List of prolific inventors

Last updated

The 100 known most prolific inventors based on worldwide utility patents are shown in the following table. While in many cases this is the number of utility patents granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, it may include utility patents granted by other countries, as noted by the source references for an inventor.

Contents

Prolific Inventors

InventorPatsFamsFam %Pat YrsYrsPat /YrInv /PatPat ResidenceMajority Assignment
Shunpei Yamazaki [1] 6443284844.2%1972—202452.61223.6Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Semiconductor Energy Laboratory
Kia Silverbrook [2] 4747131127.6%1994—2014202371.6Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Silverbrook Research
Tao Luo [3] 3566299684.0%2006—202418.51935.6Flag of the United States.svg  USA Qualcomm
Kangguo Cheng [4] 2758151454.9%2004—2024201383.9Flag of the United States.svg  USA IBM
Frederick E. Shelton IV [5] 2430113746.8%2005—202419.41254.5Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ethicon
Junyi Li [6] 2286193584.6%2002—2024221045.2Flag of the United States.svg  USA Qualcomm
Peter Gaal [7] 2229171376.9%2002—202422.31005.9Flag of the United States.svg  USA Qualcomm
Wanshi Chen [8] 2088161377.3%2009—202415.61345.7Flag of the United States.svg  USA Qualcomm
Lowell L. Wood, Jr. [9] 1996132566.4%1971—202452.5388.8Flag of the United States.svg  USA Intellectual Ventures
Roderick A. Hyde [10] 1891125266.2%2001—202322.4848.7Flag of the United States.svg  USA Intellectual Ventures
Chen-Hua Yu [11] 176594753.7%1996—202428.5624.9Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan TSMC
Xiaoxia Zhang [12] 1709147786.4%2009—202415.91075.5Flag of the United States.svg  USA Qualcomm
Hanbyul Seo [13] 1678123673.7%2012—202412.61333.8Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea LG
Esmael H. Dinan [14] 162968442.0%2006—202418.4893.6Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ofinno
Jun Koyama [15] 149461841.4%1991—202230.8493.1Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Semiconductor Energy Laboratory
Gurtej Singh Sandhu [16] 142758440.9%1991—202432.5442.5Flag of the United States.svg  USA Micron
Jing Sun [17] 1426120584.5%2012—202411.91205.9Flag of the United States.svg  USA Qualcomm
Sarbajit K. Rakshit [18] 1333111283.4%2013—202411.91123.4Flag of India.svg  India IBM
Shou-Shan Fan [19] 1307109383.6%2006—202418.5714.2Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Hon Hai
Paul Lapstun [20] 130524618.9%2000—202221.4612.5Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Silverbrook Research
Alexander Reznicek [21] 125375159.9%2006—202418.6673.9Flag of the United States.svg  USA IBM
Clarence T. Tegreene [22] 124890372.4%2000—202423.55310.1Flag of the United States.svg  USA Intellectual Ventures
Shan Liu [23] 124381965.9%2013—202411.21113.4Flag of the United States.svg  USA Tencent
Satoshi Seo [24] 119356547.4%2002—202422544.1Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Semiconductor Energy Laboratory
Suckchel Yang [25] 118676464.4%2013—202411.41044.7Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea LG
Kijun Kim [26] 115180069.5%2013—2024111054.6Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea LG
Joonkui Ahn [27] 112272864.9%2013—202411.3994.7Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea LG
Edward K. Y. Jung [28] 111179471.5%1996—202226.1438.0Flag of the United States.svg  USA Intellectual Ventures
Juan Montojo [29] 111090781.7%2004—202420.7546.9Flag of the United States.svg  USA Qualcomm
Leonard Forbes [30] 110941137.1%1975—201943.3262.6Flag of the United States.svg  USA Micron
Thomas Edison [31] 1084NANA1869—193363.9171.0Flag of the United States.svg  USA Thomas Edison
Marta Karczewicz [32] 106887882.2%2000—202423.9454.0Flag of the United States.svg  USA Qualcomm
Rick Allen Hamilton II [33] 106371467.2%1999—202425434.2Flag of the United States.svg  USA IBM
Jason L. Harris [34] 105561458.2%2011—202413.8766.0Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ethicon
Ruilong Xie [35] 103777474.6%2013—202411.8884.2Flag of the United States.svg  USA IBM
Takahiro Nishi [36] 102736235.2%2001—202423.3446.3Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Panasonic
Tingfang Ji [37] 101575474.3%2006—202418.3556.9Flag of the United States.svg  USA Qualcomm
Jason K. Resch [38] 101350750.0%2009—202415.2674.2Flag of the United States.svg  USA IBM
Donald E. Weder [39] 100039539.5%1978—201537.1271.1Flag of the United States.svg  USA Weder Family Trust
Michael J. Sullivan [40] 99453453.7%1989—202434.5293.8Flag of the United States.svg  USA Acushnet Holdings
George Albert Lyon [41] 993NANA1901—196564.5151.0Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Lyon George Albert
Jordin T. Kare [42] 98964064.7%1992—202330.5329.1Flag of the United States.svg  USA Intellectual Ventures
Yunjung Yi [43] 98569570.6%2015—20248.91113.3Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea LG
Jay S. Walker [44] 97942243.1%1998—202426.3375.2Flag of the United States.svg  USA Walker Digital
Ahmadreza Rofougaran [45] 96246748.5%2002—202422.4436.4Flag of the United States.svg  USA Broadcom
Seungmin Lee [46] 95970873.8%2014—202410.1953.5Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea LG
John F. O'Connor [47] 949NANA1901—193533.928NAFlag of the United States.svg  USA William H. Miner
