How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment

Summary: This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.


How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System

Summary: This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.


How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works

Summary: Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.


How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon

Summary: This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.


How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat

Summary: This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.


How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently

Summary: This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.


How RSA Public-Key Encryption Keeps Digital Messages Secret

Summary: This patent describes the foundational RSA algorithm, a method for securely sending messages where anyone can encrypt a message using a public key, but only the intended recipient can decrypt it using a secret private key.


How 3D Printers Build Objects Layer by Layer from Liquid

Summary: This patent describes the foundational method for 3D printing, where a machine builds a three-dimensional object layer by layer by hardening a liquid material with light or other energy.


How to Make Many Copies of a Specific DNA Segment

Summary: This patent describes the fundamental three-step process for making millions of copies of a specific piece of DNA using short starter molecules and an enzyme, a technique known as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).


How Two Special Antibodies Find Substances in Body Fluids

Summary: This patent describes a "sandwich" method using two highly specific, man-made antibodies to detect and measure tiny amounts of specific substances, like disease markers, in a fluid sample.


Making Strong, Porous PTFE: The Gore-Tex Process

Summary: This patent describes a specific process for rapidly stretching a highly crystalline form of PTFE plastic to create a strong, porous material with a unique internal structure, forming the basis for products like Gore-Tex.


How Machines Build 3D Objects Layer by Layer from Melting Plastic

Summary: This patent describes a method and machine for creating three-dimensional objects by precisely depositing melted material, layer by layer, from a movable nozzle onto a base.


How Touchscreens Understand Your Finger Swipes and Scrolls

Summary: This patent describes how touchscreens use smart rules, called heuristics, to figure out if your finger movement means scrolling up, moving around a map, or flipping to the next photo, especially by looking at how you start your swipe.


Prodigy's System for Interactive Online Information and Shopping

Summary: Prodigy's 1994 patent outlines an interactive online system that delivered news, shopping, and banking to personal computers by breaking applications into 'objects' stored locally or remotely, and used user data for targeted ads.


New Pyrimidine Chemical Compounds for Treating Tumors

Summary: This patent describes specific new chemical compounds, called N-phenyl-2-pyrimidine-amine derivatives, designed with precise molecular structures for potential use in treating cancer.


How Stores Make Custom Products On-Demand with Remote Approval

Summary: This patent describes a system where a store can make a custom product for a customer, but only after getting permission and the necessary design information from a central, remote office.


How AI Models Understand Language Using 'Attention'

Summary: This patent describes a neural network architecture, known as a Transformer, that uses a "self-attention" mechanism to process sequences of information, like words in a sentence, by weighing the importance of different parts of the input.


How Early Cell Phones Handled Calls Across Different Towers

Summary: This patent describes a system for early portable phones to automatically find the strongest signal from a base station and switch channels as the user moves, reducing battery drain and interference.


How to Make Human Erythropoietin (EPO) Using Engineered DNA

Summary: This patent describes the specific DNA sequences and methods to engineer cells to produce erythropoietin (EPO), a protein vital for red blood cell production, outside the human body.


How Special Sugars Make Medicines Dissolve Better

Summary: This patent describes how to make poorly water-soluble drugs dissolve and absorb better by mixing them with specially modified, non-crystalline sugar molecules called cyclodextrin derivatives.

US Department of Health and Human Services


How Websites Get Ranked by Importance

Summary: This patent describes a computer method for scoring documents in a linked database, like the internet, by considering the importance of other documents that link to them, helping search engines find better results.


How Touchscreens Show and Snap Back When You Scroll Past an Edge

Summary: Apple's 2008 patent describes how a touchscreen device displays a blank area when a user scrolls past the edge of a document, then smoothly snaps the document back into place when the user lifts their finger.


How Lasers Correct Vision by Reshaping the Eye's Front Surface

Summary: This patent describes a method for precisely reshaping the front surface of the eye using an ultraviolet laser to correct vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.


How an Enzyme Helps Find Specific DNA in a Sample

Summary: This patent describes a method for detecting a specific DNA sequence in a sample by using a labeled DNA probe and an enzyme that cuts the probe, releasing detectable fragments.


How Amazon's One-Click Ordering Works for Online Purchases

Summary: Amazon's 1999 patent describes how a customer can buy an item online with just one click, bypassing a traditional shopping cart by using pre-stored payment and shipping information.


How a Modern Camera Sensor Captures Light and Converts It to Data

Summary: This patent describes a camera sensor technology that combines light-capturing elements with a special circuit to read out the image data quickly and efficiently, all on a single chip.


Making Hybrid Antibodies from Different Animals

Summary: This patent describes how to create new, engineered antibodies by combining parts of antibodies from two different animal species, then growing them in a lab.


How Multiple Computers Share a Network Cable Without Crashing

Summary: This patent describes how multiple computers can share a single communication cable by listening for other transmissions and stopping their own if a collision occurs, then trying again later.


Boosting Anti-Infective Activity with Muramyldipeptides and Liposomes

Summary: This patent describes a method to make anti-infective drugs called muramyldipeptides work better by injecting them separately but close in time with tiny fat bubbles called liposomes into an animal.


How Early CT Scans Created Detailed Body Images

Summary: This 1973 patent describes a method for using X-rays from many angles to build a detailed 2D image of the inside of a body, like a slice of a CT scan.


Displaying Friends' Activities in a Social Network Feed

Summary: This patent describes how social networks like Facebook collect what users do, create short updates about those actions, and show them to specific friends in a personalized list called a "news feed."


How Phones Sense Your Finger Hovering Without Touching the Screen

Summary: This patent describes a system for electronic devices, like phones, to detect a finger hovering just above the screen, display a specific interactive element below it, and then let you control that element with gestures without ever making contact.


How to Create a Secret Code Key Without Meeting First

Summary: This 1980 patent describes a way for two people to create a secret code key over a public channel, like the internet, without ever meeting or sharing the key directly.


How a Digital Assistant Launches Apps Using Your Voice

Summary: This patent describes how a digital assistant like Siri uses your spoken words and understanding of your conversation to figure out what you want and launch the right app.


How Medical Monitors Adapt Oxygen Alarms to Reduce False Alerts

Summary: This patent describes an adaptive alarm system for medical patient monitors that dynamically adjusts oxygen saturation thresholds based on recent patient data, aiming to reduce unnecessary alerts.


Logitech's Method for Using Two Fingers on a Touchpad

Summary: Logitech's 1998 patent describes how a touchpad can detect two fingers touching it in a specific sequence to perform actions like clicking or dragging, going beyond single-finger mouse emulation.


How Computers Compress Data Using Dictionary Building

Summary: This 1985 patent describes a method for making computer files smaller by building a dictionary of common data patterns and replacing them with shorter codes.


How Engineered Antibodies Target TGF-beta Proteins to Fight Cancer

Summary: This patent describes specific engineered antibodies, made from mouse and human parts, designed to block TGF-beta proteins to help treat various cancers like breast or lung cancer.


How Digital Assistants Control Apps and Ask for More Information

Summary: This patent describes how a digital assistant on a device can understand what a user wants from a natural language command, find the right app, get a step-by-step guide from another device, and then ask the user for more details on the screen to complete the task with that app.


How Computers Find Similar Text Using Compact Data Structures

Summary: This patent describes a method for efficiently identifying similar text records, like documents or product reviews, by using special compact data structures that store text terms probabilistically and then analyzing them with machine learning.


Sticky, Tiny Plastic Balls Made from Acrylates

Summary: This 1972 patent describes how to make tiny, sticky, and durable plastic balls (microspheres) using a specific mix of acrylate chemicals and a special water-based process.


CSIRO's High-Frequency Wireless Network Technology

Summary: This 1996 patent from CSIRO describes a wireless local area network system that can send data reliably using radio waves above 10 GHz, even when signals bounce off walls.

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization CSIRO


How Keurig's Original Single-Serve Coffee Pod System Works

Summary: This 1994 patent describes the original Keurig system for brewing single cups of coffee using a special filter pod that holds coffee grounds and separates them from the brewed liquid.


Electric or Natural Gas Blending and Pumping for Oil Wells

Summary: This patent describes a compact, modular system for mixing and pumping fluids used in oil and gas wells, powered by electricity or natural gas, using gravity to feed materials into a main blender.


How Your Phone Knows When It's Against Your Ear

Summary: This Apple patent describes how a phone uses both a proximity sensor and an ambient light sensor to accurately detect when it's held to your ear, preventing accidental screen touches during calls.


Weapon That Shoots Wires to Deliver Electric Shocks

Summary: This 1974 patent describes a weapon that fires projectiles carrying wires to deliver incapacitating electric shocks to a target from a distance.


Controlling a Camera on Your Phone with a Separate Gadget

Summary: Apple's 2014 patent describes how a separate device, like a remote control, can talk to a phone to take pictures and videos, and show them on the remote.


How a Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Molecule Was Patented

Summary: This patent protects the specific chemical structure of a molecule designed to lower cholesterol, including its various salt forms and its use in medicine.


How a Multi-Touch Screen Detects Multiple Fingers and Palms

Summary: This patent describes the underlying electronic circuits and methods for a multi-touch surface that can track multiple fingers and palms simultaneously, even before they fully touch the screen.


Catheter System for Opening and Closing Body Passages

Summary: This 1980 patent describes a medical catheter system with a guide catheter and a special dilatation catheter that can expand to open or close body passages, like blood vessels.


Device for Receiving and Processing TV Signals from Cables and Wireless Sources

Summary: This patent describes a device that combines signals from a cable TV line and a wireless source, processes them to create copy-protected video and audio, and sends them to a TV or other device.


Early Lithium-Ion Battery Design Using Chalcogenides

Summary: This 1977 patent describes an early rechargeable battery design using lithium as one electrode and titanium disulfide as the other, a key step towards modern lithium-ion technology.


How Scientists First Made DNA Replicate in New Cells

Summary: This 1980 patent describes a method for cutting and pasting DNA pieces in a lab to create new, self-replicating genetic material that can be inserted into bacteria, a foundational technique for genetic engineering.


