Company patents

QUALCOMM Incorporated

QUALCOMM Incorporated's patent strategy, while heavily concentrated in Wireless Networks (65.3% of its portfolio), shows a surprising and aggressive expansion into advanced sensing and computing, with categories like Image Processing (79.1% growth in 2024), Computer Vision (65.7% growth in 2024), and Semiconductor Packaging & Encapsulation (66.7% growth in 2025) emerging as key focus areas. This indicates a strategic diversification beyond its traditional communication core, integrating AI, vision, and advanced hardware.

Patent Trend by Technology Area

Yearly patent publications since 2023

Product themes

Product-level themes inferred from filings since 2023, with category chips showing where each theme appears. Select a theme to filter the patents below.

28,218 US filings (since 2023) · 12 categories · 56 themes

Flexible Frame Structures & Resource Grouping

Design and configuration of adaptable frame structures, resource block groupings, and subcarrier spacings to optimize data transmission across diverse wireless environments and services, including considerations for fronthaul interfaces.

Physical Transmission & Modulation
13,024since 2023
-7.7%YoY
Advanced RF & Beam Management

Techniques and hardware architectures for optimizing the radio frequency (RF) front-end, antenna systems, and beamforming strategies in wireless networks to improve signal quality, capacity, and interference mitigation.

Wireless Networks
10,909since 2023
-9.7%YoY
Full-Duplex Communication & Self-Interference Mitigation

Techniques enabling simultaneous transmission and reception of signals on the same or adjacent frequency bands, including methods for managing and mitigating self-interference and configuring network resources for such operation.

Physical Transmission & Modulation
6,219since 2023
-14.0%YoY
Reference Signal Design & Optimization

Methods for designing, transmitting, and utilizing specific reference signals (e.g., DMRS, SRS, PT-RS) to enable accurate channel estimation, interference measurement, synchronization, or sensing in wireless communication systems.

Physical Transmission & Modulation
3,122since 2023
-4.2%YoY
Channel State Information & Beamforming

Methods for acquiring and utilizing accurate channel state information (CSI), including channel estimation and reciprocity transforms, to enable advanced spatial processing techniques like beamforming for improved signal quality and spectral efficiency.

Physical Transmission & Modulation
1,233since 2023
-9.2%YoY
Video Quality & Encoding Optimization

Methods and apparatus for improving the visual fidelity, resolution, or compression efficiency of video signals, often through advanced processing, up-scaling, or neural network-based filters.

Pictorial / Video CommunicationsComputer Vision
1,181since 2023
+1.9%YoY
Precise Positioning & Localization

Methods and systems for accurately determining the absolute or relative position of an object or device, often integrating satellite navigation (GNSS), inertial measurement units (IMU), and local ranging or wireless communication technologies.

Radar / Sonar / Lidar
1,098since 2023
-7.4%YoY
Video Enhancement & Object Tracking

Methods and systems for improving the quality of video streams, generating intermediate frames, or continuously locating and following objects within a sequence of images, even under occlusion.

Image Processing
845since 2023
+0.8%YoY
Advanced Modulation & Coding Schemesfiltered

Techniques for encoding digital data onto analog carrier signals using complex constellation diagrams, multi-level signaling, or layered approaches, often combined with error correction codes, to achieve higher data rates, improved spectral efficiency, or extended range.

Physical Transmission & Modulation
713since 2023
+5.1%YoY
Memory System Performance & Reliability

Hardware and control techniques for optimizing memory access latency, ensuring data integrity, and managing storage resources efficiently. This includes error correction, read/write voltage control, and intelligent data placement or in-memory computation.

Computer Hardware Architecture
475since 2023
+40.8%YoY
Emergency & Safety Communication Systems

Technologies for transmitting critical alerts and information during emergencies, often involving wireless networks, specialized devices, and protocols to ensure timely and targeted communication to users or emergency services.

