Patent Cliff · Semiconductor
Semiconductors patent cliff
Key semiconductor patents from the 3G/4G and CMOS scaling era are expiring, including process nodes and memory cell architectures that chip designers can now freely use.
Expiring 2025–2029
17
Citations at stake
420
Peak cliff year
2028
Already expired
59
Patents Expiring by Year (2025–2029)
2025
1
2026
1
2027
5
2028
6
2029
4
Most-Cited Semiconductor Patents Expiring 2025–2029
Connecting Computer Chips with a Special Bridge Die
89
cit.
How a Special Fiber Stub Cleans Up Light Signals
81
cit.
How to Connect Quantum Computer Bits with a Superconducting Circuit
57
cit.
How to Send Data Streams Independently Without Connection Overload
42
cit.
How Fuel Cells Reuse Exhaust Hydrogen for High Efficiency
29
cit.
How a MEMS Sensor Uses a Reference to Improve Z-Axis Accuracy
22
cit.
How Touchscreens Save Battery by Sleeping Between Touches
21
cit.
Combining Sealed and Exposed Sensors on One Microchip
21
cit.
How Multi-Stage Power Amplifiers Save Battery Life in Wireless Devices
13
cit.
How Touchscreens Precisely Align Signals to Detect Your Touch
13
cit.
How Nanoparticles Form Adaptive Neural Network Connections
12
cit.
How Graphics Processors Switch Between Different Tasks Efficiently
6
cit.
How to Make Radio Amplifiers More Efficient
4
cit.
How to Make Hydrogen Gas and Cupric Chloride Using an Electrolysis Cell
3
cit.
How to Stack Computer Chips on a Wafer for Smaller Devices
3
cit.
Year-by-Year Top Patents
2027
5 patents2028
6 patentsStrategic context
Key semiconductor patents from the 3G/4G and CMOS scaling era are expiring, including process nodes and memory cell architectures that chip designers can now freely use. As these patents expire, competitors and open-source projects can freely implement the underlying inventions without license fees. For FTO analysis on specific products, use the FTO Risk Snapshot tool →
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