Google zooms in on patents
Abacus to zoetrope
Google has launched a service that makes it easier to search for patents granted in the US.
Unveiled on Thursday, Google Patent Search allows users to search by keyword, patent number, inventor and filing date. Individual patents can then be scrolled through and searched, and images within the patent can be viewed and zoomed in on.
Google Patent Search takes its information from the public database of the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Although this information is openly available, it is currently difficult to search. Google hopes its service can help inventors and programmers find out which innovations have already been granted a patent.
Read more: silicon.com