Detecting Genetic Differences Using DNA Probes and Enzymes

Summary: This 1987 patent describes a method to find tiny differences in DNA sequences by using special DNA pieces (probes) and cutting enzymes, which can help diagnose genetic conditions like sickle cell anemia.


Teaching Computers to Understand Document Similarity Using AI

Summary: This patent describes a way to train a computer program (a neural network) to understand how similar documents are to each other, by showing it examples and teaching it to group similar ones together and separate dissimilar ones.


How Organic Diodes Make Light Using Special Molecules

Summary: Eastman Kodak's 1982 patent on creating light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) using organic materials, specifically a layer of porphyrinic compounds to help inject electrical charges.


Tiny Capsules for Electronic Paper Displays

Summary: MIT's 1999 patent on a special ink made of tiny capsules that can change color when an electric field is applied, forming the basis for early e-readers.


Preventing Protein Damage with Extra Methionine

Summary: This 1993 patent describes how adding extra methionine to protein-based medicines can prevent them from degrading, especially in liquid or semi-solid forms.


Mice Engineered to Develop Cancer for Research

Summary: Harvard's 1988 patent on genetically engineered mice that carry cancer-causing genes, designed to help scientists study how cancer develops and test treatments.


Square's System for Predicting Orders and Guiding Couriers

Summary: This 2018 patent from Square describes a system that predicts which restaurants will get orders and tells delivery drivers where to wait to be ready.


How Google's Patent Scores Authors and Posts on Messaging Systems

Summary: Google's 2013 patent describes a system for ranking authors and their posts on a messaging platform based on user interactions and subscriptions, influencing content visibility.


Securing Data Storage Commands with Passcodes

Summary: This patent describes a system for securely executing commands on data storage systems by requiring a generated passcode, which is based on user authentication and specific storage entity attributes.


Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance to Detect Cancer in Tissue

Summary: This 1974 patent describes a method and apparatus using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to measure how quickly certain atomic nuclei in a tissue sample return to their normal energy state, helping to distinguish cancerous from healthy tissue.


How Canon's Bubble Jet Printers Make Ink Droplets

Summary: Canon's 1988 patent on bubble jet printing uses a tiny heater to instantly vaporize ink, creating a bubble that pushes out a droplet of ink from the printer head.


How Specific Antibody Drugs Are Stabilized for Storage and Use

Summary: Genentech's 2013 patent details a precise recipe for an antibody drug, like Pertuzumab, using a special buffer, sugar, and cleaning agent to keep it stable for patients.


How Databases Keep Read-Only Copies Up-to-Date

Summary: Amazon's 2016 patent describes a system for efficiently updating read-only copies of a distributed database by sending specific change notifications, ensuring read-only nodes show accurate data.


Hamilton's Early Digital Watch with LED Display

Summary: Hamilton's 1972 patent for a digital watch that uses electronic circuits and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to show time, instead of gears and hands, powered by a rechargeable battery.


Antibodies That Block Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNFα)

Summary: This 2000 patent describes specific human antibodies designed to strongly bind and neutralize a protein called TNFα, which is linked to inflammation and autoimmune diseases.


Preventing Sensitive Data Leaks from Company Communications

Summary: This patent describes a system that watches for unsent drafts of company communications, checks their content for sensitive data based on your current situation, and can block them or warn you if they seem risky.


How Digital Maps Are Built From Small Image Pieces

Summary: Google's 2007 patent on how to assemble small map images, called tiles, into a larger map view on your device, enabling smooth zooming and panning.


How Amazon Delivers Content Faster Using Local Servers

Summary: Amazon's 2016 patent describes a system for breaking down digital content into smaller pieces and storing them on servers located near users to speed up downloads and reduce network traffic.


How Facebook's News Feed Picks Stories You'll Like

Summary: Facebook's 2012 patent explains how it creates a personalized news feed by showing stories about friends' actions, ordered by your interest, and updating it based on what you click.


Google's System for Auto-Searching Text on Your Device

Summary: Google's 2015 patent describes a system that automatically finds and displays relevant information online based on text it detects on your device, even without you asking it to.


Early Automatic Cash Dispenser Using Credit Cards

Summary: This 1973 patent describes a machine that dispenses cash using a coded credit card, verifies the card's validity, and updates its code after each transaction to prevent fraud.


Detecting When Gamers Stop Playing to Save Power

Summary: Sony's 2010 patent on using motion and image data to detect when a gamer stops playing, allowing the game console to pause or save energy.


Nvidia's Method for Training Self-Driving Car AI in Simulations

Summary: Nvidia's 2022 patent describes how to train AI for self-driving cars by using simulated environments and virtual sensors, then matching the simulated data format to real-world sensor data for AI processing.


Central Bank Digital Currency for Phones and Watches

Summary: This patent describes a system for using a central bank-issued digital currency on mobile devices, generating a special 3D code for payments that can be scanned or read via near field communication.


How IMDb Knew If You'd Go to a Movie or Concert

Summary: This 2015 IMDb patent describes a system that predicts if you'll attend an event, like a movie, by checking your phone's location near the event time and place, then sending you related content.


Using Heat-Resistant Enzymes to Read DNA Sequences Faster

Summary: This patent describes using a heat-stable enzyme from a bacterium that lives in hot springs to make the process of reading DNA code much more reliable and efficient.


The Chemical Formula for Atorvastatin, the Active Ingredient in Lipitor

Summary: This patent describes the chemical structure of a class of molecules designed to block the enzyme responsible for cholesterol production in the human body.


How the Apple Mac Dock Magnifies Icons

Summary: Apple's 1999 patent on the macOS Dock, which shrinks a row of app icons to save screen space and smoothly magnifies them as your mouse pointer glides over them.


How to Redesign Mouse Antibodies for Safe Use in Humans

Summary: Genentech's 1995 patent on a systematic method for humanizing rodent antibodies by grafting their disease-targeting loops onto a human consensus framework while carefully swapping key structural support residues to maintain binding strength.


How a Smart System Verifies and Updates Customer Data

Summary: This patent describes an automated system that uses artificial intelligence to pick the best ways to check and update information about people or businesses, choosing from methods like web searches, phone calls, or direct mail.


Making High-Concentration Antibody Medicines Stable for Injection

Summary: Genentech's 2001 patent on a method to create stable, concentrated antibody medicines that can be easily reconstituted for injection, preventing degradation during freezing and storage.


How CDNs Use Client-Side Code to Speed Up Web Downloads

Summary: Amazon's patent on using client-side code like JavaScript to dynamically rewrite website links so they point directly to the fastest content delivery server, bypassing traditional DNS routing bottlenecks.


How Phones Store and Rotate Ads Locally by Breaking Rules

Summary: Sprint's 2006 patent on a system that downloads a pool of ads to a phone and uses an on-device manager to decide which ad to show, even breaking its own rules to make sure lagging ad campaigns get seen.


Using PCR to Detect Viruses in Blood and Tissue Samples

Summary: A 1989 patent by Nobel laureate Kary Mullis and his team on using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to replicate and detect tiny amounts of viral DNA or RNA, such as HIV and Hepatitis B, directly from human clinical samples.


How Human Antibodies Block the Immune System's Off-Switch

Summary: Abgenix's 1999 patent on fully human monoclonal antibodies that bind to CTLA-4, a protein brake on the immune system, allowing T-cells to stay active and attack cancer cells.


How Scientists Create Human-Friendly Antibodies for Medicine

Summary: This patent describes a method for modifying mouse antibodies so human immune systems accept them as their own, allowing them to be used as powerful, long-lasting medical treatments.


How Bluetooth Creates Wireless Networks with Unique Addresses

Summary: This 2003 patent describes how Bluetooth devices use a master device's address and clock to create a unique, hopping radio channel for communication and build a network map.


How Amazon Optimizes Website Loading Speeds by Managing Domain Requests

Summary: A system that tests different ways to distribute website resources across multiple domains to find the fastest way to load a webpage for users.


How Uber Calculates Ride-Pooling Times to Keep Detours Reasonable

Summary: Uber's 2015 patent on matching multiple riders into a single shared vehicle by calculating whether the detour will keep everyone's arrival times within an acceptable limit compared to a private ride.


How TiVo Pauses and Rewinds Live Television

Summary: TiVo's 1998 patent on a digital video recorder that converts television signals into digital files, splits them into audio and video, and stores them on a hard drive to allow simultaneous recording and playback.


The First Digital Camera's Core Technology

Summary: Kodak's 1978 patent on the fundamental technology for capturing, processing, and storing digital images using a CCD sensor and magnetic tape.


How Websites Remember You Using Stored Data

Summary: Netscape's 1998 patent on storing small pieces of website information (like login details or preferences) on your computer so the website can recall them later, enabling personalized experiences and smoother navigation.


Chester Carlson's Original Xerography Patent

Summary: Chester Carlson's 1942 patent for xerography, the dry copying process that became the foundation for Xerox machines.


The Molecular Structure of Kevlar High-Strength Fiber

Summary: Stephanie Kwolek's 1971 patent for DuPont describing the molecular alignment and manufacturing of extremely strong, lightweight synthetic aramid fibers, which became famous as Kevlar.


How Devices Predict Your Next Move Using Gestures and History

Summary: A patent for a smart interface that tracks your physical gestures and past habits to predict what you want to do next, showing custom options on a screen to save you time.


How Scientists Created Bacteria That Eat Oil Spills

Summary: A 1981 patent for genetically engineered bacteria capable of breaking down multiple types of oil, which became the first living organism ever patented.


How Apps Automatically Switch Between Video Call Connection Methods

Summary: A system that automatically decides whether to connect video calls directly between users or through a central server based on the number of people and connection quality.


Smart Ranking of Emails and Files Based on How You Click

Summary: IBM's 1999 patent on automatically sorting lists of items, like emails, by watching which ones you click first and updating a mathematical model of your preferences in the background.


How Devices Give Haptic Feedback While You Hover Your Finger

Summary: This patent describes a system that triggers physical vibrations or sensations on a device when your finger hovers near the screen without actually touching it.