Wireless Networks
470since 2023
+29.7%YoY
Location-Aware Mobile Services

Mobile applications and systems leveraging wireless communication and location data (e.g., GPS, RFID, geo-fencing) to provide context-specific services, transactions, or user interactions.

Wireless Networks
421since 2023
0.0%YoY
Specialized Compute Architectures

Novel hardware designs and processing pipelines tailored for specific computational tasks, such as graphics rendering, neural network operations, or matrix transformations, often involving custom circuits, memory arrays, or data flow mechanisms.

Computer Hardware Architecture
411since 2023
-3.1%YoY
Joint Communication and Sensing (JCS)

Integration of communication and sensing functionalities within a single wireless system, often by designing waveforms or utilizing reference signals that serve both data transmission and environmental sensing (e.g., ranging, velocity detection) purposes.

Physical Transmission & Modulation
369since 2023
+8.1%YoY
Connected Vehicle Communication (V2X)

Systems enabling wireless communication between vehicles (V2V), vehicles and infrastructure (V2I), or vehicles and other entities (V2X) to share information for traffic management, safety, and navigation.

Wireless Networks
351since 2023
-9.3%YoY
Vision-Based Object & Pose Estimation

Methods and apparatus for detecting objects and determining their three-dimensional position and orientation (pose) using imagery or point cloud data, often for navigation, surveying, or environmental understanding.

Computer Vision
289since 2023
-13.3%YoY
Network Operations, Reliability & Traffic

Techniques and systems designed to monitor network health, diagnose issues, optimize traffic flow, and ensure continuous operation and reduced downtime in complex network environments, including cloud and storage area networks.

Network Management & MonitoringRouting, Switching & QoS
279since 2023
-2.2%YoY
Automated Network Provisioning

Systems and methods for automatically deploying, configuring, and updating network devices and services, including software updates, client onboarding, and topology management across various network types.

Network Management & Monitoring
274since 2023
+11.7%YoY
AR/VR User Interfaces

Techniques for rendering, interacting with, and managing content within augmented or virtual reality environments, including spatial tracking, gaze interaction, and dynamic multi-application display management.

Input/Output & User Interfaces
264since 2023
-8.3%YoY
3D Die Stacking & Vertical Interconnects

Techniques for stacking multiple semiconductor dies or active layers vertically to achieve higher density and shorter interconnections, often utilizing through-silicon vias (TSVs) or other vertical conductive paths like through-hole electrodes.

Semiconductor Packaging & Encapsulation
262since 2023
+139.1%YoY
Network Traffic Management & QoS

Techniques and systems for optimizing network traffic flow, distributing loads across multiple paths or resources, and ensuring quality of service based on various criteria like application type, latency, or resource availability. This includes dynamic path selection, congestion control, and resource allocation.

Routing, Switching & QoS
241since 2023
-11.5%YoY
Multi-modal Sensor Fusion

Techniques for combining data from disparate sensor types (e.g., cameras, radar, mobile device signals) to achieve a more robust and comprehensive understanding of an environment or subject, often leveraging machine learning for interpretation and correlation.

Computer VisionRadar / Sonar / Lidar
234since 2023
+73.7%YoY
Wearable & Mobile Interaction

Designing user interfaces and interaction methods specifically for mobile or wearable devices, enabling control of external systems, monitoring user states, or facilitating real-world transactions.

Input/Output & User Interfaces
216since 2023
-25.0%YoY
AI/ML Hardware Acceleration

Specialized hardware, architectural designs, and computational methods to improve the speed, efficiency, and security of artificial intelligence and machine learning model execution, particularly for inference and data processing.

Machine Learning & AIComputer Hardware Architecture
211since 2023
+16.1%YoY
High-Speed Data Interconnects

Technologies for establishing and managing high-bandwidth, low-latency communication pathways between computing components, peripherals, or systems, focusing on signal integrity, synchronization, and interface standards.

