Prolific inventor

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.

Prolific Inventors

Inventor Pats Fams Fam % Pat Yrs Yrs Pat /Yr Inv /Pat Pat Residence Majority Assignment
Shunpei Yamazaki [1] 6248 2790 44.7% 1972—2023 51.7 121 3.6  Japan Semiconductor Energy Laboratory
Kia Silverbrook [2] 4747 1311 27.6% 1994—2014 20 237 1.6  Australia Silverbrook Research
Tao Luo [3] 2774 2331 84.0% 2006—2023 17.6 158 5.6  USA Qualcomm
Kangguo Cheng [4] 2704 1474 54.5% 2004—2023 19.1 142 3.9  USA IBM
Frederick E. Shelton IV [5] 2135 1053 49.3% 2005—2023 18.5 115 4.5  USA Ethicon
Lowell L. Wood, Jr. [6] 1990 1323 66.5% 1971—2023 52 38 8.8  USA Intellectual Ventures
Peter Gaal [7] 1912 1477 77.2% 2002—2023 21.3 90 5.9  USA Qualcomm
Roderick A. Hyde [8] 1888 1252 66.3% 2001—2023 22.5 84 8.7  USA Intellectual Ventures
Junyi Li [9] 1875 1587 84.6% 2002—2023 21.1 89 5.2  USA Qualcomm
Wanshi Chen [10] 1832 1432 78.2% 2009—2023 14.6 125 5.7  USA Qualcomm
Chen-Hua Yu [11] 1648 934 56.7% 1996—2023 27.5 60 4.9  Taiwan TSMC
Hanbyul Seo [12] 1528 1130 74.0% 2012—2023 11.6 132 3.8  South Korea LG
Jun Koyama [13] 1476 619 41.9% 1991—2023 32.4 46 3.1  Japan Semiconductor Energy Laboratory
Gurtej Singh Sandhu [14] 1414 585 41.4% 1991—2023 32.4 44 2.5  USA Micron
Xiaoxia Zhang [15] 1335 1184 88.7% 2009—2023 14.9 90 5.5  USA Qualcomm
Shou-Shan Fan [16] 1308 1094 83.6% 2006—2023 17.6 74 4.2  China Hon Hai
Paul Lapstun [17] 1304 246 18.9% 2000—2023 23 57 2.5  Australia Silverbrook Research
Esmael H. Dinan [18] 1302 586 45.0% 2006—2023 17.5 74 3.6  USA Ofinno
Clarence T. Tegreene [19] 1244 902 72.5% 2000—2023 22.9 54 10.1  USA Intellectual Ventures
Alexander Reznicek [20] 1216 726 59.7% 2006—2023 17.7 69 3.9  USA IBM
Sarbajit K. Rakshit [21] 1175 963 82.0% 2013—2023 10.9 108 3.4  India IBM
Satoshi Seo [22] 1114 534 47.9% 2002—2023 21 53 4.1  Japan Semiconductor Energy Laboratory
Jing Sun [23] 1111 959 86.3% 2012—2023 11 101 5.9  USA Qualcomm
Leonard Forbes [24] 1109 411 37.1% 1975—2019 43.3 26 2.6  USA Micron
Edward K. Y. Jung [25] 1109 794 71.6% 1996—2023 27.4 40 8.0  USA Intellectual Ventures
Kijun Kim [26] 1095 776 70.9% 2013—2023 10 110 4.6  South Korea LG
Thomas Edison [27] 1084 NA NA 1869—1933 63.9 17 1.0  USA Thomas Edison
Rick Allen Hamilton II [28] 1060 713 67.3% 1999—2023 24.7 43 4.2  USA IBM
Suckchel Yang [29] 1040 668 64.2% 2013—2023 10.5 99 4.7  South Korea LG
Joonkui Ahn [30] 1039 680 65.4% 2013—2023 10.5 99 4.7  South Korea LG
Donald E. Weder [31] 1000 395 39.5% 1978—2015 37.1 27 1.1  USA Weder Family Trust
Marta Karczewicz [32] 1000 827 82.7% 2000—2023 23 43 4.0  USA Qualcomm
George Albert Lyon [33] 993 NA NA 1901—1965 64.5 15 1.0  Canada Lyon George Albert
Michael J. Sullivan [34] 990 532 53.7% 1989—2023 34.4 29 3.8  USA Acushnet Holdings
Jordin T. Kare [35] 986 640 64.9% 1992—2023 30.7 32 9.1  USA Intellectual Ventures
Jay S. Walker [36] 977 421 43.1% 1998—2023 25.1 39 5.2  USA Walker Digital
Jason K. Resch [37] 972 495 50.9% 2009—2023 14.3 68 4.2  USA IBM
Ruilong Xie [38] 960 714 74.4% 2013—2023 10.9 88 4.2  USA IBM
Shan Liu [39] 952 677 71.1% 2013—2023 10.3 92 3.4  USA Tencent
John F. O'Connor [40] 949 NA NA 1901—1935 33.9 28 NA  USA William H. Miner
Yunjung Yi [41] 947 681 71.9% 2015—2023 8.1 117 3.3  South Korea LG
Ahmadreza Rofougaran [42] 940 458 48.7% 2002—2023 21.5 44 6.4  USA Broadcom
Juan Montojo [43] 928 751 80.9% 2004—2023 19.8 47 6.9  USA Qualcomm
Melvin De Groote [44] 925 NA NA 1924—1966 41.8 22 NA  USA Petrolite
Nathan Myhrvold [45] 904 612 67.7% 1994—2023 29.1 31 11.1  USA Intellectual Ventures
Tingfang Ji [46] 900 670 74.4% 2006—2023 17.4 52 6.9  USA Qualcomm
William H. Eby [47] 897 893 99.6% 1994—2023 29.5 30 1.2  USA Monsanto
David R. Hall [48] 897 742 82.7% 1985—2023 38.4 23 3.8  USA Hall Labs
