Question: Where can I search for patents?

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

This comprehensive free website covers all U.S. patents from 1790, full-text and allows for searching by patent number, inventor, classification number, keywords, and other parameters. You may also search by the Manual of Patent Classification and the Official Gazette.

U-M Art, Architecture & Engineering Library (AAEL)

The Art, Architecture & Engineering Library is a Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC), meaning it is designated by the USPTO to disseminate patent and trademark information and to support the diverse intellectual property needs of the public.

• Online Research Guide. The research guide, linked above, provides guidance for patent searching. 
• Duderstadt Center. Patrons may also visit the AAEL on North Campus and obtain in-person help with patent searching. (Note: The Duderstadt Center was formerly known as the Media Union.)

Nexis Uni

Click the "Menu" dropdown menu in the top left corner and select "Patent." Includes full-text patents and drawings.

TotalPatent One (Lexis+)

Members of the Michigan Law community can search for patents in the TotalPatent One database through their Lexis+ account. Here's how you get there:

1. Sign into your Lexis+ account
2. Under "Practice Areas" select Patent Law
3. On the right of the Patent Law page, click the link that reads "U.S., EPO, Great Britain, Japan and WIPO Patents Powered by TotalPatent One®"
4. On the right of that page, click the link that reads "TotalPatent One Workfolders"

For help using this search interface, click the "Search companion" link. 

Detroit Public Library

The Detroit Public Library is also a Patent and Trademark Resource Center. Patents not found at the AAEL on campus may be located at the DPL.

Google Patents

This site indexes millions of patents from 17 different patent offices, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office, European Patent Office, China's State Intellectual Property Office, Japan Patent Office, Korean Intellectual Property Office, World Intellectual Property Organization, Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt, Canadian Intellectual Property Office, Russia, UK, France, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands.