Analysis of NASA Patent Data, 1976-1996
Patents are classified by USPTO patent examiners by technological and functional principles, to ease the patent examiner's search for "prior art".
Patents are not classified by the USPTO into industrial groupings.
NASA Patenting Compared with U.S., U.S. Government Patenting (1976-1999)
Patents Assigned to U.S. Entities 810,348
Patents Assigned to U.S. Government
23,591(not including NASA patents)
(including NASA patents) 26,211
Patents Assigned to NASA 2,620
US Government's percent of all US patents assigned 1976-1996 = 3.2%
NASA percent of all patents assigned to US Government = 10%
(Range of NASA percent of U.S. Government patents = 5.3% to 13.1%
Estimated "Cost" of avg. NASA Patent and of avg. U.S. Government Patent *
Avg. Annual U.S. Govt. R&D $Billions (performer and source) $62.1B
Avg. Annual Number Patents Assigned to U.S. Govt. 1,311
Avg. Annual Cost, Each U.S. Govt. Patent (in $millions) $50M
Avg. Annual NASA R&D $Billions $5.4B
Avg. Annual Number Patents Assigned to NASA 131
Avg. Annual Cost, Each NASA Patent (in $millions) $40M
Estimated $Value, All NASA Patent Waivers *
Number of Patent Waivers Issued by NASA 1716
Avg. Annual Cost, Each NASA Patent $40M
Estimated $Value, Patent Waivers Issued by NASA (1976-1996) $68.6B
A
s Percent of Total NASA R&D Budgets * 64%
*
(All Data for 1976-1996)
Federal R&D Expenditures vs. NASA R&D Budgets, 1976-1996
|
1976 |
1977 |
1978 |
1979 |
1980 |
1981 |
1982 |
1983 |
1984 |
1985 |
1986 |
1987 |
1988 |
1989 |
1990 |
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
Total/Avg |
|
|
Federal R&D Expenditures ($Billions): (c) |
25.7 |
27.6 |
30.7 |
32.8 |
37.1 |
41.8 |
45.7 |
51.4 |
57.2 |
65 |
67.8 |
71.3 |
73.8 |
75 |
77.5 |
75.4 |
76 |
76.7 |
78.2 |
77.4 |
78.1 |
1241/62.1 |
|
NASA R&D $Billions: (d) |
3.5 |
3.8 |
3.8 |
4.1 |
4.7 |
5.3 |
3.2 |
2.5 |
3.5 |
3.0 |
3.4 |
3.3 |
3.8 |
5.0 |
6.3 |
7.0 |
7.6 |
8.1 |
7.9 |
9.0 |
8.1 |
107/5.4 |
|
(c) Fed. Govt. as Source and Performer. Source: National Science Board, National Patterns of R&D Resources, NSF 96-333, 1997. |
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|
(d) Source: Historical Tables, Budget of the U.S. Govt., Fiscal Year 1998 (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1997). |
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Distribution of NASA Patented Innovations Among Patent Classes *
Patent Class: No. Patents:
Measuring and Testing 193
Aeronautics 123
Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles 61
Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers 58
Optics: Measuring and Testing 57
Radiant Energy 50
Power Plants 43
Electricity: Measuring and Testing 35
Information Processing System Organization 33
Optics: Systems (including communication) and Elements 24
Electrical Computers and Data Processing Systems 23
Coating Processes 20
Communications: Directive Radio Wave Systems and Devices (e.g., radar, radio navigation) 19
Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology 15
Heat Exchange 14
Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy 14
Electrical Heating 13
Joints and Connections 11
Surgery 11
(continued)
*
Does not include software; all data for 1976-1996, five or more patents in class.
Distribution of NASA Patented Innovations Among Patent Classes * (continued)
Patent Class: No. Patents:
Electricity: Motive Power Systems 10
Batteries (Thermoelectric and Photoelectric) 9
Communications: Electrical 9
Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture 5
Electrical Generator or Motor Structure 5
Communications: Radio Wave Antennas 5
Avg. Annual No. Classes to Which NASA Patents Have Been Assigned 7
Total NASA Patents in Five or More Classes 865
Percent of All NASA Patents, Five or More in One Class 33%
*
Does not include software; all data for 1976-1996, five or more patents in class.
