compositions 3 4 5 3 2 17
431 Combustion 2 4 4 3 4 17
192 Clutches and Power-Stop Control 6 4 3 1 2 16
200 Electricity: Circuit Makers and Breakers 0 3 7 2 4 16
220 Receptacles 2 5 2 1 6 16
425 Plastic Article or Earthenware Shaping or Treating: Apparatus 1 4 5 5 1 16
072 Metal Deforming 3 4 3 3 2 15
198 Conveyors: Power-Driven 0 4 6 3 2 15
065 Glass Manufacturing 2 0 7 3 2 14
188 Brakes 1 3 2 1 7 14
211 Supports: Racks 1 7 2 0 4 14
236 Automatic Temperature and Humidity Regulation 0 7 5 1 1 14
251 Valves and Valve Actuation 2 2 3 5 2 14
294 Handling: Hand and Hoist-Line Implements 1 3 1 7 2 14
336 Inductor Devices 3 5 3 2 1 14
392 Electric Resistance Heating Devices 0 4 2 3 5 14
419 Powder Metallurgy Processes 2 2 6 3 1 14
055 Gas Separation 2 1 3 4 3 13
135 Tent, Canopy, Umbrella, or Cane 3 4 2 2 2 13
205 Electrolysis: Processes, Compositions Used Therein, and Methods of Preparing the Compositions 2 3 5 0 3 13
292 Closure Fasteners 6 1 4 1 1 13
024 Buckles, Buttons, Clasps, Etc. 0 4 4 0 4 12
095 Gas Separation: Processes 1 2 5 3 1 12
181 Acoustics 3 3 1 2 3 12
224 Package and Article Carriers 0 3 4 3 2 12
338 Electrical Resistors 0 2 2 6 2 12
376 Induced Nuclear Reactions: Processes, Systems, and Elements 1 4 2 2 3 12
377 Electrical Pulse Counters, Pulse Dividers, or Shift Registers: Circuits and Systems 1 5 3 2 1 12
510 Cleaning Compositions for Solid Surfaces, Auxiliary Compositions Therefor, or Processes of Preparing the Compositions 0 2 3 2 5 12
036 Boots, Shoes, and Leggings 0 2 4 3 2 11
053 Package Making 1 0 1 2 7 11
091 Motors: Expansible Chamber Type 4 6 1 0 0 11
184 Lubrication 1 1 3 2 4 11
221 Article Dispensing 0 0 3 4 4 11
415 Rotary Kinetic Fluid Motors or Pumps 0 2 4 2 3 11
432 Heating 1 3 3 2 2 11
530 Chemistry: Natural Resins or Derivatives; Peptides or Proteins; Lignins or Reaction Products Thereof 1 1 4 0 5 11
800 Multicellular Living Organisms and Unmodified Parts Thereof and Related Processes 2 2 2 2 3 11
033 Geometrical Instruments 1 0 1 4 4 10
049 Movable or Removable Closures 1 4 0 5 0 10
096 Gas Separation: Apparatus 1 2 3 3 1 10
101 Printing 0 2 5 1 2 10
106 Compositions: Coating or Plastic 1 0 5 2 2 10
239 Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing 1 1 2 3 3 10
285 Pipe Joints or Couplings 1 2 2 3 2 10
374 Thermal Measuring and Testing 1 3 3 2 1 10
433 Dentistry 0 1 2 2 5 10
474 Endless Belt Power Transmission Systems or Components 1 4 2 2 1 10
164 Metal Founding 4 1 0 1 3 9
266 Metallurgical Apparatus 1 0 1 3 4 9
351 Optics: Eye Examining, Vision Testing and Correcting 1 0 2 3 3 9
403 Joints and Connections 1 3 2 1 2 9
416 Fluid Reaction Surfaces (i.e., Impellers) 2 0 1 0 6 9
607 Surgery: Light, Thermal, and Electrical Application 1 0 0 3 5 9
083 Cutting 0 2 1 2 3 8
092 Expansible Chamber Devices 1 1 3 0 3 8
119 Animal Husbandry 2 1 1 4 0 8
162 Paper Making and Fiber Liberation 0 3 0 2 3 8
332 Modulators 2 3 1 1 1 8
335 Electricity: Magnetically Operated Switches, Magnets, and Electromagnets 0 3 2 1 2 8
378 X-Ray or Gamma Ray Systems or Devices 0 2 3 0 3 8
