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Finding patents

Patent databases can be difficult to search. You can use keywords or use the International Patent Classification (IPC) System.

You can start your patent search by using either Esp@cenet (freely available on the internet) or Derwent Innovation Index, which is only available on TU Delft campus computers. Derwent has some more advanced options and all the patent information is translated into English.

Let's try both Derwent Innovation Index and Esp@cenet to search for the patent related to this news item:

"Thanks to a new pair of "hearing glasses," hearing-impaired people might both see and hear better--and have better social lives." (Termen 2006)

Picture kindly supplied by Variabel BV

Example: finding the "hearing glasses" patent in Derwent Innovation Index

To search for a "hearing glasses" patent in Derwent Innovation Index, try the following steps:

1. Make sure you are on a campus computer or use VPN to TU Delft
2. Go to http://isiknowledge.com/DIIDW 
3. In the search box, type in: hearing aid (keep the Topic field selected in the dropdown)
4. In the second search box, type in: UNIV DELFT and select Assignee from the dropdown box next to it
5. Click on the Search button
6. Click on the Title to get more information. Derwent has listed all documents in this patent family
7. Use the link to Esp@net to look at the original document

Example: finding the "hearing glasses" patent in Esp@cenet

To search for a "hearing glasses" patent in Esp@cenet, try the following steps:

1. Go to http://ep.espacenet.com
2. Click on Advanced Search in the menu
3. In the Keywords search box, type in hearing aid
4. In the Applicant(s) search box, type in UNIV DELFT
5. Click on the Search button
6. Click on the Title to get more information.
7. Click on View INPADOC patent familiy to see all documents related to this patent

Reference

Termen, A., 2006. Improve your hearing with a new pair of glasses - CNET News. CNET News. Available at: http://news.cnet.com/Improve-your-hearing-with-a-new-pair-of-glasses/2100-11395_3-6061604.html [Accessed August 26, 2008].