The 100 known most prolific inventors based on worldwide utility patents are shown in the following table. While in many cases this is the number of utility patents granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, it may include utility patents granted by other countries, as noted by the source references for an inventor.

Prolific Inventors Inventor Pats Fams Fam % Pat Yrs Yrs Pat /Yr Inv /Pat Pat Residence Majority AssignmentShunpei YamazakiShunpei Yamazaki6762299944.4%1972—202654.51243.6Semiconductor Energy LaboratoryTao LuoTao Luo4760399683.9%2006—202620.32345.6QualcommKia SilverbrookKia Silverbrook4747131127.6%1994—2014202371.6Silverbrook ResearchJunyi LiJunyi Li2888245885.1%2002—202623.91215.2QualcommKangguo ChengKangguo Cheng2871160455.9%2004—202621.91313.9IBMFrederick E. Shelton IVFrederick E. Shelton IV2761126545.8%2005—202621.21304.5EthiconPeter GaalPeter Gaal2694208877.5%2002—202624.11125.9QualcommWanshi ChenWanshi Chen2467189876.9%2009—202617.41425.7QualcommXiaoxia ZhangXiaoxia Zhang2379202785.2%2009—202617.71345.5QualcommEsmael H. DinanEsmael H. Dinan216693943.4%2006—202620.31073.6OfinnoLowell L. Wood, Jr.Lowell L. Wood, Jr.2003132866.3%1971—202654.3378.8Intellectual VenturesJing SunJing Sun1991167884.3%2012—202613.81445.9QualcommChen-Hua YuChen-Hua Yu1988104152.4%1996—202630.3664.9TSMCRoderick A. HydeRoderick A. Hyde1893125266.1%2001—202322.4858.7Intellectual VenturesShan LiuShan Liu1851118664.1%2013—2026131423.4TencentHanbyul SeoHanbyul Seo1849138875.1%2012—202614.41283.8LGSarbajit K. RakshitSarbajit K. Rakshit1646141686.0%2013—202613.71203.4IBMJun KoyamaJun Koyama151861940.8%1991—202634.9433.1Semiconductor Energy LaboratoryYunjung YiYunjung Yi147099367.6%2011—202615.7943.3LGGurtej Singh SandhuGurtej Singh Sandhu143658440.7%1991—202432.5442.5MicronRuilong XieRuilong Xie1429115280.6%2013—202613.71044.2IBMSuckchel YangSuckchel Yang134589166.2%2013—202613.21024.7LGAlexander ReznicekAlexander Reznicek132281461.6%2006—202620.5643.9IBMShou-Shan FanShou-Shan Fan1318110383.7%2006—202620.2654.2Hon HaiJuan MontojoJuan Montojo1313107181.6%2004—202622.6586.9QualcommPaul LapstunPaul Lapstun130724718.9%2000—202625.2522.5Silverbrook ResearchSatoshi SeoSatoshi Seo130662848.1%2002—202623.8554.1Semiconductor Energy LaboratoryYan ZhouYan Zhou1293115088.9%2012—202614.1924.4QualcommTakahiro NishiTakahiro Nishi128240531.6%2001—202625.1516.3PanasonicClarence T. TegreeneClarence T. Tegreene125390472.1%2000—202524.85110.1Intellectual VenturesJason L. HarrisJason L. Harris123167554.8%2011—202615.6796.0EthiconMarta KarczewiczMarta Karczewicz1227101482.6%2000—202625.7484.0QualcommKijun KimKijun Kim119483369.8%2013—202612.8934.6LGJoonkui AhnJoonkui Ahn118677365.2%2013—202613.2904.7LGTingfang JiTingfang Ji115485874.4%2006—202620.1576.9QualcommSeungmin LeeSeungmin Lee114887876.5%2014—202611.9963.5LGHao XuHao Xu113785975.5%2005—202621.4534.7QualcommEdward K. Y. JungEdward K. Y. Jung111279471.4%1996—202226.1438.0Intellectual VenturesLeonard ForbesLeonard Forbes110941137.1%1975—201943.3262.6MicronThomas EdisonThomas Edison1084NANA1869—193363.9171.0Thomas EdisonJason K. ReschJason K. Resch107651547.9%2009—202616.7644.2IBMRick Allen Hamilton IIRick Allen Hamilton II106571667.2%1999—202627.3394.2IBMJustin T. MasonJustin T. Mason1053104999.6%2008—202617.9591.0MS TechnologiesSatoshi NagataSatoshi Nagata1047101096.5%2011—202615704.0NTTAhmadreza RofougaranAhmadreza Rofougaran102949247.8%2002—202624.2436.4BroadcomDonald E. WederDonald E. Weder100039539.5%1978—201537.1271.1Weder Family TrustMichael J. SullivanMichael J. Sullivan99753453.6%1989—202434.5293.8Acushnet HoldingsKyungmin