A patent family is a collection of patent applications covering the same or similar technical content. The applications in a family are related to each other through priority claims. The family information gives you an understanding of the document’s international applicability through simple family members. In the Lens UI we support Simple family and extended family. You can load this family as a new search to further analyse, filter and refine the list of family members.
Simple Family
A simple patent family is a group of patent documents that stem from the same initial document, called the priority document. For example, an applicant might file a patent application in one country, then file other applications in other countries.
Extended Family
An extended family is a collection of patent applications that stem from the similar technical content. The extended families allow for additional connectors to link other than strictly priority date
For more information on patent families see: http://www.epo.org/searching-for-patents/helpful-resources/first-time-here/patent-families.html
Location
Individual Patent
On an individual patent record, you can find the tab for the family information. You can get an understanding of which paOn individual patent, you can find the tab for the family information. You can get an understanding of the document’s international applicability through simple family members from here.
How to Use
In the ‘Family Info’ tab, you can view the publication dates for all family members and browse the earliest document available.
We use simple families for:
- Family count for search results
- Family sizes for individual documents
- Family jurisdiction filter
- Result sorting
- Expand by family
- Group by family
- Family Tab
Launch a Patent Family Search
You can find a search button at the end of the Family timeline. Clicking on the search button will load the family as a new search showing all the documents within this family. This will eYou can find search button at the right side of the Family info tab. Here search can be done by simple family or the extended family. Clicking on the search button will load the family as a new search showing all the documents within this family. This will enable you to analyse, filter and refine the list of family members. From here you can easily add family members to a collection for further analysis.
Anatomy of the page
Jurisdiction Map
The jurisdiction map shows you, highlighted in blue, the jurisdictions where this document’s family has publications. User can view the document’s family based on individual jurisdictions, WO=WIPO or European Patents. You can select different types of documents toThe jurisdiction map shows you, highlighted in blue, the jurisdictions where this document’s family has publications. User can view the document’s family based on individual jurisdictions, WO=WIPO or European Patents. You can select different types of documents to see on the map from the selections. Use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out. Click and drag to scroll horizontally.
Family Timeline
The family timeline allows you to examine the priority applications and publication dates associated with this family. You can use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out of this timeline or click and drag it to scroll horizontally. Clicking on a dot on the timeline will give you more information about it. Below the timeline is also a button to load this family as a new search. This will take you to a new search result page showing all the documents within this family. From there you can easily add family members to a collection for further analysis.
Family Priorities Tables
In this table all family members are listed with links to their own document pages along with their publication date and their priority claims reference (referring to the next priorities table on the right).
Priorities Table
The priorities table shows information for the priority claims made by the documents in the family priorities table. For each instance, the priority key and filing date are displayed. In general, this allows you to determine which earlier priority date is being claimed for which documents.