Jason L. Harris [49] 897 561 62.5% 2011—2023 12.9 70 6.0  USA Ethicon
Francis H. Richards [50] 894 NA NA 1899—1930 30.8 29 NA  USA Francis H. Richards
Mark Malamud [51] 885 690 78.0% 1997—2023 25.9 34 7.5  USA Intellectual Ventures
Robert W. Lord [52] 865 681 78.7% 2003—2023 19.4 45 7.6  USA Intellectual Ventures
Takahiro Nishi [53] 863 328 38.0% 2001—2023 22.3 39 6.3  Japan Panasonic
Royce A. Levien [54] 854 666 78.0% 1997—2023 25.9 33 6.8  USA Intellectual Ventures
Hajime Kimura [55] 852 280 32.9% 2002—2023 21.1 40 2.6  Japan Semiconductor Energy Laboratory
Muriel Y. Ishikawa [56] 838 560 66.8% 2002—2023 21.2 40 11.1  USA Intellectual Ventures
Michael K. Gschwind [57] 834 442 53.0% 2001—2023 22 38 2.6  USA IBM
Hongyuan Zhang [58] 829 462 55.7% 2009—2023 14.6 57 3.9  USA Marvell
Clifford A. Pickover [59] 828 546 65.9% 1992—2023 31.6 26 3.9  USA IBM
Lee D. Whetsel [60] 823 129 15.7% 1991—2023 32.7 25 1.1  USA Texas Instruments
Chih-Chao Yang [61] 814 502 61.7% 2003—2023 19.9 41 3.4  USA IBM
Devendra K. Sadana [62] 801 450 56.2% 1983—2023 40.8 20 4.3  USA IBM
Seungmin Lee [63] 801 594 74.2% 2014—2023 9.2 87 3.5  South Korea LG
Salman Akram [64] 781 289 37.0% 1995—2023 28.1 28 2.9  USA Micron
SungDuck Chun [65] 777 471 60.6% 2007—2023 16.1 48 3.8  South Korea LG
Warren M. Farnworth [66] 774 289 37.3% 1990—2020 24.4 32 2.8  USA Micron
Bruce B. Doris [67] 763 434 56.9% 1995—2023 28.7 27 4.2  USA IBM
Jeyhan Karaoguz [68] 756 371 49.1% 1996—2020 23.8 32 4.6  USA Broadcom
Carleton Ellis [69] 753 NA NA 1902—1946 43.1 17 NA  USA Ellis Foster Co
Ali Khakifirooz [70] 749 405 54.1% 2011—2023 12 62 4.2  USA IBM
John M. Santosuosso [71] 737 466 63.2% 2001—2023 21.4 34 3.9  USA IBM
Hideo Ando [72] 733 123 16.8% 1983—2020 36.7 20 3.1  Japan Toshiba
Hsien-Wei Chen [73] 732 374 51.1% 2005—2023 18.8 39 3.5  Taiwan TSMC
George Spector [74] 723 723 100% 1974—1998 24.6 29 2.1  USA George Spector
Austin L. Gurney [75] 718 182 25.3% 1999—2022 21.6 33 2.9  USA Genentech
Xue Dong [76] 717 705 98.3% 2010—2023 12.9 56 7.4  China BOE
Youngdae Lee [77] 712 562 78.9% 2014—2023 9.7 73 3.1  South Korea LG
Justin T. Mason [78] 710 706 99.4% 2008—2023 15.1 47 1.0  USA MS Technologies
Tetsujiro Kondo [79] 700 528 75.4% 1987—2021 34 21 3.8  Japan Sony
Lisa Seacat DeLuca [80] 700 507 72.4% 2009—2023 14.8 47 2.7  USA IBM
Elihu Thomson [81] 696 NA NA 1899—1935 35.9 19 NA  USA GE
Stuart C. Salter [82] 696 652 93.7% 2009—2023 14 50 4.8  USA Ford
Gregory J. Boss [83] 696 477 68.5% 2008—2023 15.8 44 4.2  USA IBM
Jean-Philippe M. Vasseur [84] 696 563 80.9% 2006—2023 17.6 40 2.6  France Cisco Systems
Shougo Sato [85] 694 274 39.5% 1992—2023 31.2 22 1.8  Japan Brother
Irwin Gerszberg [86] 680 312 45.9% 1994—2023 29.2 23 6.8  USA AT&T
Frederick A. Ware [87] 676 225 33.3% 1981—2023 42 16 2.8  USA Rambus
Eric C. Leuthardt [88] 674 457 67.8% 2006—2023 16.7 40 9.1  USA Intellectual Ventures
Chung-Shi Liu [89] 662 376 56.8% 2000—2023 23.9 28 6.1  Taiwan TSMC
Paul S. Henry [90] 656 301 45.9% 1978—2023 44.9 15 6.3  USA AT&T
William I. Wood [91] 653 259 39.7% 1981—2013 32.2 20 5.2  USA Genentech
Simon R. Walmsley [92] 651 171 26.3% 1995—2012 17.2 38 3.2  Australia Silverbrook Research
Satoshi Nagata [93] 651 620 95.2% 2011—2023 12.2 53 4.0  Japan NTT
Jae Hoon Chung [94] 650 381 58.6% 2010—2023 13 50 4.5  South Korea LG
Edward J. Nowak [95] 635 410 64.6% 1979—2021 41.1 15 3.0  USA IBM
Audrey D. Goddard [96] 630 154 24.4% 1997—2023 26.2 24 5.3  USA Genentech
Hui-Ling Lou [97] 630 344 54.6% 1997—2023 26.3 24 3.9  USA Marvell
Woosuk Ko [98] 628 237 37.7% 2015—2023 8.7 72 3.4  South Korea LG
Xiaochuan Chen [99] 623 613 98.4% 2014—2023 9.4 66 7.0  China BOE
Anthony K. Stamper [100] 623 342 54.9% 1998—2023 25.4 25 3.4  USA IBM

