FedInvent™ Patents

New Taxpayer Funded Patents for Tuesday, March 11, 2008 

This page was updated on Monday, March 27, 2023 at 12:56 AM GMT

FedInvent analyzed 79 taxpayer-funded patents this week.

On Tuesday, March 11, 2008, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted 79 taxpayer-funded patents; including 69 patents containing government interest statements and 26 patents where federal government agencies were an assignee or applicant. Together, 79 patents granted this week are the result of US government-funded research & development.

Learn More About Taxpayer Funded Patents Here

The List of This Week's Patents

Just a list — patent number with a link and the title, for those patentistas who like to browse.

About The Icons On the List Below

  • The icon takes you to the full text version of the patent at USPTO;
  • The icon takes you to the PDF version of the patent at USPTO; and
  • The icon takes you to the details about the patent on the FedInvent Details page.
  • When you use the icon the patent you are interested appears at the top of the list on the details page.
Patent Title
001 07340811
 
Pivoting casket carrier 
002 07340918
 
Magnetostrictive drive of refrigeration systems 
003 07340937
 
Method for determining hydrogen mobility as a function of temperature in superconducting niobium cavities 
004 07340938
 
MIS-based sensors with hydrogen selectivity 
005 07340949
 
Precipitation measurement device 
006 07340956
 
Built-in self test of MEMS 
007 07340957
 
Ultrasonic analyte concentration and application in flow cytometry 
008 07341002
 
Missile countermeasure device, and methods of using same 
009 07341040
 
Supercharged two-cycle engines employing novel single element reciprocating shuttle inlet valve mechanisms and with a variable compression ratio 
010 07341113
 
Apparatus and method for fire suppression 
011 07341221
 
Attitude determination with magnetometers for gun-launched munitions 
012 07341222
 
Micro-unmanned aerodynamic vehicle 
013 07341295
 
Prehensor device and improvements of same 
014 07341410
 
Dynamical instrument for machining 
015 07341431
 
Gas turbine engine components and methods of fabricating same 
016 07341651
 
Nanoscale mass conveyors 
017 07341663
 
Spiral-wound liquid membrane module for separation of fluids and gases 
018 07341667
 
Process for reduction of inorganic contaminants from waste streams 
019 07341696
 
Nanoporous membrane immunosensor 
020 07341709
 
Compositions for labeling β-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles 
021 07341726
 
Modified HCV peptide immunogens 
022 07341756
 
Coated implants and methods of coating 
023 07341765
 
Metallic coatings on silicon substrates, and methods of forming metallic coatings on silicon substrates 
024 07341832
 
Genes involved in neuropsychiatric disorders 
025 07341833
 
Compositions and methods relating to nucleic acid reference standards 
026 07341836
 
Modified cyclic nucleotide gated ion channels 
027 07341840
 
Methods for identification and uses of anti-inflammatory receptors for eicosapentaenoic acid analogs 
028 07341860
 
Regulated antigen delivery system (RADS) 
029 07341867
 
Human preprotachykinin gene promoter 
030 07341869
 
Compositions and methods for treating diabetes 
031 07341871
 
Nucleotide sequences for gene regulation and methods of use thereof 
032 07341883
 
Silicon germanium semiconductive alloy and method of fabricating same 
033 07341927
 
Wafer bonded epitaxial templates for silicon heterostructures 
034 07341932
 
Schottky barrier diode and method thereof 
035 07341972
 
Singlet oxygen catalysts including condensed carbon molecules 
036 07341998
 
Conus californicus neurotoxins 
037 07342002
 
Molecular vaccine linking an endoplasmic chaperone polypeptide to an antigen 
038 07342057
 
Self-healing coatings using microcapsules to suppress lead dust 
039 07342082
 
Soluble polymers as amine capture agents and methods 
040 07342085
 
Synthesis of oligomeric cyanate esters 
041 07342093
 
Compounds that inhibit Hsp90 protein-protein interactions with IAP proteins 
042 07342095
 
Peptidomimetic inhibitors of STAT activity and uses thereof 
043 07342099
 
cDNA encoding a gene BOG (B5T over-expressed gene) and its protein product 
044 07342111
 
