Extensions

Analysis of Patent Term and Related Applications for U.S. Patent 6,108,329

As of April 26, 2026, the following is a detailed analysis of the patent term, related applications, and expiration date for U.S. Patent 6,108,329.

Patent Term Adjustments (PTA) and Extensions (PTE)

A review of the prosecution history for U.S. Patent 6,108,329 indicates that no Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) or Patent Term Extension (PTE) was granted. The application was filed on December 6, 1996, and issued on August 22, 2000. The provisions for automatic PTA calculations were established for patents filed on or after May 29, 2000, and therefore do not apply to this patent.

Continuity Data: Continuation and Divisional Applications

There are no continuation or divisional applications associated with U.S. Patent 6,108,329. The patent originated from a single non-provisional application, serial number 08/761,612, and does not claim priority to any earlier-filed U.S. applications.

Patent Family Members

U.S. Patent 6,108,329 is part of a larger patent family, with corresponding applications filed in several other countries, all claiming priority to the original Japanese patent application (JP 7-348400) filed on December 18, 1995. The key members of this family include:

• Japan: JP3777638B2
• Europe: EP0781016B1
• Canada: CA2192740C
• Korea: KR100466644B1
• Germany: DE69632383T2

This international filing indicates an initial intent to secure patent rights in major global markets.

Projected Expiration Date

For utility patents filed before June 8, 1995, the term was 17 years from the issue date. For patents filed on or after June 8, 1995, the term is 20 years from the earliest non-provisional U.S. filing date.

U.S. Patent 6,108,329 was filed on December 6, 1996. Therefore, its term is calculated as 20 years from this filing date.

• Filing Date: December 6, 1996
• 20-Year Term End: December 6, 2016

The patent's maintenance fees were paid through the 11.5-year mark, keeping it in force for its full term.

Based on this calculation, U.S. Patent 6,108,329 expired on December 6, 2016. The patent is no longer in force, and its claimed inventions are now in the public domain.