Telecommunications Ranks as the #8 Technology Area in the 2019 Patent 300™ Report
By Rocky Berndsen
The 2019 Patent 300™ Report details the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining patents in the United States. Data from the report shows that nearly 70% of the U.S. patents obtained in 2018 were for electrical, software, or computer-related technologies. The top 10 technology areas, which represent 49% of the 167,164 U.S. patents obtained by Patent 300 companies in 2018, are dominated by electrical technologies.
As is shown in Chart 1, the Telecommunications technology area is the 8th largest technology area in 2018 with 4,761 patents issued for Patent 300 companies in the U.S. The Telecommunications technology area covers United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) technology classifications related to communications systems in which electric or electromagnetic signals are used to transmit modulated carrier wave information between points. The transmission media is via radio wave generally of a frequency above human speech, yet at a frequency lower than infrared frequencies. Radiotelephonic communication via wireless link is included in this class.
Chart 1 – Top 10 Technology Areas for Patent 300 (2018 U.S. Patents)
| Rank | Patent 300 Technology Area | 2018 U.S. Patents | Percentage of Total 2018 U.S. Patents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Semiconductors/Memory | 15,153 | 9% |
| 2 | Electrical Circuits and Systems | 13,215 | 8% |
| 3 | Multiplex and VoIP | 9,875 | 6% |
| 4 | Optics | 9,003 | 5% |
| 5 | Printing/Measuring and Testing | 8,641 | 5% |
| 6 | Thermal & Combustion Technology, Motive & Fluid Power Systems | 7,017 | 4% |
| 7 | Selective Visual Display Systems | 4,855 | 3% |
| 8 | Telecommunications: Analog Radio Telephone; Satellite and Power Control; Transceivers, Measuring and Testing; Bluetooth; Receivers and Transmitters; Equipment Details | 4,761 | 3% |
| 9 | Computer Networks | 4,544 | 3% |
| 10 | Cryptography and Security | 4,311 | 3% |
The top 20 companies in the Telecommunications area, shown in Chart 2, are large global technology companies. They include Samsung (#1), Huawei (#2), Qualcomm (#3), LG (#4) and others. Samsung tops the list having obtained 408 US patents, down slightly from 2017. Huawei had a 23% increase over 2017 at 284 US patents. Qualcomm, at 277, was down 38% from 2017. The top 20 companies represent a cross section of the technology sector. Included are device manufacturers, wireless carriers, and media companies.
Chart 2 – Top 20 Companies by U.S. Patents in Telecommunications
| Patent 300 Company Name | Patent 300 Rank in Telecom | Telecom Patents 2018 | % of Company’s 2018 U.S. Patents | Telecom Patents 2017 | Change from 2017 Patents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung | 1 | 408 | 5% | 412 | -1% |
| Huawei | 2 | 284 | 13% | 218 | 23% |
| Qualcomm | 3 | 277 | 12% | 382 | -38% |
| LG Electronics | 4 | 230 | 9% | 216 | 6% |
| AT&T | 5 | 220 | 17% | 214 | 3% |
| Ericsson | 6 | 206 | 15% | 282 | -37% |
| Intel | 7 | 183 | 5% | 225 | -23% |
| Apple | 8 | 182 | 8% | 224 | -23% |
| IBM | 9 | 167 | 2% | 198 | -19% |
| Sony | 10 | 115 | 5% | 138 | -20% |
| Nokia | 11 | 108 | 12% | 193 | -79% |
| Softbank | 12 | 103 | 15% | 106 | -3% |
| Microsoft | 13 | 97 | 4% | 93 | 4% |
| Verizon | 14 | 95 | 15% | 125 | -32% |
| Alphabet Inc. | 15 | 92 | 4% | 113 | -23% |
| Skyworks | 16 | 79 | 38% | 58 | 27% |
| Deutsche Telekom | 17 | 74 | 42% | 71 | 4% |
| Blackberry | 18 | 72 | 20% | 108 | -50% |
| ZTE | 19 | 67 | 14% | 81 | -21% |
| NEC | 20 | 65 | 8% | 88 | -35% |
For more detailed information about this technology area, or any other data related to the 2019 Patent 300™ Report, please visit harrityllp.com/patent300/ or contact Rocky Berndsen directly via email at rberndsen@harrityllp.com.