Shunpei Yamazaki
Shunpei Yamazaki (山崎 舜平, born 1942) is a Japanese inventor in the field of computer science and solid-state physics. He holds over 2,554[1] U.S. patents, making him the second most prolific inventor in history.[2]
Semiconductor Energy Laboratory
Yamazaki is the president and majority shareholder of research company Semiconductor Energy Laboratory (SEL) in Tokyo. Most of the patents he holds are in relation to computer display technology and held by SEL, with Yamazaki named either individually or jointly as inventor. One of his inventions is an integrated circuit made entirely from glass and with an 8-bit central processing unit.[3] Since 1996, SEL has appeared in the annual listings of the top global companies ranked by US patents.
| Year | Rank | U.S. Patents |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 124 | 90 [4] |
| 1997 | 110 | 97 [5] |
| 1998 | 112 | 127 [6] |
| 1999 | 83 | 184 [7] |
| 2000 | 96 | 155 [8] |
| 2001 | 84 | 209 [9] |
| 2002 | 76 | 246 [10] |
| 2003 | 65 | 273 [11] |
| 2004 | 60 | 336 [12] |
| 2005 | 61 | 292 [13] |
| 2006 | 55 | 405 [14] |
| 2007 | 49 | 413 [15] |
| 2008 | 40 | 468 [16] |
| 2009 | 33 | 545 [17] |
| 2010 | 36 | 734 [18] |
Awards
- National Invention Award, Japan Institute of Invention (1976)
- American Ceramic Society Awards (1984)
- Kou Tamotsu Red Cross Gold Award (1984)
- Kato Memorial Science Foundation Prize (1985)
- Science and Technology Agency Award (1990)
- Prime Minister's Medal (1995)
- Prime Minister's Purple Ribbon (1997)
Patent disputes
SEL is named in a 2000 Federal Circuit case against Samsung, Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co. v. Samsung Electronics Co., 204 F.3d 1368, 1374, 54 USPQ2d 1001, 1005 (Fed. Cir. 2000),[19] which held, in part, that "[a] withheld reference may be highly material when it discloses a more complete combination of relevant features, even if those features are before the patent examiner in other references." Based in part on the SEL v. Samsung case, the Patent Office suggests that patent applicants "evaluate the materiality of prior art or other information from the viewpoint of whether it is the closest prior art or other information" [20] and "that an attorney or agent make sure that foreign clients, including foreign applicants, attorneys, and agents understand the requirements of the duty of disclosure, and that the U.S. attorney or agent review any information disclosure statements or citations to ensure that compliance with 37 CFR 1.56 is present".[20]
References
- ^ USPTO Patent Search for Shunpei Yamazaki (add 56 patents issued before 1976)
- ^ USAToday
- ^ "Top US Patent Holder is Legendary Japanese Inventor Shunpei Yamazaki". Impact Lab. February 26, 2006. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
- ^ Organizations Receiving U.S. Patents in 1996
- ^ Organizations Receiving U.S. Patents in 1997
- ^ Top 300 Organizations Receiving U.S. Patents in 1998
- ^ Top 300 Organizations Receiving U.S. Patents in 1999
- ^ Top 300 Organizations Receiving U.S. Patents in 2000
- ^ Top 300 Organizations Receiving U.S. Patents in 2001
- ^ Top 300 Organizations Receiving U.S. Patents in 2002
- ^ 2003 Top Patent Owners
- ^ 2004 Top Patent Owners
- ^ Top 300 Organizations Granted U.S. Patents in 2005
- ^ Top 300 Organizations Granted U.S. Patents in 2006
- ^ Top 300 Organizations Granted U.S. Patents in 2007
- ^ Top 300 Organizations Granted U.S. Patents in 2008
- ^ American Companies Capture Less than Majority of 2009 U.S. Patent Pool
- ^ Top Global Companies Ranked By 2010 U.S. Patents
- ^ SEL v. Samsung
- ^ a b MPEP 2004 Aids to Compliance With Duty of Disclosure (R-2) - 2000 Duty of Disclosure)