Guide to STN Patent Databases – Basic Version - Paton - TU Ilmenau

Patent databases on STN International
Novelty: Short description of what makes the invention novel, i.e. in which way it is different from existing
technology in a non-trivial way
Detailed Description: Summary of the main claim (and, if applicable, other independent claims) if this
would blast the Novelty section
Activity: Description of the biological effect of the claimed invention, particularly with pharmaceutical,
veterinary, or agrichemical patents
Mechanism of action: Description of the biological mechanism the invention uses for its effect, particularly
with pharmaceutical, veterinary, or agrichemical patents
Use: Always available, list of applications of the invention in its field
Advantage: Summary of the advantages of the invention, from the description by the inventor
Description of Drawing(s): Short description of possible drawings including references
The individual sections are available depending on the field of the invention and contents of the document. The
restructuring of the abstract affects searching as well as quick reading and understanding the patent.
The Technology Focus is to enable end users and engineers to find out quickly if the patent is of interest. The
Paragraph Headings used describe the field of an invention from different points of technology in order to present
the scientific contents in an easily understandable form:
Agriculture: Pesticides, Herbicides, Fungicides, Fertilizers, etc., excluding their preparation (cf. Organic
Chemistry)
Biology: Naturally occurring biological materials
Biotechnology: Genetic engineering, etc.
Ceramics and Glass: Glass, Refractories, Ceramics, Cement, etc.
Chemical Engineering: Industrial processing of chemicals
Computing and Control: Automotive, Environmental, Manufacturing processes, etc.
Electrical Power and Energy: Power generation, Nuclear power, Radioactivity
Electronics: Electronic circuits and devices
Environment: Pollution control, Water and sewage treatment, etc.
Food: Human food, Brewery, Animal food, etc.
Imaging and Communication: Imaging technologies, Inks, Printing, Electrophotography, Recording
media, Broadcasting, Telecommunications
Industrial Standards: Used when comparison to industrial standards is made
Inorganic Chemistry: Inorganic materials, except glass and ceramics
Instrumentation and Testing: Chemical analysis, Testing, Medical equipment
Mechanical Engineering: Processing machinery, Mechanical equipment, etc.
Metallurgy: Metal treatment, production, refining, working & finishing, Alloys, Solders, etc.
Organic Chemistry: Preparation of organic chemicals, including pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, but
excluding polymers (cf. Polymers)
Pharmaceuticals: Pharmaceutically active compounds & compositions, including veterinary drugs,
excluding their preparation (cf. Organic Chemistry)
Polymers: All types of polymers, their preparation, etc.
Textiles and Paper: Paper & cardboard, Natural & synthetic textiles and their processing
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