Melvin De Groote [48] 925NANA1924—196641.822NAFlag of the United States.svg  USA Petrolite
David R. Hall [49] 91876082.8%1985—202439.4233.8Flag of the United States.svg  USA Hall Labs
Hao Xu [50] 91665471.4%2005—202419.6474.7Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Qualcomm
Nathan Myhrvold [51] 90561367.7%1994—202429.73011.1Flag of the United States.svg  USA Intellectual Ventures
William H. Eby [52] 89989599.6%1994—202430.2301.2Flag of the United States.svg  USA Monsanto
Francis H. Richards [53] 894NANA1899—193030.829NAFlag of the United States.svg  USA Francis H. Richards
Hajime Kimura [54] 89328331.7%2002—202422412.6Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Semiconductor Energy Laboratory
Mark Malamud [55] 88669077.9%1997—202225.1357.5Flag of the United States.svg  USA Intellectual Ventures
Hongyuan Zhang [56] 87247754.7%2009—202415.5563.9Flag of the United States.svg  USA Marvell
Robert W. Lord [57] 86768278.7%2003—202420.4427.6Flag of the United States.svg  USA Intellectual Ventures
Royce A. Levien [58] 85566677.9%1997—202023.4376.8Flag of the United States.svg  USA Intellectual Ventures
Chih-Chao Yang [59] 84052462.4%2003—202420.9403.4Flag of the United States.svg  USA IBM
Muriel Y. Ishikawa [60] 83956066.7%2002—202321.24011.1Flag of the United States.svg  USA Intellectual Ventures
Lee D. Whetsel [61] 83812815.3%1991—201726.4321.1Flag of the United States.svg  USA Texas Instruments
Michael K. Gschwind [62] 83644252.9%2001—202120.6412.6Flag of the United States.svg  USA IBM
Clifford A. Pickover [63] 83654865.6%1992—202432.2263.9Flag of the United States.svg  USA IBM
Yan Zhou [64] 81572789.2%2012—202412.2674.4Flag of the United States.svg  USA Qualcomm
Devendra K. Sadana [65] 81445856.3%1983—202441.7204.3Flag of the United States.svg  USA IBM
Stuart C. Salter [66] 79975194.0%2009—202414.9544.8Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ford
Youngdae Lee [67] 79662678.6%2014—202410.6753.1Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea LG
SungDuck Chun [68] 79548661.1%2007—202417473.8Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea LG
Salman Akram [69] 78429137.1%1995—202429.4272.9Flag of the United States.svg  USA Micron
Hsien-Wei Chen [70] 78138048.7%2005—202419.5403.5Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan TSMC
Warren M. Farnworth [71] 77428937.3%1990—202024.4322.8Flag of the United States.svg  USA Micron
Justin T. Mason [72] 77477099.5%2008—202416481.0Flag of the United States.svg  USA MS Technologies
James A. Jorasch [73] 77130940.1%1994—202329273.9Flag of the United States.svg  USA Walker Digital
Satoshi Nagata [74] 77073395.2%2011—202413.1594.0Flag of Japan.svg  Japan NTT
Bruce B. Doris [75] 76343356.7%1995—202328.6274.2Flag of the United States.svg  USA IBM
Kyungmin Park [76] 76239451.7%2014—202410.6725.2Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ofinno
Jeyhan Karaoguz [77] 75737149.0%1996—202023.8324.6Flag of the United States.svg  USA Broadcom
Carleton Ellis [78] 753NANA1902—194643.117NAFlag of the United States.svg  USA Ellis Foster Co
Xue Dong [79] 75273197.2%2010—202413.9547.4Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China BOE
Ali Khakifirooz [80] 75140754.2%2011—202412.9584.2Flag of the United States.svg  USA IBM
John M. Santosuosso [81] 73846663.1%2001—202220.7363.9Flag of the United States.svg  USA IBM
Hideo Ando [82] 73312316.8%1983—202036.7203.1Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Toshiba
Frederick A. Ware [83] 73122731.1%1981—202442.8172.8Flag of the United States.svg  USA Rambus
Shougo Sato [84] 73028238.6%1992—202432.1231.8Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Brother
Jean-Philippe M. Vasseur [85] 72959281.2%2006—202418.6392.6Flag of France.svg  France Cisco Systems
George Spector [86] 723723100%1974—199824.6292.1Flag of the United States.svg  USA George Spector
Austin L. Gurney [87] 71818225.3%1999—202121.6332.9Flag of the United States.svg  USA Genentech
Lisa Seacat DeLuca [88] 71251672.5%2009—202415.7452.7Flag of the United States.svg  USA IBM
Gregory J. Boss [89] 71048768.6%2008—202416.6434.2Flag of the United States.svg  USA IBM
Chung-Shi Liu [90] 70338054.1%2000—202424.9286.1Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan TSMC
Tetsujiro Kondo [91] 70052875.4%1987—202134213.8Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Sony
Elihu Thomson [92] 696NANA1899—193535.919NAFlag of the United States.svg  USA GE
Hua Zhou [93] 68839357.1%2012—202412.8545.5Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ofinno
Irwin Gerszberg [94] 68231245.7%1994—202329.2236.8Flag of the United States.svg  USA AT&T
Eric C. Leuthardt [95] 68045967.5%2006—202417.8389.1Flag of the United States.svg  USA Intellectual Ventures
Woosuk Ko [96] 67327240.4%2015—20249.6703.4Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea LG
Xiaochuan Chen [97] 66364497.1%2014—202410.4647.0Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China BOE
Toshiyasu Sugio [98] 66024036.4%2009—202415.2434.9Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Panasonic
Aleksandar Damnjanovic [99] 65848373.4%2003—202421.2314.4Flag of the United States.svg  USA Qualcomm
Paul S. Henry [100] 65730145.8%1978—202344.9156.3Flag of the United States.svg  USA AT&T