Adeno-associated virus-delivered ribozyme compositions and methods of use 
045 07342114
 
Podophyllotoxin derivatives 
046 07342124
 
Synthetic techniques and intermediates for polyhydroxy dienyl lactones and mimics thereof 
047 07342229
 
Spectroscopic signal processing methodology 
048 07342231
 
Detection of coincident radiations in a single transducer by pulse shape analysis 
049 07342287
 
Power gating schemes in SOI circuits in hybrid SOI-epitaxial CMOS structures 
050 07342311
 
Electronic unit integrated into a flexible polymer body 
051 07342323
 
System and method for upwind speed based control of a wind turbine 
052 07342346
 
Microfabricated vertical comb actuator using plastic deformation 
053 07342399
 
Magnetic anomaly sensing-based system for tracking a moving magnetic target 
054 07342414
 
Fast router and hardware-assisted fast routing method 
055 07342456
 
DC-bias network for a distributed amplifier 
056 07342457
 
Cross-differential amplifier 
057 07342465
 
Voltage-controlled oscillator with stable gain over a wide frequency range 
058 07342490
 
Radio frequency identification static discharge protection 
059 07342738
 
Positioning head assembly for data storage system with multiple degrees of freedom 
060 07342757
 
System and method for quench protection of a superconductor 
061 07342789
 
Method and apparatus for cooling an equipment enclosure through closed-loop, liquid-assisted air cooling in combination with direct liquid cooling 
062 07342847
 
Method of estimating along-track displacement of an underwater vehicle 
063 07342947
 
Dark fiber laser array coupler 
064 07342950
 
Tunable laser source with integrated optical modulator 
065 07342972
 
Timing synchronization using dirty templates in ultra wideband (UWB) communications 
066 07342988
 
Neutron tubes 
067 07343061
 
Integrated photonic amplifier and detector 
068 07343136
 
Apparatus for detecting environmental conditions for a structure or article 
069 07343170
 
System and method for allowing nodes in a wireless communication network to access multiple channels 
070 07343193
 
Background suppression method for time-resolved magnetic resonance angiography 
071 07343194
 
Method and apparatus for performing neuroimaging 
072 07343202
 
Method for affecting urinary function with electrode implantation in adipose tissue 
073 07343272
 
System and method for detecting generalized space-time clusters 
074 07343362
 
Low complexity classification from a single unattended ground sensor node 
075 07343454
 
Methods to maintain triangle ordering of coherence messages 
076 07343539
 
ARA type protograph codes 
077 07343579
 
Reconfigurable environmentally adaptive computing 
078 07343622
 
Multi-level secure multi-processor computer architecture 
079 D564173
 
Ornamental head for a cleaning cart 

Up to Start Of Table

Patent Count By Department

This is the count of taxpayer-funded patents granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) this week. These patents contain a Government Interest Statement in the body of the patent document or are patents where the government is an assignee. Agency numbers are aggregated by the agency named in the Government Interests Statement and the contract number cited in the government interest section of the patent.

Department This Week This Year
Department of Defense (DOD) 28 279
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 18 232
Department of Energy (DOE) 13 116
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 7 33
National Science Foundation (NSF) 6 64
Department of Agriculture (USDA) 2 15
Department of Commerce (DOC) 2 22
Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) 1 2
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 1 8
Non-Profit Organization (NPO) 1 2
Small Business Administration (SBA) 1 8
U.S. State Government 1 7
Government Rights Acknowledged 3 19

Patents By Funding Agency

FedInvent Patents are patents funded by US taxpayers. Taxpayer-funded patents have Government Interest Statements in the body of the patent or are patents where an agency of the US federal government has retained the title to the patent and is listed as an assignee. The presence of a government interest statement, as required by the Bayh-Dole Act, indicates the holder of a federal contract, grant, or cooperative research agreement has elected to retain the title of inventions conceived and reduced to practice during that contract.

About The Icons On the List Below

  • The icon takes you to the full text version of the patent at USPTO;
  • The icon takes you to the PDF version of the patent at USPTO; and
  • The icon takes you to the details about the patent on the FedInvent Details page.
  • When you use the icon the patent you are interested appears at the top of the list on the details page.

