|
Nested queries
To make even better use of Boolean operators
, you can use parentheses to nest query terms within other query terms.
You can enclose search terms and their operators in parentheses to specify the order in which they are interpreted. Information within parentheses is read first, then information outside parentheses is read next.
The following example illustrates this:
When you enter (mouse OR rat) AND trap in the title
/abstract
field, the search engine will retrieve patents containing the word mouse or the word rat together with the word trap in the title or abstract.
If there are nested parentheses, the search engine processes the innermost parenthetical expression first, then the next, and so on until the entire query has been interpreted.
Example: ((mouse OR rat)
AND trap)
OR mousetrap.
In general, esp@cenet® reads queries from right to left, processing each search string and operator action in turn to produce the results list
. Boolean operators determine the way your query is interpreted:
|
|
• |
The AND operator takes precedence over the OR operator
|
|
|
• |
Search terms combined with the AND operator are processed before search terms combined with the OR operator
|
|
|
• |
To exclude irrelevant patents from the search, you can use the NOT operator as part of the query.
Example: (car OR automobile)
NOT toy.
|
For more information on patent searching, see the following pages:
|
|