This table is usually updated every Tuesday, and is current as of December 3,2024.

The columns are defined as follows:

Significance of inventions

This table is a sortable list of the most prolific inventors as measured by utility patents granted. It does not include other types of invention, such as inventions that were never applied for nor granted, for which there is no known source. Nor does the table attempt to measure the significance of an inventor and their inventions. The significance of inventions is often not apparent until many decades after the invention has been made. For recent inventors, it is not yet possible to determine their place in history.

Various published lists

Rankings of prolific inventors have been published at various times. However, until the patent records were digitized, these lists were very tedious to prepare, as many thousands of patent records had to be checked manually. Even after digitization, it is still not a simple process. While the USPTO keeps statistics for annual rankings of inventions assigned to companies, it no longer publishes rankings of individual inventors. The last such list was published by the USPTO in 1998. [Info 1] Also, patents predating 1976 have not yet been digitized in the USPTO records. This means that patents before 1976 will not be included in a USPTO search by inventor name, and the number of patents granted before 1976 must be added to current searches.

A more extensive list of prolific inventors with additional information and ability to filter on country, gender, time period, patent type, and Nobel laureate title can be found at idiyas.com/top/inventors . There are some discrepancies with this article due to different inventor queries that attempt to account for data issues such as typos and multiple inventors with the same name.

See also

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In United States patent law, utility is a patentability requirement. As provided by 35 U.S.C. § 101, an invention is "useful" if it provides some identifiable benefit and is capable of use and "useless" otherwise. The majority of inventions are usually not challenged as lacking utility, but the doctrine prevents the patenting of fantastic or hypothetical devices such as perpetual motion machines.

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Under United States patent law, a continuing patent application is a patent application that follows, and claims priority to, an earlier-filed patent application. A continuing patent application may be one of three types: a continuation, divisional, or continuation-in-part. Although continuation and continuation-in-part applications are generally available in the U.S. only, divisional patent applications are also available in other countries, as such availability is required under Article 4G of the Paris Convention.

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The Leahy–Smith America Invents Act (AIA) is a United States federal statute that was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama on September 16, 2011. The law represents the most significant legislative change to the U.S. patent system since the Patent Act of 1952 and closely resembles previously proposed legislation in the Senate in its previous session.