Click the Panel to See The Patents for Each Agency

Take Me To The Details

Department of Defense (DOD) Agencies

Patent Title
001 07342287
 
Power gating schemes in SOI circuits in hybrid SOI-epitaxial CMOS structures 
002 07342789
 
Method and apparatus for cooling an equipment enclosure through closed-loop, liquid-assisted air cooling in combination with direct liquid cooling 
003 07343454
 
Methods to maintain triangle ordering of coherence messages 

Department of the ARMY (DOA)

Patent Title
001 07342057
 
Self-healing coatings using microcapsules to suppress lead dust 
002 07342082
 
Soluble polymers as amine capture agents and methods 
003 07342114
 
Podophyllotoxin derivatives 
004 07342124
 
Synthetic techniques and intermediates for polyhydroxy dienyl lactones and mimics thereof 
005 07342457
 
Cross-differential amplifier 
006 07342972
 
Timing synchronization using dirty templates in ultra wideband (UWB) communications 
007 07343170
 
System and method for allowing nodes in a wireless communication network to access multiple channels 
008 07343362
 
Low complexity classification from a single unattended ground sensor node 

Department of the Navy (DON) | United States Marine Corps (USMC)

Patent Title
001 07340918
 
Magnetostrictive drive of refrigeration systems 
002 07341002
 
Missile countermeasure device, and methods of using same 
003 07341113
 
Apparatus and method for fire suppression 
004 07341431
 
Gas turbine engine components and methods of fabricating same 
005 07341696
 
Nanoporous membrane immunosensor 
006 07342085
 
Synthesis of oligomeric cyanate esters 
007 07342399
 
Magnetic anomaly sensing-based system for tracking a moving magnetic target 
008 07342414
 
Fast router and hardware-assisted fast routing method 
009 07342847
 
Method of estimating along-track displacement of an underwater vehicle 
010 07342950
 
Tunable laser source with integrated optical modulator 
011 07343622
 
Multi-level secure multi-processor computer architecture 

Department of the Air Force (DAF)| United States Space Force (USSF)

Patent Title
001 07343272
 
System and method for detecting generalized space-time clusters 
002 07343579
 
Reconfigurable environmentally adaptive computing 

Up to Start Of Table

Emerging Technology

Emerging Climate Change Technologies

Patents containing 'Y" CPC symbols indicate emerging climate change and clean technology inventions.

About The Icons On the List Below

  • The icon takes you to the full text version of the patent at USPTO;
  • The icon takes you to the PDF version of the patent at USPTO; and
  • The icon takes you to the details about the patent on the FedInvent Details page.
  • When you use the icon the patent you are interested appears at the top of the list on the details page.
Class

About Y Emerging Technology Symbols

Patent documents that contain a Y02 or Y04 CPC symbol are already classified elsewhere. USPTO adds the Y symbols to the classification data to monitor new technological developments covering clean technology and inventions impacting climate change, important American science and technology interests.

Y02 — Green House Gas Mitigation

Y02 covers selected technologies, that control, reduce, or prevent anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), in the framework of the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, and technologies that allow adapting to the adverse effects of climate change. Y02A covers technologies for adaptation to climate change, — technologies that allow adapting to the adverse effects of climate change in human, industrial (including agriculture and livestock), and economic activities. Y02P covers climate change mitigation technologies in any kind of industrial processing or production activity, including the agroalimentary industry (relating to agriculture and food), agriculture, fishing, ranching and the like.

Y04 — Enabling Technologies

Y04 is focused on the information and communications inventions that facilitate climate change technology. Y04S covers systems integrating technologies related to power network operation, communication, or information technologies for improving electrical power generation, transmission, distribution, management, or usage. Examples of the art covered here are technologies related to smart grids, home appliances, and systems supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles.

The Health Complex

This section contains the count of patents funded by The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) organized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) institute; and HHS subagencies including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and others. These agencies together are called the Health Complex.

