Innovation Timeline
Semiconductors
The transistor, integrated circuit, DRAM, and GPU — landmark patents that made Moore's Law possible.
Landmark patents
155
Total citations
18,003
Span
1907 – 2025
Milestones
31
1930s
How Ernest Lawrence Invented the Cyclotron Particle Accelerator
This 1934 patent describes the cyclotron, a machine that uses magnetic and electric fields to whip particles into high speeds for scientific research.
114 citations
How Arnold Beckman Invented the Modern pH Meter
A 1936 invention by Arnold Beckman that created the first reliable, portable device for measuring the acidity of chemical solutions using electronic sensors.
17 citations
How Pulse Code Modulation Digitizes Analog Signals
A foundational 1938 patent describing how to convert continuous sound waves into a stream of digital numbers for transmission.
181 citations
Chester Carlson's Original Xerography Patent
Chester Carlson's 1942 patent for xerography, the dry copying process that became the foundation for Xerox machines.
737 citations
1940s
How the ENIAC Computer Processes Data Using Electronic Pulses
A foundational 1964 patent describing how the ENIAC computer used sequences of electronic pulses to store, read, and process numerical and qualitative data.
16 citations
The Invention of the Transistor
Bell Labs' 1950 patent for the point-contact transistor, the fundamental electronic component that makes all modern computing possible.
130 citations
The Invention of the Junction Transistor
William Shockley's 1951 patent for the junction transistor, the fundamental building block of all modern digital electronics.
145 citations
How Wang An Invented the Magnetic Pulse Memory Core
A 1949 invention by An Wang that used magnetic cores to store and transfer binary data, forming the backbone of early computer memory.
74 citations
1950s
How Alan Turing Designed Early Computer Memory Systems
A 1951 patent by Alan Turing and colleagues describing methods for moving data between different storage types in early digital computers.
17 citations
How the First Practical Silicon Solar Cell Works
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.
59 citations
How the First Laser Was Invented
The foundational 1960 patent by Schawlow and Townes that describes how to amplify light waves to create a laser, moving beyond microwave technology.
145 citations
How Jack Kilby Invented the First Integrated Circuit
Texas Instruments' 1959 patent for the first integrated circuit, which combined transistors and resistors on a single piece of semiconductor material.
27 citations
How Robert Noyce Invented the Modern Integrated Circuit
Robert Noyce's 1959 patent for a semiconductor device that uses evaporated metal leads to connect components directly on a single silicon chip.
165 citations
1960s
The Invention of the Modern Field-Effect Transistor
This 1960 patent describes the fundamental structure of the MOSFET, the tiny electronic switch that powers every modern computer processor.
37 citations
How the First Infrared LED Was Invented
Texas Instruments' 1962 patent for the first practical semiconductor diode that emits infrared light when electricity passes through it.
54 citations
How Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) Were Invented
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.
90 citations
How Robert Dennard Invented the One-Transistor DRAM Memory Cell
IBM's 1967 patent for a memory cell using a single transistor and a capacitor, which became the foundation for all modern computer RAM.
191 citations
Gordon Gould's Early Concepts for High-Frequency Radiation Devices
A 1968 patent by Gordon Gould describing methods to generate and amplify radiation at frequencies exceeding visible light, building on his foundational laser work.
53 citations
How Early Hard Disk Drives Accessed Data Quickly
A 1970 patent detailing a mechanical system for moving read-write heads across magnetic disks to retrieve stored information rapidly.
9 citations
How the Floppy Disk's Protective Jacket Cleans the Disk
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.
79 citations
1970s
Hamilton's Early Digital Watch with LED Display
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.
118 citations
How Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Tags Were Invented
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.
185 citations
Early Automatic Cash Dispenser Using Credit Cards
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.
36 citations
How Early CT Scans Created Detailed Body Images
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.
163 citations
Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance to Detect Cancer in Tissue
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.
83 citations
How Laser Printers Use Rotating Mirrors to Write Information
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.
