27 patents currently held
220 more in force are now held by other companies
Held is read from USPTO's recorded assignments; a transfer never recorded there does not appear.
The next term ends in Dec 2026. from the record
Of the 220 now held by other companies, 220 name General Inc. as their current owner. Each row says so.
Free plan: 3 watched companies. Pro: unlimited.
Alerts on its grants, lapses and transfers.
19
Ending by 2030
Dec 2026
Next term end
27
Patent families
When these terms end
Held patents by the year their term ends
notable patents
fee due within 90 days
all others
Updated Nov 14, 2026 · includes USPTO assignment & status data published Nov 14, 2026 and grant & fee data published Nov 10, 2026 (weekly) · how we know
Notable: the highest-ranked patents in this portfolio by citations and family size. Fee due within 90 days: a maintenance fee is due within 90 days of when this page was computed and not yet paid.
Notable patents
Ranked by citations and family size, against patents of the same kind granted the same year. How we rank
Notable
Ends May 2033 · High confidence
Also notable
Ends Oct 2027 · High confidence
Also notable
Ends Jul 2030 · High confidence
Refrigerant Distribution Unit for Air Conditioner
US 9,068,758
Cited by 27 later US patents, top 25% of utility patents granted in 2015 in our data, and renewed at every maintenance window due so far. Protection runs to 2033.
Power Source Apparatus
US 7,580,272
The most cited patent in this portfolio, cited by 39 later US patents, top 25% of utility patents granted in 2009 in our data. Protection runs to 2027.
Motor Rotor and Compressor Provided with the Same
US 8,659,195
Renewed at every maintenance window since the 2014 grant; no more fees are due before its term ends in 2030.
Formerly held, still cited
Notable
Ends Jan 2033 · High confidence
Cited by 16 later US patents, top 25% of utility patents granted in 2016 in our data, and renewed at every maintenance window due so far. Protection runs to 2033.
now held by General Inc.
Also notable
Ends Sep 2034 · High confidence
Cited by 13 later US patents, top 25% of utility patents granted in 2018 in our data, and renewed at every maintenance window due so far. Protection runs to 2034.
now held by General Inc.
Also notable
Ends Mar 2034 · High confidence
Cited by 13 later US patents, top 25% of utility patents granted in 2018 in our data, and renewed at every maintenance window due so far. Protection runs to 2034.
now held by General Inc.
Fee deadlines
Maintenance fees fall due 3.5, 7.5 and 11.5 years after grant. A missed fee ends a patent at the end of the six month grace period that follows, not on the due date.
- 1 fee due Dec 30, 2026The maintenance fee for Refrigerant Distribution Unit for Air Conditioner (US 9,068,758) comes due Dec 30, 2026. Unpaid by Jun 30, 2027, it lapses early.
Recent changes
- 4 of the patents on this record were granted since Aug 16, 2026
- 1 term has ended since Aug 16, 2026
What they patent
The 3 largest of its 27 families, grouped by real patent family and labeled by the earliest filing in each. No technology classification is inferred from titles.
| Electric Motor with Rotor, Circuit Board and Improved Lead Wire Connection | 1 in force | to Mar 2035 |
| Three-Phase Rectifier with Bidirectional Switches | 1 in force | to Oct 2030 |
| Motor Rotor and Compressor Provided with the Same | 1 in force | to Jul 2030 |
Patents held now
Soonest term end first.
| Patent | Title | Status | Expires | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US 7,531,937 | Axial Air-Gap Electronic Motor In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence | |
| US 7,667,368 | Axial Air-Gap Electronic Motor In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence | |
| US D689,178 | Air Conditioner In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence | |
| US 7,580,272 | Power Source Apparatus In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence | |
| US 7,569,958 | Axial Air-Gap Electronic Motor In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence | |
| US 7,714,478 | Electric Rotary Machine held by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Fujitsu General Limited In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence | |
| US 7,748,968 | Two-Cylinder Rotary Compressor with Suction Pipes In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence | |
| US D715,909 | Outdoor Unit for Air Conditioner In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence | |
| US 7,839,114 | Phase Detection Method, Phase Detecting Apparatus, Synchronous-Motor Control Method, and Synchronous Motor Controller In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence | |
| US 7,997,095 | Method of controlling air conditioner cooling load utilizing controlling the opening degree of an expansion valve and/or the number of rotations of an outdoor fan In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence |
Also on record, not counted in the 27: 220 patents in force now held by others · 81 patents ended · 46 applications pending · 42 applications abandoned. List them
Sources and methods
Compiled from USPTO application file histories, grants and recorded assignments, with the company's own names reviewed by hand. How this record was built
Portfolio grouped automatically from ownership conveyances to the names matched to this company, usually every name that begins with its own, so it counts patents an affiliate holds; each list row names the holder of record. Security interests are excluded and ambiguous records are not reviewed by hand.
Fee due within 90 days marks a patent with a maintenance fee due within 90 days of the date this page was computed and not yet recorded paid, so it can end earlier than the bar shows. A fee left unpaid ends the patent at the close of the six month grace period that follows its due date, not on the due date itself. It is not a prediction that the fee will be missed.
Computed patent terms end on the dates shown. Related patents and pending applications may cover overlapping subject matter.