Company patents

Trimble Inc.

Trimble Inc.'s patent strategy reveals a strong, sustained focus on core communication technologies, with Radar / Sonar / Lidar comprising 42.6% of its portfolio and Navigation & Geodesy 27.7%, despite a recent decline in Radar / Sonar / Lidar (YoY -30.0% in 2025 and -42.9% so far in 2026). Surprisingly, while many categories saw significant growth in 2024 (e.g., Navigation & Geodesy +200.0%, Industrial & Autonomous Control +175.0%), there's a notable shift away from Machine Learning & AI, which saw a -100.0% decline in 2026 so far, indicating a potential reprioritization of advanced computing applications.

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.

195 US filings (since 2023) · 12 categories · 25 themes

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
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72since 2023
-32.0%YoY
Multi-Sensor Positioning Systems

Integration and processing of data from diverse sensors (e.g., magnetometers, odometers, IMUs, vision sensors) to achieve robust and accurate positioning, especially in environments where GPS is unreliable or unavailable.

Navigation & Geodesy
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48since 2023
-33.3%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.

Navigation & GeodesyComputer Vision
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29since 2023
-30.0%YoY
Autonomous Path Planningfiltered

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.

Industrial & Autonomous ControlNavigation & GeodesyImage Processing
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18since 2023
-25.0%YoY
Phased Array & Beamforming Antennas

Systems and methods for electronically steering or shaping antenna beams by controlling the phase and amplitude of signals fed to individual elements in an array, including calibration techniques and multi-antenna configurations.

Antennas
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16since 2023
+166.7%YoY
Cooperative Driving & Maneuver Planning

Algorithms and systems for planning and executing complex vehicle maneuvers, often involving cooperation with other vehicles or infrastructure, to optimize traffic flow, avoid collisions, or navigate challenging scenarios. This includes lane changes, cut-ins, and traffic congestion.

Vehicle Control Systems
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16since 2023
0.0%YoY
Autonomous Machine Control

Systems and methods for enabling earth-moving machines to perform tasks with reduced or no human intervention, often leveraging predictive models, sensor fusion, and coordinated multi-machine operations.

Excavating & Earth-Moving
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14since 2023
-40.0%YoY
Machine Perception & Sensing

Integration of diverse sensors and machine perception algorithms to gather and interpret data about the machine's environment, its own state, and subsurface conditions for improved operation, safety, and mapping.

Excavating & Earth-Moving
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12since 2023
-40.0%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
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12since 2023
0.0%YoY
Integrated & Embedded Antennas

Design and manufacturing techniques for incorporating antenna structures directly into electronic devices, product housings, or materials, often under constraints of space, aesthetics, or environmental factors.

Antennas
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11since 2023
+100.0%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 VisionIndustrial & Autonomous Control
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11since 2023
+66.7%YoY
Multi-Band & Broadband Antenna Design

Antennas engineered to operate effectively across a wide continuous range of frequencies (broadband) or multiple distinct frequency bands, often requiring specific radiating element geometries or impedance matching circuits.

Antennas
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10since 2023
+66.7%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
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8since 2023
+33.3%YoY
Antenna Isolation & Interference Mitigation

Techniques and structures used to reduce unwanted electromagnetic coupling, scattering, or interference between multiple antennas, different frequency bands, or sensitive electronic components within a device.

Antennas
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8since 2023
+33.3%YoY
Lane-Level Mapping & Localization

Techniques for generating, updating, and utilizing highly detailed digital maps that include lane-specific information, and for precisely determining a vehicle's position within these lanes, often using sensor data.

Navigation & Geodesy
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6since 2023
+50.0%YoY
Indoor & Industrial Site Mapping

Technologies for generating and utilizing detailed spatial maps within confined or structured environments like care facilities, construction sites, or industrial warehouses, often for robot navigation or asset tracking.

Navigation & Geodesy
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6since 2023
-75.0%YoY
Predictive Maintenance & Anomaly Detection

Utilizing sensor data, historical performance, and analytical models to anticipate equipment failures, diagnose faults, and estimate remaining useful life, thereby enabling proactive maintenance and reducing downtime.

Industrial Control Systems
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5since 2023
n/a
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
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4since 2023
-50.0%YoY
Advanced Work Tool Design

Innovations in the mechanical design, modularity, and enhanced functionality of excavator attachments and implements, including multi-axis rotation, specialized grapples, and integrated compaction tools.

Excavating & Earth-Moving
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4since 2023
new
Autonomous System Redundancy & Validation

Techniques and architectures for ensuring the reliability, fault tolerance, and performance validation of autonomous driving systems, including redundant computing platforms and perception system monitoring.

Vehicle Control Systems
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3since 2023
new
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 Vision
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3since 2023
0.0%YoY
Hydraulic System Optimization

Techniques and components for improving the efficiency, control, and responsiveness of hydraulic systems in heavy machinery, often involving variable displacement pumps, pressure regulation, and flow control.

Excavating & Earth-Moving
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2since 2023
new
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
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2since 2023
n/a
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.

Computer Vision
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1since 2023
n/a
Electric Powertrain Efficiency & Control

Methods and components for optimizing the performance, efficiency, and control of electric motors, inverters, and power converters within electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle drivetrains.

Excavating & Earth-Moving
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1since 2023
n/a

Patents

Showing 1-10 of 24

Autonomous Path Planning
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