22 citations
How Texas Instruments Invented the Handheld Electronic Calculator
This 1972 patent describes the architecture for the first truly portable, battery-powered electronic calculator that could fit in a pocket.
18 citations
How Buried Channel CCDs Move Data Deep Inside Silicon Chips
A foundational 1974 invention that improved how computer chips store and move electrical charges by keeping them away from messy surface defects.
22 citations
How Early Cell Phones Handled Calls Across Different Towers
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.
206 citations
How Multiple Computers Share a Network Cable Without Crashing
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.
301 citations
Early Lithium-Ion Battery Design Using Chalcogenides
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.
93 citations
How Amorphous Silicon Changed Solar Power
This 1976 patent describes using a specific form of non-crystalline silicon to create cheap, thin semiconductor devices like solar cells.
197 citations
How Early Cochlear Implants Used Digital Signals to Restore Hearing
A 1977 patent describing an electronic device that converts sound into digital pulses to stimulate the auditory nerve, bypassing a damaged inner ear.
55 citations
How Wozniak Made the Apple II Display Color Graphics
Steve Wozniak's 1977 patent for a circuit that allowed a home computer to display stable, sharp color graphics on a standard television screen.
29 citations
The First Digital Camera's Core Technology
Kodak's 1978 patent on the fundamental technology for capturing, processing, and storing digital images using a CCD sensor and magnetic tape.
106 citations
How to Create a Secret Code Key Without Meeting First
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.
708 citations
How Jarvik's Artificial Heart Uses Electric Motors to Pump Blood
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.
68 citations
How Scientists First Made DNA Replicate in New Cells
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.
346 citations
1980s
How Organic Diodes Make Light Using Special Molecules
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.
1,031 citations
How Flash Memory Cells Use an Erase Gate to Clear Data
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.
27 citations
How Computers Use Hardware to Stop Software Piracy and Cracking
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.
280 citations
How Self-Healing Data Loops Automatically Elect a New Master Controller
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.
83 citations
How Hopfield Networks Use Resistors to Mimic Brain-Like Memory
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.
167 citations
How Canon's Bubble Jet Printers Make Ink Droplets
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.
1,806 citations
Using Heat-Resistant Enzymes to Read DNA Sequences Faster
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.
146 citations
How to Speed Up Neural Network Training Using Momentum
A 1988 method for training artificial neural networks that uses an 'activating variable' to speed up how quickly the network learns from its mistakes.
29 citations
1990s
How a Modern Camera Sensor Captures Light and Converts It to Data
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.
620 citations
How Nichia Created the First Practical Blue LED Electrodes
A foundational patent describing the specific metal contacts needed to make gallium nitride LEDs efficient and commercially viable.
251 citations
How Xilinx Chips Quickly Check If Memory Is Completely Erased
A method for programmable chips to instantly verify that all memory cells are wiped clean using a simple, high-speed logic gate circuit.
5 citations
How IBM's Storage Controllers Keep Data Backups in the Right Order
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.
145 citations
Logitech's Method for Using Two Fingers on a Touchpad
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.
1,577 citations
How Multi-Level Cell Memory Stores More Data in Less Space
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.
326 citations
Tiny Capsules for Electronic Paper Displays
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.
508 citations
How GPS Receivers See Weak Signals by Combining Data
A method for improving GPS sensitivity by mathematically combining multiple, weak signal samples to extract navigation data that would otherwise be lost in noise.
76 citations
How Cable Modems Fix Signal Distortions Before Sending Data
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.
188 citations
How Intel's Memory Hub Manages Graphics Data Across Different Memory Types
A hardware design for a computer memory hub that lets a processor treat different types of memory as one unified space for graphics tasks.
25 citations
How a Multi-Touch Screen Detects Multiple Fingers and Palms
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.
2,641 citations
2000s
Designing Electronic Networks for Efficient Power Amplification
This patent describes how to design electronic networks that allow power amplifiers to work efficiently over a wide range of frequencies without overheating or failing.
