Help for E-Resources/Article Databases

Ask a Librarian

Searching

  1. Select database from the UW-Madison Libraries Web site.
  2. Click on ADVANCED SEARCH.
  3. Select WORLDWIDE from the DATABASE drop down box.
  4. Type a word or phrase in the KEYWORDS IN TITLE OR ABSTRACT search box. Use quotation marks around phrases.
    (Optional) Type US in the PUBLICATION NUMBER field to limit to US patents.
    (Optional) You may narrow your search by entering more criteria in another search box.
  5. Click on SEARCH.

Combining Terms

Use OR to connect similar terms. OR broadens your search.

Example: barometer or barograph

Use AND to connect separate concepts. AND narrows your search. AND is the default operator if no operator is used.

Example: bicycle and titanium
Example: bicycle titanium

Truncating Terms

Use * to replace one or more characters at the end of a search term.

Example: turbine* (retrieves turbine, turbines)

Proximity Searching

Use quotation marks to find words next to each other in that order.

Example: "bicycle seat"

Combining Search Sets

Not Available.

Author Searching

  1. Click in the INVENTOR search box and type in an inventor's first and last names.
  2. Example: eric hellstrom

Date Searching

  1. Click in the PUBLICATION DATE search box and type up to 4 dates to find patents within any of those years. OR is the default operator for the PUBLICATION DATE field.
  2. Example: 2001 2002 2003 2004

Company Searching

  1. Type a company's name in the APPLICANT search box.

    Example: matell
    Example: "wisconsin alumni"

  2. Click on SEARCH.

Patent Number Searching

  1. Type the patent number in the PUBLICATION NUMBER search box.
  2. Example: US4325348
    Example: WO09905428

  3. Click on SEARCH.

Classification Searching

  1. Type the IPC number (International Patent Classification) number in the ICP CLASSIFICATION search box.

    Example: H03M1/12

  2. Click on SEARCH.

Displaying Search Results

Only the first 500 records of search can be retreived.

  1. Click on the numbers at the top of the results lists to go to the next page of results.
  2. Click on the patent title to view the patent record.
  3. Click on DESCRIPTION AND CLAIMS to see the patent text.
    (Optional) Click on MOSAICS to see drawings.
    (Optional) Click on the ORIGINAL DOCUMENT to view the full patent.
  4. Click on PREVIOUS IN RESULTS or NEXT IN RESULTS to move within your results while viewing your selected view type.
  5. Click on RETURN TO RESULTS LIST to return to list of results.

Selecting Records

A list of 20 documents can be stored for 30 days of non-use.

  1. Click in the IN MY PATENTS LIST to mark it for later printing, downloading or emailing.
  2. Click on MY PATENTS LIST on the left side of the screen.

Saving Search Results

Downloading a List

  1. Click MY RESULTS LIST.
    (Optional) Click on MY PATENTS LIST.
  2. Click on FILE at the top of the screen.
  3. Click on SAVE AS.
  4. Click on OK.

Downloading Selected Records

  1. Click on a patent title from a list a records.
  2. Click on FILE at the top of the screen, then click on SAVE AS.
    (Optional) Click on DESCRIPTION, ORIGINAL DOCUMENT, or other parts of the record and click on FILE at the top of the screen.
  3. Click on OK.

Downloading Patent Image

  1. Click on patent title.
  2. Click on ORIGINAL DOCUMENT.
  3. Click on FILE at the top of the screen, then click on SAVE AS.
    (Optional) Click on the save a file icon in the Adobe toolbar.
  4. Click on OK.

Emailing Search Results

Emailing a List

  1. Click MY RESULTS LIST.
    (Optional) Click on MY PATENTS LIST.
  2. Click on FILE at the top of the screen.
  3. Click on SEND.
  4. Click on LINK BY EMAIL.
  5. Click on OK.

Emailing One Record

  1. Click on a patent title from a list a records.
  2. Click on FILE at the top of the screen, then click on SEND and LINK BY EMAIL.
    (Optional) Click on DESCRIPTION, ORIGINAL DOCUMENT, or other parts of the record and click on FILE at the top of the screen.
  3. Click on OK.

Emailing Patent Image

  1. Click on patent title.
  2. Click on ORIGINAL DOCUMENT.
  3. Click on FILE at the top of the screen, then click on SEND and LINK BY EMAIL.
  4. Click on OK.

Beginning a New Search, Getting Help, and Exiting

Beginning a New Search

  1. Click on ADVANCED SEARCH.

Getting Help

  1. Click on GET ASSISTANCE for on-screen help.

For further assistance, consult library staff.

Exiting

  1. Click on HOME at the top of the screen to return to the UW-Madison Libraries Web site.

Databases Covered by this Guide

  • espacenet
  • and other espacenet databases