12 patents currently held
7 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.
1 more record may belong here and awaits a decision; it is not counted.
The next term ends in Feb 2027. from the record
Of the 7 now held by other companies, 6 name Kla Tencor Corporation as their current owner, and 1 more name another party. Each row says which.
Free plan: 3 watched companies. Pro: unlimited.
Alerts on its grants, lapses and transfers.
10
Ending by 2030
Feb 2027
Next term end
12
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 15, 2026 · includes USPTO assignment & status data published Nov 15, 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 Feb 2028 · High confidence
Also notable
Ends no later than Nov 2028 · Medium confidence
Also notable
Ends Aug 2029 · High confidence
Computer-Implemented Methods for Detecting And/Or Sorting Defects in a Design Pattern of a Reticle
US 7,729,529
The most cited patent in this portfolio, cited by 97 later US patents, top 10% of utility patents granted in 2010 in our data. Protection runs to 2028.
Computer-Implemented Methods for Detecting Defects in Reticle Design Data
US 7,646,906
Cited by 61 later US patents, top 25% of utility patents granted in 2010 in our data, and renewed at 3 of 3 maintenance windows. Protection runs to 2028. A terminal disclaimer is on file and its reference is not resolved, so no cap is applied and the date may move earlier, never later.
Methods for Simulating Reticle Layout Data, Inspecting Reticle Layout Data, and Generating a Process for Inspecting Reticle Layout Data
US 8,151,220
Renewed at every maintenance window since the 2012 grant; no more fees are due before its term ends in 2029.
Formerly held, still cited
Notable
Ends Aug 2029 · High confidence
Cited by 40 later US patents, top 25% of utility patents granted in 2011 in our data, and renewed at 3 of 3 maintenance windows. Protection runs to 2029.
now held by Kla-Tencor Corporation
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 Nov 19, 2026The maintenance fee for Computer-Implemented Methods for Performing One or More Defect-Related Functions (US 9,037,280) comes due Nov 19, 2026. Unpaid by May 19, 2027, it lapses early.
- 1 fee due Dec 30, 2026The maintenance fee for Systems and Methods for Inspection of a Specimen (US 9,068,917) comes due Dec 30, 2026. Unpaid by Jun 30, 2027, it lapses early.
Recent changes
- 1 term has ended since Aug 17, 2026
What they patent
The 3 largest of its 12 families, grouped by real patent family and labeled by the earliest filing in each. No technology classification is inferred from titles.
Patents held now
Soonest term end first.
| Patent | Title | Status | Expires | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US 7,570,800 | Methods and Systems for Binning Defects Detected on a Specimen In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence | |
| US 7,570,797 | Methods and Systems for Generating an Inspection Process for an Inspection System In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence | |
| US 7,788,629 | Systems configured to perform a non-contact method for determining a property of a specimen In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence | |
| US 9,037,280 | Computer-Implemented Methods for Performing One or More Defect-Related Functions In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence | |
| US 7,729,529 | Computer-Implemented Methods for Detecting And/Or Sorting Defects in a Design Pattern of a Reticle In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence | |
| US 9,002,497 | Methods and systems for inspection of wafers and reticles using designer intent data In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence | |
| US 7,747,062 | Methods, Defect Review Tools, and Systems for Locating a Defect in a Defect Review Process In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence | |
| US 7,646,906 | Computer-Implemented Methods for Detecting Defects in Reticle Design Data In force · Medium confidence | In force | Medium confidence | |
| US 8,151,220 | Methods for Simulating Reticle Layout Data, Inspecting Reticle Layout Data, and Generating a Process for Inspecting Reticle Layout Data In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence | |
| US 8,532,949 | Computer-Implemented Methods and Systems for Classifying Defects on a Specimen In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence |
Also on record, not counted in the 12: 7 patents in force now held by others · 95 patents ended · 12 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.