Topic leaderboard
Modifying physical structure of ferrous metals
Ranked by the PatentIndex Score — a 1–99 percentile within C21D · public-visibility date · generated 2026
top 25 per window · public-visibility date
Rising· last 2 yrs
Inventors whose newest C21D patents became public in the last 2 years — the current frontier
- 199Dominique Spehner19 patents · 444 citations
- 296Ronald Kefferstein16 patents · 185 citations
- 392Pascal Drillet29 patents · 133 citations
- 488Tatsuro Ochi24 patents · 224 citations
- 583Hiroyasu Fujii39 patents · 168 citations
- 679Yasushi Kurisu11 patents · 91 citations
- 775Toshito Takamiya45 patents · 174 citations
- 871Klaus Weinzierl17 patents · 125 citations
- 967Tatsuya Nakagaito54 patents · 145 citations
- 1063Yoshiyasu Kawasaki51 patents · 124 citations
- 1158Siegfried Kolnberger10 patents · 48 citations
- 1254Jin-Keun Oh32 patents · 54 citations
- 1350Hideyuki Hamamura29 patents · 61 citations
- 1446Masafumi Azuma41 patents · 78 citations
- 1542Hiroyoshi Yashiki20 patents · 48 citations
- 1638Yeol-Rae Cho24 patents · 51 citations
- 1733Il-Ryoung Sohn15 patents · 34 citations
- 1829Katsutoshi Takashima40 patents · 56 citations
- 1925Takako Yamashita16 patents · 36 citations
- 2021Yuki Toji28 patents · 38 citations
- 2117Kenji Umetsu10 patents · 21 citations
- 2213A-Ra Cho8 patents · 11 citations
- 238Hidekazu Minami25 patents · 29 citations
- 244James William Masten, Jr.4 patents · 50 citations
- 251Shin Nakajima6 patents · 65 citations
Active· last 5 yrs
Sustained C21D output across the last 5 years
- 199Dominique Spehner19 patents · 444 citations
- 296Mark E. O'Loughlin12 patents · 326 citations
- 392Cong Yue Qiao11 patents · 270 citations
- 488Ronald Kefferstein16 patents · 185 citations
- 583Pascal Drillet29 patents · 133 citations
- 679Kunihiro Senda31 patents · 230 citations
- 775Tatsuro Ochi24 patents · 224 citations
- 871Chikara Kami33 patents · 192 citations
- 967Herng-Jeng Jou8 patents · 102 citations
- 1063Hiroyasu Fujii39 patents · 168 citations
- 1158Yasuyuki Hayakawa41 patents · 244 citations
- 1254Yasushi Kurisu11 patents · 91 citations
- 1350Toshito Takamiya45 patents · 174 citations
- 1446Takatoshi Okabe19 patents · 136 citations
- 1542Tatsuo Yokoi40 patents · 161 citations
- 1638Klaus Weinzierl17 patents · 125 citations
- 1733Kunikazu Tomita17 patents · 140 citations
- 1829David Doll8 patents · 117 citations
- 1925Hiroi Yamaguchi33 patents · 152 citations
- 2021Tatsuya Nakagaito54 patents · 145 citations
- 2117Masatoshi Aratani20 patents · 122 citations
- 2213David S. Bergstrom8 patents · 88 citations
- 238James M. Fraser5 patents · 101 citations
- 244Kazuhisa Kusumi14 patents · 93 citations
- 251Toshiki Nonaka16 patents · 122 citations
All-time canon
Career PatentIndex Score in C21D
- 199Donald M. Kroeger8 patents · 966 citations
- 296David P. Norton7 patents · 840 citations
- 392Eliot D. Specht7 patents · 825 citations
- 488David K. Christen5 patents · 738 citations
- 583John D. Budai5 patents · 738 citations
- 679Allan H. Clauer41 patents · 1,587 citations
- 775Seetharamaiah Mannava30 patents · 1,738 citations
- 871Michael Reiss5 patents · 473 citations
- 967William D. Cowie18 patents · 1,109 citations
- 1063Efim Statnikov10 patents · 570 citations
- 1158Jeffrey L. Dulaney15 patents · 781 citations
- 1254Stephen Joseph Ferrigno9 patents · 584 citations
- 1350Paul S. Prevey, Iii12 patents · 613 citations
- 1446Albert E. Mcdaniel7 patents · 538 citations
- 1542Steven G. Keener9 patents · 438 citations
- 1638Michael J. Luton13 patents · 618 citations
- 1733Steven M. Toller19 patents · 631 citations
- 1829George M. Mucha13 patents · 506 citations
- 1925Dominique Spehner19 patents · 444 citations
- 2021Mark E. O'Loughlin12 patents · 326 citations
- 2117Donald E. Novorsky14 patents · 494 citations
- 2213Scott P. Crafton21 patents · 304 citations
- 238George D. Pfaffmann18 patents · 501 citations
- 244Giselher Herzer14 patents · 273 citations
- 251Cong Yue Qiao11 patents · 270 citations
Rising· last 2 yrs
The top-scoring C21D patents made public in the last 2 years