57 citations
How Silicon Microphones Use Layers to Shrink Sound Sensors
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.
4 citations
How a Server Updates Smart Card Apps and Shows Ads
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.
1 citation
How Multi-Touch Screens Track Multiple Fingers at Once
Apple's 2010 patent describes a touch screen that uses two layers of transparent conductive lines to detect several fingers touching the screen simultaneously.
1,995 citations
Using Heat to Move Tiny Mirrors for Controlling Light Beams
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.
1 citation
How Graphics Processors Switch Between Different Tasks Efficiently
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.
6 citations
How a Special Fiber Stub Cleans Up Light Signals
This patent describes a short piece of optical fiber, called a fiber stub, designed to prevent unwanted light from escaping the fiber's core and interfering with data transmission by using a ferrule with a specific optical property.
81 citations
How Touchscreens Save Battery by Sleeping Between Touches
A power-saving method for touchscreens that puts the main processor to sleep when not in use and wakes it up only when a touch is detected.
21 citations
How Touchscreens Precisely Align Signals to Detect Your Touch
Apple's patent describes a way for touchscreens to adjust the timing of internal electrical signals so they perfectly match the signals coming from your finger, making touch detection more accurate.
13 citations
How Multi-Stage Power Amplifiers Save Battery Life in Wireless Devices
This patent describes a clever way for electronic devices, like cell phones, to save battery power by using different amplifier circuits for strong and weak signals, making them more efficient.
13 citations
How to Stack Computer Chips on a Wafer for Smaller Devices
This patent describes a method for stacking two full wafers of computer chips, where the chips on each wafer are roughly the same overall size but have different active areas, to create a compact system-in-package.
3 citations
How Fuel Cells Reuse Exhaust Hydrogen for High Efficiency
This patent describes a fuel cell system that captures and recycles over 95% of the unused hydrogen from its exhaust stream using a special pump, significantly boosting efficiency.
29 citations
How to Send Data Streams Independently Without Connection Overload
A method for sending multiple streams of data between devices using independent, reliable paths that keep data in the correct order without needing a constant connection.
42 citations
How Nanoparticles Form Adaptive Neural Network Connections
This patent describes how to build and strengthen a physical neural network using tiny nanoparticles suspended in a liquid, where electric fields make the connections learn and adapt.
12 citations
Solar Cells Made of Stacking Layers with Different Energy Gaps
This patent describes a solar cell built by stacking multiple layers, each designed to capture a different part of the light spectrum for maximum energy conversion, achieving high efficiency.
2 citations
How to Make Radio Amplifiers More Efficient
This patent describes a method for tuning radio frequency power amplifiers to boost their efficiency and maintain a stable signal phase, especially when handling signals with changing loudness and direction.
4 citations
How to Make Hydrogen Gas and Cupric Chloride Using an Electrolysis Cell
This patent describes an electrochemical cell that uses cuprous chloride in hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen gas and cupric chloride, separated by a special membrane.
3 citations
Combining Sealed and Exposed Sensors on One Microchip
This patent describes a microchip design that integrates multiple tiny sensors on the same side, where one sensor is exposed to the outside world through a backside hole while others remain protected by a sealed cap.
21 citations
How Touchscreens Tell Real Touches From False Ghost Touches
A method for capacitive touchscreens to distinguish between actual finger presses and false ghost signals that occur when multiple points are touched simultaneously.
2 citations
2010s
How Apple Embeds Haptic Actuators Directly Into Device Layers
A design for touchscreens that embeds vibration-producing actuators directly into a nonconductive material layer, paired with force sensors to detect how hard a user presses.
18 citations
How a Tiny Sensor Uses an Extra Weight to Detect Motion
This patent describes a miniature sensor that detects movement or force by measuring changes in electrical signals between tiny plates, featuring a clever extra weight to make it more sensitive.
40 citations
How Smartphones Use Light Sensors to Detect When You Are Talking
Apple's patent on using light sensors to help a phone accurately detect when it is pressed against your ear, preventing accidental screen touches.