References

  1. ↑ "USPTO publication: Prolific Inventors Receiving Utility Patents 1988–1997" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-05-02. Retrieved 2011-07-12.

References of Inventors' Patents

  1. ↑ Shunpei Yamazaki
  2. ↑ Kia Silverbrook
  3. ↑ Tao Luo
  4. ↑ Kangguo Cheng
  5. ↑ Frederick E. Shelton IV
  6. ↑ Junyi Li
  7. ↑ Peter Gaal
  8. ↑ Wanshi Chen
  9. ↑ Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  10. ↑ Roderick A. Hyde
  11. ↑ Chen-Hua Yu
  12. ↑ Xiaoxia Zhang
  13. ↑ Hanbyul Seo
  14. ↑ Esmael H. Dinan
  15. ↑ Jun Koyama
  16. ↑ Gurtej Singh Sandhu
  17. ↑ Jing Sun
  18. ↑ Sarbajit K. Rakshit
  19. ↑ Shou-Shan Fan
  20. ↑ Paul Lapstun
  21. ↑ Alexander Reznicek
  22. ↑ Clarence T. Tegreene
  23. ↑ Shan Liu
  24. ↑ Satoshi Seo
  25. ↑ Suckchel Yang
  26. ↑ Kijun Kim
  27. ↑ Joonkui Ahn
  28. ↑ Edward K. Y. Jung
  29. ↑ Juan Montojo
  30. ↑ Leonard Forbes
  31. ↑ Thomas Edison
  32. ↑ Marta Karczewicz
  33. ↑ Rick Allen Hamilton II
  34. ↑ Jason L. Harris
  35. ↑ Ruilong Xie
  36. ↑ Takahiro Nishi
  37. ↑ Tingfang Ji
  38. ↑ Jason K. Resch
  39. ↑ Donald E. Weder
  40. ↑ Michael J. Sullivan
  41. ↑ George Albert Lyon
  42. ↑ Jordin T. Kare
  43. ↑ Yunjung Yi
  44. ↑ Jay S. Walker
  45. ↑ Ahmadreza Rofougaran
  46. ↑ Seungmin Lee
  47. ↑ John F. O'Connor
  48. ↑ Melvin De Groote
  49. ↑ David R. Hall
  50. ↑ Hao Xu
  51. ↑ Nathan Myhrvold
  52. ↑ William H. Eby
  53. ↑ Francis H. Richards
  54. ↑ Hajime Kimura
  55. ↑ Mark Malamud
  56. ↑ Hongyuan Zhang
  57. ↑ Robert W. Lord
  58. ↑ Royce A. Levien
  59. ↑ Chih-Chao Yang
  60. ↑ Muriel Y. Ishikawa
  61. ↑ Lee D. Whetsel
  62. ↑ Michael K. Gschwind
  63. ↑ Clifford A. Pickover
  64. ↑ Yan Zhou
  65. ↑ Devendra K. Sadana
  66. ↑ Stuart C. Salter
  67. ↑ Youngdae Lee
  68. ↑ SungDuck Chun
  69. ↑ Salman Akram
  70. ↑ Hsien-Wei Chen
  71. ↑ Warren M. Farnworth
  72. ↑ Justin T. Mason
  73. ↑ James A. Jorasch
  74. ↑ Satoshi Nagata
  75. ↑ Bruce B. Doris
  76. ↑ Kyungmin Park
  77. ↑ Jeyhan Karaoguz
  78. ↑ Carleton Ellis
  79. ↑ Xue Dong
  80. ↑ Ali Khakifirooz
  81. ↑ John M. Santosuosso
  82. ↑ Hideo Ando
  83. ↑ Frederick A. Ware
  84. ↑ Shougo Sato
  85. ↑ Jean-Philippe M. Vasseur
  86. ↑ George Spector
  87. ↑ Austin L. Gurney
  88. ↑ Lisa Seacat DeLuca
  89. ↑ Gregory J. Boss
  90. ↑ Chung-Shi Liu
  91. ↑ Tetsujiro Kondo
  92. ↑ Elihu Thomson
  93. ↑ Hua Zhou
  94. ↑ Irwin Gerszberg
  95. ↑ Eric C. Leuthardt
  96. ↑ Woosuk Ko
  97. ↑ Xiaochuan Chen
  98. ↑ Toshiyasu Sugio
  99. ↑ Aleksandar Damnjanovic
  100. ↑ Paul S. Henry
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