Legal Definitions - subcombination claim

A subcombination claim is a type of patent claim that describes a subsystem of a larger combination, usually on a device. It can be patented separately if it has its own utility.

For example, a smartphone may have a subcombination claim for its camera subsystem, which can be patented separately if it has a unique and useful feature that is not found in other devices. Another example is a car engine, which may have a subcombination claim for its fuel injection system.

Subcombination claims are important because they allow inventors to protect specific parts of their invention, even if the overall combination is not patentable. This can be useful in situations where the subsystem has a unique and valuable feature that can be licensed or sold separately from the larger combination.