How the First Home Video Game Console Worked

Summary: Ralph Baer's 1969 patent for the Magnavox Odyssey, the first home video game system, which generated controllable dots on a standard television screen using analog circuitry.


How Touchscreens Save Battery by Sleeping Between Touches

Summary: A power-saving method for touchscreens that puts the main processor to sleep when not in use and wakes it up only when a touch is detected.


How Smartphones Use Light Sensors to Detect When You Are Talking

Summary: Apple's patent on using light sensors to help a phone accurately detect when it is pressed against your ear, preventing accidental screen touches.


How Nichia Created the First Practical Blue LED Electrodes

Summary: A foundational patent describing the specific metal contacts needed to make gallium nitride LEDs efficient and commercially viable.


How the iPhone Switches and Adds Mobile Web Browser Tabs

Summary: Apple's 2007 patent on using swipes, edge taps, and dedicated buttons to create and flip through multiple full-screen windows in a mobile web browser.


How Computers Find Hidden Connections Between Different Fields of Knowledge

Summary: A method for finding related ideas in completely different subjects by using math to map how words appear together, even when the subjects use different vocabulary.


How the QR Code Works

Summary: The 1995 patent by Toyota Central R&D Labs that invented the QR code, using three distinct corner squares with a unique 1:1:3:1:1 pixel ratio to let scanners instantly find and read the code from any angle.


How Touchscreen Gestures Use Physics to Feel Real

Summary: Google's patent on making touchscreen gestures feel natural by applying simulated physics, like friction or magnetism, to items on your screen.


How 3D Icons Rotate to Show More Information

Summary: A 1994 Apple patent for a 3D computer icon that can be rotated by clicking specific areas to reveal different sides, each containing extra information about a file or folder.


The Sticky Microscopic Beads Behind Post-it Notes

Summary: 3M's 1977 patent on tiny, naturally sticky plastic beads that can stick to a surface, peel off easily without leaving residue, and be reused over and over again.


How Genentech Created Antibodies to Stop Tumor Growth

Summary: A 1997 patent describing a specific humanized antibody designed to block VEGF, a protein that helps tumors grow their own blood supply.


How the Apple Watch Uses the Digital Crown to Flip Objects

Summary: A method for rotating virtual objects on a small wearable screen by spinning the physical dial on the side of the device based on how fast you turn it.


How to Make AI Run Faster on Smaller Computer Chips

Summary: A method to shrink complex AI models by converting their high-precision math into simpler, faster formats that run efficiently on mobile devices.


How Microwave Crisping Sleeves Work

Summary: General Mills' 1978 patent on using a thin, metal-coated plastic wrap that converts microwave energy into intense surface heat to crisp and brown food like Hot Pockets.


How Piezoelectric Inkjet Printing Works

Summary: A 1970 patent describing how to print images by using electrical pulses to bend a tiny crystal plate, squeezing individual ink drops out of a nozzle on demand.


How Rockets Catch Up to Satellites Faster Using Out-of-Plane Steering

Summary: A method for launching rockets to reach a space station or satellite in less than one full orbit by steering the rocket sideways during launch.


How Delivery Drones Self-Calibrate and Pass Safety Checks Before Takeoff

Summary: A system for automated drone maintenance stations that check if a drone is safe to fly by verifying its GPS, weight, and physical condition without human help.


How Mobile Devices Switch Between Open Apps Using Gestures

Summary: Apple's patent describes a way to switch between open apps on a touchscreen by showing a bar of app previews and selecting one with a tap.


How Solar Sails Use Moving Vanes to Steer in Space

Summary: A solar sail design that uses multiple independently moving reflective vanes made of shape-memory materials to steer spacecraft using only the pressure of sunlight.


The Discovery of Lovastatin for Lowering Cholesterol

Summary: A 1979 patent by Merck describing the isolation of a fermentation product from Aspergillus fungi that effectively lowers cholesterol levels in the blood.


Making Ivacaftor Easier for the Body to Absorb

Summary: A patent describing a specific way to turn a drug molecule into an amorphous solid to help the body absorb it more effectively.


How Facebook Ranks Search Results Based on Your Friends' Activity

Summary: A method for ranking search results by prioritizing links that your social network friends have clicked on previously.


How Smartphones Organize Apps into Folders

Summary: Apple's 2010 patent describing the logic for creating and interacting with app folders on a touchscreen device, specifically distinguishing between 'normal' use and 'editing' modes.


How Smartphones Automatically Adjust Camera Settings in Low Light

Summary: A system that automatically shows or hides camera exposure controls based on whether the device detects low-light conditions.


How to Make Pill Coatings That Keep Medicine Stable Over Time

Summary: A method for coating pills with a specific plasticized acrylic polymer that ensures the medicine releases at a steady, predictable rate, even after sitting on a shelf for months.


Interchangeable Blades for Folding Pocket Tools

Summary: A 1987 patent for a folding pocket knife with split handles that can securely swap out different tools, like saw blades, using a locking pivot block and protective aluminum handles.


How Multi-Touch Gestures Like Pinch-to-Zoom Work on Smartphones

Summary: Apple's patent on using two-finger gestures to manipulate images and objects on a touchscreen, allowing for smooth zooming and rotation even if you lift your fingers briefly.


How Smartphones Suggest Apps Based on Where You Are

Summary: Apple's patent for a system that automatically highlights or suggests mobile apps based on your current location or a location you are planning to visit.


How Smartphones Suggest and Correct Words While You Type

Summary: Apple's patent on a system that displays word suggestions above a touchscreen keyboard, allowing users to accept or reject them with simple taps or keystrokes.


How Thermal Inkjet Printers Use Two-Step Heating to Shoot Ink

Summary: Hewlett-Packard's 1982 patent on a two-stage electrical pulse method that preheats ink before vaporizing it, allowing thermal inkjet printers to reliably eject precise droplets without clogging.


How Apps Compare Local Prices and Ratings for Specific Items

Summary: A system that helps users find and order a specific product from nearby stores by ranking them based on price, ratings, and item attributes like calorie count.


How Google Displays Knowledge Panels Next to Search Results

Summary: A method for automatically assembling and displaying information boxes on search result pages by pulling data from multiple sources based on user query patterns.


How the Super Soaker's Pinch-Trigger and Built-In Tank Work

Summary: A 1994 patent by Lonnie Johnson for a high-pressure toy water gun featuring a built-in, non-detachable tank pressurized by a hand pump and controlled by a simple pinch-valve trigger.


Using Dimethyl Fumarate to Treat Multiple Sclerosis

Summary: A patent detailing the specific daily dosage of 480mg of dimethyl fumarate for treating multiple sclerosis to protect nerve cells.


A Gel That Helps Nicotine Absorb Through Your Skin

Summary: A specialized gel formula designed to help nicotine pass through the skin or mouth lining without crystallizing or rubbing off on clothes.


How Titan Trailers Builds Stronger, Smoother Cargo Containers

Summary: A design for a cargo trailer shaped like a rounded tube made from flat and curved aluminum panels that are welded together to create a smooth, unobstructed interior.


How Uber Manages Data Connections for Self-Driving Car Fleets

Summary: A system that splits network traffic for autonomous vehicles by sending heavy data over cheap channels while reserving a highly reliable channel specifically for delivery confirmations.


How Folders With Multiple Pages Work on Touchscreens

Summary: Apple's patent describes how to organize apps into multi-page folders and move icons between those pages by dragging them to specific screen edges.


How Cochlear Implants Use Free-Spinning Magnets to Survive MRI Scans

Summary: A cochlear implant design that uses a freely rotating internal magnet to prevent the device from being pulled or damaged by the strong magnetic fields of an MRI machine.


How Smartphones Calibrate Their Radio Power Across Different Temperatures

Summary: A method for testing and calibrating a phone's wireless radio performance in a temperature-controlled chamber to ensure it stays accurate as the device heats up or cools down.


How Pull-to-Refresh Works on Your Smartphone

Summary: This patent describes the 'pull-to-refresh' gesture that lets users update a list of content, like a social media feed, by dragging down until a trigger appears and then releasing.


How to Engineer Antibodies to Better Target and Destroy Disease

Summary: This patent describes a way to modify the tail end of an antibody so it binds more strongly to immune cells, helping the body fight off infections or cancer more effectively.


How Novartis Engineered Antibodies to Block the TIM-3 Immune Checkpoint

Summary: A patent describing specific genetic blueprints for antibodies designed to bind to and inhibit the TIM-3 protein, a key target in cancer and immune system research.


How Touchscreens Predict Where Your Finger Will Land Before You Touch

Summary: Apple's patent describes a touch controller that tracks an object's path through the air to predict where it will land on a screen before it actually makes physical contact.


How Amazon Optimizes Where to Store Products to Avoid Stockouts

Summary: A mathematical method for deciding how many items to stock in different warehouses to minimize the cost of running out of products.


Personalized Dosing for Crohn's Disease Drugs Using Blood Tests

Summary: A method for adjusting doses of inflammatory bowel disease medication by measuring specific drug metabolites in a patient's red blood cells to maximize effectiveness while avoiding side effects.

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Saint Justine


How Apple Embeds Haptic Actuators Directly Into Device Layers

Summary: A design for touchscreens that embeds vibration-producing actuators directly into a nonconductive material layer, paired with force sensors to detect how hard a user presses.


How Software Detects What You Want Based on Your Social Media Posts

Summary: A system that reads your social media posts to figure out your intent, then automatically serves ads or updates your profile based on how likely you are to actually buy or do something.


How Banks Dynamically Adjust Security Questions Based on Your Behavior

Summary: A system that automatically changes the difficulty and number of security questions you face when opening a bank account based on your device data and risk level.


How to Verify Anonymous Users Using Third-Party Identity Services

Summary: A method for a system to identify and authorize a user it doesn't know by asking a different, trusted service that already has the user's information.


How CPAP Machines Gradually Increase Air Pressure for Sleeping Patients

Summary: A 1993 patent describing a CPAP machine that lets patients choose how slowly the air pressure ramps up to their therapeutic level, making it easier to fall asleep.


