{ "name": "PatentBrief Public-Domain Patent Index", "description": "Landmark US patents that have expired and entered the public domain — free to build on, manufacture, and use without a license.", "url": "https://patentbrief.org/expired-patents", "license": "https://patentbrief.org/terms", "count": 387, "patents": [ { "patent_number": "US 4683195", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Cetus Corp", "grant_date": "1987-07-28", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical", "diagnostics", "medical_devices", "research_tools" ], "times_cited": 6231, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4683195/pcr-polymerase-chain-reaction" }, { "patent_number": "US 7657849", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Apple Inc", "grant_date": "2010-02-02", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 1269, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7657849/slide-to-unlock" }, { "patent_number": "US 4733665", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Expandable Grafts Partnership", "grant_date": "1988-03-29", "tags": [ "medical_devices", "cardiovascular", "biotech" ], "times_cited": 2425, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4733665/palmaz-balloon-expandable-stent" }, { "patent_number": "US 4965188", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Cetus Corp", "grant_date": "1990-10-23", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceuticals", "diagnostics", "gene_editing", "research_tools" ], "times_cited": 2132, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4965188/taq-polymerase-for-pcr" }, { "patent_number": "US 4235871", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1980-11-25", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical", "materials" ], "times_cited": 1862, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4235871/hepatitis-b-vaccine-recombivax" }, { "patent_number": "US 4405829", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Massachusetts Institute of Technology", "grant_date": "1983-09-20", "tags": [ "software", "telecommunications", "cybersecurity", "finance", "ecommerce", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 1015, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4405829/rsa-encryption" }, { "patent_number": "US 4575330", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "UVP Inc", "grant_date": "1986-03-11", "tags": [ "manufacturing", "mechanical", "materials", "software", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 1094, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4575330/stereolithography-3d-printing" }, { "patent_number": "US 4683202", "country": "US", "title": "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).", "holder": "Cetus Corp", "grant_date": "1987-07-28", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical", "diagnostics", "gene_editing", "research_tools", "forensic_science" ], "times_cited": 7558, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4683202/pcr-polymerase-chain-reaction-mullis" }, { "patent_number": "US 4376110", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Hybritech Inc", "grant_date": "1983-03-08", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical", "diagnostics", "medical_devices" ], "times_cited": 1572, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4376110/psa-test-for-prostate-cancer" }, { "patent_number": "US 3953566", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "WL Gore and Associates Inc", "grant_date": "1976-04-27", "tags": [ "materials", "consumer_electronics", "automotive", "aerospace", "medical", "textiles", "industrial_manufacturing" ], "times_cited": 1364, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3953566/gore-tex-expanded-ptfe" }, { "patent_number": "US 5121329", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Stratasys Inc", "grant_date": "1992-06-09", "tags": [ "manufacturing", "mechanical", "software", "consumer_electronics", "materials" ], "times_cited": 793, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5121329/fdm-3d-printing-stratasys" }, { "patent_number": "US 5347632", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Prodigy Services Co", "grant_date": "1994-09-13", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "software", "ecommerce", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 808, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5347632/java-programming-language" }, { "patent_number": "US 5521184", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Ciba Geigy Corp", "grant_date": "1996-05-28", "tags": [ "pharmaceutical", "biotech", "chemistry", "oncology" ], "times_cited": 564, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5521184/gleevec-imatinib" }, { "patent_number": "US 4528643", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "FPDC Inc", "grant_date": "1985-07-09", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software", "telecommunications", "ecommerce", "mechanical", "retail" ], "times_cited": 498, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4528643/digital-distribution-point-of-sale" }, { "patent_number": "US 3906166", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Motorola Inc", "grant_date": "1975-09-16", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "consumer_electronics", "software", "semiconductors" ], "times_cited": 206, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3906166/cellular-mobile-phone-radio-telephone" }, { "patent_number": "US 4703008", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Kirin Amgen Inc", "grant_date": "1987-10-27", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical", "gene_editing", "biotechnology" ], "times_cited": 346, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4703008/neupogen-g-csf-filgrastim" }, { "patent_number": "US 4727064", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "US Department of Health and Human Services", "grant_date": "1988-02-23", "tags": [ "pharmaceutical", "biotech", "materials", "chemistry" ], "times_cited": 341, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4727064/azt-zidovudine" }, { "patent_number": "US 6285999", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Leland Stanford Junior University", "grant_date": "2001-09-04", "tags": [ "software", "telecommunications", "ai_ml", "ecommerce", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 818, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6285999/google-pagerank" }, { "patent_number": "US 4665913", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "LRI LP", "grant_date": "1987-05-19", "tags": [ "medical_devices", "biotech", "healthcare", "lasers", "ophthalmology" ], "times_cited": 381, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4665913/laser-eye-surgery-lesperance" }, { "patent_number": "US 5210015", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Hoffmann La Roche Inc", "grant_date": "1993-05-11", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical", "diagnostics", "medical_devices", "life_sciences" ], "times_cited": 1183, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5210015/hcv-pcr-detection" }, { "patent_number": "US 5960411", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Amazon com Inc", "grant_date": "1999-09-28", "tags": [ "ecommerce", "software", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 1636, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5960411/amazon-one-click" }, { "patent_number": "US 5471515", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "California Institute of Technology", "grant_date": "1995-11-28", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "semiconductors", "telecommunications", "automotive", "software" ], "times_cited": 620, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5471515/cmos-active-pixel-image-sensor" }, { "patent_number": "US 4816567", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Genentech Inc", "grant_date": "1989-03-28", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical", "gene_editing", "healthcare" ], "times_cited": 8214, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4816567/recombinant-antibody-production-in-cho-cells" }, { "patent_number": "US 4063220", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Xerox Corp", "grant_date": "1977-12-13", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "software", "consumer_electronics", "semiconductors" ], "times_cited": 301, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4063220/ethernet-packet-network" }, { "patent_number": "US 4522811", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Syntex USA LLC", "grant_date": "1985-06-11", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical", "drug_delivery", "immunology" ], "times_cited": 2340, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4522811/human-growth-hormone-protropin" }, { "patent_number": "US 3778614", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "EMI Ltd", "grant_date": "1973-12-11", "tags": [ "biotech", "medical_devices", "semiconductors" ], "times_cited": 163, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3778614/ct-scanner-hounsfield" }, { "patent_number": "US 7669123", "country": "US", "title": "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.\"", "holder": "Facebook Inc", "grant_date": "2010-02-23", "tags": [ "social_network", "software", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 231, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7669123/facebook-news-feed-social-network" }, { "patent_number": "US 7653883", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Apple Inc", "grant_date": "2010-01-26", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 860, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7653883/multi-touch-trackpad-gestures" }, { "patent_number": "US 4200770", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Leland Stanford Junior University", "grant_date": "1980-04-29", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "software", "consumer_electronics", "semiconductors" ], "times_cited": 708, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4200770/diffie-hellman-public-key-exchange" }, { "patent_number": "US 5825352", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Logitech Inc", "grant_date": "1998-10-20", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software", "semiconductors" ], "times_cited": 1577, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5825352/apple-pinch-to-zoom" }, { "patent_number": "US 4558302", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Sperry Corp", "grant_date": "1985-12-10", "tags": [ "software", "telecommunications", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 347, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4558302/lzw-compression" }, { "patent_number": "US 7527791", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Genentech Inc", "grant_date": "2009-05-05", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical", "oncology", "immunology" ], "times_cited": 756, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7527791/ipilimumab-yervoy" }, { "patent_number": "US 3691140", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1972-09-12", "tags": [ "materials", "consumer_electronics", "chemicals", "adhesives" ], "times_cited": 382, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3691140/post-it-repositionable-adhesive" }, { "patent_number": "US 5487069", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization CSIRO", "grant_date": "1996-01-23", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "consumer_electronics", "software" ], "times_cited": 120, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5487069/wifi-csiro-wireless-lan" }, { "patent_number": "US 5325765", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Keurig Inc", "grant_date": "1994-07-05", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "food_and_beverage", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 359, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5325765/keurig-single-serve-coffee-pod" }, { "patent_number": "US 3803463", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1974-04-09", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "automotive", "security" ], "times_cited": 152, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3803463/taser-stun-gun-cover" }, { "patent_number": "US 5273995", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Warner Lambert Co LLC", "grant_date": "1993-12-28", "tags": [ "pharmaceutical", "biotech" ], "times_cited": 519, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5273995/viagra-sildenafil" }, { "patent_number": "US 6323846", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "University of Delaware", "grant_date": "2001-11-27", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software", "telecommunications", "semiconductors" ], "times_cited": 2641, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6323846/aqua-user-interface" }, { "patent_number": "US 4195637", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Schneider Medintag AG", "grant_date": "1980-04-01", "tags": [ "medical_devices", "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 256, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4195637/balloon-angioplasty-catheter-gruentzig" }, { "patent_number": "US 4009052", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Exxon Research and Engineering Co", "grant_date": "1977-02-22", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "semiconductors", "energy", "materials", "chemical" ], "times_cited": 93, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4009052/rechargeable-lithium-battery" }, { "patent_number": "US 4237224", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Leland Stanford Junior University", "grant_date": "1980-12-02", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical", "semiconductors" ], "times_cited": 346, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4237224/cohen-boyer-recombinant-dna" }, { "patent_number": "US 4683194", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Cetus Corp", "grant_date": "1987-07-28", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical", "medical_devices", "research_tools" ], "times_cited": 289, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4683194/pcr-process" }, { "patent_number": "US 4356429", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Eastman Kodak Co", "grant_date": "1982-10-26", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "semiconductors", "materials", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 1031, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4356429/oled-organic-light-emitting-diode" }, { "patent_number": "US 5961804", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Massachusetts Institute of Technology", "grant_date": "1999-10-05", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "semiconductors", "materials", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 508, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5961804/e-ink-electronic-paper-display" }, { "patent_number": "US 5272135", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Chiron Ophthalmics Inc", "grant_date": "1993-12-21", "tags": [ "pharmaceutical", "biotech", "materials" ], "times_cited": 63, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5272135/lipitor-atorvastatin" }, { "patent_number": "US 4736866", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Harvard University", "grant_date": "1988-04-12", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical", "research_tools" ], "times_cited": 644, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4736866/harvard-oncomouse" }, { "patent_number": "US 3789832", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1974-02-05", "tags": [ "biotech", "medical_devices", "semiconductors", "software" ], "times_cited": 83, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3789832/mri-magnetic-resonance-imaging" }, { "patent_number": "US 4723129", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Canon Inc", "grant_date": "1988-02-02", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "semiconductors", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 1806, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4723129/inkjet-bubble-jet-printing" }, { "patent_number": "US 3672155", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Hamilton Watch Co", "grant_date": "1972-06-27", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "semiconductors", "software" ], "times_cited": 118, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3672155/digital-watch-pulsar" }, { "patent_number": "US 6090382", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "BASF SE", "grant_date": "2000-07-18", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical", "biologic_drugs" ], "times_cited": 361, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6090382/humira-adalimumab" }, { "patent_number": "US 7158878", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Google LLC", "grant_date": "2007-01-02", "tags": [ "software", "consumer_electronics", "telecommunications", "geospatial" ], "times_cited": 399, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7158878/google-maps-directions" }, { "patent_number": "US 8171128", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Facebook Inc", "grant_date": "2012-05-01", "tags": [ "social_media", "software", "consumer_electronics", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 134, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8171128/facebook-social-graph" }, { "patent_number": "US 3761682", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Docutel Corp", "grant_date": "1973-09-25", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software", "finance", "semiconductors" ], "times_cited": 36, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3761682/atm-cash-dispenser" }, { "patent_number": "US 7782297", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC", "grant_date": "2010-08-24", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "gaming", "software" ], "times_cited": 42, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7782297/wii-remote" }, { "patent_number": "US 5075216", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Cetus Corp", "grant_date": "1991-12-24", "tags": [ "biotech", "semiconductors" ], "times_cited": 146, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5075216/modified-taq-polymerase" }, { "patent_number": "US 4681893", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Warner Lambert Co LLC", "grant_date": "1987-07-21", "tags": [ "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 340, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4681893/prozac-fluoxetine" }, { "patent_number": "US 7434177", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Apple Inc", "grant_date": "2008-10-07", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software" ], "times_cited": 232, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7434177/itunes-digital-music-store" }, { "patent_number": "US 6054297", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Genentech Inc", "grant_date": "2000-04-25", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 1161, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6054297/rituxan-chop-chemotherapy" }, { "patent_number": "US 6267958", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Genentech Inc", "grant_date": "2001-07-31", "tags": [ "pharmaceutical", "biotech", "materials" ], "times_cited": 878, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6267958/rituxan-chop" }, { "patent_number": "US 8423408", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Sprint Communications Co LP", "grant_date": "2013-04-16", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software", "telecommunications", "ecommerce" ], "times_cited": 119, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8423408/amazon-advertising" }, { "patent_number": "US 