Computer Hardware Architecture
210since 2023
+35.4%YoY
Multi-Sensor Imaging & Synthesis

Systems that combine data from multiple camera sensors or capture multiple images from different perspectives or qualities, often involving image processing techniques like synthesis to create enhanced or comprehensive views.

Pictorial / Video Communications
199since 2023
+12.5%YoY
Real-time Graphics Rendering

Techniques and hardware architectures designed to efficiently generate and display complex 3D graphics, particularly for interactive applications like virtual reality, focusing on speed and visual quality.

Image Processing
151since 2023
-4.2%YoY
On-Chip Power Management & Protection

Integrated circuits or sub-circuits designed to regulate, balance, or protect power delivery within a device, often involving specific transistor and capacitor arrangements.

Computer Hardware Architecture
143since 2023
+52.9%YoY
Specialized Neural Network Architectures

Development and optimization of novel neural network layers or architectures specifically designed to improve performance or efficiency for computer vision tasks.

Computer Vision
142since 2023
-2.0%YoY
Sensor-based Environment Perception

Techniques and hardware for autonomous systems to gather and interpret data about their surroundings, including obstacle detection, object recognition, and depth estimation, to inform control decisions.

Computer Vision
128since 2023
+30.3%YoY
Advanced Package Interconnects

Novel electrical connection methods within or between package components, including through-glass vias (TGVs), backside contacts, and optimized redistribution layers for improved signal and power integrity.

Semiconductor Packaging & Encapsulation
125since 2023
+65.6%YoY
Large Model Text Generation

Techniques for generating human-like text or other content using large pre-trained models, often involving prompt engineering, speculative decoding, or multi-modal inputs for content creation.

Machine Learning & AI
120since 2023
+314.3%YoY
Physical Layer & Interface Optimization

Enhancements to the physical and data link layers of network communication, focusing on hardware components, signal integrity, power efficiency, and efficient data transfer mechanisms for specific interfaces and buses.

Routing, Switching & QoS
120since 2023
0.0%YoY
Airspace & Drone Traffic Management

Systems and methods for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing the movement of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other aircraft, including real-time connectivity, flight planning, and route modification.

Wireless Networks
111since 2023
+61.3%YoY
Interactive & Generative Display Systems

Technologies that create dynamic and interactive visual content for displays, including virtual/wearable systems, by generating overlays, replacing input streams, or merging real-time user actions with digital environments.

Pictorial / Video Communications
105since 2023
-20.0%YoY
Generative AI for Images

Techniques utilizing deep learning models like Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) or diffusion models to create new images, modify existing ones, or generate synthetic data based on various inputs or conditions.

Image ProcessingComputer Vision
101since 2023
+214.3%YoY
Physical Layer Impairment Detection & Mitigation

Techniques and circuits designed to detect, estimate, and mitigate various physical layer signal impairments such as frequency spurs, phase noise, or non-linear distortions, thereby improving overall signal quality and system performance.

Physical Transmission & Modulation
100since 2023
+10.7%YoY
Advanced Radar/Lidar Hardware

Innovations in the physical components and architectures of radar, lidar, and sonar systems, including antenna design, RF signal generation, beam steering mechanisms, and optical elements for improved performance.

Radar / Sonar / Lidar
98since 2023
-11.4%YoY
Fan-Out & Embedded Die Packaging

Packaging technologies where bare dies are embedded within a mold compound or substrate cavity, and then interconnected using redistribution layers (RDLs) for fan-out or compact integration, often avoiding through-silicon vias in the chips themselves.

Semiconductor Packaging & Encapsulation
81since 2023
+94.4%YoY
Federated & Distributed ML

Methods for training machine learning models across multiple decentralized devices or servers while keeping data localized, often involving aggregation of model parameters and secure communication.

Machine Learning & AI
65since 2023
+4.0%YoY
Green Network Optimization

Techniques and systems for reducing energy consumption in computer networks while maintaining or improving performance, often involving predictive modeling, simulation, and dynamic adjustments to network infrastructure.