Department | Agency This Week This Year
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)18232
National Institutes of Health (NIH)17209
National Cancer Institute (NCI)225
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)12
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)12
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)11
National Institute on Aging (NIA)13

Up to Start Of Table

Higher Education Research and Development (HERD)

FedInvent follows the HERD the Higher Education Research and Development institutions — the colleges and universities; research institutions, and medical schools that benefit from federal funding and rely on it to make important discoveries that drive American innovation. Taxpayer-funded patents coming from American and sometimes foreign universities are an important indicia of the vitality of the American innovation ecosphere.

MEMBERS OF THE HERD

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey is the primary source of information on R&D expenditures at 916 US colleges and universities that expended at least $150,000 in separately accounted for R&D in the fiscal year. We use the NSF list to keep track of which colleges and universities are receiving taxpayer-funded patents and filing patent applications.

WATCH This SPACE

We're working on our data analytics and will be reporting taxpayer-funded patents and patent applications shortly. In the meantime, FedInvent will post interesting information about the HERD Innovation Ecosphere here.

Top Ten Universities By R&D Expenditures
  1. Johns Hopkins University
  2. University of Michigan
  3. University of Washington
  4. University of California, San Diego
  5. University of California, San Francisco
  6. Columbia University in the City of New York
  7. Stanford University
  8. University Pittsburgh
  9. University Pennsylvania
  10. Duke University

Count By Tech Center

Patents organized by count and Technology Center where the patent was examined.

Tech Center Count
2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components 25
1600 Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry 19
3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, Gaming and Medical Devices/Processes 9
1700 Chemical and Materials Engineering 8
3600 Transportation, Electronic Commerce, Construction, Agriculture, Licensing and Review 7
2100 Computer Architecture Software and Information Security 5
2600 Communications 5
2900 Design 1

For more information on the types of inventions examined in each Technology Center, see the About Tech Centers section of this page.

Patents By Scientific Domain.

This section contains the number of patents by high level scientific and technical domain. The data is arranged by the first Cooperative Patent Classification System (CPC) patent symbol assigned to the patent. This indicates the scope and nature of the invention for a patent or a patent application.

Global patent offices use patent classification as their lingua franca — the common language — for exchanging information about inventions and what scientific and technical art a patent contains. The classifications assigned to a patent are used by patent examiners to find prior art and to determine if a particular patent's claims are novel. Patent classifications are also used for global enforcement of patent rights, treaties, and agreements.

Class Class Definition First
(Original)
Inventive
(CrossRef)
USPC 435 Chemistry: Molecular biology and microbiology 8 0
USPC 073 Measuring and testing 5 0
USPC 438 Semiconductor device manufacturing: Process 3 0
USPC 530 Chemistry: Natural resins or derivatives; peptides or proteins; lignins or reaction products thereof 3 0
USPC 210 Liquid purification or separation 2 0
USPC 244 Aeronautics and astronautics 2 0
USPC 250 Radiant energy 2 0
USPC 257 Active solid-state devices 2 0
USPC 330 Amplifiers 2 0
USPC 361 Electricity: Electrical systems and devices 2 0
USPC 372 Coherent light generators 2 0
USPC 424 Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions 2 0
USPC 427 Coating processes 2 0
USPC 455 Telecommunications 2 0
USPC 514 Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions 2 0
USPC 600 Surgery 2 0
USPC 027 Undertaking 1 0
USPC 062 Refrigeration 1 0
USPC 102 Ammunition and explosives 1 0
USPC 123 Internal-combustion engines 1 0
USPC 169 Fire extinguishers 1 0
USPC 204 Chemistry: Electrical and wave energy 1 0
USPC 290 Prime-mover dynamo plants 1 0
USPC 294 Handling: Hand and hoist-line implements 1 0
USPC 310 Electrical generator or motor structure 1 0
USPC 324 Electricity: Measuring and testing 1 0
USPC 326 Electronic digital logic circuitry 1 0
USPC 331 Oscillators 1 0
USPC 340 Communications: Electrical 1 0
USPC 360 Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval 1 0
USPC 367 Communications, electrical: Acoustic wave systems and devices 1 0
USPC 375 Pulse or digital communications 1 0
USPC 376 Induced nuclear reactions: Processes, systems, and elements 1 0
USPC 385 Optical waveguides 1 0
USPC 409 Gear cutting, milling, or planing 1 0
USPC 416 Fluid reaction surfaces 1 0
USPC 422 Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preserving, or sterilizing 1 0
USPC 502 Catalyst, solid sorbent, or support therefor: Product or process of making 1 0
USPC 523 Synthetic resins or natural rubbers 1 0
USPC 526 Synthetic resins or natural rubbers 1 0
USPC 528 Synthetic resins or natural rubbers 1 0
USPC 536 Organic compounds 1 0
USPC 546 Organic compounds 1 0
USPC 556 Organic compounds 1 0
USPC 607 Surgery: Light, thermal, and electrical application 1 0
USPC 703 Data processing: Structural design, modeling, simulation, and emulation 1 0
USPC 706 Data processing: Artificial intelligence 1 0
USPC 711 Electrical computers and digital processing systems: Memory 1 0
USPC 714 Error detection/correction and fault detection/recovery 1 0
USPC 716 Computer-aided design and analysis of circuits and semiconductor masks 1 0
USPC 726 Information security 1 0
USPC D34 Material or article handling equipment 1 0

