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Using Patent Databases and Finding Patents

An introduction to patent searching, with links to freely available patent databases and suggested search strategies.

Keyword Searching

Exploring with keywords

For careful, thorough work in searching a subject in the patent literature, patent examiners advise classification searching.  But, keyword searching is an easy way to start exploring and, then, finding classification information to use for additional work.  

Google Patents and 

Google Patents - Advanced Search (with immediate helpful hints for keyword and more advanced searching at About Google Patents

both let you search in a familiar way.

 

Many sorting and filtering options are available for use.  

 

If working toward completing a thorough search, be sure to notice (this will be in the more complete display of the patent) the "Classifications" assigned to patents of interest.

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