Network Management & Monitoring
64since 2023
-17.4%YoY
3D Reconstruction & Modeling

Processes for creating or manipulating three-dimensional digital representations of objects or environments, including mesh generation, surface fitting, and depth estimation from multiple views.

Image Processing
58since 2023
+62.5%YoY
Network Security & Access Control

Methods and systems for protecting network resources and data from unauthorized access, misuse, or attack, encompassing authentication, authorization, encryption, and traffic filtering mechanisms. This includes securing communication channels and validating network access.

Routing, Switching & QoS
54since 2023
-20.0%YoY
Quantum Machine Learning

Developing and applying machine learning algorithms that leverage quantum computing principles, such as quantum circuits or autoencoders, for tasks like simulation or data processing.

Machine Learning & AI
47since 2023
+125.0%YoY
Multimodal Data Fusion

Techniques for combining and analyzing information from multiple distinct data modalities (e.g., text, image, video, audio, sensor data) to derive richer insights or improve system performance and decision-making.

Machine Learning & AI
43since 2023
+46.2%YoY
Hardware Network Acceleration

Utilizing specialized hardware components such as network processing units (NPUs) or dedicated acceleration circuits to offload and speed up network packet processing, traffic generation, or time-sensitive network operations.

Network Management & Monitoring
43since 2023
+33.3%YoY
Automated Visual Inspection

Systems that employ imaging and image processing to automatically detect defects, verify states, or ensure quality control in manufactured goods, printed materials, or industrial processes.

Pictorial / Video Communications
41since 2023
-27.8%YoY
Package Thermal Management

Integrated solutions for dissipating heat generated by high-density semiconductor devices within the package, including embedded cooling structures, cold plates, and optimized fluidic channels.

Semiconductor Packaging & Encapsulation
40since 2023
+280.0%YoY
Collaborative User Experiences

User interface designs and systems that enable multiple users to interact with shared content, provide feedback, or coordinate activities, often across different devices or locations.

Input/Output & User Interfaces
34since 2023
-16.7%YoY
Autonomous Path Planning

Algorithms and systems for generating, optimizing, and executing trajectories for autonomous vehicles or robots to move through an environment, often involving obstacle avoidance, route validation, and goal reaching.

Image Processing
33since 2023
-50.0%YoY
Network Data Management

Systems and methods for collecting, processing, and ensuring the quality and consistency of data used for network monitoring, asset management, and operational decision-making, including conflict detection and reliability scoring.

Network Management & Monitoring
28since 2023
0.0%YoY
Edge and Cloud Network Orchestration

Managing and optimizing network resources and services deployed at the edge of the network or within cloud environments, including distributed domain name resolution, resource exposure analysis, and traffic management specific to distributed architectures.

Routing, Switching & QoS
28since 2023
+50.0%YoY
MLOps & Model Deployment

Systems and methods for automating the lifecycle of machine learning models, including pipeline deployment, model management, versioning, and configuring for different inference environments.

Machine Learning & AI
19since 2023
+900.0%YoY
Obstacle & Anomaly Detection

Techniques used by sensing systems to identify the presence, location, and characteristics of objects or unusual conditions in an environment, including methods to suppress false positives or 'ghost' detections.

Radar / Sonar / Lidar
7since 2023
+50.0%YoY
AI for Medical Diagnostics

Utilizing machine learning, particularly deep learning, to analyze medical data such as images, sensor readings, or physiological signals for disease prediction, diagnosis, or treatment assessment.

Image ProcessingMachine Learning & AIComputer Vision
4since 2023
+100.0%YoY
Encapsulation Materials & Processes

Development and application of resin compositions, molding compounds, and underfill materials to protect semiconductor devices from environmental factors, moisture, mechanical stress, and for structural integrity.

Semiconductor Packaging & Encapsulation
1since 2023
n/a

Patents

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