5176995", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Hoffmann La Roche Inc", "grant_date": "1993-01-05", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 122, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5176995/hiv-pcr-detection" }, { "patent_number": "US 6682736", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Abgenix Inc", "grant_date": "2004-01-27", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 500, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6682736/enbrel-etanercept" }, { "patent_number": "US 6590928", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB", "grant_date": "2003-07-08", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "telecommunications", "software" ], "times_cited": 131, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6590928/bluetooth-frequency-hopping" }, { "patent_number": "US 5585089", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Protein Design Labs Inc", "grant_date": "1996-12-17", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 4274, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5585089/remicade-infliximab" }, { "patent_number": "US 6233389", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Tivo Inc", "grant_date": "2001-05-15", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 798, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6233389/dvr-trick-play" }, { "patent_number": "US 4131919", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Eastman Kodak Co", "grant_date": "1978-12-26", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "semiconductors", "software", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 106, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4131919/digital-camera-electronic-still" }, { "patent_number": "US 5774670", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Netscape Communications Corp", "grant_date": "1998-06-30", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software", "telecommunications", "ecommerce" ], "times_cited": 508, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5774670/http-cookie-browser-state" }, { "patent_number": "US 2297691", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1942-10-06", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software", "semiconductors", "materials" ], "times_cited": 737, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2297691/xerography-electrophotography-photocopier" }, { "patent_number": "US 3819587", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "EI Du Pont de Nemours and Co", "grant_date": "1974-06-25", "tags": [ "materials", "aerospace", "automotive" ], "times_cited": 141, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3819587/kevlar-aramid-fiber-kwolek" }, { "patent_number": "US 4259444", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "General Electric Co", "grant_date": "1981-03-31", "tags": [ "biotech", "energy" ], "times_cited": 28, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4259444/chakrabarty-genetically-modified-bacteria" }, { "patent_number": "US 6370526", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "International Business Machines Corp", "grant_date": "2002-04-09", "tags": [ "software", "consumer_electronics", "ecommerce" ], "times_cited": 135, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6370526/google-adwords-pay-per-click" }, { "patent_number": "US 3659285", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Sanders Associates Inc", "grant_date": "1972-04-25", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "gaming", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 44, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3659285/video-game-console-magnavox" }, { "patent_number": "US 5563422", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Nichia Chemical Industries Ltd", "grant_date": "1996-10-08", "tags": [ "semiconductors", "consumer_electronics", "energy" ], "times_cited": 251, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5563422/blue-led-gallium-nitride" }, { "patent_number": "US 6523026", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Huntsman International LLC", "grant_date": "2003-02-18", "tags": [ "ai_ml", "software", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 456, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6523026/google-search-query-processing" }, { "patent_number": "US 5726435", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Toyota Central R&D Labs Inc", "grant_date": "1998-03-10", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software", "automotive", "ecommerce" ], "times_cited": 250, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5726435/qr-code-two-dimensional-barcode" }, { "patent_number": "US 5303388", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Apple Computer Inc", "grant_date": "1994-04-12", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software" ], "times_cited": 257, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5303388/macintosh-finder" }, { "patent_number": "US 4166152", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co", "grant_date": "1979-08-28", "tags": [ "materials" ], "times_cited": 278, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4166152/post-it-note-adhesive" }, { "patent_number": "US 6884879", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Genentech Inc", "grant_date": "2005-04-26", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 308, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6884879/anti-vegf-antibodies" }, { "patent_number": "US 4267420", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "General Mills Inc", "grant_date": "1981-05-12", "tags": [ "materials", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 234, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4267420/microwave-popcorn-susceptor" }, { "patent_number": "US 3946398", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "SILONICS Inc", "grant_date": "1976-03-23", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical", "materials" ], "times_cited": 448, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3946398/drop-on-demand-inkjet" }, { "patent_number": "US 4231938", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Merck and Co Inc", "grant_date": "1980-11-04", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 490, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4231938/statin-cholesterol-lovastatin" }, { "patent_number": "US 5639476", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Euro Celtique SA", "grant_date": "1997-06-17", "tags": [ "pharmaceutical", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 1092, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5639476/nicoderm-nicotine-patch" }, { "patent_number": "US 4669140", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1987-06-02", "tags": [ "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 57, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4669140/leatherman-multitool" }, { "patent_number": "US 7812826", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Apple Inc", "grant_date": "2010-10-12", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software" ], "times_cited": 163, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7812826/iphone-software-keyboard" }, { "patent_number": "US 4490728", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Hewlett Packard Co", "grant_date": "1984-12-25", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 329, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4490728/thermal-inkjet-printing" }, { "patent_number": "US 5305919", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1994-04-26", "tags": [ "mechanical", "gaming" ], "times_cited": 27, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5305919/super-soaker-water-gun" }, { "patent_number": "US 7387788", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Antares Pharma IPL AG", "grant_date": "2008-06-17", "tags": [ "pharmaceutical", "biotech" ], "times_cited": 25, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7387788/soliris-eculizumab" }, { "patent_number": "US 6355623", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Saint Justine", "grant_date": "2002-03-12", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 75, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6355623/spinraza-nusinersen" }, { "patent_number": "US 8688813", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Oracle International Corp", "grant_date": "2014-04-01", "tags": [ "software", "telecommunications", "ecommerce", "ai_ml" ], "times_cited": 39, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8688813/kindle-fire-tablet" }, { "patent_number": "US 5199424", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1993-04-06", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 231, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5199424/cpap-sleep-apnea-sullivan" }, { "patent_number": "US 4356270", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Genentech Inc", "grant_date": "1982-10-26", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 86, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4356270/recombinant-dna-cloning-genentech" }, { "patent_number": "US 4687200", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Nintendo Co Ltd", "grant_date": "1987-08-18", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical", "gaming" ], "times_cited": 129, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4687200/nintendo-d-pad-directional" }, { "patent_number": "US 8701014", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Facebook Inc", "grant_date": "2014-04-15", "tags": [ "software", "consumer_electronics", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 26, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8701014/office-365-co-authoring" }, { "patent_number": "US 7355593", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Smart Technologies ULC", "grant_date": "2008-04-08", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical", "software" ], "times_cited": 84, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7355593/xbox-360-controller" }, { "patent_number": "US 7136875", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Google LLC", "grant_date": "2006-11-14", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software", "ecommerce" ], "times_cited": 427, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7136875/google-maps" }, { "patent_number": "US 5397703", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Cetus Oncology Corp", "grant_date": "1995-03-14", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 25, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5397703/hepatitis-c-virus-genome-discovery" }, { "patent_number": "US 3713148", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Communications Services Corp Inc", "grant_date": "1973-01-23", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "semiconductors", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 185, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3713148/rfid-transponder-cardullo" }, { "patent_number": "US 3655201", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Moleculon Research Corp", "grant_date": "1972-04-11", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 75, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3655201/rotating-cube-puzzle" }, { "patent_number": "US 4302518", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1981-11-24", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "energy", "materials", "automotive" ], "times_cited": 90, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4302518/lithium-ion-battery-cathode" }, { "patent_number": "US 4173796", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "University of Utah", "grant_date": "1979-11-13", "tags": [ "biotech", "mechanical", "semiconductors" ], "times_cited": 68, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4173796/jarvik-artificial-heart" }, { "patent_number": "US 8216583", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Abbott Biotech Ltd Bermuda", "grant_date": "2012-07-10", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 58, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8216583/humira-dosing-regimen" }, { "patent_number": "US 3693535", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1972-09-26", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 26, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3693535/mr-coffee-drip-coffee-maker" }, { "patent_number": "US 7509588", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Apple Inc", "grant_date": "2009-03-24", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software" ], "times_cited": 148, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7509588/os-x-spotlight-search" }, { "patent_number": "US 2708656", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1955-05-17", "tags": [ "energy", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 232, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2708656/nuclear-reactor-fermi-szilard" }, { "patent_number": "US 7222127", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Google LLC", "grant_date": "2007-05-22", "tags": [ "software", "ai_ml", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 72, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7222127/google-adsense" }, { "patent_number": "US 2130523", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "EI Du Pont de Nemours and Co", "grant_date": "1938-09-20", "tags": [ "materials", "chemical_engineering" ], "times_cited": 299, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2130523/nylon-polyamide-carothers" }, { "patent_number": "US 7111231", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Intellisync LLC", "grant_date": "2006-09-19", "tags": [ "software", "ecommerce", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 78, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7111231/microsoft-word-docx-format" }, { "patent_number": "US 3826068", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1974-07-30", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 86, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3826068/weed-eater-string-trimmer" }, { "patent_number": "US 3819921", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Texas Instruments Inc", "grant_date": "1974-06-25", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "semiconductors", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 18, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3819921/barcode-upc-scanner" }, { "patent_number": "US 6195698", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Compaq Computer Corp", "grant_date": "2001-02-27", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software", "telecommunications", "ai_ml" ], "times_cited": 219, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6195698/google-search-engine" }, { "patent_number": "US 7070775", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Centocor Inc", "grant_date": "2006-07-04", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 77, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7070775/humira-formulation" }, { "patent_number": "US 6567533", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Digimarc Corp", "grant_date": "2003-05-20", "tags": [ "software", "consumer_electronics", "ai_ml" ], "times_cited": 136, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6567533/playstation-2-emotion-engine" }, { "patent_number": "US 6424946", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "International Business Machines Corp", "grant_date": "2002-07-23", "tags": [ "software", "ai_ml", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 75, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6424946/amazon-personalized-recommendations" }, { "patent_number": "US 3668658", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "International Business Machines Corp", "grant_date": "1972-06-06", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical", "semiconductors" ], "times_cited": 79, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3668658/floppy-disk-diskette" }, { "patent_number": "US 7672870", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "American Express Travel Related Services Co Inc", "grant_date": "2010-03-02", "tags": [ "finance", "software", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 36, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7672870/amazon-prime" }, { "patent_number": "US RE40324", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Dhol New Ventures LLC", "grant_date": "2008-05-20", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 43, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE40324/playstation-dualshock-controller" }, { "patent_number": "US 2981877", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Fairchild Semiconductor Corp", "grant_date": "1961-04-25", "tags": [ "semiconductors", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 165, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2981877/noyce-planar-integrated-circuit" }, { "patent_number": "US 3220960", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1965-11-30", "tags": [ "biotech", "materials", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 228, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3220960/soft-contact-lens-hydrogel" }, { "patent_number": "US 3492131", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "GD Searle LLC", "grant_date": "1970-01-27", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 228, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3492131/aspartame-sweetener" }, { "patent_number": "US 7169901", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Genentech Inc", "grant_date": "2007-01-30", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 76, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7169901/avastin-bevacizumab" }, { "patent_number": "US 6458360", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Johns Hopkins University", "grant_date": "2002-10-01", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 27, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6458360/hpv-vaccine-gardasil" }, { "patent_number": "US RE39497", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Nektar Therapeutics", "grant_date": "2007-02-27", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical", "materials" ], "times_cited": 11, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE39497/epogen-epoetin-alfa" }, { "patent_number": "US 6816710", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "SnapTrack Inc", "grant_date": "2004-11-09", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "telecommunications", "semiconductors" ], "times_cited": 76, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6816710/reusable-launch-vehicle-falcon-9-booster-landing" }, { "patent_number": "US 2569347", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Bell Telephone Laboratories Inc", "grant_date": "1951-09-25", "tags": [ "semiconductors", "telecommunications", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 145, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2569347/junction-transistor" }, { "patent_number": "US 2524035", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Bell Telephone Laboratories Inc", "grant_date": "1950-10-03", "tags": [ "semiconductors", "telecommunications", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 130, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2524035/point-contact-transistor" }, { "patent_number": "US 3387286", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "International Business Machines Corp", "grant_date": "1968-06-04", "tags": [ "semiconductors", "consumer_electronics", "computing" ], "times_cited": 191, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3387286/dram-memory-dennard" }, { "patent_number": "US 3005282", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Interlego AG", "grant_date": "1961-10-24", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 374, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3005282/lego-toy-brick" }, { "patent_number": "US RE50567", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Novozymes North America Inc", "grant_date": "2025-09-02", "tags": [ "biotech", "energy" ], "times_cited": 0, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE50567/io-electric-toothbrush" }, { "patent_number": "US 3792322", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1974-02-12", "tags": [ "semiconductors", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 22, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3792322/ccd-image-sensor" }, { "patent_number": "US 2929922", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Bell Telephone Laboratories Inc", "grant_date": "1960-03-22", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "semiconductors", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 145, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2929922/laser-maser" }, { "patent_number": "US 5191573", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1993-03-02", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "ecommerce", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 260, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5191573/personal-audio-media-distribution" }, { "patent_number": "US 3142599", "country": "US", "title": "How Bubble Wrap Is Manufactured", "summary": "A 1959 manufacturing process that creates cushioning material by trapping air between two layers of plastic film.", "holder": "Sealed Air Corp", "grant_date": "1964-07-28", "tags": [ "mechanical", "materials", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 185, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3142599/bubble-wrap-cushioning" }, { "patent_number": "US D504889", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Apple Computer Inc", "grant_date": "2005-05-10", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 573, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/D504889/ipod-click-wheel-design" }, { "patent_number": "US 5838906", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "University of California San Diego UCSD", "grant_date": "1998-11-17", "tags": [ "software", "consumer_electronics", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 576, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5838906/microsoft-internet-browser" }, { "patent_number": "US 3867571", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Xerox Corp", "grant_date": "1975-02-18", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical", "semiconductors" ], "times_cited": 22, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3867571/laser-printer-starkweather" }, { "patent_number": "US 3359678", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Wham O Manufacturing Co", "grant_date": "1967-12-26", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 137, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3359678/frisbee-flying-disc" }, { "patent_number": "US 2543181", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Polaroid Corp", "grant_date": "1951-02-27", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 119, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2543181/polaroid-instant-camera" }, { "patent_number": "US 7530026", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Apple Inc", "grant_date": "2009-05-05", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software" ], "times_cited": 24, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7530026/time-machine-backup" }, { "patent_number": "US 4031893", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Survival Technology Inc", "grant_date": "1977-06-28", "tags": [ "biotech", "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 108, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4031893/epipen-autoinjector-kaplan" }, { "patent_number": "US 4063048", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1977-12-13", "tags": [ "biotech", "medical_devices", "semiconductors" ], "times_cited": 55, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4063048/cochlear-implant-hearing" }, { "patent_number": "US 5973252", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Auburn Audio Technologies Inc", "grant_date": "1999-10-26", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software" ], "times_cited": 39, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5973252/auto-tune-pitch-correction" }, { "patent_number": "US 7740842", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Novartis AG", "grant_date": "2010-06-22", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 17, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7740842/herceptin-adjuvant-therapy" }, { "patent_number": "US 3541541", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Stanford Research Institute", "grant_date": "1970-11-17", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 162, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3541541/computer-mouse-input-device" }, { "patent_number": "US 5595721", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Coulter Pharmaceutical Inc", "grant_date": "1997-01-21", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 232, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5595721/pcr-thermal-cycler" }, { "patent_number": "US 5559942", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Apple Computer Inc", "grant_date": "1996-09-24", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software" ], "times_cited": 244, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5559942/mac-os-menu-bar" }, { "patent_number": "US 2717437", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Velcro SA", "grant_date": "1955-09-13", "tags": [ "mechanical", "materials", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 299, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2717437/velcro-hook-and-loop" }, { "patent_number": "US 3733309", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "EI Du Pont de Nemours and Co", "grant_date": "1973-05-15", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "materials", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 170, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3733309/pet-plastic-bottle" }, { "patent_number": "US 3322485", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "RCA Corp", "grant_date": "1967-05-30", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "semiconductors", "materials" ], "times_cited": 90, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3322485/lcd-liquid-crystal-display" }, { "patent_number": "US 5002952", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Green Cross Corp Japan", "grant_date": "1991-03-26", "tags": [ "pharmaceutical", "biotech" ], "times_cited": 16, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5002952/duragesic-fentanyl-patch" }, { "patent_number": "US 3789409", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1974-01-29", "tags": [ "aerospace", "telecommunications", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 31, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3789409/gps-satellite-navigation" }, { "patent_number": "US 3585356", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Innerspace Environments Inc", "grant_date": "1971-06-15", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 70, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3585356/waterbed-liquid-support" }, { "patent_number": "US 5920316", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Microsoft Corp", "grant_date": "1999-07-06", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software" ], "times_cited": 124, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5920316/windows-explorer-tree-view" }, { "patent_number": "US 7596761", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Apple Inc", "grant_date": "2009-09-29", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software" ], "times_cited": 80, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7596761/os-x-dashboard-widgets" }, { "patent_number": "US 7296016", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Google LLC", "grant_date": "2007-11-13", "tags": [ "software", "ai_ml", "ecommerce" ], "times_cited": 24, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7296016/bing-msn-search" }, { "patent_number": "US 2026082", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Parker Brothers Inc", "grant_date": "1935-12-31", "tags": [ "gaming" ], "times_cited": 177, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2026082/monopoly-board-game" }, { "patent_number": "US 5574018", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Amgen Inc", "grant_date": "1996-11-12", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 46, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5574018/herceptin-trastuzumab" }, { "patent_number": "US 4147780", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Ciba Geigy Corp", "grant_date": "1979-04-03", "tags": [ "pharmaceutical", "biotech" ], "times_cited": 17, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4147780/timoptic-timolol" }, { "patent_number": "US 3057356", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Wilson Greatbatch Technologies Inc", "grant_date": "1962-10-09", "tags": [ "biotech", "medical_devices" ], "times_cited": 127, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3057356/implantable-cardiac-pacemaker" }, { "patent_number": "US 3671542", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "EI Du Pont de Nemours and Co", "grant_date": "1972-06-20", "tags": [ "materials", "mechanical", "chemical" ], "times_cited": 132, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3671542/kevlar-aramid-fiber" }, { "patent_number": "US 2266401", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "International Standard Electric Corp ", "grant_date": "1941-12-16", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "semiconductors" ], "times_cited": 181, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2266401/pcm-pulse-code-modulation-reeves" }, { "patent_number": "US 3927193", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "F Hoffmann La Roche AG", "grant_date": "1975-12-16", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 66, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3927193/ivermectin" }, { "patent_number": "US 7343566", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Apple Inc", "grant_date": "2008-03-11", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software" ], "times_cited": 20, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7343566/os-x-dock" }, { "patent_number": "US 6883201", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "iRobot Corp", "grant_date": "2005-04-26", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical", "ai_ml" ], "times_cited": 215, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6883201/roomba-autonomous-vacuum" }, { "patent_number": "US RE45559", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Apple Inc", "grant_date": "2015-06-09", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 4, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE45559/cover-flow" }, { "patent_number": "US 3711262", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Corning Glass Works", "grant_date": "1973-01-16", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "materials", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 86, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3711262/optical-fiber-waveguide" }, { "patent_number": "US 4136359", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Apple Computer Inc", "grant_date": "1979-01-23", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "semiconductors" ], "times_cited": 29, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4136359/apple-ii-personal-computer" }, { "patent_number": "US 7801772", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "IpVenture Inc", "grant_date": "2010-09-21", "tags": [ "ecommerce", "software", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 11, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7801772/amazon-recommendations" }, { "patent_number": "US 4756529", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "OddzOn Products Inc", "grant_date": "1988-07-12", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 62, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4756529/koosh-ball-stillinger" }, { "patent_number": "US 8069204", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Twintech EU LLC", "grant_date": "2011-11-29", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 8, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8069204/azure-cloud-platform" }, { "patent_number": "US 6302230", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Deka Products LP", "grant_date": "2001-10-16", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical", "automotive" ], "times_cited": 172, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6302230/segway-personal-transporter" }, { "patent_number": "US 5754176", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "AST Research Inc", "grant_date": "1998-05-19", "tags": [ "software", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 119, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5754176/windows-taskbar" }, { "patent_number": "US 4357215", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1982-11-02", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "energy", "materials" ], "times_cited": 41, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4357215/lithium-ion-cathode-goodenough" }, { "patent_number": "US 3489148", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Procter and Gamble Co", "grant_date": "1970-01-13", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical", "materials" ], "times_cited": 133, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3489148/disposable-diaper-topsheet" }, { "patent_number": "US 2780765", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Bell Telephone Laboratories Inc", "grant_date": "1957-02-05", "tags": [ "energy", "semiconductors", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 59, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2780765/solar-cell-photovoltaic" }, { "patent_number": "US 4549302", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc", "grant_date": "1985-10-22", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 42, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4549302/hayes-modem-escape-sequence" }, { "patent_number": "US RE38800", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Research Foundation of the State University of New York", "grant_date": "2005-09-20", "tags": [ "biotech", "medical_devices", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 25, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE38800/digital-video-recorder-dvr" }, { "patent_number": "US 5110802", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "City of Hope", "grant_date": "1992-05-05", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical", "gene_editing" ], "times_cited": 26, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5110802/crixivan-indinavir" }, { "patent_number": "US 6901559", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Microsoft Corp", "grant_date": "2005-05-31", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software" ], "times_cited": 73, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6901559/microsoft-office-ribbon-ui" }, { "patent_number": "US 1948384", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Research Corp", "grant_date": "1934-02-20", "tags": [ "semiconductors", "energy", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 114, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1948384/cyclotron-lawrence" }, { "patent_number": "US 2292387", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1942-08-11", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "mechanical", "aerospace" ], "times_cited": 82, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2292387/hedy-lamarr-frequency-hopping" }, { "patent_number": "US 3293513", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Texas Instruments Inc", "grant_date": "1966-12-20", "tags": [ "semiconductors", "telecommunications", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 54, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3293513/infrared-led-biard-pittman" }, { "patent_number": "US 223898", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1880-01-27", "tags": [ "energy", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 28, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/223898/edison-incandescent-lamp" }, { "patent_number": "US 2230654", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "KINETIC CHEMICALS Inc", "grant_date": "1941-02-04", "tags": [ "materials", "mechanical", "aerospace", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 74, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2230654/teflon-ptfe-polymer" }, { "patent_number": "US 2682235", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1954-06-29", "tags": [ "mechanical", "materials" ], "times_cited": 120, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2682235/geodesic-dome-fuller" }, { "patent_number": "US 4492385", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1985-01-08", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 46, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4492385/inline-skates-rollerblade-olson" }, { "patent_number": "US 3997676", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Nissin Shokuhin KK", "grant_date": "1976-12-14", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 22, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3997676/cup-noodles-instant-ramen-ando" }, { "patent_number": "US 3614954", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Medtronic Inc", "grant_date": "1971-10-26", "tags": [ "biotech", "medical_devices" ], "times_cited": 71, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3614954/implantable-defibrillator-mirowski" }, { "patent_number": "US 2742437", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Oxy Catalyst Inc", "grant_date": "1956-04-17", "tags": [ "automotive", "mechanical", "energy" ], "times_cited": 55, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2742437/catalytic-converter-houdry" }, { "patent_number": "US 3102230", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Bell Telephone Laboratories Inc", "grant_date": "1963-08-27", "tags": [ "semiconductors", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 37, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3102230/mosfet-field-effect-transistor" }, { "patent_number": "US 2487400", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1949-11-08", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical", "materials" ], "times_cited": 116, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2487400/tupperware-airtight-seal" }, { "patent_number": "US 3388314", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Control Data Corp", "grant_date": "1968-06-11", "tags": [ "semiconductors", "energy" ], "times_cited": 53, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3388314/laser-gordon-gould" }, { "patent_number": "US 3723796", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1973-03-27", "tags": [ "mechanical", "energy" ], "times_cited": 22, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3723796/mri-cancer-tissue-detection" }, { "patent_number": "US 2988237", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1961-06-13", "tags": [ "mechanical", "automotive", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 93, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2988237/unimate-industrial-robot-devol" }, { "patent_number": "US 3678182", "country": "US", "title": "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.", "holder": "Philips Broadcast Equipment Corp", "grant_date": "1972-07-18", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 17, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3678182/chroma-key-green-screen" }, { "patent_number": "US 3498798", "country": "US", "title": "How Pringles Potato Chips Are Stacked and Packaged", "summary": "A 1970 patent by Procter and Gamble describing the precise method for stacking uniform, saddle-shaped potato chips into a cylindrical container to prevent breakage.", "holder": "Procter and Gamble Co", "grant_date": "1970-03-03", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 83, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3498798/pringles-stackable-chips" }, { "patent_number": "US 2168726", "country": "US", "title": "Frank Whittle's Early Jet Engine Design", "summary": "Frank Whittle's 1937 patent for an aircraft propulsion system using a gas turbine, which laid the foundation for modern jet engines.