This table is usually updated every Tuesday, and is current as of December 26, 2023.

The columns are defined as follows:

  • Inventor: The name of the inventor.
  • Pats: The number of utility patents that have been issued. Only utility patents (or the international equivalent) are listed, as a utility patent is a patent for an invention. Not all patents are for inventions. Other patent types include: design patents for the ornamental design of an object; plant patents for plant varieties; and reissue patents, where a correction is made to an already granted patent. This list does not include patent applications (patents pending) as there is no guarantee that a patent application actually describes a novel invention until the patent is granted.
  • Fams: The number of patent families, which in USPTO data includes an original or continuation-in-part patent by itself or with one or more continuation or divisional patents based on the original or continuation-in-part patent. This is different than global patent families that represent a patent filed in more than one jurisdiction. "NA" signifies the inventor was active prior to digital records.
  • Fam %: The percentage of original and continuation-in-part patents that are in the inventor's patent portfolio [Fams column divided by Pats column, rounded to first decimal as a percentage]. "NA" signifies the inventor was active prior to digital records.
  • Pat Yrs: The first and last year in which an inventor received a patent issuance.
  • Yrs: The number of years from first issuance to most recent issuance, rounded to first decimal based on dates.
  • Pats /Yr: The average number of patents received per year [Pats column divided by Yrs column, rounded].
  • Inv / Pat: The average number of inventors listed on the inventor's most recent 50 patents as of September 7, 2021 or on the date the inventor was added to the table if later. "NA" signifies the inventor was active prior to digital records.
  • Pat Residence: The country of inventor's residence listed in their most recent patent issuance.
  • Majority Assignment: The entity that has the most patents assigned from an inventor's portfolio. This is current and not original assignment. It is usually, but not always an indication of which company the inventor worked at for the majority of their patent activity.

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

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