How Genentech's Antibody Targets Cancerous B Cells

Summary: This patent describes a specific humanized antibody designed to bind to a protein called CD79b, which is found on the surface of certain cancer cells.


How the Nintendo D-Pad Works

Summary: A mechanical switch design that allows a user to control directional movement in video games using a single, tilting thumb-operated button.


How Scientists Taught Bacteria to Make Human Hormones

Summary: Genentech's 1979 patent on using engineered DNA to force bacteria to produce human proteins like insulin and growth hormones.


How Computers Automatically Adjust Tasks to Run Faster in Data Centers

Summary: A method for cloud computers to monitor their own performance while processing massive data tasks and automatically changing their settings or resource levels to stay efficient.


How Cloud Systems Automatically Create and Train AI Data Models

Summary: A cloud-based system that generates fake, privacy-safe data to train AI models, ensuring they remain accurate while protecting sensitive personal information.


How Apps Automatically Link Multiple User Accounts

Summary: A method for logging into multiple separate user accounts with a single set of credentials and managing them through one unified interface.


How Large Interactive Whiteboards Track Fingers Across Multiple Sensors

Summary: A method for stitching together data from multiple overlapping touch sensors so a single large surface acts as one seamless input area.


How Apple Watches Use a Rotating Dial to Navigate Menus

Summary: A method for using a physical rotating dial on a device to scroll through lists and menus while providing audio feedback for accessibility.


How Google Ads Detect Which Web Page You Are Viewing

Summary: A method for web browsers to identify the correct webpage address to show relevant advertisements, even when the ad code is hidden inside a frame.


How Google Automatically Groups Photos and Contextual Data into Moments

Summary: A method for automatically grouping photos from front and rear cameras with related data like audio, weather, and location to create a rich, interactive digital memory.


How Sonos Speakers Use Personalized Wake Words to Recognize Different Users

Summary: A system that lets multiple people control a shared speaker by using unique voice-trigger words to link their specific music accounts and preferences.


Using Insect Cells to Create Antibodies for Human Diseases

Summary: A method for creating disease-fighting antibodies by using insect cells to display human proteins, which are then injected into animals to trigger an immune response.


How to Keep Data Safe During a Site Failover

Summary: A method for keeping data backups synchronized and accessible even when a primary data center goes offline and systems must switch to a backup location.


How Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Tags Were Invented

Summary: A 1970 patent describing a remote tag that powers itself using incoming radio signals to read and write data, forming the foundation of modern RFID technology.


How Eventbrite Recommends Events Based on Your Social Network

Summary: A system that suggests events to you by analyzing your social media connections and your past attendance history to see what your friends are doing.


Using Genetically Modified Viruses to Target and Treat Cancer

Summary: A method for creating a modified vaccinia virus that safely hunts down and kills tumor cells while leaving healthy tissue alone.


How the 2x2x2 Magnetic Puzzle Cube Works

Summary: A 1970 patent for a 2x2x2 puzzle cube held together by magnets that allows groups of pieces to rotate around three axes to solve a color-matching challenge.


How Lithium-Cobalt Battery Cathodes Were Invented

Summary: This 1981 patent details the chemistry behind the lithium-cobalt oxide cathodes that power almost every modern smartphone, laptop, and electric vehicle.


How Jarvik's Artificial Heart Uses Electric Motors to Pump Blood

Summary: A 1977 invention by Robert Jarvik that uses a reversible electric motor to power a hydraulic pump, enabling artificial hearts to mimic the natural pumping action of a human heart.


How to Keep Humira Stable in a Liquid Medicine Bottle

Summary: A recipe for a stable, liquid version of the drug Humira that stays effective at high concentrations without spoiling or clumping.


How a Coffee Maker Uses a Floating Valve to Heat Water

Summary: A 1971 invention for a coffee maker that uses a floating valve to control water flow, ensuring water is heated efficiently without needing a massive, power-hungry heating element.


How the iPhone's Jiggling App Icons Work

Summary: This patent describes the 'jiggle mode' on iPhones, where app icons shake to show they can be moved or deleted.


How the First Nuclear Reactor Works

Summary: The foundational 1955 patent by Enrico Fermi and Leo Szilard describing the design of the first nuclear reactor capable of a self-sustaining chain reaction.


How Facebook Uses Deep Learning to Predict What You Might Like

Summary: A method for training AI models to recommend new content by comparing a user's past interactions with unseen items in a social network.


How Computers Match and Join Messy Data from Different Sources

Summary: A method for merging datasets by identifying related but non-identical items using flexible matching rules rather than strict equality.


How Spacecraft Servicing Pods Maneuver and Refuel Other Satellites

Summary: A specialized robotic pod designed to dock with aging satellites and use a flexible, multi-jointed boom arm to adjust their orbit or velocity.


How Automatic Rotating Curling Irons Capture and Wind Hair

Summary: A motorized hair styling tool that uses a rotating ring with tabs to automatically catch and wrap hair around a heated barrel.


How AI Learns New Tasks Using Old Data Labels

Summary: A method for helping AI models understand new topics by grouping similar labels from different datasets into a shared, broader category.


Using Yeast Cell Walls to Deliver Genetic Medicine

Summary: A method for using hollowed-out yeast cell walls as tiny transport containers to deliver genetic payloads like DNA or RNA into cells.


How Google Distributed Machine Learning Across Many Computers

Summary: A 2003 Google patent describing a way to build machine learning models by splitting the work across a large network of computers rather than a single machine.


How Wallace Carothers Invented Nylon

Summary: The foundational 1935 patent for synthetic linear polyamides, the chemical process that created the material we now call nylon.


How Home Gateways Manage Video Streaming Traffic to Prevent Buffering

Summary: A system where home internet gateways report device buffer status to a central server to intelligently manage bandwidth for multiple video streams.


How to Automatically Expand Neural Networks by Adding New Nodes

Summary: A method for growing artificial intelligence models by identifying underperforming parts of a network and adding new nodes based on the behavior of existing ones.


How Gilead Made a Stable HIV Pill Combining Two Medicines

Summary: This patent describes a stable, single-pill combination of two HIV drugs, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine, designed to prevent them from breaking down when stored together.


How Dynamic Web Applications Use Templates to Fetch Data

Summary: A method for web applications to use abstract templates that automatically connect to back-end databases based on the user's device or platform.


How to Create Wide-Field Images of Tissue Using OCT Scanners

Summary: A method for stitching together multiple high-resolution medical images of uneven tissue samples to create a single, wide-field view for better diagnostic clarity.


How the String Trimmer (Weed Eater) Actually Cuts Grass

Summary: This 1974 patent describes the mechanics of using a high-speed spinning plastic line to cut grass, replacing dangerous metal blades with flexible, non-metallic material.


How Salesforce Speeds Up Data Processing Using Bulk Message Handling

Summary: A method for cloud systems to grab multiple tasks at once instead of one by one, using a locking mechanism to ensure data stays consistent during bulk processing.


How Texas Instruments Invented the Handheld Electronic Calculator

Summary: This 1972 patent describes the architecture for the first truly portable, battery-powered electronic calculator that could fit in a pocket.


How Smartphones Manage Multiple Notifications on a Locked Screen

Summary: A patent describing how a locked smartphone displays multiple notifications from different apps and allows users to interact with them individually without unlocking the phone.


How Snap's AR Tech Measures Distance for Virtual Button Presses

Summary: A method for mobile devices to calculate exactly when a user's finger or controller touches a virtual object in augmented reality by measuring precise distances from the camera.


How Apps Use Timed Content to Enforce Health Behavior Changes

Summary: A system for health apps that locks users out of missed daily lessons and forces them to move forward to the next scheduled module instead of catching up.


How Websites Use Distorted Text Riddles to Stop Bots

Summary: This patent describes the original method for creating CAPTCHAs, using distorted text or audio riddles to distinguish human users from automated bots.


How Square Syncs Inventory Between Physical Shops and Online Stores

Summary: A system that lets store owners toggle items between online and physical sales channels using a single dashboard to keep stock counts accurate everywhere.


How Engineered Antibodies Block Inflammation-Causing Proteins

Summary: A patent describing lab-made antibodies designed to hunt down and neutralize a specific protein called TNF-alpha that causes chronic inflammation in the body.


How Nintendo's Wii Remote Tracks Motion and Infrared Light

Summary: A patent describing the Wii Remote's technology for tracking physical movement and infrared light to control video games wirelessly.


How Digital Images Hide Invisible Markers to Track Rotation and Scaling

Summary: A method for hiding invisible patterns in digital images that allow computers to detect if an image has been rotated or resized, even if the original version is missing.


How Networks Keep Video Streams Smooth During Busy Times

Summary: A method for internet providers to automatically balance network resources so that multiple users streaming video simultaneously experience the best possible overall quality.


How Nextdoor Verifies Neighbors and Limits Online Social Circles

Summary: A patent describing a system for a private, location-based social network that verifies users' home addresses to restrict communications to people living in the same neighborhood.


How Computers Automatically Label Different Speakers in Audio Recordings

Summary: A method for identifying and labeling speakers in audio recordings, even if the system has never heard the person speak before, by grouping similar voices and asking a user to name them.


How Online Work Platforms Manage New Freelancer Onboarding

Summary: A system for online freelance marketplaces to automatically create and manage task-based checklists that guide new workers through hiring and project setup.


How the Floppy Disk's Protective Jacket Cleans the Disk

Summary: An IBM patent from 1972 describing a protective, non-removable cover for a magnetic disk that uses a built-in cleaning material to wipe the disk surface while it spins.


How Space Taxis and Locomotives Move Satellites Between Orbits

Summary: A modular system using a small 'rendezvous' vehicle to collect satellites and a larger 'locomotive' vehicle to haul them to their final destination in space.


How Digital Receipts Turn One-Time Payments Into Ongoing Customer Relationships

Summary: A system that transforms static digital receipts into dynamic, time-sensitive portals for rewards, feedback, and tipping after a purchase is complete.