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1939-08-08", "tags": [ "aerospace", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 50, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2168726/jet-engine-whittle" }, { "patent_number": "US 3138743", "country": "US", "title": "How Jack Kilby Invented the First Integrated Circuit", "summary": "Texas Instruments' 1959 patent for the first integrated circuit, which combined transistors and resistors on a single piece of semiconductor material.", "holder": "Texas Instruments Inc", "grant_date": "1964-06-23", "tags": [ "semiconductors", "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 27, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3138743/kilby-monolithic-integrated-circuit" }, { "patent_number": "US 4531203", "country": "US", "title": "How Flash Memory Cells Use an Erase Gate to Clear Data", "summary": "This 1985 patent describes the foundational structure of flash memory, introducing an 'erase gate' that allows data to be electrically wiped from a memory cell.", "holder": "Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co Ltd", "grant_date": "1985-07-23", "tags": [ "semiconductors", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 27, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4531203/nand-flash-memory" }, { "patent_number": "US 7530029", "country": "US", "title": "How Software Interfaces Shrink to Save Screen Space", "summary": "A method for automatically shrinking a navigation sidebar into a slim icon-based strip while maintaining access to full features through a temporary pop-up menu.", "holder": "Microsoft Corp", "grant_date": "2009-05-05", "tags": [ "software", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 34, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7530029/xbox-360-achievements-system" }, { "patent_number": "US 3191596", "country": "US", "title": "How Dr. Forrest Bird's Mechanical Respirator Controls Patient Breathing", "summary": "A 1965 patent describing a mechanical ventilator that automatically switches between inhaling and exhaling based on pressure levels in a patient's airway.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1965-06-29", "tags": [ "mechanical", "biotech" ], "times_cited": 78, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3191596/bird-respirator-ventilator" }, { "patent_number": "US 1102653", "country": "US", "title": "Robert Goddard's Early Design for Liquid-Fueled Rocket Engines", "summary": "A foundational 1914 patent by Robert Goddard detailing the basic mechanical structure of a rocket engine using liquid fuel.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1914-07-07", "tags": [ "aerospace", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 59, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1102653/liquid-fuel-rocket-goddard" }, { "patent_number": "US 2911759", "country": "US", "title": "How the Float Glass Process Makes Perfectly Flat Window Panes", "summary": "This 1954 patent describes the float glass process, a method for creating high-quality, perfectly flat glass by floating molten glass on a bath of liquid metal.", "holder": "Pilkington Brothers Ltd", "grant_date": "1959-11-10", "tags": [ "mechanical", "materials", "automotive", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 53, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2911759/float-glass-pilkington" }, { "patent_number": "US 821393", "country": "US", "title": "How the Wright Brothers Invented Modern Airplane Control", "summary": "The foundational patent for the first successful powered, heavier-than-air flying machine that could be controlled in flight.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1906-05-22", "tags": [ "aerospace", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 19, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/821393/wright-brothers-flying-machine" }, { "patent_number": "US 2541851", "country": "US", "title": "How to Make Silly Putty Using Silicone and Zinc", "summary": "A 1944 chemical process for turning liquid silicone oil into a bouncy, stretchable, putty-like material by adding boron compounds and zinc hydroxide.", "holder": "General Electric Co", "grant_date": "1951-02-13", "tags": [ "materials", "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 80, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2541851/silly-putty-bouncing-silicone" }, { "patent_number": "US 2708722", "country": "US", "title": "How Wang An Invented the Magnetic Pulse Memory Core", "summary": "A 1949 invention by An Wang that used magnetic cores to store and transfer binary data, forming the backbone of early computer memory.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1955-05-17", "tags": [ "semiconductors", "mechanical", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 74, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2708722/magnetic-core-memory-wang" }, { "patent_number": "US 6824780", "country": "US", "title": "How Genentech Created Antibodies to Target Prostate Cancer Cells", "summary": "A patent describing specific antibodies that latch onto and kill cancer cells expressing the PSCA protein, effectively turning the body's immune-targeting tools into cancer-fighting weapons.", "holder": "Genentech Inc", "grant_date": "2004-11-30", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 136, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6824780/avastin-dosing" }, { "patent_number": "US 2929804", "country": "US", "title": "How Spandex Elastic Fibers Are Chemically Engineered", "summary": "DuPont's 1960 patent for a stretchy, durable synthetic fiber made from segmented polymers, which became the foundation for modern Spandex.", "holder": "EI Du Pont de Nemours and Co", "grant_date": "1960-03-22", "tags": [ "materials", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 71, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2929804/spandex-lycra-elastic-fiber" }, { "patent_number": "US 3501586", "country": "US", "title": "How James Russell Invented the Digital Optical Disc", "summary": "A 1966 invention that replaced physical needles on vinyl records with a laser beam reading digital data from a spinning disc.", "holder": "Battelle Development Corp", "grant_date": "1970-03-17", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 52, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3501586/optical-digital-recording-russell" }, { "patent_number": "US 10210529", "country": "US", "title": "Delivering Targeted Ads and Digital Content to Remote Kiosks", "summary": "A method for sending digital content and personalized advertisements to remote kiosks by combining scheduled data pushes with real-time requests.", "holder": "Mediaport Entertainment Inc", "grant_date": "2019-02-19", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software", "telecommunications", "ecommerce" ], "times_cited": 0, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10210529/shopify-app-store" }, { "patent_number": "US 5443036", "country": "US", "title": "How to Exercise Your Cat Using a Laser Pointer", "summary": "A 1995 patent describing the method of using a handheld laser pointer to create a moving light target that encourages cats to run and play.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1995-08-22", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 35, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5443036/laser-pointer-cat-exercise" }, { "patent_number": "US 2741146", "country": "US", "title": "How Leo Fender's Tremolo Bridge Changes Guitar Pitch", "summary": "A mechanical bridge system for electric guitars that allows players to temporarily change the tension and pitch of all strings simultaneously using a manual lever.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1956-04-10", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 92, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2741146/fender-stratocaster-tremolo" }, { "patent_number": "US 7503526", "country": "US", "title": "A Rotating Space Station for Catching and Launching Cargo", "summary": "A patent for a rotating space station that uses long, extendable cables to catch and release cargo payloads while orbiting a planet.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "2009-03-17", "tags": [ "aerospace", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 18, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7503526/supersonic-retropropulsion" }, { "patent_number": "US 3789410", "country": "US", "title": "How to Calculate Distance to a Radio Signal Using Two Antennas", "summary": "A 1970s Navy system that calculates the distance to a radio-emitting target by measuring the tiny time and phase differences between signals arriving at two separate antennas.", "holder": "US Department of Navy", "grant_date": "1974-01-29", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "mechanical", "aerospace" ], "times_cited": 16, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3789410/gps-timation-navigation" }, { "patent_number": "US 4810490", "country": "US", "title": "How to Make Clear, Waterproof Sunscreen That Doesn't Feel Greasy", "summary": "A 1989 patent for a transparent, water-resistant sunscreen formula that uses wood rosin to create a non-sticky, long-lasting protective film on the skin.", "holder": "Carter Wallace Inc", "grant_date": "1989-03-07", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "materials" ], "times_cited": 11, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4810490/tpa-tissue-plasminogen-activator" }, { "patent_number": "US 7836050", "country": "US", "title": "How Search Engines Rank Images Using User Ratings", "summary": "A system that improves image search results by combining how well an image matches a search term with how highly users have rated that image elsewhere.", "holder": "Microsoft Corp", "grant_date": "2010-11-16", "tags": [ "software", "ai_ml", "ecommerce" ], "times_cited": 46, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7836050/bing-search-ranking" }, { "patent_number": "US 6339142", "country": "US", "title": "How Genentech Purifies Therapeutic Antibodies for Cancer Treatment", "summary": "A method for refining mixtures of anti-HER2 antibodies to ensure that harmful acidic variants remain below 25 percent of the total composition.", "holder": "Genentech Inc", "grant_date": "2002-01-15", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 128, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6339142/rituxan-rituximab" }, { "patent_number": "US 5181252", "country": "US", "title": "How Bose Prevents Noise-Canceling Headphones From Breaking During Loud Sounds", "summary": "A 1993 Bose patent describing a physical design for noise-canceling headphones that prevents the speaker diaphragm from collapsing or popping out of place during intense audio pressure.", "holder": "Bose Corp", "grant_date": "1993-01-19", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 54, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5181252/acoustic-noise-cancelling" }, { "patent_number": "US RE44685", "country": "US", "title": "How Interactive Television Systems Send Applications Alongside Video Streams", "summary": "A system for broadcasting interactive software applications alongside video programs so that a television or set-top box can run them in real-time.", "holder": "OpenTV Inc", "grant_date": "2013-12-31", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "telecommunications", "software" ], "times_cited": 1, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE44685/noise-cancelling-headphones" }, { "patent_number": "US 3987163", "country": "US", "title": "How Polystyrene Sulfonate Helps Treat Dry Eye Symptoms", "summary": "A 1975 patent for an eye drop solution that uses a specific polymer to lubricate and cushion the eye, especially for contact lens wearers.", "holder": "Burton Parsons and Co Inc", "grant_date": "1976-10-19", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 37, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3987163/indomethacin" }, { "patent_number": "US 2495429", "country": "US", "title": "How Percy Spencer Invented the Microwave Oven", "summary": "This 1945 patent describes the process of using concentrated microwave energy to cook food, the fundamental technology behind the modern microwave oven.", "holder": "Raytheon Manufacturing Co", "grant_date": "1950-01-24", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 20, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2495429/microwave-oven-cooking" }, { "patent_number": "US 2620061", "country": "US", "title": "How a Spring-Loaded Pocket Dispenser Works", "summary": "A 1949 mechanical design for a pocket-sized container that uses a spring to push items like pills or candies to the top for easy access.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1952-12-02", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 69, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2620061/pez-dispenser" }, { "patent_number": "US 7225154", "country": "US", "title": "How Digital Systems Pool Money from Many People for One Goal", "summary": "A system that lets multiple people contribute small amounts of money toward a shared goal, only releasing the total funds to a recipient once specific conditions are met.", "holder": "First Data Corp", "grant_date": "2007-05-29", "tags": [ "finance", "ecommerce", "software" ], "times_cited": 9, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7225154/amazon-marketplace" }, { "patent_number": "US 2744122", "country": "US", "title": "The Chemical Discovery Behind the First Oral Contraceptive Pill", "summary": "A 1952 patent for a synthetic hormone that became the active ingredient in the first effective oral contraceptive pill.", "holder": "Syntex SA", "grant_date": "1956-05-01", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 19, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2744122/birth-control-pill-norethindrone" }, { "patent_number": "US 3120606", "country": "US", "title": "How the ENIAC Computer Processes Data Using Electronic Pulses", "summary": "A foundational 1964 patent describing how the ENIAC computer used sequences of electronic pulses to store, read, and process numerical and qualitative data.", "holder": "Sperry Rand Corp", "grant_date": "1964-02-04", "tags": [ "semiconductors", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 16, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3120606/eniac-electronic-computer" }, { "patent_number": "US 7297334", "country": "US", "title": "How Genentech's Antibodies Stop Tumor Blood Vessel Growth", "summary": "A Genentech patent for specific lab-made antibodies that block a protein called VEGF, effectively starving tumors of the blood supply they need to grow.", "holder": "Genentech Inc", "grant_date": "2007-11-20", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 54, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7297334/anti-cd20-antibody-therapy" }, { "patent_number": "US 3778335", "country": "US", "title": "How Chemically Strengthened Glass Works", "summary": "A 1971 Corning patent describing a specific chemical recipe for glass that can be made incredibly tough by swapping small atoms in its surface for larger ones.", "holder": "Corning Glass Works", "grant_date": "1973-12-11", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "materials", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 52, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3778335/gorilla-glass-chemically-strengthened" }, { "patent_number": "US 9011851", "country": "US", "title": "Using Antibodies to Block HER3 Proteins in Cancer Cells", "summary": "A patent describing specific antibodies that bind to and block the HER3 protein, which is often used by cancer cells to grow and survive.", "holder": "Max Planck Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften eV", "grant_date": "2015-04-21", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 5, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9011851/perjeta-pertuzumab" }, { "patent_number": "US 7807153", "country": "US", "title": "How Antibodies Can Force Cancer Cells to Self-Destruct", "summary": "Genentech's patent on specific antibodies that bind to the Apo-2 receptor to trigger programmed cell death in cancer cells.", "holder": "Genentech Inc", "grant_date": "2010-10-05", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 2, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7807153/avastin-chemotherapy" }, { "patent_number": "US 7750134", "country": "US", "title": "Isolating Microbial Proteins That Regulate Cellular Protein Stability", "summary": "This patent identifies specific genetic sequences from microbes that produce proteins capable of modifying SUMO, a key molecule that controls how other proteins behave inside cells.", "holder": "Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute", "grant_date": "2010-07-06", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 6, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7750134/imbruvica-ibrutinib" }, { "patent_number": "US 7404202", "country": "US", "title": "How External Hardware Keys Secure Digital Purchases and Downloads", "summary": "A system using a physical hardware device to prove your identity to a server, allowing you to securely download and decrypt digital assets.", "holder": "Line 6 Inc", "grant_date": "2008-07-22", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 16, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7404202/netflix-dvd-by-mail-queue" }, { "patent_number": "US 3351836", "country": "US", "title": "How Intermittent Windshield Wipers Work", "summary": "Robert Kearns' 1967 patent for the first electronic intermittent windshield wiper system that mimics the human eye's blinking motion.", "holder": "TANN CO", "grant_date": "1967-11-07", "tags": [ "automotive", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 23, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3351836/intermittent-windshield-wiper-kearns" }, { "patent_number": "US 3349949", "country": "US", "title": "The Invention of the Modern Soda Can Pull-Tab", "summary": "A 1965 design for a ring-shaped metal tab that makes it easy to pull open a tear strip on a beverage can.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1967-10-31", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 28, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3349949/pull-tab-pop-top-can" }, { "patent_number": "US 2514269", "country": "US", "title": "How a Self-Watering Flowerpot Design Works", "summary": "A 1947 patent for a flowerpot design that uses a built-in reservoir to keep plant soil consistently moist.", "holder": "VINCENT J SEDLON", "grant_date": "1950-07-04", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 21, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2514269/streptomycin" }, { "patent_number": "US 1342885", "country": "US", "title": "How Edwin Armstrong Invented the Superheterodyne Radio Receiver", "summary": "A foundational 1920 patent by Edwin Armstrong that describes the superheterodyne circuit, the technology that allowed radios to tune into specific stations clearly and reliably.