From the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office:
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today issued U.S. patent number 10 million. More than just a number, patent 10 million celebrates the rich history and strength of the American intellectual property system dating back to the first U.S. patent, signed 228 years ago by George Washington on July 31, 1790, and issued to Samuel Hopkins for a process of making potash, an ingredient used in fertilizer.
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Patent 10 million for “Coherent Ladar Using Intra-Pixel Quadrature Detection” symbolizes the breadth of American invention, with applications in such varied fields as autonomous vehicles, medical imaging devices, military defense systems, and space and undersea exploration. It was invented by Joseph Marron and is owned by Raytheon Company.
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Patent 10 million is the first to receive a new patent cover design unveiled by the USPTO during a special ceremony at the SXSW Interactive Festival on March, 11, 2018. This is only the second change in the patent cover over the last 100 years. The new cover is a forward-looking, contemporary take on the significance of what the document represents.
Read the Complete Announcement
Direct to U.S. PTO 10 Million Patents Website