- 199US12371755B2✦ AISteel sheet and high strength press hardened steel part having excellent bending and metho2 cites · 202555% earned
- 296US12516396B2✦ AINon-oriented electrical steel and a method of manufacturing non-oriented electrical steel 2 cites · 202576% earned
- 392US12404571B2✦ AISteel sheet and high strength press hardened steel part having excellent bending anisotrop3 cites · 202563% earned
- 488US12403518B2Method and arrangement for producing a hardened sheet metal product1 cites · 202456% earned
- 583US12290848B1Efficient preparation method of bimetallic seamless composite pipe1 cites · 202567% earned
- 679US12509751B2High strength steel sheet having excellent workability and method for manufacturing same2 cites · 202476% earned
- 775US12350752B2Method of making a tool comprising carbide and steel by brazing2 cites · 202476% earned
- 871US11986877B1Activated aluminum formation2 cites · 202476% earned
- 967US12139795B1Quenching and coating metals using gold-based effervescent tablets1 cites · 202467% earned
- 1063US12345480B2Cooling device for heat treatment1 cites · 202467% earned
- 1158US12424360B2Grain-oriented electrical steel sheet and method for manufacturing same1 cites · 202467% earned
- 1254US12442056B2High-strength galvanized steel sheet and member, and method for manufacturing same1 cites · 202467% earned
- 1350US12512240B2Grain-oriented electrical steel sheet and method for manufacturing same1 cites · 202467% earned
- 1446US12428700B2High strength steel sheet and method for manufacturing the same1 cites · 202467% earned
- 1542US12392006B2High-strength steel sheet and method for manufacturing the same1 cites · 202467% earned
- 1638US12385121B2Coated steel sheet and high strength press hardened steel part and method of manufacturing1 cites · 202456% earned
- 1733US12195858B2Surface-treated steel sheet and method of producing the same1 cites · 202467% earned
- 1829US12247293B2Hot-dip Zn-based plated steel sheet1 cites · 202467% earned
- 1925US12054817B1High-strength and high-toughness austenitic steel1 cites · 202467% earned
- 2021US12012640B2Method of forming a hot stamped coated steel product0 cites · 20240% earned
- 2117US12043878B2Homogenizing heterogeneous foils for light alloy metal parts0 cites · 20240% earned
- 2213US12435385B2Plated steel sheet for hot press forming having excellent impact property, hot press forme0 cites · 20240% earned
- 238US12467111B2Cold-rolled steel plate for hot forming, having excellent corrosion-resistance and spot-we0 cites · 20240% earned
- 244US12460282B2Crack-containing hot-stamped coated steel part with excellent spot-weldability and excelle0 cites · 20250% earned
- 251US12203147B2Method and system for heating a part with infrared energy0 cites · 20240% earned
Active· last 5 yrs
The top-scoring C21D patents of the last 5 years
- 199US11180820B1✦ AIHot-work die steel and a preparation method thereof42 cites · 202192% earned
- 296US11110551B1✦ AIDevice for preheating before welding and post-welding heat treatment of tank16 cites · 202189% earned
- 392US12145653B2✦ AIFront structure for an electric vehicle15 cites · 202289% earned
- 488US10923788B1Directed quench systems and components19 cites · 202185% earned
- 583US12371755B2Steel sheet and high strength press hardened steel part having excellent bending and metho2 cites · 202555% earned
- 679US12516396B2Non-oriented electrical steel and a method of manufacturing non-oriented electrical steel 2 cites · 202576% earned
- 775US11220733B1Low carbon martensitic high temperature strength steel and preparation method thereof10 cites · 202287% earned
- 871US12404571B2Steel sheet and high strength press hardened steel part having excellent bending anisotrop3 cites · 202563% earned
- 967US11965225B2Steel sheet having excellent toughness, ductility and strength, and manufacturing method t4 cites · 202375% earned
- 1063US11583909B2Hot-stamped part and method of manufacturing the same7 cites · 202168% earned
- 1158US11634790B2Plated steel sheet6 cites · 202285% earned
- 1254US11698166B1Emergency escape device and method of forming the emergency escape device4 cites · 202382% earned