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1920-06-08", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 31, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1342885/superheterodyne-radio-armstrong" }, { "patent_number": "US 174465", "country": "US", "title": "Alexander Graham Bell's Patent for the Telephone", "summary": "Alexander Graham Bell's 1876 patent describing the method and apparatus for transmitting vocal sounds telegraphically, effectively inventing the telephone.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1876-03-07", "tags": [ "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 9, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/174465/bell-telephone" }, { "patent_number": "US 2988008", "country": "US", "title": "How the Wankel Rotary Engine Works", "summary": "A 1957 invention by Felix Wankel that replaces heavy, moving pistons with a triangular rotor spinning inside a chamber to create power.", "holder": "WANKEL AND NSU MOTORENWERKE AG", "grant_date": "1961-06-13", "tags": [ "automotive", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 45, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2988008/wankel-rotary-engine" }, { "patent_number": "US 2390636", "country": "US", "title": "How Laszlo Biro Invented the Modern Ballpoint Pen", "summary": "This 1945 patent describes the original ballpoint pen mechanism that uses a rotating sphere to distribute thick, quick-drying ink onto paper.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1945-12-11", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 30, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2390636/ballpoint-pen-biro" }, { "patent_number": "US 2768109", "country": "US", "title": "How Super Glue Bonds Acidic Surfaces Like Wood", "summary": "A 1954 method for using alcohol to help super glue stick to acidic surfaces like wood, which normally prevent the glue from hardening properly.", "holder": "Eastman Kodak Co", "grant_date": "1956-10-23", "tags": [ "materials", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 23, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2768109/super-glue-cyanoacrylate" }, { "patent_number": "US 2820187", "country": "US", "title": "How Early Numerical Control Systems Automated Industrial Milling Machines", "summary": "A 1952 invention by John Parsons that used punched cards to automatically guide machine tools, effectively launching the era of computer-aided manufacturing.", "holder": "Parsons Corp", "grant_date": "1958-01-14", "tags": [ "mechanical", "manufacturing", "aerospace", "automotive" ], "times_cited": 44, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2820187/numerical-control-machine-tool-parsons" }, { "patent_number": "US 1203495", "country": "US", "title": "How William Coolidge Invented the Modern X-Ray Tube", "summary": "A 1916 patent by William Coolidge for a high-vacuum X-ray tube that used a heated tungsten filament to control electron flow, replacing older, unreliable gas-filled tubes.", "holder": "General Electric Co", "grant_date": "1916-10-31", "tags": [ "medical", "mechanical", "energy" ], "times_cited": 32, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1203495/coolidge-x-ray-tube" }, { "patent_number": "US 3552770", "country": "US", "title": "How Early Vehicle Airbag Safety Systems Work", "summary": "A 1968 patent describing an early vehicle safety system that uses a rapidly inflating confinement to protect passengers during a collision.", "holder": "Eaton Yale and Towne Inc", "grant_date": "1971-01-05", "tags": [ "automotive", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 26, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3552770/automotive-airbag-safety-device" }, { "patent_number": "US 3043625", "country": "US", "title": "How the Modern Three-Point Car Seatbelt Works", "summary": "The foundational 1959 patent for the three-point seatbelt, which secures both the torso and lap to prevent injury during vehicle collisions.", "holder": "Volvo AB", "grant_date": "1962-07-10", "tags": [ "automotive", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 17, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3043625/three-point-seatbelt" }, { "patent_number": "US 6903756", "country": "US", "title": "How Virtual Fitting Rooms Work for Online Shopping", "summary": "A method for creating a virtual dressing room where a user's photo is combined with images of clothing from different websites to see how they look together.", "holder": "Jarbridge Inc", "grant_date": "2005-06-07", "tags": [ "ecommerce", "software", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 35, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6903756/expos-window-management" }, { "patent_number": "US 1964911", "country": "US", "title": "How the modern internal menstrual tampon was invented", "summary": "Earle Haas's 1933 patent describes the first modern internal menstrual tampon, designed to be inserted into the vagina using a cardboard applicator.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1934-07-03", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "biotech" ], "times_cited": 36, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1964911/tampon-applicator-haas" }, { "patent_number": "US 3378274", "country": "US", "title": "How the Snurfer Invented Modern Snowboarding", "summary": "A 1966 patent for a single-board snow vehicle that allowed riders to stand sideways and steer using a rope, effectively creating the sport of snowboarding.", "holder": "Brunswick Corp", "grant_date": "1968-04-16", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 42, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3378274/snowboard-snurfer-poppen" }, { "patent_number": "US 8889135", "country": "US", "title": "How Dosing Humira for Rheumatoid Arthritis Works", "summary": "This patent defines the specific 40mg biweekly injection schedule for the drug Humira to treat rheumatoid arthritis.", "holder": "AbbVie Biotechnology Ltd", "grant_date": "2014-11-18", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 15, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8889135/humira-biosimilar-barrier" }, { "patent_number": "US 1661058", "country": "US", "title": "How the Theremin Makes Music Without Touching Anything", "summary": "Leon Theremin's 1928 patent for an electronic musical instrument that generates sound based on the proximity of a performer's hands to metal antennas.", "holder": "FIRM OF M J GOLDBERG und SOHNE", "grant_date": "1928-02-28", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 40, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1661058/theremin-leon-theremin" }, { "patent_number": "US 2089171", "country": "US", "title": "How the Frying Pan Guitar Created the Electric Guitar", "summary": "George Beauchamp's 1937 patent for the first commercially successful electric guitar, which used a magnetic pickup to turn string vibrations into electrical signals.", "holder": "ELECTRO STRING INSTR CORP", "grant_date": "1937-08-10", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 24, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2089171/electric-guitar-frying-pan" }, { "patent_number": "US 2776139", "country": "US", "title": "How the Wiffle Ball Design Works", "summary": "A 1954 patent for a lightweight, perforated plastic ball designed to curve easily when thrown, famously known as the Wiffle ball.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1957-01-01", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 43, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2776139/wiffle-ball-mullany" }, { "patent_number": "US 2012680", "country": "US", "title": "How the First Modern Kitchen Garbage Disposal Was Invented", "summary": "John W. Hammes' 1933 invention of a motorized grinding device that mounts under a kitchen sink to pulverize food waste into small particles for disposal through plumbing.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1935-08-27", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 43, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2012680/garbage-disposal-hammes" }, { "patent_number": "US 3079728", "country": "US", "title": "How the Hula Hoop Works", "summary": "A 1963 patent for a lightweight, rigid plastic hoop designed to rotate around a human waist through rhythmic body movements.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1963-03-05", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 30, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3079728/hula-hoop-wham-o" }, { "patent_number": "US 2817025", "country": "US", "title": "How the First Wireless Television Remote Control Works", "summary": "Robert Adler's 1957 invention of the Space Command remote, which used ultrasonic sound waves to control television functions without wires or batteries.", "holder": "Zenith Radio Corp", "grant_date": "1957-12-17", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 30, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2817025/tv-remote-control-adler-zenith" }, { "patent_number": "US 3167440", "country": "US", "title": "How Play-Doh Was Invented", "summary": "The original 1965 patent for the soft, non-toxic modeling compound known as Play-Doh, detailing a specific mixture of flour, water, salt, and kerosene.", "holder": "Rainbow Crafts Inc", "grant_date": "1965-01-26", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 29, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3167440/play-doh-modeling-compound" }, { "patent_number": "US 1994488", "country": "US", "title": "Igor Sikorsky's Early Design for a Vertical Takeoff Aircraft", "summary": "A 1935 patent by aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky detailing a mechanical configuration for an aircraft capable of direct vertical lift.", "holder": "Sikorsky Aircraft Corp", "grant_date": "1935-03-19", "tags": [ "aerospace", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 16, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1994488/helicopter-sikorsky" }, { "patent_number": "US 2415012", "country": "US", "title": "How the Slinky Toy Works", "summary": "The original 1947 patent for the Slinky, a helical spring toy designed to walk down stairs through the transfer of energy.", "holder": "James Industries Inc", "grant_date": "1947-01-28", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 29, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2415012/slinky-toy" }, { "patent_number": "US RE42346", "country": "US", "title": "How Silicon Microphones Use Layers to Shrink Sound Sensors", "summary": "A design for a tiny, silicon-based microphone that stacks a sound-sensing chip and an electronic processor chip together with an intermediate layer to save space.", "holder": "Epcos Pte Ltd", "grant_date": "2011-05-10", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "semiconductors", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 4, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE42346/cyclone-vacuum-cleaner" }, { "patent_number": "US 1956350", "country": "US", "title": "How Laurens Hammond Invented the Electric Organ", "summary": "Laurens Hammond's 1934 patent for an electrical musical instrument that used spinning tone wheels to generate sound, forming the basis of the iconic Hammond organ.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1934-04-24", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 35, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1956350/hammond-organ" }, { "patent_number": "US 808897", "country": "US", "title": "How Willis Carrier Invented the Modern Air Conditioner", "summary": "Willis Carrier's 1906 patent for an apparatus to control humidity and temperature, forming the technical foundation for modern air conditioning systems.", "holder": "Buffalo Forge Co", "grant_date": "1906-01-02", "tags": [ "mechanical", "energy" ], "times_cited": 19, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/808897/air-conditioning-carrier" }, { "patent_number": "US 3055113", "country": "US", "title": "Early Device for Tracking Objects with a Pen", "summary": "This 1962 patent describes an early system for tracing the path of an object using a pen-like stylus that records its movement on a surface.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1962-09-25", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 31, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3055113/etch-a-sketch" }, { "patent_number": "US 2982547", "country": "US", "title": "How the First Modern Water Slide Was Designed", "summary": "A 1960 patent for a water-based amusement structure featuring a sloped surface and a water supply system to create a sliding experience.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1961-05-02", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 41, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2982547/slip-n-slide-carrier" }, { "patent_number": "US 1113371", "country": "US", "title": "How TinkerToy's Original Wooden Construction Blocks Work", "summary": "A 1914 patent for a modular toy system using wooden sticks and circular hubs with holes to build complex three-dimensional structures.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1914-10-13", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 41, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1113371/tinkertoy-pajeau" }, { "patent_number": "US 2370990", "country": "US", "title": "How George Nissen Invented the Modern Trampoline", "summary": "The 1945 patent for a 'tumbling device' that introduced the modern trampoline, using a flexible canvas bed stretched over a frame with springs to allow for high-bouncing acrobatics.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1945-03-06", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 37, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2370990/trampoline-nissen" }, { "patent_number": "US 3023824", "country": "US", "title": "How Joseph-Armand Bombardier Designed the Modern Snowmobile", "summary": "A 1962 patent by Joseph-Armand Bombardier describing a lightweight, engine-driven vehicle using an endless track system for travel over snow.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1962-03-06", "tags": [ "automotive", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 30, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3023824/snowmobile-bombardier" }, { "patent_number": "US 1480914", "country": "US", "title": "How the Modern Kitchen Blender Works", "summary": "Stephen Poplawski's 1922 invention of the electric beverage mixer, which introduced the rotating blade at the base of a container to liquefy ingredients.", "holder": "ARNOLD ELECTRIC Co", "grant_date": "1924-01-15", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 33, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1480914/blender-beverage-mixer-poplawski" }, { "patent_number": "US 8689253", "country": "US", "title": "How Remote Servers Automatically Adjust Your TV Settings", "summary": "A method for a remote server to automatically configure a TV's picture and sound settings by analyzing what other users with similar viewing habits prefer.", "holder": "Sharp Laboratories of America Inc", "grant_date": "2014-04-01", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 4, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8689253/netflix-recommendation-engine" }, { "patent_number": "US 1781541", "country": "US", "title": "How Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard Designed a Silent Refrigerator", "summary": "A 1930 patent by Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard for a refrigerator that uses electromagnetic pumps instead of moving mechanical parts to circulate coolant.", "holder": "Electrolux Servel Corp", "grant_date": "1930-11-11", "tags": [ "mechanical", "energy" ], "times_cited": 22, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1781541/einstein-szilard-refrigerator" }, { "patent_number": "US 2442141", "country": "US", "title": "How Andrew Moyer Learned to Mass-Produce Penicillin", "summary": "This 1948 patent details a method for growing the mold Penicillium in large vats using a corn steep liquor medium, which enabled the mass production of life-saving antibiotics.", "holder": "US Department of Agriculture USDA", "grant_date": "1948-05-25", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 13, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2442141/vitamin-b12-isolation" }, { "patent_number": "US 2189285", "country": "US", "title": "How the View-Master 3D Image Viewer Works", "summary": "A 1939 invention for a handheld device that uses two offset images to create the illusion of depth, famously known as the View-Master.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1940-02-06", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 28, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2189285/view-master-stereoscope" }, { "patent_number": "US 2960558", "country": "US", "title": "How the Modern Alkaline Battery Was Invented", "summary": "A 1957 patent from Union Carbide that defined the construction of the long-lasting alkaline battery, replacing older zinc-carbon designs.", "holder": "Union Carbide Corp", "grant_date": "1960-11-15", "tags": [ "energy", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 25, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2960558/alkaline-battery-dry-cell" }, { "patent_number": "US 10152712", "country": "US", "title": "How to Aggregate Transaction Notifications Using Secure Tokens", "summary": "A method for a central server to collect and organize event notifications from different merchants using unique, secure tokens that prove the user's identity without sharing sensitive account details.", "holder": "PayPal Inc", "grant_date": "2018-12-11", "tags": [ "fintech", "software", "telecommunications", "ecommerce" ], "times_cited": 0, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10152712/stripe-payment-processing-api" }, { "patent_number": "US 400664", "country": "US", "title": "How Charles Hall Invented Modern Aluminum Production", "summary": "This 1889 patent describes the Hall-Héroult process, which uses electricity to extract pure aluminum from its ore, making the metal affordable for everyone.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1889-04-02", "tags": [ "mechanical", "energy", "materials" ], "times_cited": 18, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/400664/hall-process-aluminum-smelting" }, { "patent_number": "US 1242872", "country": "US", "title": "How Clarence Saunders Invented the Modern Self-Service Grocery Store", "summary": "A 1917 patent for a store layout that allowed customers to walk through aisles and pick their own goods, replacing the traditional over-the-counter service model.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1917-10-09", "tags": [ "ecommerce", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 22, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1242872/self-service-grocery-store-saunders" }, { "patent_number": "US 2187888", "country": "US", "title": "How the 1940 Nachumsohn Cooking Apparatus Works", "summary": "A 1940 patent for a cooking device designed to heat food efficiently using an enclosed chamber and specific heat distribution methods.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1940-01-23", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 31, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2187888/crock-pot-slow-cooker-naxon" }, { "patent_number": "US 2519859", "country": "US", "title": "Ralph Teetor's Speed Control Device for Automobiles", "summary": "A 1948 invention by Ralph Teetor that introduced the mechanical foundation for modern cruise control by creating a system to resist accelerator pedal movement at a set speed.