ParkKyungmin Park99747747.8%2014—202612.4805.2OfinnoGeorge Albert LyonGeorge Albert Lyon993NANA1901—196564.5151.0Lyon George AlbertJordin T. KareJordin T. Kare99364064.5%1992—202330.5339.1Intellectual VenturesHua ZhouHua Zhou98953253.8%2012—202614.6685.5OfinnoJay S. WalkerJay S. Walker98142243.0%1998—202426.3375.2Walker DigitalWilliam H. EbyWilliam H. Eby97897499.6%1994—202632.4301.2MonsantoHajime KimuraHajime Kimura96931532.5%2002—202623.9412.6Semiconductor Energy LaboratoryJohn F. O'ConnorJohn F. O'Connor949NANA1901—193533.928NAWilliam H. MinerHongyuan ZhangHongyuan Zhang93151154.9%2009—202617.3543.9MarvellChih-Chao YangChih-Chao Yang93061165.7%2003—202622.8413.4IBMDavid R. HallDavid R. Hall92776682.6%1985—202640.7233.8Hall LabsMelvin De GrooteMelvin De Groote925NANA1924—196641.822NAPetroliteStuart C. SalterStuart C. Salter92486693.7%2009—202616.7554.8FordNathan MyhrvoldNathan Myhrvold91161567.5%1994—2026322811.1Intellectual VenturesFrancis H. RichardsFrancis H. Richards894NANA1899—193030.829NAFrancis H. RichardsMark MalamudMark Malamud88669077.9%1997—202225.1357.5Intellectual VenturesYoungdae LeeYoungdae Lee87970079.6%2014—202612.5703.1LGHsien-Wei ChenHsien-Wei Chen87740546.2%2005—202621.6413.5TSMCRobert W. LordRobert W. Lord87068378.5%2003—202521.6407.6Intellectual VenturesRoyce A. LevienRoyce A. Levien85566677.9%1997—202023.4376.8Intellectual VenturesLee D. WhetselLee D. Whetsel85312815.0%1991—201726.4321.1Texas InstrumentsSungDuck ChunSungDuck Chun84553062.7%2007—202618.8453.8LGMuriel Y. IshikawaMuriel Y. Ishikawa84056066.7%2002—202321.24011.1Intellectual VenturesMichael K. GschwindMichael K. Gschwind83744252.8%2001—202120.6412.6IBMClifford A. PickoverClifford A. Pickover83754865.5%1992—202432.2263.9IBMDevendra K. SadanaDevendra K. Sadana83047256.9%1983—202643.5194.3IBMHyoungsuk JeonHyoungsuk Jeon82641049.6%2009—202616.8495.6OfinnoXue DongXue Dong82279396.5%2010—202615.7527.4BOEJean-Philippe M. VasseurJean-Philippe M. Vasseur80265882.0%2006—202620.4392.6Cisco SystemsFrederick A. WareFrederick A. Ware79623229.1%1981—202543.9182.8RambusToshiyasu SugioToshiyasu Sugio79629236.7%2009—202617474.9PanasonicSalman A. AkramSalman A. Akram78929437.3%1995—202630.7262.9MicronJames A. JoraschJames A. Jorasch77830939.7%1994—202329273.9Walker DigitalWarren M. FarnworthWarren M. Farnworth77428937.3%1990—201424.4322.8MicronShougo SatoShougo Sato77429438.0%1992—202633.7231.8BrotherBruce B. DorisBruce B. Doris76843556.6%1995—202530.3254.2IBMChung-Shi LiuChung-Shi Liu76240252.8%2000—202626.7296.1TSMCAli KhakifiroozAli Khakifirooz76041554.6%2011—202614.4534.2IBMJeyhan KaraoguzJeyhan Karaoguz75737149.0%1996—202023.8324.6BroadcomJonghyun ParkJonghyun Park75453771.2%2013—202613.6553.8LGCarleton EllisCarleton Ellis753NANA1902—194643.117NAEllis Foster CoJohn M. SantosuossoJohn M. Santosuosso73846663.1%2001—202220.7363.9IBMWoosuk KoWoosuk Ko73733445.3%2015—202611.4653.4LGHideo AndoHideo Ando73312316.8%1983—202036.7203.1ToshibaLisa Seacat DeLucaLisa Seacat DeLuca72753072.9%2009—202617.1432.7IBMGregory J. BossGregory J. Boss72750369.2%2008—202618.6394.2IBMMoon-il LeeMoon-il Lee72740155.2%2010—202615.8465.3LGXiaochuan ChenXiaochuan Chen72469996.5%2014—202612.2597.0BOEGeorge SpectorGeorge Spector723723100%1974—199824.6292.1George SpectorLawrence A. ClevengerLawrence A. Clevenger72147666.0%1996—202630.4245.1IBMAustin L. GurneyAustin L. Gurney71818225.3%1999—202121.6332.9GenentechAleksandar DamnjanovicAleksandar Damnjanovic71552773.7%2003—202623.1314.4QualcommEric C. LeuthardtEric C. Leuthardt70147167.2%2006—202619.9359.1Intellectual Ventures This table is usually updated every Tuesday, and is current .