59 citations
How Chips Are Stacked and Wired in Tiny Phone Parts
MediaTek's 2012 patent describes a way to stack different types of computer chips, like a processor and memory, very closely together in a single package using special wiring that spreads out connections, saving space in devices like smartphones.
14 citations
How Smartphones Calibrate Their Radio Power Across Different Temperatures
A method for testing and calibrating a phone's wireless radio performance in a temperature-controlled chamber to ensure it stays accurate as the device heats up or cools down.
47 citations
Attaching Flexible Circuits with Light Sensors to a Chip
This patent describes a method and device for attaching a bendable circuit, which includes light-sensing or light-emitting components, onto a main chip, allowing light to pass through a hole in the chip to reach the flexible part.
Solar Cells with Built-in Smart Electronics on the Back
This patent describes a solar cell design that integrates electronic components, like a bypass switch, directly onto the back of the cell to improve performance, especially when parts of the cell are shaded.
4 citations
How to Split Computer Tasks Between Different Types of Processors
A system that uses a physical backplane to connect two different types of computer processors—one for general tasks and one for real-time tasks—to improve efficiency.
11 citations
Device That Adjusts Power for Charging Multiple Devices
This 2016 patent describes a system that intelligently adjusts the power supplied to charge multiple devices, ensuring one device gets a steady charge while another can receive a variable amount.
Combining Radio Signals Efficiently with Special Wires
MIT's 2015 patent describes a clever way to combine multiple radio signals using specific lengths of transmission lines to boost power efficiently and linearly.
11 citations
How Databases Keep Read-Only Copies Up-to-Date
Amazon's 2016 patent describes a system for efficiently updating read-only copies of a distributed database by sending specific change notifications, ensuring read-only nodes show accurate data.
108 citations
How Quantum Computers Use Special Devices to Control Qubits
This patent describes a way for quantum computers to control special quantum bits, called topological qubits, using a "partial interferometric device" to perform specific operations.
12 citations
How Asynchronous Buffers Speed Up Non-Volatile Memory Access
This patent describes a non-volatile storage device that uses a special buffer, called an asynchronous FIFO, to quickly deliver data from memory by handling read and write operations with different timing signals and pre-fetching data.
7 citations
How Devices Negotiate Power Sharing When Connected Together
A system for host devices like laptops to automatically set and update power-sharing rules with connected accessories based on identity and real-time power needs.
6 citations
How to Stack Two Computer Chips with Direct Connections
TSMC's patent describes a compact way to stack two computer chips directly on top of each other, using a special filling material to hold tiny electrical connections in place, often with the top chip being wider than the bottom.
1 citation
How to Automatically Expand Neural Networks by Adding New Nodes
A method for growing artificial intelligence models by identifying underperforming parts of a network and adding new nodes based on the behavior of existing ones.
3 citations
How to Save and Reuse Skills Learned by Artificial Intelligence Hardware
A method for capturing the internal settings of a neuromorphic AI chip after it learns a task, allowing that 'skill' to be exported and loaded onto another AI chip.
1 citation
Improving Lithium Battery Life with a Built-in Lithium Source
This patent describes a method for building rechargeable lithium-based batteries with a special extra lithium source electrode inside that helps the main battery parts work better and last longer by giving them an initial charge of lithium ions.
11 citations
How Microsoft Organizes Data in Multi-Tier Storage Systems
A method for organizing computer data into three specific tiers—log, hash, and journal stores—to make writing and reading data faster and more efficient.
4 citations
How Touchscreens Ignore Accidental Hovering or Palm Touches
This Qualcomm patent describes how a touchscreen controller can tell the difference between an intentional finger touch and accidental input from a hovering finger or a palm, then ignore the unwanted input.
1 citation
How Batteries Charge Fast in the Cold Without Damage
This patent describes a smart battery system that uses an internal heater to warm itself up for quick, safe charging, even when it's freezing outside.