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1950-08-22", "tags": [ "automotive", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 23, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2519859/cruise-control-teetor" }, { "patent_number": "US 2799449", "country": "US", "title": "How Alan Turing Designed Early Computer Memory Systems", "summary": "A 1951 patent by Alan Turing and colleagues describing methods for moving data between different storage types in early digital computers.", "holder": "Nat Res Dev", "grant_date": "1957-07-16", "tags": [ "semiconductors", "software" ], "times_cited": 17, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2799449/turing-computer-data-storage" }, { "patent_number": "US 7596798", "country": "US", "title": "How to Send Cable Internet Signals Over Wireless Links", "summary": "A system that lets cable companies extend their internet service to remote homes using wireless radio signals instead of digging new underground cables.", "holder": "Arcowv Wireless LLC", "grant_date": "2009-09-29", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 2, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7596798/netflix-streaming-service" }, { "patent_number": "US 1612267", "country": "US", "title": "The Invention of the Modern Adhesive Bandage", "summary": "A 1926 patent by Johnson and Johnson for the first mass-produced, sterile adhesive bandage, commonly known as the Band-Aid.", "holder": "Johnson and Johnson", "grant_date": "1926-12-28", "tags": [ "biotech", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 16, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1612267/band-aid-adhesive-bandage" }, { "patent_number": "US 723325", "country": "US", "title": "Leamon Souder's 1903 Design for a Spiral Escalator", "summary": "A 1903 patent for a mechanical staircase that moves in a circular, spiraling path to transport people between floors.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1903-03-24", "tags": [ "mechanical", "automotive" ], "times_cited": 17, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/723325/escalator-moving-stairway" }, { "patent_number": "US 2546078", "country": "US", "title": "How the Rogallo Flexible Wing Kite Works", "summary": "A 1948 patent for a kite with a flexible, non-rigid wing that uses air pressure to maintain its shape during flight.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1951-03-20", "tags": [ "aerospace", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 23, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2546078/rogallo-wing-hang-glider" }, { "patent_number": "US 1505592", "country": "US", "title": "How the Popsicle Was Invented by Accident", "summary": "A 1924 patent for a frozen treat made by freezing flavored liquid around a wooden stick, commonly known today as a Popsicle.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1924-08-19", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 23, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1505592/popsicle-epperson" }, { "patent_number": "US 2956114", "country": "US", "title": "How Ampex Invented Modern Video Recording on Magnetic Tape", "summary": "This 1955 invention enabled the recording of high-frequency television signals onto magnetic tape, replacing the expensive and low-quality film recording methods of the era.", "holder": "Ampex Corp", "grant_date": "1960-10-11", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 11, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2956114/videotape-recorder-ampex" }, { "patent_number": "US 1760820", "country": "US", "title": "How Richard Drew Invented Modern Transparent Adhesive Tape", "summary": "The 1930 patent for the first pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, which replaced messy glues and paper tapes with a convenient, clear, and sticky strip.", "holder": "Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co", "grant_date": "1930-05-27", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "materials" ], "times_cited": 20, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1760820/scotch-tape-adhesive-drew" }, { "patent_number": "US 2133235", "country": "US", "title": "How Glass Fibers Are Spun for Insulation", "summary": "A 1933 invention by Games Slayter that describes the process of melting glass and blasting it into fine, flexible fibers to create insulation.", "holder": "Owens Illinois Glass Co", "grant_date": "1938-10-11", "tags": [ "mechanical", "materials" ], "times_cited": 22, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2133235/fiberglass-glass-wool-slayter" }, { "patent_number": "US 6266060", "country": "US", "title": "How Browsers Automatically Choose Your Start Page Based on History", "summary": "An IBM patent from 1998 that describes how a web browser can automatically pick which website to load first based on your past browsing habits.", "holder": "International Business Machines Corp", "grant_date": "2001-07-24", "tags": [ "software", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 95, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6266060/windows-desktop" }, { "patent_number": "US RE36574", "country": "US", "title": "How Early Video Games Synchronized Gameplay Over Modems", "summary": "A 1998 patent describing a method to keep two remote video games in sync by exchanging command signals and timing codes over a modem connection.", "holder": "MILTON HAROLD W", "grant_date": "2000-02-15", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "gaming", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 16, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE36574/game-boy" }, { "patent_number": "US 1219881", "country": "US", "title": "How Gideon Sundback Invented the Modern Zipper", "summary": "The 1917 patent for the separable fastener that perfected the design of the modern zipper using interlocking teeth on two flexible tapes.", "holder": "Hookless Fastener Co", "grant_date": "1917-03-20", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 14, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1219881/zipper-separable-fastener" }, { "patent_number": "US 3503060", "country": "US", "title": "How Early Hard Disk Drives Accessed Data Quickly", "summary": "A 1970 patent detailing a mechanical system for moving read-write heads across magnetic disks to retrieve stored information rapidly.", "holder": "JOHN J LYNOTT", "grant_date": "1970-03-24", "tags": [ "semiconductors", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 9, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3503060/hard-disk-drive" }, { "patent_number": "US 613809", "country": "US", "title": "Nikola Tesla's Remote Control System for Boats", "summary": "Nikola Tesla's 1898 patent for controlling a boat's movement and steering from a distance using radio waves and electrical signals.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1898-11-08", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 15, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/613809/tesla-remote-control-teleautomaton" }, { "patent_number": "US 2331117", "country": "US", "title": "How the First Aerosol Spray Can Works", "summary": "A 1941 invention by Lyle Goodhue and William Sullivan that created the modern aerosol spray can by using a liquefied gas to propel liquid contents.", "holder": "CLAUDE R WICKARD", "grant_date": "1943-10-05", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical", "materials" ], "times_cited": 20, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2331117/aerosol-spray-can-goodhue" }, { "patent_number": "US RE39833", "country": "US", "title": "Using Heat to Move Tiny Mirrors for Controlling Light Beams", "summary": "A system that uses tiny, heat-powered mechanical arms to move mirrors into the path of light beams, effectively acting as a switch for fiber optic networks.", "holder": "Southwest Research Institute SwRI", "grant_date": "2007-09-11", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "semiconductors", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 1, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE39833/tpa-variants" }, { "patent_number": "US 1351086", "country": "US", "title": "The Invention of Lincoln Logs", "summary": "A 1920 patent for a toy construction system using notched wooden logs to build miniature cabins and structures.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1920-08-31", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 24, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1351086/lincoln-logs-wright" }, { "patent_number": "US 1773079", "country": "US", "title": "How Clarence Birdseye Invented Modern Frozen Food", "summary": "This 1930 patent describes the process of rapidly freezing food in small packages to prevent the formation of large ice crystals that ruin texture and flavor.", "holder": "Frosted Foods Co Inc", "grant_date": "1930-08-12", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 14, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1773079/frozen-food-birdseye" }, { "patent_number": "US 3454279", "country": "US", "title": "How the Game Twister Works", "summary": "A 1966 patent for a floor-based game where players use their own bodies as game pieces on a mat with colored circles.", "holder": "Milton Bradley Co", "grant_date": "1969-07-08", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 23, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3454279/twister-game" }, { "patent_number": "US 1469997", "country": "US", "title": "A 1920s Design for a Suspended Monorail Transportation System", "summary": "A 1923 patent by May B. Cornwall describing a structural design for a suspended monorail train system intended for efficient passenger or cargo transport.", "holder": "MAY B CORNWALL", "grant_date": "1923-10-09", "tags": [ "mechanical", "automotive" ], "times_cited": 7, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1469997/iletin-insulin" }, { "patent_number": "US 1264128", "country": "US", "title": "How Early Industrial Food Mixers Used Planetary Gear Systems", "summary": "A 1918 patent for a heavy-duty industrial mixing machine that used a specific gear arrangement to rotate a beater while simultaneously moving it around the bowl.", "holder": "Hobart Manfacturing Co", "grant_date": "1918-04-23", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 19, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1264128/stand-mixer-kitchenaid-johnston" }, { "patent_number": "US 2118318", "country": "US", "title": "How the First Coin-Operated Parking Meter Works", "summary": "Carl Magee's 1935 invention of the mechanical parking meter, which introduced the concept of paying for temporary street parking using a coin-activated timer.", "holder": "DUAL PARKING METER Co", "grant_date": "1938-05-24", "tags": [ "mechanical", "automotive" ], "times_cited": 15, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2118318/parking-meter-magee" }, { "patent_number": "US 775134", "country": "US", "title": "How King Gillette Invented the Modern Disposable Safety Razor", "summary": "King Gillette's 1904 patent for a safety razor with a thin, replaceable, double-edged blade that changed how the world shaves.", "holder": "FED TRUST Co", "grant_date": "1904-11-15", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 11, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/775134/safety-razor-gillette" }, { "patent_number": "US 2485039", "country": "US", "title": "How the Aqua-Lung Scuba Regulator Works", "summary": "The foundational 1947 patent by Jacques Cousteau and Emile Gagnan for the automatic demand regulator that allows divers to breathe compressed air underwater.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1949-10-18", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 12, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2485039/aqualung-scuba-cousteau-gagnan" }, { "patent_number": "US 1057423", "country": "US", "title": "Elwood Haynes' Early Stellite Cobalt-Chromium Alloy", "summary": "A 1913 patent for a durable, corrosion-resistant metal alloy made primarily of cobalt and chromium, which laid the foundation for modern high-performance tools and medical implants.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1913-04-01", "tags": [ "mechanical", "materials" ], "times_cited": 18, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1057423/stellite-cobalt-alloy-haynes" }, { "patent_number": "US 2196914", "country": "US", "title": "How Sylvan Goldman Invented the Modern Grocery Shopping Cart", "summary": "A 1940 patent for a folding metal frame designed to hold two wire baskets, enabling shoppers to carry more items than their arms could hold.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1940-04-09", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 15, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2196914/shopping-cart-goldman" }, { "patent_number": "US 6793929", "country": "US", "title": "How to Make Stable, High-Water Content Skin Creams", "summary": "A recipe for creating stable skin lotions that are mostly water but feel like rich, oily creams by using specific silicone emulsifiers and carefully balanced oils.", "holder": "Beiersdorf AG", "grant_date": "2004-09-21", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "materials" ], "times_cited": 25, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6793929/herceptin-chemotherapy-combination" }, { "patent_number": "US 5639606", "country": "US", "title": "How to Measure Gene Activity Using Competitive PCR Kits", "summary": "A laboratory method and kit for accurately measuring how much a specific gene is being used by cells by comparing it against a known internal standard.", "holder": "University of Rochester", "grant_date": "1997-06-17", "tags": [ "biotech" ], "times_cited": 151, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5639606/quantitative-pcr" }, { "patent_number": "US 7685160", "country": "US", "title": "How Software Predicts What You Need Based on Your Coworkers", "summary": "A system that uses the browsing history and work habits of your colleagues to automatically build a personalized dashboard of links and content you are likely to need next.", "holder": "Microsoft Corp", "grant_date": "2010-03-23", "tags": [ "software", "ai_ml", "ecommerce" ], "times_cited": 5, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7685160/ntfs-file-system" }, { "patent_number": "US 2880132", "country": "US", "title": "How Chemical Additives Boost the Effectiveness of Rodent Poisons", "summary": "A 1953 chemical invention that combines 2-acyl 1,3-indandione with EDTA to create a more effective rodenticide.", "holder": "Morton Chemical Co", "grant_date": "1959-03-31", "tags": [ "biotech", "chemical" ], "times_cited": 4, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2880132/tetracycline" }, { "patent_number": "US 5891653", "country": "US", "title": "Using Stress Proteins to Help the Body Accept Organ Transplants", "summary": "A method for preventing organ transplant rejection by using stress proteins to teach the immune system to tolerate donor tissue.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1999-04-06", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 15, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5891653/hiv-viral-load-test-bdna" }, { "patent_number": "US 2713176", "country": "US", "title": "How a Simple Felt-Tip Marker Works", "summary": "A 1953 design for a handheld marking tool that uses a porous tip to deliver ink from an internal reservoir.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1955-07-19", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 13, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2713176/magic-marker-permanent-marker-rosenthal" }, { "patent_number": "US 644077", "country": "US", "title": "How Felix Hoffmann Invented Aspirin", "summary": "The 1900 patent for acetylsalicylic acid, the chemical compound that became the world's most common pain reliever, known as Aspirin.", "holder": "FARBENFABRIKEN OF ELBERFELD Co", "grant_date": "1900-02-27", "tags": [ "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 6, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/644077/aspirin-acetylsalicylic-acid" }, { "patent_number": "US 1721815", "country": "US", "title": "How the First Cotton Swabs Were Mass-Produced", "summary": "Leo Gerstenzang's 1929 patent for the automated manufacturing of cotton-tipped applicators, the invention that created the modern Q-Tip.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1929-07-23", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 10, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1721815/q-tip-cotton-swab" }, { "patent_number": "US 2824789", "country": "US", "title": "How the Breathalyzer Measures Alcohol in Your Breath", "summary": "A 1954 invention by Robert Borkenstein that uses a chemical reaction to estimate the amount of alcohol in a person's blood by testing their breath.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1958-02-25", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 8, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2824789/breathalyzer-borkenstein" }, { "patent_number": "US 3475623", "country": "US", "title": "How Robert Moog Used Transistors to Shape Synthesizer Sounds", "summary": "A 1969 invention by Robert Moog that uses the internal resistance of transistors to create the iconic filters that define the sound of analog synthesizers.", "holder": "ROBERT A MOOG", "grant_date": "1969-10-28", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 7, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3475623/moog-synthesizer-ladder-filter" }, { "patent_number": "US 2046343", "country": "US", "title": "The Invention of the Phillips Head Screw", "summary": "A 1936 patent for a cross-shaped screw head designed to keep a screwdriver centered and prevent it from slipping during high-speed assembly.", "holder": "Phillips Screw Co", "grant_date": "1936-07-07", "tags": [ "mechanical", "automotive", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 8, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2046343/phillips-screw-screwdriver" }, { "patent_number": "US 8278036", "country": "US", "title": "How Modified RNA Tricks Cells Into Making Proteins Without Triggering Attacks", "summary": "A breakthrough method for using modified RNA to deliver instructions to cells without causing the body to reject the treatment as a foreign invader.", "holder": "University of Pennsylvania Penn", "grant_date": "2012-10-02", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 322, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8278036/rna-containing-modified-nucleosides-and-methods-of-use-thereof" }, { "patent_number": "US 4302536", "country": "US", "title": "How to Detect Disease Markers Using Colored Proteins", "summary": "A 1981 method for measuring disease-related proteins in blood by attaching them to naturally colored proteins that can be detected with light.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1981-11-24", "tags": [ "biotech", "medical_diagnostics" ], "times_cited": 27, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4302536/colorimetric-immunoassay-process" }, { "patent_number": "US 1906844", "country": "US", "title": "How the Iron Lung Artificial Respirator Works", "summary": "A 1933 patent for a mechanical respirator that uses external air pressure changes to force a patient's lungs to expand and contract.