How Satellite Swarms Keep Their Solar Panels and Antennas Pointed Correctly

Summary: A system for managing large satellite arrays in orbit that balances the need to point solar panels at the sun and antennas at the Earth while keeping the structure stable.


How Software Automatically Translates Database Queries for Different Storage Systems

Summary: A system that intercepts database queries written for traditional relational databases and automatically translates them to work with non-relational databases, allowing developers to switch storage systems without rewriting their application code.


How a Refillable Capsule Plug Seals Cleaning Concentrates

Summary: A specialized plug design for refillable cleaning product capsules that ensures a secure, leak-proof seal when the capsule is attached to a bottle.


How High-Altitude Parafoils Use Spring-Loaded Rods to Open Automatically

Summary: A system for high-altitude balloons that uses flexible, spring-loaded rods to force a parachute-like wing to snap open in the thin air of the upper atmosphere.


How to Force AI to Follow Logical Rules During Training

Summary: A system that uses a dual-headed neural network to ensure AI models obey specific logical rules by embedding those rules directly into the training process.


How American Express Tracks Your Spending Habits Across Different Stores

Summary: A system that links store-specific product codes to universal manufacturer codes to help consumers track their spending and stay within personal budgets.

American Express Travel Related Services Co Inc


How a Handheld Thumb-Controlled Computer Mouse Works

Summary: A handheld mouse designed to be held in the air, using the thumb to control a cursor while fingers rest in ergonomic channels.


How Robert Noyce Invented the Modern Integrated Circuit

Summary: Robert Noyce's 1959 patent for a semiconductor device that uses evaporated metal leads to connect components directly on a single silicon chip.


How eBay Uses Image Fingerprints to Search for Products

Summary: A system that lets you search for items on a marketplace by uploading a photo instead of typing text, using image 'fingerprints' to find matching products.


How Square Uses Your Phone's Location to Verify Credit Card Payments

Summary: A system that uses GPS data from a customer's smartphone to confirm they are physically present at a store during a credit card transaction to reduce fraud.


How Soft Contact Lenses Were Invented Using Hydrogels

Summary: This patent describes the chemical recipe for soft, water-absorbing plastic materials that form the basis of modern soft contact lenses.


The Discovery of Aspartame as a Sugar Substitute

Summary: This 1966 patent identifies specific chemical compounds, known as aspartylphenylalanine esters, that provide intense sweetness for food and drinks without using sugar.


How Virtual Machines Keep Their Data Separate on Shared Storage

Summary: A method for virtual machines to store data in isolated, non-mixed logical storage units to improve security and management efficiency within a shared physical storage pool.


How Software Automatically Ranks and Manages Online Customer Feedback

Summary: A system that automatically finds, scores, and prioritizes online mentions of a company so they can respond to the most important conversations first.


How to Clean Files by Rebuilding Them Instead of Scanning Them

Summary: A security method that stops malware by rebuilding files from scratch based on strict format rules, rather than looking for known viruses.


How Groupon Automatically Categorizes Merchant Services Using Text Analysis

Summary: A system that automatically scans merchant websites and uses high-precision search queries to label their services, helping platforms like Groupon organize thousands of business listings.


How to Create Lab-Made Proteins That Stop Immune System Overreaction

Summary: A method for creating custom proteins that act as 'brakes' for the body's immune system to prevent damage from excessive inflammation.


How Genentech Engineered Antibodies to Starve Tumors of Blood

Summary: A 2007 Genentech patent describing specific lab-made antibodies that block a protein called VEGF, which tumors use to grow new blood vessels.


How to Store Fragile Biological Materials Without Refrigeration

Summary: A method for preserving unstable biological materials like proteins by trapping them in a solid, glass-like sugar or polymer matrix that prevents decay at room temperature.


How Boeing Stacks Electric Space Vehicles for Launch

Summary: A design for a launch vehicle that carries two space vehicles stacked on top of each other, both using electric propulsion systems for movement in space.


How Microsoft Protects Corporate Data on Employee Devices

Summary: A system that lets companies remotely lock or delete specific work data on a phone or computer without wiping the user's personal files.


How GPS Receivers See Weak Signals by Combining Data

Summary: A method for improving GPS sensitivity by mathematically combining multiple, weak signal samples to extract navigation data that would otherwise be lost in noise.


How Oil Wells Send Acoustic Signals Using Mechanical Hammers

Summary: A device that uses pressure differences to slam a piston against a metal surface, creating a specific sound vibration that acts as a signal for deep-well operations.


How Software Automatically Collects and Organizes Data from Multiple Websites

Summary: A system that automatically logs into multiple websites, pulls information, and stores it locally before you even ask for it, so it is ready to view instantly.


The Invention of the Junction Transistor

Summary: William Shockley's 1951 patent for the junction transistor, the fundamental building block of all modern digital electronics.


The Invention of the Transistor

Summary: Bell Labs' 1950 patent for the point-contact transistor, the fundamental electronic component that makes all modern computing possible.


How Robert Dennard Invented the One-Transistor DRAM Memory Cell

Summary: IBM's 1967 patent for a memory cell using a single transistor and a capacitor, which became the foundation for all modern computer RAM.


How the Modern LEGO Brick Design Works

Summary: The 1958 patent that defined the iconic LEGO brick with hollow tubes inside, allowing bricks to lock together firmly.


How Amazon Tracks Warehouse Workers' Hands Using Radio Waves

Summary: A system that uses radio frequency signals to track the exact 3D position of a warehouse worker's hand to ensure they pick or place items in the correct bins.


How LG's Steam Closet Organizes Its Internal Components

Summary: A design patent for a clothing care system that stacks a steam generator and heat pump in a specific, space-saving arrangement within the base of the unit.


How eBay Uses AI to Identify Brands in Search Queries

Summary: A system that uses deep learning to recognize brand names in search queries and automatically improve search results by adding relevant product terms.


How Enzymes Help Turn Corn Into Ethanol More Efficiently

Summary: A process for making ethanol from starch by using specific enzymes to break down proteins, which helps the fermentation process run more smoothly.


How to Embed Tiny Optical Components Directly into Circuit Boards

Summary: A design for embedding light-emitting components and light-guiding paths directly into the layers of a circuit board to make devices smaller and more efficient.


How Synthetic Peptides Block Immune System Overreaction

Summary: A patent describing specific synthetic peptides designed to stop the body's immune system from attacking healthy cells by blocking a protein called C5.


How to Manufacture a Complex Cancer-Fighting Drug Molecule

Summary: A detailed chemical recipe for mass-producing a specific cancer-fighting molecule, including the intermediate building blocks needed to construct it efficiently.


How Buried Channel CCDs Move Data Deep Inside Silicon Chips

Summary: A foundational 1974 invention that improved how computer chips store and move electrical charges by keeping them away from messy surface defects.


How Apps Pass Touch Gestures Between Each Other

Summary: A method for a device to decide which app should handle a user's touch gesture when multiple apps are running at the same time.


How the First Laser Was Invented

Summary: The foundational 1960 patent by Schawlow and Townes that describes how to amplify light waves to create a laser, moving beyond microwave technology.


How Digital Media Purchases and Downloads Work

Summary: A 1990 patent describing the basic process of paying for digital audio or video content over a phone line and downloading it to a personal device.


Chemical Compounds for Treating Hepatitis C Virus

Summary: A patent describing specific chemical structures designed to stop the Hepatitis C virus from replicating in humans.


How Bubble Wrap Is Manufactured

Summary: A 1959 manufacturing process that creates cushioning material by trapping air between two layers of plastic film.


The Design Patent for the Original iPod Mini

Summary: This is a design patent protecting the specific physical appearance and shape of Apple's iPod Mini, which helped define the look of portable music players in the mid-2000s.


How to Make Long-Lasting Injections for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment

Summary: A patent for a slow-release version of the MS drug glatiramer acetate, designed to be injected once every week to six months instead of daily.


How Screens Change What They Show Based on Your Hand Distance

Summary: A method for changing the menu options shown on a screen depending on how close or far away your hand is hovering above it.


How Web Browsers Run Embedded Programs Inside Documents

Summary: A 1994 invention that allowed web browsers to automatically launch and run external programs directly inside a webpage, enabling interactive content like 3D models or complex data viewers.


How Devices Negotiate Power Sharing When Connected Together

Summary: A system for host devices like laptops to automatically set and update power-sharing rules with connected accessories based on identity and real-time power needs.


How to Split Computer Tasks Between Different Types of Processors

Summary: A system that uses a physical backplane to connect two different types of computer processors—one for general tasks and one for real-time tasks—to improve efficiency.


Using Transcendental Math to Generate Better Random Numbers

Summary: A method for creating high-quality random numbers by using complex transcendental math equations to process raw data.


How AI Automatically Labels Images and Checks Its Own Work

Summary: A method for training AI to label images by calculating how uncertain it is about its own predictions, allowing it to verify its accuracy without human help.


How Projection Neural Networks Speed Up AI Predictions

Summary: A method for making artificial intelligence models faster and more efficient by using fixed, non-trainable projections to simplify complex data before processing.


How Operating Systems Display Cloud File Status Icons

Summary: A system for Windows or other operating systems to show synchronization status icons for files stored in various cloud services like OneDrive, Dropbox, or Google Drive.


How Laser Printers Use Rotating Mirrors to Write Information

Summary: A 1972 Xerox patent describing how to use a spinning mirror to scan a laser beam across a page, adjusting the speed of the data to keep the image sharp.


How the Modern Frisbee Design Works

Summary: A 1967 patent describing the specific aerodynamic shape and raised ribs that allow a plastic disc to fly straight and steady.


How to Keep Backup Data in the Correct Order

Summary: A method for ensuring that backup data arrives at a secondary storage location in the exact same sequence it was created at the primary location to prevent data corruption.


How Polaroid's Instant Film Pods Work

Summary: A 1951 invention by Edwin Land that enabled instant photography by packaging liquid developer inside a breakable pod attached to the film sheet.


How to Shrink Large AI Models Using Knowledge Distillation

Summary: A method for teaching small, efficient AI models to mimic the complex decision-making patterns of much larger, more powerful neural networks.