Up to Start Of Table

Count of Inventors by Country and U.S. State

Patent count by country and state based on the location information of first named inventors and of all inventors on the patent.

Country First Named Inventors All Inventors
United States of America 78 220
Japan 1 3
Spain 0 3
France 0 1
United Kingdom 0 1
India 0 1
Slovenia 0 1
U.S. State First Named Inventors All Inventors
California 22 74
New York 7 19
Maryland 6 11
Massachusetts 5 11
Minnesota 4 17
Virginia 4 9
Florida 4 8
Ohio 3 9
Colorado 3 7
New Mexico 2 12
Illinois 2 7
Pennsylvania 2 5
Michigan 2 4
New Jersey 2 4
Wisconsin 1 3
District of Columbia 1 2
Idaho 1 2
Maine 1 2
Texas 1 2
Delaware 1 1
Indiana 1 1
Missouri 1 1
Oregon 1 1
Washington 1 1
Connecticut 0 4
Alabama 0 1
Iowa 0 1
North Carolina 0 1

Up to Start Of Table

Count of Assignees and Applicants by Country and U.S. State

Patent count by country and state based on location information of Assignees and Applicants.

Country Assignees Applicants
United States of America 830
U.S. State Assignees Applicants
California 210
District of Columbia 200
Massachusetts 70
New York 70
Colorado 40
Minnesota 30
New Jersey 30
Florida 20
Ohio 20
Pennsylvania 20
Virginia 20
Idaho 10
Illinois 10
Iowa 10
Maine 10
Maryland 10
Michigan 10
Missouri 10
New Mexico 10
Washington 10
Wisconsin 10

Up to Start Of Table

Technology Center Explainer

How Tech Centers and Art Units Are Organized And Why It Matters

Patents travel from Technology Center to Art Unit to Group Art Unit to Patent Examiner.

The USPTO's patent corps is organized into Technology Centers (TCs), groups of patent examiners with specific scientific and technical domain expertise. Technology Centers are further divided into Art Units (AUs) organized by major types of inventive art within a scientific or technical domain. Art Units are organized into Group Art Units, even more specialized and granular teams of examiners.

Group Art Units (GAUs) are where patent examiners prosecute patent applications. Patent applications are docketed to examiners based on specific subject matter classifications of a particular GAU.

Understanding Technology Centers, Art Units, and Group Art Units helps you understand what type of inventions are being prosecuted within each scientific and technical domain, how long it takes from the date a patent application is filed to the time a final decision on the patentability of the invention is made.

Technology Centers and Art Units

Click or touch the accordion panel to open it and see the way different types of inventions are grouped together within Art Units.