Distribution of NASA Patented Innovations Among Technology Clusters *
Patent Class: (By Cluster) No. Patents:
Measuring and Testing 193
Optics: Measuring and Testing 57
Electricity: Measuring and Testing 35
285
Radiant Energy 50
Power Plants 43
Electricity: Motive Power Systems 10
Batteries (Thermoelectric and Photoelectric) 9
Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy 14
Electrical Heating 13
Electrical Generator or Motor Structure 5
Heat Exchange 14
158
Aeronautics 123
Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers 58
Coating Processes 20
Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology 15
Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture 5
98
(continued)
Distribution of NASA Patented Innovations Among Technology Clusters *
(continued)
Patent Class:
(By Cluster) No. Patents:Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles 61
Optics: Systems (including communication) and Elements 24
Communications: Directive Radio Wave Systems and Devices (e.g., radar, radio navigation) 19
Communications: Electrical 9
Communications: Radio Wave Antennas 5
57
Information Processing System Organization 33
Electrical Computers and Data Processing Systems 23
56
Joints and Connections 11
Surgery 11
*
Does not include software; all data for 1976-1996, five or more patents in class.
Distribution of NASA Patented Innovations Among Patent Classes *
vs.
Distribution of NASA Patent Licenses Among Patent Classes (by rank of frequency)**
( 1 = most frequent )
Licenses:
Patent Class: No. Patents: Frequency Rank
Electricity: Motive Power Systems 10 1
Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers 58 2
Measuring and Testing 193 3
Radiant Energy 50 4
Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology 15 5
Liquid Purification or Separation 10 6
Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture 5 7
Synthetic Resins [ sic ] - 8
Surgery 11 9
Electrical Generator or Motor Structure 5 10
Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles 61 11
Heat Exchange 14 12
Fire Escape, Ladder or Scaffold 5 13
Aeronautics 123 -
Optics: Measuring and Testing 57 -
Power Plants 43 -
(continued)
*
Does not include software; all data for 1976-1996**
" - " indicates four or less patents or licenses in patent class. No. Licenses in NASA License Record Book: 633; No. of Licenses in Files: 343
Distribution of NASA Patented Innovations Among Patent Classes * (continued)
vs.
Distribution of NASA Patent Licenses Among Patent Classes (by rank of frequency)**
Licenses:
Patent Class: No. Patents: Frequency Rank
Electricity: Measuring and Testing 35 -
Information Processing System Organization 33 -
Optics: Systems (including communication) and Elements 24 -
Electrical Computers and Data Processing Systems 23 -
Coating Processes 20 -
Communications: Directive Radio Wave Systems and Devices
(e.g., radar, radio navigation) 19 -
Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy 14 -
Electrical Heating 13 - Joints and Connections 11 -
Batteries (Thermoelectric and Photoelectric) 9 -
Communications: Electrical 9 -
Communications: Radio Wave Antennas 5 -
*
Does not include software; all data for 1976-1996**
" - " indicates four or less licenses in patent class. No. Licenses in NASA License Record Book: 633; No. of Licenses in Files: 343. Data based on licenses in files.Distribution of NASA Patent Licenses Among Patent Classes*
Patent Class No. Licenses Totals:
Electricity: Motive Power Systems 63
Electrical Generator or Motor Structure 6 (69)
Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology 10
Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture 9
Plastic and Non-metallic Article shaping or Treating Process 9
Catalyst, Solid Sorbent, or Support Therefor: Product or Process of Making 9
Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers 25
Synthetic Resins 7 (69)
Radiant Energy 19
Heat Exchange 5 (24)
Measuring and Testing 21 (21)
Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles 6
Fire Escape, Ladder, or Scaffold 5 (11)
Surgery 7 (7)
All Other Classes -
* Does not include software; all data for 1976-1996. " - " indicates four or less licenses in patent class. No. Licenses in
NASA License Record Book: 633; No. of Licenses in Files: 343. Data based on licenses in files.