IPC is a patent classification system developed by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which is used to classify and identify patent documents around the world. IPC adopts a tree structure, which divides different types of patented technologies into different departments, categories, subcategories, large groups and groups, and each group corresponds to a specific patented technology theme.
In patent literature, IPC classification numbers are usually listed in the title page or abstract, so that readers can quickly understand the technical fields and topics involved in patents. IPC classification number is also an important tool for patent retrieval and analysis, which can help researchers quickly find all patents related to specific technologies.
Patent documents also contain other marks, such as patent application number, publication number, application date and publication date. These marks can also be used to identify and retrieve specific patents. In patent literature, IPC classification number is one of the most important symbols used to represent patents, and it is also an important tool for patent retrieval and analysis.
Components of the International Patent Classification (IPC):
1. Main categories: IPC divides all patent documents into eight main categories, namely, A (necessities of human life), B (operation, transportation, chemical or physical processes), C (physical machinery), F (electricity) and H (mechanical engineering, lighting and heating).
L (mining or method), u (textile or paper making) and y (physical or chemical analysis or testing). These main categories are subdivided into several subcategories to further describe the technical fields and topics involved in patent documents.
2. Categories and subcategories: Under the main category, IPC further divides patent documents into categories and subcategories. The big category is the subdivision of the main category, and the small category is the subdivision of the big category. The combination of large categories and small categories can provide more specific patent literature classification information.
3. Main headings and subheadings: IPC further subdivides each subcategory into multiple main headings and subheadings. The main title is the identification of a specific technical field, while the subtitle is a further description or limitation of the main title. The combination of the main title and the subtitle provides more detailed information on the classification of patent documents, which can help people quickly find patent documents related to specific technical fields.