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1933-05-02", "tags": [ "biotech", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 7, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1906844/iron-lung-respirator-drinker" }, { "patent_number": "US 6531124", "country": "US", "title": "How to Use Modified Cells to Produce Insulin-Regulating Proteins in the Body", "summary": "A method for taking a patient's own cells, modifying them with DNA to produce GLP-1, and putting them back into the body to treat metabolic conditions.", "holder": "Transkaryotic Therapies Inc", "grant_date": "2003-03-11", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 2, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6531124/xolair-omalizumab" }, { "patent_number": "US 1967861", "country": "US", "title": "How DuPont Invented Neoprene Synthetic Rubber", "summary": "A 1934 patent describing the chemical process to turn chlorobutadiene into a durable, oil-resistant synthetic rubber known as Neoprene.", "holder": "EI Du Pont de Nemours and Co", "grant_date": "1934-07-24", "tags": [ "materials", "chemical_manufacturing", "automotive" ], "times_cited": 7, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1967861/neoprene-synthetic-rubber" }, { "patent_number": "US 4677614", "country": "US", "title": "How Self-Healing Data Loops Automatically Elect a New Master Controller", "summary": "A communication system where multiple nodes in a loop can automatically take over as the master controller if the current one fails, ensuring the network stays synchronized.", "holder": "Process Systems Inc", "grant_date": "1987-06-30", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "mechanical", "semiconductors" ], "times_cited": 83, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4677614/data-communication-system-and-method-and-communication-controller-and-method-therefor-having-a-dataclock-synchronizer-and-method" }, { "patent_number": "US 4914603", "country": "US", "title": "How to Speed Up Neural Network Training Using Momentum", "summary": "A 1988 method for training artificial neural networks that uses an 'activating variable' to speed up how quickly the network learns from its mistakes.", "holder": "GTE Laboratories Inc", "grant_date": "1990-04-03", "tags": [ "ai_ml", "software", "semiconductors" ], "times_cited": 29, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4914603/training-neural-networks" }, { "patent_number": "US 5903495", "country": "US", "title": "How Multi-Level Cell Memory Stores More Data in Less Space", "summary": "Toshiba's 1999 patent describes a method for storing multiple bits of data in a single memory cell by precisely controlling voltage levels during programming.", "holder": "Toshiba Corp", "grant_date": "1999-05-11", "tags": [ "semiconductors", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 326, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5903495/semiconductor-device-and-memory-system" }, { "patent_number": "US 2485586", "country": "US", "title": "How the Geiger Counter Detects Invisible Radiation", "summary": "A 1947 patent for a radiation detection device that uses a gas-filled tube to identify and count high-energy particles.", "holder": "International Standard Electric Corp ", "grant_date": "1949-10-25", "tags": [ "energy", "mechanical", "telecommunications" ], "times_cited": 6, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2485586/geiger-counter" }, { "patent_number": "US 2702035", "country": "US", "title": "How the First Heart-Lung Machine Oxygenated Blood", "summary": "A 1955 invention that allowed surgeons to oxygenate a patient's blood outside the body, enabling the first successful open-heart surgeries.", "holder": "JEFFERSON MEDICAL COLLEGE", "grant_date": "1955-02-15", "tags": [ "biotech", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 4, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2702035/heart-lung-machine-gibbon" }, { "patent_number": "US 743801", "country": "US", "title": "How Mary Anderson Invented the Windshield Wiper", "summary": "A 1903 invention by Mary Anderson that allowed drivers to manually clear rain and snow from their windshields using a lever inside the vehicle.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1903-11-10", "tags": [ "automotive", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 5, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/743801/windshield-wiper-anderson" }, { "patent_number": "US 6362826", "country": "US", "title": "How Intel's Memory Hub Manages Graphics Data Across Different Memory Types", "summary": "A hardware design for a computer memory hub that lets a processor treat different types of memory as one unified space for graphics tasks.", "holder": "Intel Corp", "grant_date": "2002-03-26", "tags": [ "semiconductors", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 25, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6362826/method-and-apparatus-for-implementing-dynamic-display-memory" }, { "patent_number": "US 5401560", "country": "US", "title": "How to Make Durable Non-Slip Surfaces Using Electron Beam Curing", "summary": "A method for creating flexible, non-slip materials by bonding mineral grit to plastic sheets using a special radiation-cured glue that stays strong even when stretched.", "holder": "Norton Co", "grant_date": "1995-03-28", "tags": [ "materials", "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 25, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5401560/polymer-backed-material-with-non-slip-surface-using-e-beam-cured-urethane-binder" }, { "patent_number": "US 7663607", "country": "US", "title": "How Multi-Touch Screens Track Multiple Fingers at Once", "summary": "Apple's 2010 patent describes a touch screen that uses two layers of transparent conductive lines to detect several fingers touching the screen simultaneously.", "holder": "Apple Inc", "grant_date": "2010-02-16", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "semiconductors" ], "times_cited": 1995, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7663607/multipoint-touchscreen" }, { "patent_number": "US 7664715", "country": "US", "title": "How Caterpillar Compresses Heavy Machinery Data Using Neural Networks", "summary": "A method for shrinking massive amounts of sensor data from construction equipment into small, efficient packets for cheaper wireless transmission by using neural network training.", "holder": "Caterpillar Japan Ltd", "grant_date": "2010-02-16", "tags": [ "mechanical", "ai_ml", "telecommunications", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 0, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7664715/apparatus-and-method-for-compressing-data-apparatus-and-method-for-analyzing-data-and-data-management-system" }, { "patent_number": "US 3333846", "country": "US", "title": "How the Classic Operation Board Game Works", "summary": "A 1967 patent for an electronic game where a player uses a conductive probe to navigate a path without touching the sides, triggering a signal if they fail.", "holder": "Glass Marvin and Associates", "grant_date": "1967-08-01", "tags": [ "gaming", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 5, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3333846/operation-game-electric-probe" }, { "patent_number": "US 3735375", "country": "US", "title": "How Vacuum Tubes Detect Tiny Changes in High-Resistance Sensors", "summary": "A 1973 circuit design using a vacuum tube to detect microscopic resistance shifts in sensors like ionization chambers, commonly used in early smoke detectors.", "holder": "Central Investment Corp", "grant_date": "1973-05-22", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 2, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3735375/smoke-detector-ionization" }, { "patent_number": "US 5013088", "country": "US", "title": "How Tamper-Proof Labels That Break Into Pieces Work", "summary": "A simple security sticker designed to break into tiny, unrecoverable pieces if someone tries to peel it off, making it impossible to hide or alter sensitive information.", "holder": "Data Tech Services Inc", "grant_date": "1991-05-07", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 23, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5013088/disintegratable-masking-label" }, { "patent_number": "US 1462456", "country": "US", "title": "How Floyd Smith Designed the Modern Parachute Pack and Harness", "summary": "A 1923 patent for a parachute system that introduced a reliable pack and harness design for aviators to safely exit aircraft.", "holder": "FLOYD SMITH AERIAL EQUIPMENT C", "grant_date": "1923-07-17", "tags": [ "aerospace", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 5, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1462456/free-fall-parachute-smith-irvin" }, { "patent_number": "US 879532", "country": "US", "title": "Lee De Forest's Early Radio Telegraphy System", "summary": "A 1908 patent by radio pioneer Lee De Forest describing methods for transmitting and receiving wireless telegraphy signals using early vacuum tube technology.", "holder": "FOREST RADIO TELEPHONE CO DE", "grant_date": "1908-02-18", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "semiconductors" ], "times_cited": 2, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/879532/de-forest-audion-vacuum-tube" }, { "patent_number": "US 157124", "country": "US", "title": "How Joseph Glidden Invented Modern Barbed Wire", "summary": "A 1874 patent for a specific wire-fence design that used twisted strands to hold sharp barbs in place, fundamentally changing how the American West was fenced.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1874-11-24", "tags": [ "mechanical", "materials" ], "times_cited": 4, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/157124/barbed-wire-glidden" }, { "patent_number": "US 889823", "country": "US", "title": "How James Spangler Invented the First Portable Electric Vacuum Cleaner", "summary": "A 1908 patent for a portable suction-based cleaning device that combined a rotating brush with a fan to lift dust into a bag.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1908-06-02", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 3, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/889823/vacuum-cleaner-spangler" }, { "patent_number": "US 7512773", "country": "US", "title": "How Graphics Processors Switch Between Different Tasks Efficiently", "summary": "A method for graphics chips to pause and swap between different programs or tasks without waiting for every single part of the processor to finish its current job.", "holder": "Nvidia Corp", "grant_date": "2009-03-31", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "semiconductors", "ai_ml" ], "times_cited": 6, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7512773/context-switching-using-halt-sequencing-protocol" }, { "patent_number": "US 5946647", "country": "US", "title": "How Computers Automatically Detect and Act on Data Like Phone Numbers", "summary": "Apple's 1999 patent describing how software can automatically recognize patterns like phone numbers or dates in text and offer relevant actions like calling or scheduling.", "holder": "Apple Computer Inc", "grant_date": "1999-08-31", "tags": [ "software", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 297, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5946647/system-and-method-for-performing-an-action-on-a-structure-in-computer-generated-data" }, { "patent_number": "US 1788434", "country": "US", "title": "Leonarde Keeler's Early Mechanical Blood Pressure Recorder", "summary": "A 1925 invention by Leonarde Keeler designed to mechanically record a patient's arterial blood pressure over time.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1931-01-13", "tags": [ "biotech", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 4, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1788434/polygraph-lie-detector-keeler" }, { "patent_number": "US 1647147", "country": "US", "title": "How Early Electromagnetic Pumps Moved Liquid Metal Using Magnetic Fields", "summary": "A 1927 patent for a pump that uses electromagnetic forces to move conductive liquids without needing moving mechanical parts like pistons or impellers.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1927-11-01", "tags": [ "mechanical", "energy", "materials" ], "times_cited": 7, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1647147/sound-on-film-talking-pictures" }, { "patent_number": "US 1125476", "country": "US", "title": "How Georges Claude Invented the Neon Light", "summary": "A 1915 patent describing the use of neon gas in sealed glass tubes to create bright, colorful light for signs and illumination.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1915-01-19", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 3, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1125476/neon-lighting-claude" }, { "patent_number": "US 5876725", "country": "US", "title": "How Vaccines Protect Pigs from Respiratory Bacteria", "summary": "A 1999 patent describing a vaccine for swine that uses specific bacterial proteins to trigger an immune response against the lung disease caused by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.", "holder": "University of Saskatchewan", "grant_date": "1999-03-02", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 3, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5876725/synagis-palivizumab" }, { "patent_number": "US 5920821", "country": "US", "title": "How Phones Automatically Find and Update Network Lists Using CDPD", "summary": "A 1995 system for helping mobile phones automatically update their preferred network lists and find the best service provider using a data-only channel.", "holder": "Bell Atlantic Network Services Inc", "grant_date": "1999-07-06", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 179, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5920821/use-of-cellular-digital-packet-data-cdpd-communications-to-convey-system-identification-list-data-to-roaming-cellular-subscriber-stations" }, { "patent_number": "US 1032557", "country": "US", "title": "How the Modern Disposable Paper Cup Was Invented", "summary": "A 1908 patent for a sanitary, single-use paper cup designed to prevent the spread of germs from shared public drinking vessels.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1912-07-16", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 4, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1032557/dixie-cup-disposable-paper-cup" }, { "patent_number": "US 3321037", "country": "US", "title": "How Hovercrafts Use Flexible Skirts to Ride on Air", "summary": "This patent describes a gas-cushion vehicle, or hovercraft, that uses a specific arrangement of flexible walls to contain a cushion of pressurized gas and separate foreign matter from the escaping air.", "holder": "Hovercraft Development Ltd", "grant_date": "1967-05-23", "tags": [ "automotive", "aerospace", "mechanical", "transportation" ], "times_cited": 2, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3321037/hovercraft-cockerell" }, { "patent_number": "US 5440632", "country": "US", "title": "How Cable Boxes Download Software Updates Remotely", "summary": "A method for cable television boxes to automatically download and install new software updates sent over the air from the cable provider's main office.", "holder": "Scientific Atlanta LLC", "grant_date": "1995-08-08", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "telecommunications", "software" ], "times_cited": 249, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5440632/reprogrammable-subscriber-terminal" }, { "patent_number": "US 1475024", "country": "US", "title": "How Garrett Morgan Invented the Three-Position Traffic Signal", "summary": "Garrett Morgan's 1923 patent for a T-shaped traffic signal introduced a 'caution' position to manage vehicle flow more safely at busy intersections.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1923-11-20", "tags": [ "automotive", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 2, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1475024/traffic-signal-morgan" }, { "patent_number": "US 1115674", "country": "US", "title": "How Mary Phelps Jacob Invented the Modern Backless Brassiere", "summary": "A 1914 patent by Mary Phelps Jacob that replaced heavy, rigid corsets with a lightweight, two-handkerchief design to support the bust.", "holder": "MARY P JACOB", "grant_date": "1914-11-03", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 3, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1115674/brassiere-mary-phelps-jacob" }, { "patent_number": "US 2186907", "country": "US", "title": "How to Make Dried Citrus Fruit Snacks", "summary": "A 1937 method for preserving citrus fruit by removing moisture while maintaining the fruit's structure and flavor profile for long-term storage.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1940-01-09", "tags": [ "food_science" ], "times_cited": 6, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2186907/sulfa-drugs-sulfapyridine" }, { "patent_number": "US 5346778", "country": "US", "title": "Boosting Fuel Cell Power for Vehicles Using Oxygen Injection", "summary": "A system that boosts a vehicle's fuel cell power by injecting pure oxygen into the air supply when the engine needs extra energy.", "holder": "Energy Partners Inc", "grant_date": "1994-09-13", "tags": [ "automotive", "energy", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 90, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5346778/electrochemical-load-management-system-for-transportation-applications" }, { "patent_number": "US 4660166", "country": "US", "title": "How Hopfield Networks Use Resistors to Mimic Brain-Like Memory", "summary": "A foundational patent describing an electronic circuit that uses a grid of resistors to perform computations, effectively creating an artificial neural network that can store and recall patterns.", "holder": "California Institute of Technology", "grant_date": "1987-04-21", "tags": [ "ai_ml", "semiconductors", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 167, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4660166/electronic-network-for-collective-decision-based-on-large-number-of-connections-between-signals" }, { "patent_number": "US 5455030", "country": "US", "title": "How to Build Smaller, Synthetic Antibody-Like Molecules for Medicine", "summary": "This patent describes a way to create small, single-chain proteins that mimic the binding power of full-sized antibodies to deliver medicine more effectively.", "holder": "Enzon Labs Inc", "grant_date": "1995-10-03", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 440, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5455030/immunotheraphy-using-single-chain-polypeptide-binding-molecules" }, { "patent_number": "US 5561631", "country": "US", "title": "How Xilinx Chips Quickly Check If Memory Is Completely Erased", "summary": "A method for programmable chips to instantly verify that all memory cells are wiped clean using a simple, high-speed logic gate circuit.", "holder": "Xilinx Inc", "grant_date": "1996-10-01", "tags": [ "semiconductors", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 5, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5561631/high-speed-minimal-logic-self-blank-checking-method-for-programmable-logic-device" }, { "patent_number": "US 5579517", "country": "US", "title": "How Windows 95 Supported Long Filenames While Staying Compatible", "summary": "A clever method for storing long filenames in older file systems by hiding them in extra directory entries that older programs simply ignore.", "holder": "Microsoft Corp", "grant_date": "1996-11-26", "tags": [ "software", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 39, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5579517/windows-95-start-menu" }, { "patent_number": "US 1242065", "country": "US", "title": "How Elmer Sperry Invented the Gyroscopic Compass for Ships", "summary": "A 1917 patent for a navigation tool that uses a spinning wheel to find true north without relying on magnetic compasses.", "holder": "Sperry Gyroscope Co Inc", "grant_date": "1917-10-02", "tags": [ "mechanical", "aerospace" ], "times_cited": 2, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1242065/gyrocompass-sperry" }, { "patent_number": "US 6476836", "country": "US", "title": "How Printers Save Toner by Dropping Light-Colored Pixels", "summary": "A Ricoh patent for printers that save toner by completely ignoring very light pixels and using a special dot pattern for darker ones.", "holder": "Ricoh Co Ltd", "grant_date": "2002-11-05", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 9, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6476836/image-forming-apparatus-having-a-function-of-saving-developing-agent" }, { "patent_number": "US 7865399", "country": "US", "title": "How a Centralized Broker Handles Online Shopping Transactions", "summary": "A system where a third-party broker handles payments and shipping logistics for online merchants, allowing customers to checkout without entering payment details on every individual site.", "holder": "Google LLC", "grant_date": "2011-01-04", "tags": [ "ecommerce", "software", "finance" ], "times_cited": 9, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7865399/distributed-electronic-commerce-system-with-centralized-point-of-purchase" }, { "patent_number": "US 1721530", "country": "US", "title": "How Jacob Schick Invented the Modern Magazine-Loading Safety Razor", "summary": "A 1929 patent for a safety razor that uses a replaceable blade magazine, allowing users to change blades without touching the sharp edges.