The columns are defined as follows: Inventor: The name of the inventor. Pats: The number of utility patents that have been issued. Only utility patents (or the international equivalent) are listed, as a utility patent is a patent for an invention. Not all patents are for inventions. Other patent types include: design patents for the ornamental design of an object; plant patents for plant varieties; and reissue patents, where a correction is made to an already granted patent. This list does not include patent applications (patents pending) as there is no guarantee that a patent application actually describes a novel invention until the patent is granted. Fams: The number of patent families, which in USPTO data includes an original or continuation-in-part patent by itself or with one or more continuation or divisional patents based on the original or continuation-in-part patent. This is different than global patent families that represent a patent filed in more than one jurisdiction. "NA" signifies the inventor was active prior to digital records. Fam %: The percentage of original and continuation-in-part patents that are in the inventor's patent portfolio [Fams column divided by Pats column, rounded to first decimal as a percentage]. "NA" signifies the inventor was active prior to digital records. Pat Yrs: The first and last year in which an inventor received a patent issuance. Yrs: The number of years from first issuance to most recent issuance, rounded to first decimal based on dates. Pats /Yr: The average number of patents received per year [Pats column divided by Yrs column, rounded]. Inv / Pat: The average number of inventors listed on the inventor's most recent 50 patents or on the date the inventor was added to the table if later. "NA" signifies the inventor was active prior to digital records. Pat Residence: The country of inventor's residence listed in their most recent patent issuance. Majority Assignment: The entity that has the most patents assigned from an inventor's portfolio. This is current and not original assignment. It is usually, but not always an indication of which company the inventor worked at for the majority of their patent activity.

Significance of inventions This table is a sortable list of the most prolific inventors as measured by utility patents granted. It does not include other types of invention, such as inventions that were never applied for nor granted, for which there is no known source. Nor does the table attempt to measure the significance of an inventor and their inventions. The significance of inventions is often not apparent until many decades after the invention has been made. For recent inventors, it is not yet possible to determine their place in history.

Various published lists Rankings of prolific inventors have been published at various times. However, until the patent records were digitized, these lists were very tedious to prepare, as many thousands of patent records had to be checked manually. Even after digitization, it is still not a simple process. While the USPTO keeps statistics for annual rankings of inventions assigned to companies, it no longer publishes rankings of individual inventors. The last such list was published by the USPTO in 1998. Also, patents predating 1976 have not yet been digitized in the USPTO records. This means that patents before 1976 will not be included in a USPTO search by inventor name, and the number of patents granted before 1976 must be added to current searches.

A more extensive list of prolific inventors with additional information and ability to filter on country, gender, time period, patent type, and Nobel laureate title can be found at . There are some discrepancies with this article due to different inventor queries that attempt to account for data issues such as typos and multiple inventors with the same name.

See also Timeline of historic inventions List of inventors

References

References of Inventors' Patents