436 Chemistry: Analytical and Immunological Testing 0 1 2 3 2 8
504 Plant Protecting and Regulating Compositions 3 3 0 0 2 8
604 Surgery (Medicators and Receptors) 0 0 5 1 2 8
004 Baths, Closets, Sinks, and Spittoons 0 1 2 1 3 7
110 Furnaces 0 3 1 0 3 7
126 Stoves and Furnaces 1 2 0 2 2 7
226 Advancing Material of Indeterminate Length 0 6 0 0 1 7
267 Spring Devices 1 1 0 3 2 7
446 Amusement Devices: Toys 0 3 0 1 3 7
585 Chemistry of Hydrocarbon Compounds 1 0 3 2 1 7
716 DP: Design and Analysis of Circuit or Semiconductor Mask (Data Processing) 0 2 1 3 1 7
717 DP: Software Development, Installation, and Management (Data Processing) 0 0 3 1 3 7
030 Cutlery 0 0 1 0 5 6
089 Ordnance 1 2 2 0 1 6
122 Liquid Heaters and Vaporizers 1 2 3 0 0 6
141 Fluent Material Handling, with Receiver or Receiver Coacting Means 1 2 0 2 1 6
150 Purses, Wallets, and Protective Covers 0 0 0 3 3 6
173 Tool Driving or Impacting 0 1 0 3 2 6
218 High-Voltage Switches with Arc Preventing or Extinguishing Devices 0 0 5 1 0 6
223 Apparel Apparatus 0 0 1 3 2 6
269 Work Holders 0 2 3 1 0 6
401 Coating Implements with Material Supply 0 0 1 3 2 6
505 Superconductor Technology: Apparatus, Material, Process 2 1 1 2 0 6
623 Prosthesis (i.e., Artificial Body Members), Parts Thereof, or Aids and Accessories Therefor 0 1 1 1 3 6
037 Excavating 1 3 1 0 0 5
057 Textiles: Spinning, Twisting, and Twining 0 0 0 1 4 5
066 Textiles: Knitting 0 1 0 2 2 5
215 Bottles and Jars 1 2 0 1 1 5
227 Elongated-Member-Driving Apparatus 1 2 0 1 1 5
241 Solid Material Comminution or Disintegration 0 2 1 0 2 5
261 Gas and Liquid Contact Apparatus 1 2 2 0 0 5
273 Amusement Devices: Games 0 0 3 0 2 5
368 Horology: Time Measuring Systems or Devices 1 1 0 0 3 5
404 Road Structure, Process, or Apparatus 0 1 2 2 0 5
409 Gear Cutting, Milling, or Planing 0 1 2 1 1 5
463 Amusement Devices: Games 2 0 1 1 1 5
601 Surgery: Kinesitherapy 1 0 2 1 1 5
005 Beds 2 0 0 2 0 4
044 Fuel and Related Compositions 0 0 2 2 0 4
071 Chemistry: Fertilizers 2 0 0 1 1 4
081 Tools 1 0 0 1 2 4
108 Horizontally Supported Planar Surfaces 0 1 0 1 2 4
178 Telegraphy 2 0 1 1 0 4
191 Electricity: Transmission To Vehicles 2 0 0 0 2 4
194 Check-Actuated Control Mechanisms 0 0 4 0 0 4
244 Aeronautics 0 3 0 1 0 4
270 Sheet-Material Associating 2 0 1 0 1 4
367 Communications, Electrical: Acoustic Wave Systems and Devices 0 0 2 0 2 4
442 Fabric (Woven, Knitted, or Nonwoven Textile or Cloth, Etc.) 0 0 3 1 0 4
482 Exercise Devices 0 0 0 1 3 4
483 Tool Changing 1 2 0 0 1 4
703 DP: Structural Design, Modeling, Simulation, and Emulation (Data Processing) 1 0 1 1 1 4
705 DP: Financial, Business Practice, Management, or Cost/Price Determination (Data Processing) 0 0 0 3 1 4
040 Card, Picture, or Sign Exhibiting 0 0 1 0 2 3
112 Sewing 0 0 0 0 3 3
138 Pipes and Tubular Conduits 0 0 0 1 2 3
144 Woodworking 0 0 2 1 0 3
160 Flexible or Portable Closure, Partition, or Panel 3 0 0 0 0 3
169 Fire Extinguishers 0 1 0 2 0 3
209 Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids 0 0 0 1 2 3
