Printing or Measuring and Testing Ranks as the #4 Technology Area in the 2020 Patent 300®

The 2020 Patent 300® details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States. Data from the report shows that nearly 56% of patents obtained in the U.S. in 2019 were by Patent 300® companies.  The top 10 technology areas, which represent 47% of the 189,796 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300® companies in 2019, are again dominated by electrical technologies.

Chart 1 shows the Printing or Measuring, and Testing technology area ranked 4th largest in 2019. There were 10,383 patents issued for Patent 300® companies in the US. Printing or Measuring and Testing cover United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications related to Printing and Measuring Technology, respectively.

Printing patents include means adapted to produce characters or designs on surfaces by the impression of types or dies. Also included is applying coating material through the openings of a covering pattern sheet, such as stenciling. Printing patents also cover impression from graphic or intaglio surfaces. These patents include organizations using a design or character dies that emboss, burn, or perforate, and that apply ink.

Measuring and Testing is the generic class for processes and apparatus for measuring of any kind or for any testing. It includes all subjects not provided for in other classes. The term “test” includes inspection, processes, and apparatus for examination or review not covered by other classes. This class is the generic class for sampling and consists of all sampling apparatus and processes not otherwise classified.

Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300® (2019 U.S. Patents)

Rank	Patent 300 Technology Area	2019 U.S. Patents	Percentage of Total 2019 U.S. Patents
1	Semiconductors/Memory	15841	8%
2	Electrical Circuits and Systems	14269	8%
3	Multiplex and VoIP	10824	6%
4	Printing/Measuring and Testing	10383	6%
5	Optics	9830	5%
6	Selective Visual Display Systems	7338	4%
7	Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems	5951	3%
8	Computer Networks	5753	3%
9	Cryptography and Security	5016	3%
10	Telecommunications	4714	2%

The top 20 companies in the Printing or Measuring and Testing area, shown in Chart 2, are large global technology companies. They include Canon (#1), Seiko Epson (#2), Brother (#3), Siemens (#4), and others. Canon tops the list having obtained 1,009 US patents, up 20% from 2018. Seiko Epson had 493 US patents, a 1% decrease from last year. Brother Industries, at 462, was up 31% from 2018. The top 20 companies represent a cross-section of the technology sector. Included are device makers and software producers, auto makers, and electronics companies.

Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Printing or Measuring and Testing

Rank	Patent 300®	2019 Printing/Measuring and Testing Patents	% of Company's 2019 US Patents	2018 Printing/Measuring and Testing Patents	Change from 2018 Patents
1	Canon	1009	25%	843	20%
2	Seiko Epson	493	37%	496	-1%
3	Brother Industries	462	59%	353	31%
4	Siemens	346	21%	266	30%
5	HP Inc.	336	35%	310	8%
6	International Business Machines	273	3%	239	14%
7	General Electric	258	9%	212	22%
8	Samsung Electronics	244	3%	187	30%
9	Kyocera	241	22%	273	-12%
10	Toshiba	236	16%	263	-10%
11	Ricoh Company	232	23%	292	-21%
12	Halliburton	225	20%	124	81%
13	Konica Minolta	205	31%	174	18%
14	Fujifilm	186	14%	193	-4%
14	Schlumberger	186	22%	88	111%
16	Robert Bosch	138	11%	165	-16%
17	Cadence Design Systems	135	69%	55	145%
18	Honeywell	130	10%	70	86%
19	Hitachi	123	8%	114	8%
20	Intel	122	3%	79	54%

Printing or Measuring and Testing is an important technology area in the patent world with over 10,000 US patents in 2019 alone. Printing or Measuring and Testing technology affects companies in many industries around the globe. For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2020 Patent 300®, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/.