Elon Musk Patents: Portfolio

The Scope of Elon Musk Patents

Elon Musk, renowned entrepreneur and innovator. His intellectual property assets span multiple technological domains, reflecting his diverse entrepreneurial journey across various industries.

Breaking Down Collection of Elon Musk Patents

Musk’s patent portfolio is primarily associated with Tesla, where the majority of his innovations are registered. His patents cover several key technological areas:

1. Autonomous Vehicle Technology – Including systems for vehicle summoning and target-based navigation
2. Electric Vehicle Infrastructure – Featuring charging port designs and electromagnetic latching mechanisms
3. Internet and Communication Systems – Early innovations from his Zip2 and MyWay.com ventures
4. Vehicle Design Elements – Including distinctive Tesla vehicle features

Patent Distribution by Company

S. No	Title	Publication Number	Assignee
1	Vehicle charge inlet	USD724031	TESLA MOTORS
2	Vehicle charge connector	USD694188	TESLA MOTORS
3	Funnel shaped charge inlet	US8579635	TESLA MOTORS
4	Vehicle port door with wirelessly actuated unlatching assembly	US8539990	TESLA MOTORS
5	Fuel coupler with wireless port door unlatching actuator	US8627860	TESLA MOTORS
6	Charge port door with electromagnetic latching assembly	US8720968	TESLA MOTORS
7	Vehicle	USD683268	TESLA MOTORS
8	Vehicle door	USD678154	TESLA MOTORS
9	Autonomous and user controlled vehicle summon to a target	US20230176593	TESLA
10	Autonomous and user controlled vehicle summon to a target	EP3924692	TESLA
11	Autonomous and user controlled vehicle summon to a target	CN113728210	TESLA
12	Autonomous and user controlled vehicle summon to a target	SG11202108732S	TESLA
13	Autonomous and user controlled vehicle summon to a target	IL285462	TESLA
14	Autonomous and user controlled vehicle summon to a target	CA3129725	TESLA
15	Autonomous and user controlled vehicle summon to a target	AU2020221897	TESLA
16	Autonomous and user controlled vehicle summon to a target	WO2020/167613	TESLA
17	Autonomous and user controlled vehicle summon to a target	US11567514	TESLA
18	Autonomous and user-controlled vehicle call to target	JP2022519710	TESLA
19	Autonomous and user controlled vehicle call on cross reference targets for related	KR10-2021-0121161	TESLA
20	Bi-directional facsimile mechanism using the internet	US20020018236	GRBIC ALMIR/MUSK ELON
21	Method and apparatus for an accelerated radius search	WO00/11435	ZIP2
22	Method and apparatus for an accelerated radius search	EP1105695	MYWAY COM
23	Method and apparatus for an accelerated radius search	CA2341415	MYWAY COM
24	Method and apparatus for an accelerated radius search	AU5237099	ZIP2
25	Method and apparatus for an accelerated radius search	US6108650	MYWAY COM
26	Interactive network directory service with integrated maps and directions	US6148260	ZIP2
27	Interactive network directory service with integrated maps and directions	US5944769	ZIP2
28	System and method for initiating a telephone call utilizing internet initiation	US6185194	ZIP2

The patents in Musk’s portfolio are assigned to several companies he has founded or led:

• Tesla/Tesla Motors: The majority of his patents
• Zip2: Early internet directory and mapping patents
• MyWay.com: Search technology patents
• Personal filings: Including collaborations with other inventors

Current Status of Elon Musk Patents

Musk’s patent portfolio shows a balanced distribution of intellectual property at various stages:

• Active/Granted: 9 patents
• Pending Approval: 10 patents
• Lapsed/Expired: 9 patents

This distribution demonstrates both established innovations and ongoing development efforts across his ventures.

Innovation Timeline

Musk’s patent filing activity reveals interesting patterns with three significant periods of innovation:

• 1999: 5 filings (early internet ventures)
• 2012: 8 filings (Tesla’s growth period)
• 2019: 9 filings (autonomous vehicle technology)

Between these peak years, Musk typically filed approximately one patent annually, showing a pattern of concentrated innovation bursts throughout his career.

Elon Musk Patents: Global Protection Strategy

Musk’s patents demonstrate a strategic international protection approach:

• United States: 10 patents
• Global distribution: 2 patents each in Australia, Canada, China, Europe, Israel, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore

This worldwide coverage highlights the global relevance of his innovations and strategic protection of intellectual property in key markets.

Industry Focus

Musk’s patents reflect his multidisciplinary approach to innovation:

• Automotive technology: Autonomous systems, charging infrastructure
• Vehicle design: Distinctive Tesla features
• Internet technologies: Search mechanisms, directory services
• Communication systems: Telephone and network innovations

Conclusion

Elon Musk’s patent portfolio tells the story of a diverse innovator whose contributions span multiple industries and technological domains. From early internet ventures to revolutionary electric vehicle systems, his intellectual property assets reflect both his technical contributions and evolving philosophy toward innovation and knowledge sharing.

While maintaining strategic patent protection globally, Musk’s open innovation stance with Tesla patents demonstrates a nuanced approach to intellectual property that balances protection with collaboration to address global challenges.

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