How Widgets Flip Over to Show Settings

Summary: A method for letting digital widgets flip over like a physical object to reveal hidden settings or controls on the back.


How to Browse TV Shows Using 3D Virtual Objects

Summary: A method for organizing television content by mapping category labels onto 3D surfaces that transform into video players when selected.


How Smart Home Devices Automatically Connect to Utility Energy Programs

Summary: A system that lets smart home devices like thermostats enroll in energy-saving programs without the user needing to manually provide their utility account number.


How Aircraft Automatically Adjust Exterior Lights Using Computer Vision

Summary: An automated system for airplanes that turns on landing and taxi lights based on altitude and uses AI to adjust brightness depending on real-time visibility conditions.


How to Make Waste-Free Plastic Grocery Bags on a Roll

Summary: A design for plastic grocery bags on a roll that eliminates leftover scrap material during manufacturing while allowing users to easily tear off and open handles.


How Surgical Robots Create Working Space Inside the Body

Summary: A surgical tool that expands inside a patient to create a stable, open workspace, allowing doctors to perform complex procedures using two independently controlled instruments.


How Mobile Devices Automatically Manage Data Retransmission Errors

Summary: A method for mobile devices to efficiently track and fix data transmission errors by mathematically assigning ID tags to recurring data packets.


The Design of the Original Apple iPhone

Summary: This is a design patent protecting the specific visual appearance and physical shape of a portable electronic device, commonly recognized as the iPhone.


How Auto-Injectors Adjust Their Dose Using a Simple Spacer

Summary: A 1977 invention for auto-injectors that uses a physical spacer to adjust the amount of medicine inside the device before it is fired.


How Banks Attach Extra Transaction Details Using Shortened Web Links

Summary: A system for banks to send extra payment details, like invoices or receipts, by embedding a short web link inside standard financial transaction messages.


How Trampoline Hook Elements Prevent Strap Wear

Summary: A design for a trampoline hook that separates the two ends of a support strap to prevent them from rubbing together and wearing out.


How Early Cochlear Implants Used Digital Signals to Restore Hearing

Summary: A 1977 patent describing an electronic device that converts sound into digital pulses to stimulate the auditory nerve, bypassing a damaged inner ear.


How Rohm Designs Compact Semiconductor Packages for Better Heat Management

Summary: A semiconductor packaging design by Rohm that arranges multiple chips and specific lead terminals to optimize space and thermal performance in electronic devices.


How Stylus Ring Electrodes Detect Pen Tilt and Orientation

Summary: Apple's patent for a stylus design that uses specific ring-shaped sensors to accurately measure the angle and tilt of a pen against a touchscreen.


How Servers Automatically Connect Users Based on Mutual Friend Lists

Summary: A method for servers to automatically create secure communication links between two users only if they have both added each other to their respective contact or buddy lists.


How Airport Vehicles Automatically Park Safely Next to Airplanes

Summary: A smart navigation system that helps airport service vehicles like catering trucks park safely at aircraft doors by identifying targets and avoiding restricted zones.


How an Auxiliary Controller Manages Supplemental Fuel Injection

Summary: A method for an add-on computer to calculate and control extra fuel injection by piggybacking on data from a car's original engine computer.


How TV Receivers Remind You to Return from Commercial Breaks

Summary: A system for television receivers that detects when you change channels during a commercial break and automatically prompts you to return to your original show before the ads end.


How Facebook's Share Button Works Across Different Websites

Summary: A patent describing how a social network can pull content from an outside website and share it with friends based on specific user-selected settings.


How Devices Track Offline Ad Watching and Share Media Recommendations

Summary: A system for tracking which ads a user watches in downloaded video files while offline and reporting that data back to publishers once the device reconnects to the internet.


How Real-Time Pitch Correction and Auto-Tune Technology Works

Summary: A method for detecting the pitch of a musical note and adjusting it to a target frequency in real time using auto-correlation.


How to Keep High-Concentration Antibody Medicines Stable in Liquid Form

Summary: Novartis's patent describes a specific liquid recipe for keeping high concentrations of E25 anti-IgE antibodies stable and usable for medical injections.


How Douglas Engelbart Invented the Computer Mouse

Summary: The 1970 patent for the X-Y position indicator, better known as the computer mouse, which allowed users to move a cursor across a screen for the first time.


How Apple Devices Securely Display Digital Passes and Tickets

Summary: A system for securely displaying digital tickets or account codes on a screen only after verifying the user's identity, and automatically hiding them once used or if time runs out.


Using Radioactive Antibodies to Treat B-Cell Lymphoma

Summary: A method for treating B-cell lymphoma by using radioactive antibodies to target cancer cells without destroying the patient's bone marrow.


How Foldable Screens Use Electrochromic Layers to Improve Color and Contrast

Summary: A method for foldable display panels to adjust their light-filtering properties using electrochromic layers that change color or opacity based on whether the screen is stretched or folded.


How Digital Sticky Notes Work Inside Computer Programs

Summary: A 1993 Apple patent for attaching digital sticky notes to documents so they move and behave like regular text or images within an application.


How to Save Memory Power by Grouping Error-Correction Data

Summary: A method for memory controllers to reduce power consumption by fetching multiple sets of error-checking data in a single memory row access instead of one-by-one.


How TSMC Makes Advanced Silicon-Based Light Sensors

Summary: A manufacturing process for high-performance light sensors that use alternating doped regions within a silicon-on-insulator structure to improve detection efficiency.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co TSMC Ltd


How George de Mestral Invented Velcro

Summary: A 1952 patent describing the creation of a hook-and-loop fastener by weaving synthetic loops into fabric and cutting them to create tiny, grippy hooks.


How to Map Physical Locations to Human-Friendly Web Addresses

Summary: A system that assigns easy-to-read web domain names to specific geographic areas on a map, making it easier to search, own, and trade location-based digital data.


How to Build Thin, Flat Light-Focusing Panels

Summary: A design for a thin, flat light-guiding panel that uses tiny built-in lenses and notches to turn trapped light into a focused, directional beam.


How Plastic Soda Bottles Are Made Stronger Using Stretched Molecules

Summary: A 1970s invention that describes how to make lightweight, clear plastic bottles strong enough to hold carbonated drinks without exploding.


How Bicycle Racks Keep Their Lights Visible While Moving

Summary: A bicycle rack that keeps its lights pointed backward whether the rack is folded up against the car or lowered to carry bikes.


How Websites Get Paid for Referring Video Traffic

Summary: A method for tracking which website sent a user to a video stream so the referring site can be paid for the advertisement shown.


How to Monitor Secure Government Computer Networks Automatically

Summary: A system that automatically collects, organizes, and displays security data from highly secure government networks to help administrators spot potential threats or performance issues.


How Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) Were Invented

Summary: This 1962 patent describes the first practical way to use organic liquid crystals to create a display that scatters light when an electric current is applied.


How to Safely Shut Down Microservices Without Breaking Apps

Summary: A method for shutting down parts of a software system one by one by mapping active requests to specific services, ensuring no tasks are interrupted during updates.


How Computers Track the Position and Angle of Multiple Objects

Summary: A method for using multiple cameras to track the exact location and orientation of many similar objects in a 3D space, even when they overlap.


How Dishwasher Racks Use Articulating Skis to Glide Smoothly

Summary: A mechanical assembly for dishwasher racks that uses a pivoting ski foot to help the rack slide over obstacles or transitions without getting stuck.


How to Make Hard-to-Absorb Medicines Easier for the Body to Use

Summary: A method for mixing specific chemical compounds with surfactants to help the body absorb them more effectively.


How Passive Satellite Navigation Works Without Sending Signals

Summary: A 1970s system for finding your location on Earth by listening to satellite signals without ever having to transmit a signal yourself.


How Samsung Makes Better Transistor Gates Using Two-Layer Metal Stacks

Summary: A design for a transistor gate electrode that uses a two-layer metal structure to improve electrical performance and reliability in modern microchips.


How the Modern Waterbed Works

Summary: A 1971 patent describing a liquid-filled, heated furniture support designed to cradle human bodies without letting them touch the bottom of the container.


How Tiny Water-Powered Thrusters Steer Small Satellites

Summary: A method for building microscopic water-based rocket engines that use heat to push water through tiny nozzles to steer small satellites in space.


How Smart Light Networks Coordinate Without a Central Controller

Summary: A system where individual smart lights talk to each other to make lighting decisions based on sensors, rather than relying on a single master computer.


How Software Automatically Filters Employee Survey Results Based on Management Roles

Summary: A system that automatically restricts who can see specific employee survey results by mapping organizational reporting lines through a digital object graph.


How the Windows Taskbar Manages Open Programs

Summary: Microsoft's 1999 patent defines the mechanics of the Windows taskbar, allowing users to track open programs and manage window layouts through a persistent interface element.


How Search Engines Personalize Results Based on Your Browsing History

Summary: Google's patent for narrowing down search results by prioritizing websites that match your personal interests and past browsing habits.


How Apple's Navigation Bar Manages App Screens

Summary: A method for navigating between different screens in a music app using a fixed bar that shows where you are, where you came from, and a shortcut to the player.


How One Phone Can Remotely Control Another When Nearby

Summary: A system where one smartphone automatically connects to and controls another nearby phone, acting as a remote screen and input device when the second phone is not being used.


How Square Prepares Digital Tabs for Customers Before They Arrive

Summary: A system that lets merchants create a digital customer tab before a guest arrives, using reservation data to pre-load preferences and payment info for a faster checkout.


How Servers Prepare Web Pages for You to Read Offline

Summary: A method for a remote server to process a website in two different ways simultaneously: one for live viewing and one optimized for later offline access.


How the Board Game Monopoly Works

Summary: The 1935 patent for the board game Monopoly, covering the layout of spaces and the rules for moving tokens around a track to buy and trade property.


Using Vitamin B12 to Help Proteins Survive the Human Digestive System

Summary: A method for attaching therapeutic proteins to Vitamin B12 so they can be absorbed through the gut instead of being injected.