11 citations
Managing External Network Hardware as if It Were Inside the Switch
A method for managing external network service hardware by treating it as part of the main switch's internal system using a virtual connection.
1 citation
How Stylus Ring Electrodes Detect Pen Tilt and Orientation
Apple's patent for a stylus design that uses specific ring-shaped sensors to accurately measure the angle and tilt of a pen against a touchscreen.
3 citations
How a Single Electronic Component Can Learn and Process AI Data
This patent describes a tiny electronic component called a resistive processing unit (RPU) that acts like a brain cell in an artificial intelligence network, storing and processing information directly within its changing electrical resistance.
11 citations
How to Make AI Run Faster on Smaller Computer Chips
A method to shrink complex AI models by converting their high-precision math into simpler, faster formats that run efficiently on mobile devices.
17 citations
How NAND Flash Memory Adjusts to Cold Temperatures
This patent describes a method for NAND flash memory systems to prevent errors by automatically adjusting their operating conditions, like data speed or voltage, when the temperature drops too low.
5 citations
Securing Data Storage Commands with Passcodes
This patent describes a system for securely executing commands on data storage systems by requiring a generated passcode, which is based on user authentication and specific storage entity attributes.
89 citations
How Touchscreens Predict Where Your Finger Will Land Before You Touch
Apple's patent describes a touch controller that tracks an object's path through the air to predict where it will land on a screen before it actually makes physical contact.
8 citations
How Chips Save Power by Managing Individual Parts Separately
A method for computer chips to save energy by monitoring how busy specific internal parts are and adjusting their power and speed individually rather than as a whole.
1 citation
Fixing Blurry Tomography Scans from Patient Movement
This patent describes a method for creating clearer 3D medical scans by using two different X-ray scans to detect and correct for patient movement during the imaging process.
2 citations
How to Prepare 3D Flash Memory for Use
This patent describes a method for setting up a 3D non-volatile memory chip, like those in SSDs, by precisely programming control transistors, including a special "dummy" one, to make sure the memory works correctly.
9 citations
A Solid-State Oxygen Thruster for Spacecraft Propulsion
A compact space thruster that generates thrust by electrically pulling oxygen ions out of a solid material using memristor-like switching behavior.
How SK Hynix Builds Artificial Synapses for Brain-Like Computer Chips
A design for a tiny hardware component that mimics biological brain connections to help computers learn and process information like a human brain.
A Computer Chip for Training Many AI Agents at Once
This patent describes a specialized computer processor designed to quickly train multiple artificial intelligence agents simultaneously using a unique set of instructions, speeding up how AI learns.
53 citations
How IBM Uses Resistive Memory Chips to Speed Up AI Training
A method for running AI neural networks directly on specialized hardware chips that store data as electrical resistance, making them faster and more energy-efficient than standard processors.
7 citations
How to Fix Faulty Memory Cells in AI Chips
This patent describes a system that tests individual memory cells in AI chips for uneven behavior and then permanently disables the faulty ones before the chip starts learning, making AI training more efficient.
3 citations
How to Build Thin, Flat Light-Focusing Panels
A design for a thin, flat light-guiding panel that uses tiny built-in lenses and notches to turn trapped light into a focused, directional beam.
2 citations
How to Sequence DNA from Tiny Samples Using Specialized Plates
A method for preparing DNA for genetic sequencing by splitting tiny samples into a 5184-well plate to ensure accurate data from very few cells.
1 citation
How a Hybrid Layer Stops Metal Growths in Lithium Batteries
This patent describes a special multi-layered electrolyte system for lithium metal batteries that uses a stiff, hybrid material to block dangerous metal growths, aiming for safer, higher-energy batteries.
13 citations
High-Flying Aircraft Relays Satellite Internet to Ground Users
This patent describes a communication system that uses satellites, high-altitude aircraft, and ground stations to send data, specifically using lasers for space links and cloud-penetrating radio waves for ground links.