229 Envelopes, Wrappers, and Paperboard Boxes 0 0 0 2 1 3
281 Books, Strips, and Leaves 1 1 0 1 0 3
293 Vehicle Fenders 0 1 0 2 0 3
329 Demodulators 1 1 0 1 0 3
366 Agitating (e.g., of articles and materials) 0 1 0 0 2 3
405 Hydraulic and Earth Engineering 0 0 0 1 2 3
408 Cutting by Use of Rotating Axially Moving Tool 0 0 2 0 1 3
508 Solid Anti-Friction Devices, Materials Therefor, Lubricant or Separate Compositions for Moving Solid Surfaces, and Miscellaneous Mineral Oil Compositions 1 1 0 0 1 3
602 Surgery: Splint, Brace, or Bandage 0 2 0 0 1 3
001 ** Classification Undetermined ** 1 0 0 0 1 2
014 Bridges 1 0 1 0 0 2
043 Fishing, Trapping, and Vermin Destroying 2 0 0 0 0 2
100 Presses 2 0 0 0 0 2
102 Ammunition and Explosives 0 1 0 0 1 2
104 Railways 0 1 0 0 1 2
124 Mechanical Guns and Projectors 0 0 0 0 2 2
131 Tobacco 0 0 1 1 0 2
136 Batteries: Thermoelectric and Photoelectric 0 0 2 0 0 2
140 Wireworking 0 0 1 1 0 2
152 Resilient Tires and Wheels 1 0 0 0 1 2
172 Earth Working 0 2 0 0 0 2
177 Weighing Scales 0 1 0 1 0 2
203 Distillation: Processes, Separatory 1 0 1 0 0 2
208 Mineral Oils: Processes and Products 0 0 1 0 1 2
277 Seal for a Joint or Juncture 1 0 0 1 0 2
290 Prime-Mover Dynamo Plants 0 1 0 0 1 2
299 Mining or In Situ Disintegration of Hard Material 2 0 0 0 0 2
301 Land Vehicles: Wheels and Axles 0 1 1 0 0 2
407 Cutters, for Shaping 0 0 1 0 1 2
450 Foundation Garments 0 0 0 1 1 2
464 Rotary Shafts, Gudgeons, Housings, and Flexible Couplings for Rotary Shafts 0 1 0 0 1 2
019 Textiles: Fiber Preparation 1 0 0 0 0 1
028 Textiles: Manufacturing 1 0 0 0 0 1
042 Firearms 0 0 1 0 0 1
047 Plant Husbandry 0 0 1 0 0 1
059 Chain, Staple, and Horseshoe Making 1 0 0 0 0 1
063 Jewelry 0 1 0 0 0 1
082 Turning (e.g., for metal working) 0 0 1 0 0 1
125 Stone Working 0 0 0 1 0 1
139 Textiles: Weaving 0 0 1 0 0 1
182 Fire Escape, Ladder, or Scaffold 0 0 1 0 0 1
196 Mineral Oils: Apparatus 0 0 1 0 0 1
213 Railway Draft Appliances 0 0 0 0 1 1
225 Severing by Tearing or Breaking 0 0 0 0 1 1
237 Heating Systems 0 0 1 0 0 1
238 Railways: Surface Track 0 0 0 1 0 1
249 Static Molds 1 0 0 0 0 1
256 Fences 0 0 0 0 1 1
283 Printed Matter 1 0 0 0 0 1
337 Electricity: Electrothermally or Thermally Actuated Switches 0 1 0 0 0 1
346 Recorders 0 0 0 0 1 1
411 Expanded, Threaded, Driven, Headed, Tool-Deformed, or Locked-Threaded Fastener 0 0 0 1 0 1
440 Marine Propulsion 0 0 0 1 0 1
453 Coin Handling 0 0 0 0 1 1
518 Chemistry: Fischer-Tropsch Processes; or Purification or Recovery of Products Thereof 0 0 0 0 1 1
588 Hazardous or Toxic Waste Destruction or Containment 0 0 0 1 0 1
ALL ALL CLASSES 1891 3259 3562 3314 3538 15564



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Questions regarding these reports should be directed to:

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Information Products Division - TAF Branch
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tel: (703) 306-2600
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Last Modified: April 9, 2002