International patent classification is a general international patent literature classification. The classification number obtained by classifying patent documents (specifications) with the international patent classification table is called the international patent classification number, which is usually abbreviated as IPC number.
Application of international patent classification
At present, the international patent classification has been widely used in the classification and retrieval of patent documents all over the world. It is revised every five years, and now the third or fourth edition is widely used, represented by Int Cl~3 or Int Cl~4. International patent classification is very useful and we should fully understand it. The international patent classification mainly has the following purposes. First, it is used to classify patent documents. For example, when applying for a patent, relevant patent application documents must be submitted to the Patent Office, and the patent descriptions in these documents must be classified according to a unified classification. Only in this way can it be convenient to inquire when needed.
There are many kinds of patent classification retrieval methods: international patent classification (IPC), European patent classification number (ECIA), American patent classification number (CCL), Japanese patent classification number (F 1/F-$ TERM) and so on. IPC； is more common; On the website of the European Patent Office, you can use IPC or ECIA (the classification style is similar to IPC, but the classification is finer and more convenient); However, CCL can only be used on the website of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Japanese F 1/F-$ TERM is rather complicated, so we generally don' t use it.
China currently uses the international patent classification. www.bangna.com.cn