- 1350US11189993B2Spark plug and method for manufacturing a spark plug8 cites · 202186% earned
- 1446US11649538B2Chemical activation of self-passivating metals4 cites · 202275% earned
- 1542US12258647B2Steel sheet, member, and methods for manufacturing the same4 cites · 202382% earned
- 1638US12193908B2Orthodontic appliance with non-sliding archform3 cites · 202372% earned
- 1733US11618933B2Coated steel member, coated steel sheet, and methods for manufacturing same3 cites · 202272% earned
- 1829US11753694B1Pulse current-assisted laser peen forming and hydrophobic surface preparing method for alu3 cites · 202380% earned
- 1925US11802320B2Homogenizing heterogeneous foils for light alloy metal parts2 cites · 202350% earned
- 2021US11788166B2Cold-rolled steel plate for hot forming, having excellent corrosion-resistance and spot-we2 cites · 202353% earned
- 2117US11302457B2Aluminum alloy wire, aluminum alloy strand wire, covered electrical wire, and terminal-equ4 cites · 202170% earned
- 2213US12031192B2Continuous hot-dip galvanizing apparatus2 cites · 202367% earned
- 238US11326226B2Material for hot stamping and method for manufacturing the same4 cites · 202282% earned
- 244US11104764B1Organic and metallic aerogels, composition for the organic and metallic aerogels, and meth7 cites · 202179% earned
- 251US11338550B2Hot-stamped body5 cites · 202184% earned
All-time canon
The defining C21D patents of the whole record
- 199US5173133A✦ AIMethod for annealing stapler anvils1,473 cites · 199295% earned
- 296US4312685A✦ AISurface hardening of cams of motor-vehicle camshafts1,406 cites · 198295% earned
- 392US6127597A✦ AISystems for percutaneous bone and spinal stabilization, fixation and repair1,309 cites · 200095% earned
- 488US4398965AMethod of making iron golf clubs with flexible impact surface639 cites · 198395% earned
- 583US5858556AMultilayer composite tubular structure and method of making634 cites · 199995% earned
- 679US6527884B1Hydrogen annealing process and apparatus therefor428 cites · 200395% earned
- 775US4802441ADouble wall fast cool-down furnace379 cites · 198994% earned
- 871US5843117AImplantable vascular and endoluminal stents and process of fabricating the same367 cites · 199888% earned
- 967US6296805B1Coated hot- and cold-rolled steel sheet comprising a very high resistance after thermal tr335 cites · 200189% earned
- 1063US5298089AIn-situ generation of heat treating atmospheres using non-cryogenically produced nitrogen321 cites · 199489% earned
- 1158US4623401AHeat treatment with an autoregulating heater264 cites · 198694% earned
- 1254US7635023B2Time sequenced heating of multiple layers in a hydrocarbon containing formation231 cites · 200879% earned
- 1350US5631093AMagnetically coded device214 cites · 199791% earned
- 1446US6159237AImplantable vascular and endoluminal stents211 cites · 200087% earned
- 1542US4491001AApparatus for processing welded joint parts of pipes204 cites · 198594% earned
- 1638US5333625ASuturing with corrosion and breakage resistant flexible wire202 cites · 199494% earned
- 1733US7533719B2Wellhead with non-ferromagnetic materials196 cites · 200779% earned
- 1829US7597147B2Temperature limited heaters using phase transformation of ferromagnetic material192 cites · 200878% earned
- 1925US5925271ALaser beam shaping device and process including a rotating mirror191 cites · 199994% earned
- 2021US5741377AStructures having enhanced biaxial texture and method of fabricating same186 cites · 199885% earned
- 2117US4937421ALaser peening system and method186 cites · 199094% earned
- 2213US7604052B2Compositions produced using an in situ heat treatment process180 cites · 200778% earned
- 238US5065501AGenerating electromagnetic fields in a self regulating temperature heater by positioning o177 cites · 199194% earned
- 244US4015100ASurface modification172 cites · 197794% earned
- 251US7610962B2Sour gas injection for use with in situ heat treatment171 cites · 200878% earned
Rising· last 2 yrs
Assignees whose newest C21D patents became public in the last 2 years — the current frontier