Chemical Compounds for Fighting Bacterial and Yeast Infections

Summary: A 1977 patent for a specific class of amino-phosphonous acid chemicals designed to act as antibiotics against bacteria and yeast.


How to Fix Color Uniformity in Digital Screens Using Math

Summary: A method for smoothing out color and brightness inconsistencies across a display screen by mathematically adjusting pixels based on their distance from a reference point.

Kunshan Yunyinggu Electronic Technology Co Ltd


How Cloud Storage Providers Automatically Connect Files to Content Delivery Networks

Summary: A system that lets website owners use a single button in their storage dashboard to automatically distribute their files across a global network of servers for faster loading.


A Custom-Built Protein to Block TGF-beta Signaling in Disease

Summary: A laboratory-engineered protein designed to soak up excess TGF-beta molecules, which could help treat conditions like cancer and fibrosis where these signals are overactive.


How Wireless Radios Automatically Adjust to Avoid Signal Overload

Summary: A method for wireless devices to automatically rearrange their internal signal-processing components when incoming radio signals are too strong and threaten to overwhelm the hardware.


How Stephanie Kwolek Invented the Liquid Crystal Solution for Kevlar

Summary: A 1969 chemical discovery describing a specialized liquid mixture that allows for the creation of incredibly strong, high-performance synthetic fibers.


The First Implantable Cardiac Pacemaker

Summary: Wilson Greatbatch's 1960 patent for the first successful implantable heart pacemaker that used a battery to regulate heartbeat.


Gilead's Chemical Compounds for Treating HIV Infections

Summary: This patent covers specific chemical structures designed to block HIV from replicating in human cells, providing a foundation for new antiviral medications.


How Recessed Wall Wash Lights Reduce Glare Using Angled Lenses

Summary: A specialized recessed light fixture design that uses an angled lens and a unique kicker reflector to wash walls with light while minimizing direct glare for people in the room.


How Smartphones Let You Rearrange and Organize Your Home Screen Icons

Summary: Apple's patent describes the specific software logic used to let users drag, drop, and rearrange app icons on a touchscreen by entering a special 'jiggle' mode.


How Pulse Code Modulation Digitizes Analog Signals

Summary: A foundational 1938 patent describing how to convert continuous sound waves into a stream of digital numbers for transmission.


Using Radioactive Antibodies to Find Tumors Inside the Body

Summary: A 1973 method for finding cancer tumors by injecting patients with radioactive antibodies that attach to tumor-specific proteins, allowing doctors to scan for their location.


How Phones Use Your Voice History to Fix Your Typing

Summary: Apple's patent for a system that improves text autocorrection by using a database of words the user has previously spoken into their device.


How Computers Automatically Manage Temporary Pop-up Windows

Summary: A method for computer systems to automatically display, fade out, and close temporary windows based on timers or system events without requiring user interaction.


How AI Cleans Up Irrelevant Topics in Recorded Phone Calls

Summary: A system that automatically identifies and removes 'noisy' or irrelevant topics from call center transcripts by analyzing how consistently and broadly those words appear.


How the iRobot Roomba Automatically Cleans Floors Without Falling Down Stairs

Summary: A 2002 patent describing an autonomous floor-cleaning robot that uses sensors to navigate rooms, avoid cliffs like stairs, and sweep debris into a removable bin.


How Ibrutinib-like Molecules Block Cancer-Causing Proteins

Summary: A chemical design for molecules that permanently latch onto and disable a specific protein called Btk, which is often responsible for the growth of certain blood cancers.


How Digital Wallets Pull Data From Multiple Sources for Payments

Summary: A system that lets a digital wallet gather and combine account information from different companies to help a user complete a payment transaction.


How Phones Use Motion Sensors to Change Screen Orientation and Views

Summary: A patent describing how mobile devices use sensors to detect movement, allowing the screen to rotate or scroll through pages based on how you tilt or roll the device.


Making Neural Networks Faster by Skipping Unnecessary Calculations

Summary: A method to speed up AI training by keeping data sparse, meaning it ignores zeros to save memory and processing power during both forward and backward passes.


How AI Systems Learn to Predict and Act Simultaneously

Summary: A method for training AI models that combines supervised learning for prediction with reinforcement learning for decision-making in a single, coordinated system.


How Corning Invented Modern Fiber Optic Cables

Summary: A 1970 method for creating glass fibers that carry light over long distances by layering glass inside a tube and drawing it into a thin, solid strand.


How Boeing 3D Prints Strong Lightweight Spacecraft Panels

Summary: A method for printing a single-piece, high-strength spacecraft panel using 3D printing to create complex internal trusses that eliminate the need for bolts or welds.


How to Stop Transistors from Wearing Out in Radio Frequency Chips

Summary: A method for extending the lifespan of silicon-on-insulator transistors by using a special sink to drain away charge that causes gate oxide breakdown.


How Wozniak Made the Apple II Display Color Graphics

Summary: Steve Wozniak's 1977 patent for a circuit that allowed a home computer to display stable, sharp color graphics on a standard television screen.


How Online Stores Automatically Block Illegal Alcohol and Tobacco Deliveries

Summary: A system that checks if your online order of alcohol or tobacco is legal to deliver at your chosen time based on local laws.


How Streaming Services Automatically Build Custom Radio Stations

Summary: A method for streaming services to create custom music radio stations by analyzing genre percentages and artist relationships to pick the best songs.


How a Host Spacecraft Refuels Another Satellite Without Using Its Fuel Tank

Summary: A system where a host satellite carries and attaches small, non-propelled fuel modules to other satellites, feeding propellant directly into their engines to bypass damaged or empty onboard storage.


How to Buy Digital Media Once and Get Multiple Formats

Summary: A system that lets you pay for a digital file once and download it in different formats from various providers without paying again.


How Printers Manage Power States and Sleep Timers

Summary: A method for printers to intelligently decide whether to reset their sleep timer based on the type of network activity they encounter.


How a Local Server Decides to Save or Degrade Digital Content

Summary: A system that checks if incoming digital files are authentic, fake, or unknown, and then either saves them, rejects them, or lowers their quality accordingly.


How to Automatically Tune Machine Learning Settings Using Smart Math

Summary: A system that uses advanced statistical modeling to automatically find the best settings for complex machine learning models, saving engineers from manual trial and error.


How the Koosh Ball's Design Makes It Easy to Catch

Summary: A patent for a ball made of hundreds of soft, rubbery strings that collapse on impact to make catching easy for small hands.


How Apps Automatically Connect Friends Based on Their Current Location

Summary: A system that automatically invites people to a group chat when they enter a specific geographic area defined by a friend's mobile device.


How to Securely Pass Data Packets Within a Trusted Network

Summary: A method for tagging data packets with verified properties so that internal network nodes can trust the data without re-verifying it themselves.


How Apps Fetch Data in the Background While You Are Offline

Summary: A method for mobile devices to store web content for offline viewing and automatically fetch new updates in the background once a wireless connection is restored.


How Self-Balancing Vehicles Warn Users Before They Tip Over

Summary: A safety system for self-balancing vehicles that monitors how much 'room' the machine has left to accelerate before it loses its ability to stay upright.


How Interactive Pop-up Help Windows Work in Computer Interfaces

Summary: A 1995 patent describing how computer interfaces can automatically show helpful, rich-text pop-up windows when a user hovers their mouse over an icon or button.


How AI Predicts Who Will Speak Next in a Conversation

Summary: IBM's patent describes a system that uses neural networks to analyze speech patterns and intentions to predict which person will talk next in a conversation.


How Wearable Devices Act as Secure Bridges for Transactions

Summary: A system where a wearable device acts as a secure middleman between your phone and a payment terminal or electronic lock to verify your identity and complete transactions.


How Rocket Lab Secures Satellites Inside Their Launch Dispensers

Summary: A mechanical system that allows engineers to tighten and secure a satellite inside a launch container from the outside after the door is already closed.


How Lithium-Ion Battery Cathodes Are Made

Summary: A foundational 1982 method for creating the materials used in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries by removing ions at low temperatures.


How Chips Save Power by Managing Individual Parts Separately

Summary: A method for computer chips to save energy by monitoring how busy specific internal parts are and adjusting their power and speed individually rather than as a whole.


How a Pitcher Uses Removable Rulers to Measure Beverage Ingredients

Summary: A pitcher with a built-in vertical slot that holds a removable ruler, which acts as both a recipe guide and a measuring tool for adding ingredients directly into the container.


How Disposable Diapers Keep Skin Dry Using Porous Plastic Sheets

Summary: A 1970 patent by Procter and Gamble describing a specialized plastic top layer for diapers that allows liquid to pass through while keeping the baby's skin feeling dry.


How Jet Engines Use Heat to Automatically Adjust Airflow

Summary: A GE patent for a jet engine component that changes shape based on temperature to automatically control how much cooling air flows into the engine core.


How Software Developers Keep Track of API Versions Automatically

Summary: A system that automatically tags software building blocks with version data to prevent developers from accidentally breaking code when updating operating systems.


How Web Browsers Create Fluid Animations Without Reloading Pages

Summary: A method for web browsers to render smooth, real-time animations by using a downloaded engine that calculates transitions on the fly instead of refreshing the entire page.


How to Make Carbonated Shampoo Using Chemical Reactions

Summary: A method for creating a carbonated shampoo by generating carbon dioxide gas inside a sealed container using specific chemical precursors to create foam and pressure.


How the First Practical Silicon Solar Cell Works

Summary: A 1954 invention by Bell Labs researchers that created the first silicon-based solar cell capable of converting sunlight into enough electricity to power everyday devices.


How Satellites Use Split Thrusters to Reach Orbit Faster

Summary: A method for satellites with electric engines to manage their power usage by staggering when they fire thrusters, allowing them to reach their final orbit more quickly.


How Modems Use Guard Time to Switch Between Data and Commands

Summary: This patent describes a method for modems to safely switch from sending data to accepting commands without accidentally triggering that switch while transmitting normal files.


How to Make Lithium-Sulfur Batteries Last Longer Using Polymer Coatings

Summary: A new way to coat sulfur battery cores with a special polymer to prevent them from degrading, helping them hold a charge for more cycles.