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1929-07-23", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 2, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1721530/schick-repeating-razor" }, { "patent_number": "US 1049667", "country": "US", "title": "How William Burton Invented Modern Gasoline Refining", "summary": "A 1913 patent by William Burton that describes a thermal cracking process to turn heavy crude oil into usable gasoline for automobiles.", "holder": "Standard Oil Co", "grant_date": "1913-01-07", "tags": [ "energy", "mechanical", "materials" ], "times_cited": 2, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1049667/petroleum-cracking-burton" }, { "patent_number": "US 1066809", "country": "US", "title": "How A.C. Gilbert Designed Early Interlocking Toy Construction Blocks", "summary": "A 1913 patent by A.C. Gilbert for a system of toy building blocks designed to snap together to create structures.", "holder": "MYSTO Manufacturing CO", "grant_date": "1913-07-08", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 3, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1066809/erector-set-gilbert" }, { "patent_number": "US 1394450", "country": "US", "title": "How the First Automatic Pop-Up Toaster Works", "summary": "Charles Strite's 1921 patent for the first toaster that automatically pops bread up after a set time, preventing it from burning.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1921-10-18", "tags": [ "mechanical", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 2, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1394450/pop-up-toaster-strite" }, { "patent_number": "US 4064521", "country": "US", "title": "How Amorphous Silicon Changed Solar Power", "summary": "This 1976 patent describes using a specific form of non-crystalline silicon to create cheap, thin semiconductor devices like solar cells.", "holder": "RCA Corp", "grant_date": "1977-12-20", "tags": [ "energy", "semiconductors", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 197, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4064521/semiconductor-device-having-a-body-of-amorphous-silicon" }, { "patent_number": "US 5657390", "country": "US", "title": "How Netscape Created the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) for Web Security", "summary": "Netscape's 1995 patent defining the architecture for SSL, the foundational technology that allows browsers to securely transmit encrypted data over the internet.", "holder": "Netscape Communications Corp", "grant_date": "1997-08-12", "tags": [ "software", "telecommunications", "ecommerce" ], "times_cited": 383, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5657390/secure-socket-layer-application-program-apparatus-and-method" }, { "patent_number": "US 4081538", "country": "US", "title": "Using Specific Steroid Molecules to Block Salt Retention in the Body", "summary": "A 1976 medical patent describing the use of 11-beta,18-oxidopregnane compounds to help the body excrete sodium by blocking the salt-retaining effects of the hormone aldosterone.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1978-03-28", "tags": [ "pharmaceutical", "biotech" ], "times_cited": 5, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4081538/aldosterone-antagonists" }, { "patent_number": "US 5682513", "country": "US", "title": "How IBM's Storage Controllers Keep Data Backups in the Right Order", "summary": "A method for storage controllers to track and sequence data updates in a specific order, ensuring that remote backups remain consistent with the original data during a system failure.", "holder": "International Business Machines Corp", "grant_date": "1997-10-28", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "semiconductors", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 145, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5682513/cache-queue-entry-linking-for-dasd-record-updates" }, { "patent_number": "US 7543038", "country": "US", "title": "How to Keep Apps Running Without a Constant Internet Connection", "summary": "IBM's method for letting apps think they are connected to a server even when the internet is offline by using a proxy that stores requests and fakes responses.", "holder": "International Business Machines Corp", "grant_date": "2009-06-02", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "software", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 1, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7543038/arrangement-and-method-for-impermanent-connectivity" }, { "patent_number": "US 7577616", "country": "US", "title": "How Mobile Phones Can Securely Authorize Payments Using Random ID Codes", "summary": "A 2006 system that uses a mobile phone to receive and relay a unique, temporary ID code to a store terminal to verify and authorize a payment transaction.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "2009-08-18", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software", "telecommunications", "finance", "ecommerce" ], "times_cited": 17, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7577616/method-and-apparatus-of-secure-authentication-and-electronic-payment-through-mobile-communication-tool" }, { "patent_number": "US 7352772", "country": "US", "title": "How Wireless Routers Manage Traffic Between Old and New Devices", "summary": "A method for wireless access points to prevent older, slower Wi-Fi devices from clogging the network connection for newer, faster devices.", "holder": "Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd", "grant_date": "2008-04-01", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 1, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7352772/minimization-of-performance-impact-in-overlying-80211b-and-80211g-networks" }, { "patent_number": "US 1537326", "country": "US", "title": "How Early Telephone Systems Managed Busy Lines Automatically", "summary": "A 1925 patent describing a mechanism to automatically signal that a telephone line is occupied, preventing callers from interrupting an active conversation.", "holder": "Automatic Electric Co", "grant_date": "1925-05-12", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 0, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1537326/insulin-extraction-and-purification" }, { "patent_number": "US 6122658", "country": "US", "title": "How Servers Combine Global and Local Content for Personalized Web Displays", "summary": "A 1997 Microsoft patent describing how a server can mix general content with specific local details to create a personalized experience for users based on their location or demographics.", "holder": "Microsoft Corp", "grant_date": "2000-09-19", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "software", "telecommunications", "ecommerce" ], "times_cited": 111, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6122658/custom-localized-information-in-a-networked-server-for-display-to-an-end-user" }, { "patent_number": "US 4558176", "country": "US", "title": "How Computers Use Hardware to Stop Software Piracy and Cracking", "summary": "A 1982 hardware-based security system that prevents software from being copied or cracked by destroying sensitive data if the computer detects unauthorized access or execution.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1985-12-10", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "semiconductors", "software" ], "times_cited": 280, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4558176/computer-systems-to-inhibit-unauthorized-copying-unauthorized-usage-and-automated-cracking-of-protected-software" }, { "patent_number": "US 6033785", "country": "US", "title": "How Car Windows Use Special Coatings to Balance Privacy and Visibility", "summary": "A patent for automotive glass that uses a specific combination of tinted glass and multi-layered coatings to keep the inside private while ensuring the driver can see out clearly.", "holder": "Central Glass Co Ltd", "grant_date": "2000-03-07", "tags": [ "automotive", "mechanical", "materials" ], "times_cited": 7, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6033785/vehicular-colored-glass-pane-with-light-transmittance-and-reflectance-adjustment" }, { "patent_number": "US 6630507", "country": "US", "title": "Using Cannabinoids to Protect the Brain from Oxidative Stress", "summary": "A government-owned patent describing how certain non-psychoactive cannabinoids can act as antioxidants to protect brain cells from damage caused by strokes, trauma, or diseases like Alzheimer's.", "holder": "US Department of Health and Human Services", "grant_date": "2003-10-07", "tags": [ "biotech", "pharmaceutical" ], "times_cited": 78, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6630507/cannabinoids-as-antioxidants-and-neuroprotectants" }, { "patent_number": "US 1001260", "country": "US", "title": "How Ole Evinrude Invented the Modern Portable Outboard Motor", "summary": "A 1911 patent for a compact, detachable marine engine that allowed small boats to be powered by a portable, gasoline-driven propeller unit.", "holder": "EVINRUDE MOTOR CO", "grant_date": "1911-08-22", "tags": [ "mechanical", "automotive" ], "times_cited": 1, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1001260/outboard-motor-evinrude" }, { "patent_number": "US 6828755", "country": "US", "title": "How Car Battery Modules Combine High and Low Voltage Systems", "summary": "A self-contained battery module that houses both high and low voltage batteries, a power converter, and safety switches in a single unit designed for efficient heat management.", "holder": "Johnson Controls Technology Co", "grant_date": "2004-12-07", "tags": [ "automotive", "mechanical", "energy" ], "times_cited": 46, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6828755/battery-system-module" }, { "patent_number": "US 5774660", "country": "US", "title": "How Load Balancers Route Web Traffic Based on Specific Content", "summary": "A method for web servers to route user requests to specific machines based on which files they store, rather than just blindly balancing traffic across all servers.", "holder": "Resonate Inc", "grant_date": "1998-06-30", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "software", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 1148, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5774660/world-wide-web-server-with-delayed-resource-binding-for-resource-based-load-balancing-on-a-distributed-resource-multi-node-network" }, { "patent_number": "US 5579430", "country": "US", "title": "How Digital Audio Compression Works", "summary": "A foundational method for compressing digital audio by transforming sound into spectral data and using variable-length codes to store it efficiently.", "holder": "Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung eV", "grant_date": "1996-11-26", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "telecommunications", "software" ], "times_cited": 108, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5579430/digital-encoding-process" }, { "patent_number": "US 6665308", "country": "US", "title": "How Cable Modems Fix Signal Distortions Before Sending Data", "summary": "A method for cable modems to pre-filter data so it arrives clearly at the central office, preventing signal errors caused by the messy physical wires between them.", "holder": "Terayon Communication Systems Inc", "grant_date": "2003-12-16", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "semiconductors", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 188, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6665308/apparatus-and-method-for-equalization-in-distributed-digital-data-transmission-systems" }, { "patent_number": "US 5673322", "country": "US", "title": "How Early Mobile Devices Accessed the Internet Using Split Proxies", "summary": "A 1996 system that made the early web usable on slow, unreliable wireless connections by using two 'proxy' servers to shrink and simplify data before sending it.", "holder": "Bell Communications Research Inc", "grant_date": "1997-09-30", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "software", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 546, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5673322/system-and-method-for-providing-protocol-translation-and-filtering-to-access-the-world-wide-web-from-wireless-or-low-bandwidth-networks" }, { "patent_number": "US 7233978", "country": "US", "title": "How Distributed Servers Find Data Using Location Pointers", "summary": "A system that uses a network of specialized servers to track where specific data is located, allowing computers to find information by asking a server for its address rather than searching every machine.", "holder": "Econnectix LLC", "grant_date": "2007-06-19", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "software", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 119, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7233978/method-and-apparatus-for-managing-location-information-in-a-network-separate-from-the-data-to-which-the-location-information-pertains" }, { "patent_number": "US 6073184", "country": "US", "title": "How Software Services Pass Messages Across Different Network Zones", "summary": "A method for letting different parts of a large software network communicate by linking their notification services together like a relay race.", "holder": "Alcatel SA", "grant_date": "2000-06-06", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "software", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 13, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6073184/method-of-transmitting-a-notification-to-a-receiver-from-plural-notification-services-in-a-distributed-application-network-and-a-network-for-implementing-the-method" }, { "patent_number": "US 5966126", "country": "US", "title": "How to Build Complex Database Searches Using Venn Diagrams", "summary": "A method for searching databases by visually connecting Venn diagrams to represent complex logical relationships between different sets of data.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1999-10-12", "tags": [ "software", "ai_ml", "ecommerce" ], "times_cited": 859, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5966126/graphic-user-interface-for-database-system" }, { "patent_number": "US 6178160", "country": "US", "title": "How DNS Servers Route Web Traffic to the Least Busy Server", "summary": "A method for balancing web traffic by having servers report their current workload to a DNS server, which then directs new users to the fastest available machine.", "holder": "Cisco Technology Inc", "grant_date": "2001-01-23", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "software", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 123, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6178160/load-balancing-of-client-connections-across-a-network-using-server-based-algorithms" }, { "patent_number": "US 6990497", "country": "US", "title": "How to Play Any Media Playlist by Converting it to a Standard Format", "summary": "This patent describes a system that takes media playlists in various formats, converts them into a single standard format, and then streams the referenced content, even allowing for dynamic changes during playback.", "holder": "Microsoft Corp", "grant_date": "2006-01-24", "tags": [ "software", "telecommunications", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 92, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6990497/dynamic-streaming-media-management" }, { "patent_number": "US 9959544", "country": "US", "title": "How a Server Updates Smart Card Apps and Shows Ads", "summary": "This patent describes a system where a central server authenticates a smart card user, identifies the specific smart card, allows the user to update applications on it, and then sends an advertisement to the user's computer.", "holder": "International Business Machines Corp", "grant_date": "2018-05-01", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "consumer_electronics", "software", "semiconductors", "ecommerce" ], "times_cited": 1, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9959544/updating-an-application-on-a-smart-card-and-displaying-an-advertisement" }, { "patent_number": "US 815350", "country": "US", "title": "John Holland's Design for an Early Submarine Boat", "summary": "This 1906 patent by John P. Holland describes an early design for a submarine, a vessel capable of traveling underwater, laying the groundwork for modern naval technology.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1906-03-20", "tags": [ "mechanical", "automotive", "energy", "defense" ], "times_cited": 0, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/815350/holland-submarine" }, { "patent_number": "US 966677", "country": "US", "title": "How Early Washing Machines Moved Clothes", "summary": "This 1910 patent describes a mechanical system designed to power the washing action within early washing machines, focusing on how the tub or agitator moved.", "holder": "HURLEY MACHINE Co", "grant_date": "1910-08-09", "tags": [ "consumer_electronics", "mechanical", "home_appliances" ], "times_cited": 0, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/966677/electric-washing-machine-fisher" }, { "patent_number": "US 8037168", "country": "US", "title": "How to Automatically Track and Act on Internet Domain Name Expirations", "summary": "This patent describes a system that automatically checks when internet domain names are set to expire, calculates how much time is left, and can notify a user or even try to register the domain once it becomes available.", "holder": "ESDR Network Solutions LLC", "grant_date": "2011-10-11", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "software", "ecommerce", "internet_services" ], "times_cited": 55, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8037168/method-product-and-apparatus-for-enhancing-resolution-services-registration-services-and-search-services" }, { "patent_number": "US 6732183", "country": "US", "title": "How to Seamlessly Switch Video Streams for Many Viewers", "summary": "This patent describes a computer system that allows an administrator or viewer to smoothly switch between different video or audio sources for many people watching at the same time, without interrupting their viewing experience.", "holder": "BroadWare Technologies LLC", "grant_date": "2004-05-04", "tags": [ "telecommunications", "software", "consumer_electronics" ], "times_cited": 98, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6732183/video-and-audio-streaming-for-multiple-users" }, { "patent_number": "US 1141798", "country": "US", "title": "Early Car Wheel Traction Device", "summary": "A 1915 patent for a metal device clamped to a car wheel to improve traction on slippery surfaces.", "holder": "Individual", "grant_date": "1915-06-01", "tags": [ "automotive", "mechanical" ], "times_cited": 0, "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1141798/zipper-slide-fastener" } ] }