at the end of a word
* replaces zero or any number of characters Metal* retrieves e.g. metal, metals, metallic, metallurgy, metallurgical
? replaces zero or one character car? retrieves e.g. car, cars, card, care
# replaces exactly one character car# retrieves e.g. cars, card, care (but not car)
Phrase in quotation marks
- wildcards can be used
"waste water" - "waste water*"
AND, OR, NOT
condition AND monitoring
condition monitoring - retrieves condition AND monitoring
Use parentheses to override operator precedence. The expression inside the parentheses is executed first.
Without parentheses the search query is processed from left to rigth
(condition AND monitor*) OR (failure AND detect*)
condition monitor* OR failure detect* - retrieves condition AND monitor* OR failure AND detect*
- operators are executed from left to right
A maximum of 10 search terms may be entered in each field and a total of 20 search terms as a whole.
In the worldwide collection full texts (claims and description) are not searchable.
When searching in the EP or WIPO databases, you can use the full text search field.
See INPADOC Patent Family on the left side bar.
searc term (lower case letter) finds title, abstract, inventor or applicant
Search Term (capital Letter) finds inventor or applicant "social network*" AND Facebook