- 199NIPPON STEEL CORP1,015 patents · 7,362 citations
- 296KOBE STEEL LTD182 patents · 1,612 citations
- 392NSK LTD56 patents · 983 citations
- 488JFE STEEL CORP925 patents · 1,551 citations
- 583SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES31 patents · 222 citations
- 679POSCO382 patents · 313 citations
- 775NUCOR CORP35 patents · 165 citations
- 871IDEMITSU KOSAN CO20 patents · 108 citations
- 967US NAVY11 patents · 96 citations
- 1063ARCELORMITTAL235 patents · 175 citations
- 1158VOESTALPINE STAHL GMBH33 patents · 63 citations
- 1254COMMISSARIAT ENERGIE ATOMIQUE10 patents · 56 citations
- 1350GM GLOBAL TECH OPERATIONS LLC57 patents · 73 citations
- 1446BRUNSWICK CORP5 patents · 61 citations
- 1542VACUUMSCHMELZE GMBH & CO KG27 patents · 45 citations
- 1638THYSSENKRUPP STEEL EUROPE AG76 patents · 53 citations
- 1733HYUNDAI STEEL CO37 patents · 20 citations
- 1829POSCO CO LTD64 patents · 24 citations
- 1925PURDUE RESEARCH FOUNDATION10 patents · 46 citations
- 2021HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD64 patents · 26 citations
- 2117UNIV MINNESOTA8 patents · 13 citations
- 2213NIPPON LIGHT METAL CO4 patents · 77 citations
- 238BAOSHAN IRON & STEEL114 patents · 26 citations
- 244UNIV JIANGSU22 patents · 10 citations
- 251ALLOY ENTPR INC10 patents · 2 citations
Active· last 5 yrs
Sustained C21D output across the last 5 years
- 199GEN ELECTRIC226 patents · 5,336 citations
- 296NIPPON STEEL CORP1,015 patents · 7,362 citations
- 392HITACHI METALS LTD110 patents · 863 citations
- 488UT BATTELLE LLC23 patents · 582 citations
- 583KOBE STEEL LTD182 patents · 1,612 citations
- 679NSK LTD56 patents · 983 citations
- 775CATERPILLAR INC46 patents · 501 citations
- 871NTN TOYO BEARING CO LTD71 patents · 481 citations
- 967ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS20 patents · 304 citations
- 1063JONES L E CO11 patents · 270 citations
- 1158HITACHI LTD58 patents · 912 citations
- 1254JFE STEEL CORP925 patents · 1,551 citations
- 1350FRAUNHOFER GES FORSCHUNG8 patents · 351 citations
- 1446NHK SPRING CO LTD31 patents · 285 citations
- 1542HONDA MOTOR CO LTD52 patents · 462 citations
- 1638UNIV NORTHWESTERN19 patents · 205 citations
- 1733MAZDA MOTOR22 patents · 316 citations
- 1829CHUGAI RO KOGYO KAISHA LTD30 patents · 381 citations
- 1925CRS HOLDINGS INC22 patents · 248 citations
- 2021SIEMENS AG27 patents · 350 citations
- 2117KOMATSU MFG CO LTD28 patents · 283 citations
- 2213BOEING CO66 patents · 291 citations
- 238PENN STATE RES FOUND12 patents · 188 citations
- 244DAIDO STEEL CO LTD66 patents · 444 citations
- 251UNITED STATES STEEL CORP37 patents · 302 citations
All-time canon
All-time PatentIndex Score in C21D
- 199SHELL OIL CO18 patents · 2,009 citations
- 296GEN ELECTRIC226 patents · 5,336 citations
- 392UNIV JOHNS HOPKINS6 patents · 520 citations
- 488WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP50 patents · 1,221 citations
- 583LSP TECHNOLOGIES INC50 patents · 1,599 citations
- 679SUMITOMO METAL IND134 patents · 2,284 citations
- 775UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP67 patents · 928 citations
- 871NIPPON STEEL CORP1,015 patents · 7,362 citations
- 967MC DONNELL DOUGLAS CORP7 patents · 374 citations
- 1063HITACHI METALS LTD110 patents · 863 citations
- 1158GEN MOTORS CORP27 patents · 779 citations
- 1254EXXON RESEARCH ENGINEERING CO9 patents · 393 citations
- 1350UT BATTELLE LLC23 patents · 582 citations
- 1446UNIV CALIFORNIA13 patents · 602 citations
- 1542KOBE STEEL LTD182 patents · 1,612 citations
- 1638TOCCO INC27 patents · 743 citations
- 1733KAWASAKI STEEL CO308 patents · 3,890 citations
- 1829NSK LTD56 patents · 983 citations
- 1925FORD MOTOR CO31 patents · 494 citations
- 2021VACUUMSCHMELZE GMBH16 patents · 365 citations
- 2117AIR PROD & CHEM27 patents · 683 citations
- 2213SCIMED LIFE SYSTEMS INC5 patents · 250 citations
- 238CATERPILLAR INC46 patents · 501 citations
- 244CONS ENG CO5 patents · 203 citations
- 251LOCKHEED MARTIN ENERGY RES COR4 patents · 433 citations
90–99 field-defining50–89 strong<50 emergingearned by citationsfrom family breadth