Patents examined here cover:

Art Unit Technical & Scientific Domains
1610 Organic Compounds: Bio-affecting, Body Treating, Drug Delivery, Steroids, Herbicides, Pesticides, Cosmetics, and Drugs
1620 Organic Chemistry
1630 Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, Nucleic Acids, Recombinant DNA and RNA, Gene Regulation, Nucleic Acid Amplification, Animals and Plants, Combinatorial/ Computational Chemistry
1640 Immunology, Receptor/Ligands, Cytokines Recombinant Hormones, and Molecular Biology
1650 Fermentation, Microbiology, Isolated and Recombinant Proteins/Enzyme
1660 Plants

About Plant Patents

Plant Patents are granted to an inventor who has invented, or discovered and asexually reproduced a distinct and new variety of plant, other than a tuber propagated plant or a plant found in an uncultivated state. If you've ever eaten a pluot, you've enjoyed the fruit of a plant patent.

Plant patent numbers begin with a "PP" followed by a five digit number. The first Plant Patent was issued in 1931. Plant patents are valid for 20 years from the filing date.

Patents examined here cover:

Art Unit Technical & Scientific Domains
1710 Coating, Etching, Cleaning, Single Crystal Growth
1720 Fuel Cells, Batteries, Solar Cells, Liquid Crystal Composition
1730 Metallurgy, Metal Working, Inorganic Chemistry, Catalysts, Electrophotography, Photolithography
1740 Tires, Adhesive Bonding, Glass/Paper making, Plastics Shaping & Molding
1760 Organic Chemistry, Polymers, Compositions
1770 Chemical Apparatus, Separation and Purification, Liquid and Gas Contact Apparatus
1780 Miscellaneous Articles, Stock Material, Adhesive Composition, Fabrics
1790 Food, Analytical Chemistry, Sterilization, Biochemistry, Electrochemistry

Patents examined here cover:

Art Unit Technical & Scientific Domains
2110 Coating, Etching, Cleaning, Single Crystal Growth
2120 Miscellaneous Articles, Stock Material, Adhesive Composition, Fabrics
2130 Fuel Cells, Batteries, Solar Cells, Liquid Crystal Composition
2140/2170 Metallurgy, Metal Working, Inorganic Chemistry, Catalysts, Electrophotography, Photolithography
2150/2160 Tires, Adhesive Bonding, Glass/Paper making, Plastics Shaping & Molding
2180 Organic Chemistry, Polymers, Compositions
2190 Chemical Apparatus, Separation and Purification, Liquid and Gas Contact Apparatus

Patents examined here cover:

Art Unit Technical & Scientific Domains
2410/2460/2470 Multiplex, VoIP
2420 Cable and Television
2430/2490 Cryptography and Security
2440/2450 Computer Networks
2480 Recording and Compression

Patents examined here cover:

Art Unit Technical & Scientific Domains
2610 Computer Graphic Processing, 3D Animation, Display Color Attribute, Object Processing, Hardware and Memory
2620 Selective Visual Display Systems
2630 Digital and Optical Communications
2640 Telecommunications: Analog Radio Telephone; Satellite and Power Control; Transceivers, Measuring and Testing; Bluetooth; Receivers and Transmitters; Equipment Details
2650 Videophones and Telephonic Communications; Audio Signals; Digital Audio Data Processing; Linguistics, Speech Processing and Audio Compression
2660 Digital Cameras; Image Analysis; Applications; pattern Recognition; Color and Compression; Enhancement and Transformation
2670 Facsimile; Printer; Color; halftone; Scanner; Computer Graphic Processing; 3-D Animation; Display Color; Attributes; Object Processing; Hardware and Memory
2680 Telemetry and Code Generation; Vehicles and System Alarms; Selective Communication; Dynamic Storage Systems; Mechanical parts of Disk Drives; Signal Processing and Control Processing in Disk Drives
2690 Selective Visual Display Systems

More broadly TC 2800 Art Units cover Semiconductors/Memory, Circuits/Measuring and Testing, Optics/Photocopying, Printing/Measuring and Testing.

Patents examined here cover:

Art Unit Technical & Scientific Domains
2810/2820/2890 Semiconductors/Memory
2830/2840 Electrical Circuits and Systems
2850/2860 Printing/Measuring and Testing
2870/2880 Optics

About Design Patents

The design FOR an article. Not to the design OF an article.

Patents examined here cover Design patents cover the appearance of an article. The design for an article consists of the visual characteristics embodied in or applied to an article. Since a design is manifested in appearance, the subject matter of a design patent application may relate to the configuration or shape of an article, to the surface ornamentation applied to an article, or to the combination of configuration and surface ornamentation.

