The USPTO issued fewer patents but published more applications in the second quarter of 2011. The number of patents declined by 5.1 percent to 58,920. The number of published applications increased by 6.1 percent to 83,279. The USPTO has issued more than 120,000 patents in the first six months of 2011, a slight increase over the same period last year.

Table 1. Quarterly Patent Document Counts*
2011 ….. Patents (B) ….. PGPubs (A) ….. Total (A + B)
Q1 ….. 62,132 ….. 78,481 ….. 140,613
Q1 ….. 58,920 ….. 83,279 ….. 142,199

*Based on preliminary weekly data from the USPTO website. Totals may change after the fact due to withdrawn patents and published applications.

Table 2. Number Ranges, Jan. 1 through June 30, 2011

Utility patents ….. 7,861,317 – 7,971,266 (109,316)
Reissues ….. RE42,020 – RE42,509 (488)
PGPubs ….. 2011/0000001 – 2011/0078,838 (78,481)
Designs ….. D629,996 – D640,855 (10,843)
Plants …… PP20,816 – PP22,000 (397)
SIRs ….. H2,251-H2,258 (8)