12 citations
How to Use Air-Gaps to Insulate High-Voltage Semiconductor Chips
A design for semiconductor chips that uses empty air-filled trenches to provide better electrical insulation for high-voltage transistors without needing complex filling materials.
How to Build a Tiny Pressure Sensor Inside a Silicon Chip
This patent describes a method for building a tiny pressure sensor, called a MEMS sensor, directly inside a silicon chip, where a flexible membrane and a plate form a capacitor that changes with pressure.
1 citation
How D-Wave Clears Magnetic Noise in Quantum Computers
A method for improving quantum computer accuracy by actively clearing out magnetic interference that builds up during calculations.
13 citations
Making Tiny Chip Patterns Using Gas and Light
This patent describes an advanced machine that uses a special gas and patterned light, like a tiny stencil, to draw incredibly small features directly onto a silicon wafer for making computer chips.
Making Solid-State Battery Electrodes That Don't Swell and Crack
This patent describes a special design for solid-state battery electrodes that uses tiny internal holes and spaces between particles to prevent them from expanding and cracking during charging and discharging.
6 citations
A Sealed, Stamped Metal Assembly for Guiding Light in Fiber Optics
This patent describes a tiny, sealed optical assembly that uses precisely shaped metal parts and mirrors to guide light signals between a fiber optic cable and an electronic light-emitting or light-sensing device without needing lenses between the main mirrors.
1 citation
How Mobile Devices Automatically Manage Data Retransmission Errors
A method for mobile devices to efficiently track and fix data transmission errors by mathematically assigning ID tags to recurring data packets.
Boosting Solid-State Batteries with a Capacitor Interlayer
This patent describes a solid-state battery design that includes a special capacitor-like layer between the main battery parts to improve performance and stability.
14 citations
How to Stop Transistors from Wearing Out in Radio Frequency Chips
A method for extending the lifespan of silicon-on-insulator transistors by using a special sink to drain away charge that causes gate oxide breakdown.
How LG Chem Makes Plastic Films That Block UV Light
A specialized plastic film made of alternating chemical segments that blocks harmful ultraviolet light while remaining perfectly clear.
2020s
How a Multi-Core Optical Fiber Reduces Signal Interference
This patent describes a multi-core optical fiber designed for short-distance data transmission, featuring a specific linear arrangement of at least four cores with alternating designs to minimize signal leakage between them.
2 citations
How to Tune Multi-Antenna Systems for Better Wireless Signals
This patent describes a step-by-step method for fine-tuning the many small antennas in an array to make sure they work together perfectly, improving signal quality in wireless communication systems.
14 citations
How Samsung Makes Better Transistor Gates Using Two-Layer Metal Stacks
A design for a transistor gate electrode that uses a two-layer metal structure to improve electrical performance and reliability in modern microchips.
How a Device Receives Wireless Power Using Terahertz Waves and Blockchain
This patent describes a receiver device that wirelessly collects terahertz electromagnetic energy using special materials and an antenna, then converts it to electricity, but only after a transmitter authenticates it using a blockchain.
Using Transcendental Math to Generate Better Random Numbers
A method for creating high-quality random numbers by using complex transcendental math equations to process raw data.
A Stamped Mirror to Connect Optical Fibers to Tiny Light Chips
This patent describes a method to precisely connect a standard optical fiber to a tiny light-based computer chip (a photonic integrated circuit) using a specially shaped, stamped mirror that redirects and reshapes the light.
How to Embed Tiny Optical Components Directly into Circuit Boards
A design for embedding light-emitting components and light-guiding paths directly into the layers of a circuit board to make devices smaller and more efficient.
How Rohm Designs Compact Semiconductor Packages for Better Heat Management
A semiconductor packaging design by Rohm that arranges multiple chips and specific lead terminals to optimize space and thermal performance in electronic devices.
How a Chip Uses Memory to Speed Up AI Calculations
This patent describes a specialized computer chip that uses non-volatile memory and analog signals to quickly perform calculations for artificial intelligence, especially for neural networks that need to remember past information.
