Inventors know that a patent search is a big part of research and development. Chief among the free tools researchers use are Google Patents, Espacenet, and the USPTO. Google Patents adds little features all the time, but the USPTO’s search tool has recently undergone a giant overhaul with a completely new search tool.
The new search engine combines internal tools previously available only to patent examiners: PubEAST and PubWEST (now retired); as well as the public-facing Patent Full-Text and Image Database (PatFT), and Patent Application Full-Text and Image Database (AppFT). Veteran prior-art researchers accustomed to Boolean operators might be thrown by the new UI, but the PTO is here to help with workshops. The next one, Patent Public Search: Advanced Tips for Frequent Searchers, is on Friday, December 9 at 2:00 EST.
To learn the basics of prior art and patent-searching, please see our youtube video.