Design is inseparable from the article to which it is applied and cannot exist alone merely as a scheme of surface ornamentation. It must be a definite, preconceived thing, capable of reproduction and not merely the chance result of a method.

Design patent numbers begin with a "D" followed by a six digit number. The first Design Patent was issued in 1843. The term of a design patent is 15 years measured from the date of grant, if the design application was filed on or after May 13, 2015 (or 14 years if filed before May 13, 2015).

Patents examined here cover:

Art Unit Technical & Scientific Domains
3610 Surface Transportation
3620 Business Methods — Incentive Programs, Coupons; Operations Research; Electronic Shopping; Health Care; Point of Sale, Inventory, Accounting; Cost/Price, Reservations, Shipping and Transportation; Business Processing
3630 Static Structures, Supports and Furniture
3640 Aeronautics, Agriculture, Fishing, Trapping, Vermin Destroying, Plant and Animal Husbandry, Weaponry, Nuclear Systems, and License and Review
3650 Material and Article Handling
3660 Computerized Vehicle Controls and Navigation, Radio Wave, Optical and Acoustic Wave Communication, Robotics, and Nuclear Systems
3670 Wells, Earth Boring/Moving/Working, Excavating, Mining, Harvesters, Bridges, Roads, Petroleum, Closures, Connections, and Hardware
3680 Business Methods — Incentive Programs, Coupons; Electronic Shopping; Business Cryptography, Voting; Health Care; Point of Sale, Inventory, Accounting; Business Processing, Electronic Negotiation
3690 Business Methods — Finance/Banking/ Insurance

Patents examined here cover:

Art Unit Technical & Scientific Domains
3710 Amusement and Education Devices
3720 Manufacturing Devices and Processes, Machine Tools and Hand Tools
3730 Sheet Container Making, Package Making, Receptacles, Shoes, Apparel, and Tool Driving or Impacting
3740 Thermal and Combustion Technology, Motive and Fluid Power Systems
3750 Fluid Handling and Dispensing
3760 Refrigeration, Vaporization, Ventilation, and Combustion
3770 Medical & Surgical Instruments, Treatment Devices, Surgery and Surgical Supplies
3780 Body Treatment, Kinestherapy, and Exercising

Patents examined here cover:

Art Unit Technical & Scientific Domains
3970 Express Abandonments
3990 Central Reexamination Unit

FedInvent Patents

Each week FedInvent analyzes newly granted patents and published patent applications whose origins lead back to funding from the US federal government. We assemble a weekly patent catalog and analyze the inventions, the inventors, and the entities who received the patents. We map the patents back to the agency that funded the R&D that led to the new invention. FedInvent uses the funding opportunity descriptions, the grants, and the contracts that define the research areas of interest, and the R&D policies and priorities of that drove and are driving the funding to organize each week's patents.

ABOUT OUR DATA

The weekly patent catalog includes patents with government interest statements indicating federal funding; and patents where the assignee, the owner of the invention, is the federal government. This includes work on federal grants, work on federal contracts, innovation by Federal Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) funded by Federal Departments and University Affiliated Research Centers funded by DoD.

Not every inventor is a government contractor. There are many inventions conceived and patented by scientists and engineers working for the federal government or serving in the military.

THE NUMBERS MAY NOT MATCH THE NUMBER OF PATENTS WE ANALYZE EACH WEEK

The numbers in the tables presented on this page will not add up to the number of patents granted each week because patents are counted by each agency that funded the creation of the invention. Patents and funding have a many-to-many relationship. One patent may have more than one funding grant or contract associated with it. A grant or contract may lead to more than one patent. More than one agency may have funded the inventors or the contract. More than one university or business may have worked together on an invention. When we report the numbers here, we associate a patent with all of the entities and funding that are reflected on the patent and report them to you. This approach presents a more complete picture of what's going on in the federal innovation ecosphere. Put another way, the numbers in the tables presented on this page may not always add up to the number of patents each week because patents are counted by each agency that funded the creation of the invention.

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