How Devices Use 'Credits' to Manage Data Flow to Storage
This patent describes a system where a main device and a storage device use a 'credit' system to efficiently manage the flow of commands and responses, preventing either side from being overwhelmed with too much data.
1 citation
How to Make Lithium-Sulfur Batteries Last Longer Using Polymer Coatings
A new way to coat sulfur battery cores with a special polymer to prevent them from degrading, helping them hold a charge for more cycles.
Making Neural Networks Faster by Skipping Unnecessary Calculations
A method to speed up AI training by keeping data sparse, meaning it ignores zeros to save memory and processing power during both forward and backward passes.
1 citation
How Tiny Water-Powered Thrusters Steer Small Satellites
A method for building microscopic water-based rocket engines that use heat to push water through tiny nozzles to steer small satellites in space.
How Vehicle Radar Systems Correct Phase Errors for Better Object Detection
A radar system for cars that switches between two modes with different pulse speeds to fix phase errors, helping the vehicle more accurately track the direction and speed of objects.
How TSMC Makes Advanced Silicon-Based Light Sensors
A manufacturing process for high-performance light sensors that use alternating doped regions within a silicon-on-insulator structure to improve detection efficiency.
How Wireless Radios Automatically Adjust to Avoid Signal Overload
A method for wireless devices to automatically rearrange their internal signal-processing components when incoming radio signals are too strong and threaten to overwhelm the hardware.
Industrial Equipment Data Organized into Smart Knowledge Graphs
Honeywell's patent describes a system that collects data from industrial equipment, makes sense of it using rules, and organizes it into a smart graph for better control and actions.
1 citation
How to Fix Color Uniformity in Digital Screens Using Math
A method for smoothing out color and brightness inconsistencies across a display screen by mathematically adjusting pixels based on their distance from a reference point.
How Chips Talk Fast with Light Inside a Circuit Board
This patent describes a way to embed light-based (optical) and electricity-based (electric) computer chips directly next to each other within a circuit board, allowing them to communicate very quickly along a flat, horizontal path.
Stacking Chips with Light-Guiding Plastic Wires
TSMC's patent describes a method for building advanced chip packages that combine electrical and light-based circuits using polymer waveguides and an integrated fan-out redistribution layer for faster communication.
How Foldable Screens Use Electrochromic Layers to Improve Color and Contrast
A method for foldable display panels to adjust their light-filtering properties using electrochromic layers that change color or opacity based on whether the screen is stretched or folded.
How Quantum Computers Learn to Sort Data
This patent describes a method for training a data classifier using a quantum computer, where classical AI helps prepare the data and interpret the quantum results to improve the quantum system's ability to sort information.
How to Save Memory Power by Grouping Error-Correction Data
A method for memory controllers to reduce power consumption by fetching multiple sets of error-checking data in a single memory row access instead of one-by-one.
How Chips Get Both Light and Electricity on a Special Glass Base
This patent describes a way to build computer chip packages using a special glass base that can carry both electrical signals and light signals, making chips faster and more efficient.
1 citation
How to Clean Metal Off Wafers After EUV Chipmaking
This patent describes a specialized system and cleaning fluid used to precisely remove tiny metal bits from silicon wafers after they've been patterned using extreme ultraviolet light for making advanced computer chips.
Making AI Smarter by Focusing on Unsure 'Nodes'
This 2025 patent from D5AI LLC describes a way to train AI models more effectively by boosting the learning signal for 'nodes' that aren't making clear decisions on data.
1 citation
How to Inspect Moving Objects on a Production Line with a Moving Camera
This patent describes a method and apparatus for inspecting specific defect locations on objects moving along a production line by having an optical camera move alongside the object to take images without stopping the line.
How AI Learns to Run Faster on Specific Computer Chips
This patent describes how a smart AI system, called a reinforcement learning agent, trains other AI models to run more efficiently on specific computer hardware by cleverly reducing their size without losing too much accuracy.
2 citations