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Home > Research Help > Engineering > engineeringpatents


Patent Sources 

Patents can be a great source of technical information for engineers and scientists.  It is particularly important if you are looking for the technical specifications of a particular product that has been patented.  Most of the technical information on that patented product can not be found in any other form of literature except in the patent. 

Places to find patents in the Eisenhower Library
The Eisenhower Library's Government Publications, Maps, and Law (GPML) department on A-Level can assist you in finding all types of government information including patents.  

Web sites for Patents

US Patent and Trademark Office

Search for patents and trademarks filed with the Untied States Patent and Trademark Office.  You can also check the status of pending patents and trademarks.  The site also includes resources for inventors, a list of patent depository libraries, business resources and much more. 

The database contains patents back to 1790, however full image may not be available for all patents.  Check the USPTO database content page for more specifics.  You can search the database a number of ways including by patent, inventor name, issue date, claim, abstract, assignee, and more. 

If you are looking for current patents make sure you search both the issued and the published applications.


European Patent Office

Home page provides information on applying for European patents, European patent news, and patent conferences. 

Search their database.


UK Patent Office

Patents, trademarks, and copyright information for the UK.  There's a lot of information on the web site, but I could never find a quick answer on how far back their patents are online. 


Japanese Patent Office

You need to search the Industrial Property Digital Library which is hidden at the bottom of the page. 


This link opens a new window - Info About SciFinder Scholar -- in SciFinder folder SciFinder Scholar -- in SciFinder folder  (Desktop of MSEL flat screen workstations)

This link opens a new window - Info About SciFinder Scholar Software Download Site SciFinder Scholar Software Download Site  (within Baltimore City)


About Patent Searching
Patent searching is somewhat of an art form, to do it well you have to be patient, methodical, and creative.  It is not like doing a Google search so give yourself time.  

The University of Texas Library has prepared a tutorial that can help you.  

The University of Sydney also has a good tutorial.

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Last revised:  December 28, 2007



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