Seoul National University R&DB Foundation


How Online Systems Verify Your Identity Using External Data

Summary: A system for verifying user identity and payment details in an online environment by pulling data from external sources and generating virtual payment tokens.


How AI Helps Pilots Talk to Flight Management Systems

Summary: A system that uses artificial intelligence to understand pilot requests and automatically trigger the right flight data or software services.


How to Take 3D Pictures Inside Human Tissue Using Near-Infrared Light

Summary: A system that uses flexible fiber optic cables to map the inside of complex body parts by shining light through them and measuring how it scatters.

Research Foundation of the State University of New York


How to Improve 3D Printing Using Cold Spray Metal Deposition

Summary: A method for perfecting metal 3D printing by analyzing how spray angles affect material quality and adjusting the printer's path to fix errors.


How Aircraft Systems Detect Mechanical Wear by Comparing Real-Time Performance

Summary: A system that monitors aircraft parts by comparing their actual physical movement against a computer simulation to spot mechanical degradation or performance delays.


How Apple's Interface Switches Between Music Playlists and Menus

Summary: A method for navigating through a stack of music playlists on a touchscreen or dial, which automatically shifts to a menu view when you reach the end of the list.


How to Make Stable Solid Dialysis Powder with Less Odor

Summary: A specialized solid powder mixture used to create dialysis fluid that stays stable, smells less like vinegar, and keeps acetate levels within a precise, safe range.


How Vehicles Send Data Without Revealing Who Is Driving

Summary: A system that separates a driver's personal identity from vehicle performance data by sending them to a server in separate, disconnected communication sessions.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Machinery Systems Co Ltd


How Cable Networks Manage Virtual Ownership of Digital Movies

Summary: A system for cable providers to let users 'own' digital movies on a server instead of buying physical discs, allowing the provider to update that content remotely.


How Satellites Sync Timing for Faster 5G Internet Connections

Summary: A method for terminal devices to calculate precise timing offsets when connecting to 5G satellite networks, reducing the need for constant data updates from base stations.


Using Synthetic DNA Fragments to Block HIV Replication

Summary: A 1987 patent describing a specific synthetic DNA molecule designed to stop the HIV virus from replicating by blocking a key part of its genetic code.


How Game Controllers Change Button Functions Using Plug-in Accessories

Summary: A system for game controllers that automatically changes what a button does when you physically attach a hardware accessory to the controller.


How Social Networks Automatically Create Groups Based on Time and Place

Summary: Google's patent describes a system that automatically groups social media users together based on where they are or when they are posting, allowing for instant, context-aware content sharing.


How Referral-Based Text Message Marketing Systems Work

Summary: A system that tracks web browsing to send personalized text message offers to users, incentivizing them to share those offers with friends to grow a subscriber database.


Using Cordless Phones to Send Voice Commands to Smart Home Devices

Summary: A method for letting a cordless phone handset send voice commands to smart home appliances over the same signal path used for regular phone calls.

Panasonic Intellectual Property Corp of America


How Handheld Devices Organize Recently Used Files and Contacts

Summary: A 2000-era Microsoft patent for showing a 'Recent' category on handheld devices, allowing users to interact with recent items exactly like they would with any other file.


How Ernest Lawrence Invented the Cyclotron Particle Accelerator

Summary: This 1934 patent describes the cyclotron, a machine that uses magnetic and electric fields to whip particles into high speeds for scientific research.


How Messaging Apps Quickly Share Photos and Camera Previews

Summary: Apple's patent describes a way to quickly open a camera or photo gallery directly inside a messaging app so you can attach media without leaving your conversation.


Hedy Lamarr and George Antheil's Frequency Hopping Secret Communication System

Summary: A 1942 patent for a radio-controlled torpedo guidance system that used synchronized player piano rolls to hop between frequencies, preventing enemies from jamming the signal.


How the First Infrared LED Was Invented

Summary: Texas Instruments' 1962 patent for the first practical semiconductor diode that emits infrared light when electricity passes through it.


How Digital Audio Compression Saves Space by Copying Frequencies

Summary: A method for shrinking audio files by only saving the lower-pitched sounds and using clever math to reconstruct the higher-pitched sounds from them.


Using Purified Fish Oil Derivatives to Lower Triglycerides Alongside Statins

Summary: A medical treatment method using a specific high-dose, purified EPA supplement to lower triglycerides in patients already taking statin medication.


How Devices Pair Automatically by Scanning Patterns with a Camera

Summary: A method for pairing two electronic devices by having one device use its camera to scan a visual pattern displayed on the other device's screen.


How Voice Commands Help Computers Find Objects in Pictures and Videos

Summary: A method for using voice commands to tell a computer which object in a photo or video you want to search for, allowing it to automatically isolate that object and perform a visual search.


How Apple's Emoji Search Interface Automatically Adjusts and Filters Results

Summary: A method for managing a dynamic emoji search interface that swaps keyboards and filters emoji variations based on specific user criteria.


How Thomas Edison Invented the Practical Incandescent Light Bulb

Summary: Thomas Edison's 1880 patent for a carbon-filament electric lamp that made indoor lighting reliable and commercially viable for the first time.


How Cable Systems Automatically Filter Ads for On-Demand Content

Summary: A system that checks if a cable provider is authorized and their account is active before letting them insert ads into on-demand videos.


The Discovery of Teflon

Summary: This 1941 patent describes the creation of polytetrafluoroethylene, a slippery, heat-resistant plastic discovered by accident that became known as Teflon.


Buckminster Fuller's Geodesic Dome Building Design

Summary: A structural design for a spherical building made of interlocking triangular frames that distribute weight efficiently to create large, stable, and lightweight spaces.


How Devices Automatically Tag and Monetize Real-World Events

Summary: A system for capturing data about a specific moment or location—like a song playing or a vehicle passing—to automatically trigger online searches and sponsor payments.


How Modern Rollerblades Became Adjustable and Interchangeable

Summary: A 1982 patent describing a skate design that allows users to swap between wheels and blades and adjust their position on the boot for better performance.


How Cup Noodles Are Designed to Cook Perfectly

Summary: A 1976 patent describing the specific shape, density, and placement of dehydrated noodles inside a cup to ensure they cook evenly and quickly when hot water is added.


How the First Automatic Implantable Defibrillator Works

Summary: A 1970 invention by Medtronic that monitors heart rhythms and automatically delivers an electric shock to restart the heart if it detects a dangerous malfunction.


How LG Chem Makes Plastic Films That Block UV Light

Summary: A specialized plastic film made of alternating chemical segments that blocks harmful ultraviolet light while remaining perfectly clear.


How Software Packages Create Independent Windows for Web Content

Summary: A system for creating small, independent software windows that fetch and display specific web content outside of a standard web browser.


How Microsoft Word Suggests Research Content While You Write

Summary: A system that automatically fetches and suggests relevant research data and outlines directly inside word processors or note-taking apps based on what you are currently writing.


How Cloud Systems Automatically Assign Virtual Machines to Servers

Summary: A method for cloud services to automatically choose the best server for a task by filtering out impossible options and then ranking the remaining ones.


How a Server Aggregates Comments from Different Websites About One File

Summary: A system that collects comments or data from multiple websites about a single photo or video and bundles them together to display on your device.


How Eugene Houdry Invented the Modern Catalytic Converter

Summary: A 1952 patent for a durable, thin-film catalyst structure that allows gases to flow freely over reactive surfaces, forming the foundation for modern vehicle exhaust systems.


The Invention of the Modern Field-Effect Transistor

Summary: This 1960 patent describes the fundamental structure of the MOSFET, the tiny electronic switch that powers every modern computer processor.


How to Make Electric Motors Run Smoother and Last Longer

Summary: A design for electric motor armatures that uses a specific ratio of winding slots to commutator bars to reduce electrical sparking and improve motor efficiency.


Removing Radio Interference from Portable MRI Scans

Summary: A method to clean up MRI images by using external sensors to detect and subtract outside radio interference, allowing portable scanners to work outside shielded rooms.


How Cloud Services Automatically Switch Providers When One Fails

Summary: A system that uses conversational AI to understand your reliability needs and automatically switches your cloud service to a backup provider if your current one goes down.


How Phones Use Photos to Buy or Research Products

Summary: A method for using a smartphone camera to photograph a product and send that image to a remote server to trigger a purchase or retrieve product information.


How Mobile Apps Connect Drivers to Real-Time Parking Spots

Summary: A system where a parking server uses a mobile carrier's authentication to help drivers find, track, and reserve parking spots in real-time.


How Earl Tupper Invented the Airtight Plastic Food Container

Summary: A 1947 patent for a flexible plastic container with a unique, airtight lid that seals by pressing down on the center, creating the foundation for Tupperware.


Gordon Gould's Early Concepts for High-Frequency Radiation Devices

Summary: A 1968 patent by Gordon Gould describing methods to generate and amplify radiation at frequencies exceeding visible light, building on his foundational laser work.


How a Single Coil Powers Multiple Motor Armatures Simultaneously

Summary: A 1973 design for an electric motor that uses a single central coil to power several separate armatures arranged in a circle.


How to Launch Spacecraft Using Giant Cannons Instead of Rockets

Summary: A method for launching space vehicles into orbit using high-speed impulsive forces like cannons, precisely timed to rendezvous with existing satellites.


How George Devol Invented the First Industrial Robot Arm

Summary: The 1954 patent for the Unimate, the first digitally controlled robotic arm that could be programmed to move objects in a factory.


How to Search Through Long Videos Using a Compressed Visual Timeline

Summary: A method for searching large collections of video or image data by condensing them into a single, scrollable visual strip that triggers automated searches as you move a slider.


How Uber Updates App Features for Specific Groups of Users

Summary: A system that automatically changes how an app looks or behaves for some users based on their location or device, while leaving other users' apps unchanged.


How Early Television Systems Isolated Specific Colors for Special Effects

Summary: A 1971 circuit design that allowed television equipment to detect a specific color in a video signal, enabling the green-screen effects we see in modern weather forecasts and movies.