If you’re writing on a technical subject, you may need to cite a patent in your work. But how does this work in IEEE referencing? Check out our post below to find out how to format in-text citations and the reference list entry.
Citing a Patent in IEEE Referencing
As with any source in IEEE referencing, you can cite a patent in your work via bracketed numbers in the text, with the number matching the source’s position in the reference list. For instance:
If we examine the patent for this device [8], we can see how the design integrates several innovative features not seen in previous solutions.
Here, we’re citing the eighth source from the reference list. For more information on citing sources IEEE style, see our blog post on the subject.
Patents in an IEEE Reference List
The basic format for a patent in an IEEE reference list is:
[#] INITIAL(S) Surname, “Title of Patent,” Country of Patent + Patent Number, Date of Issue.
The IEEE reference guide suggests a slightly different style for online patents. In this case, the format should start with the name of the invention:
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[#] Name of the Invention, by INITIAL(S) Surname. (Date of Issue). Patent Number [Online]. Available: URL
You can see examples of both reference formats below:
[8] I. M. A. Genius, “Brain Grow-a-Matic 4 Kids,” US Patent 3 400 126, Mar. 21, 2019.
[9] Magnetic brain trainer puzzle game, by B. V. Clever. (August 1, 2020). GB2859174B [Online]. Available: https://www.ipo.gov.uk/p-ipsum/Case/PublicationNumber/ GB2859174B
Make sure to include a small hanging indent for each line after the first, too.
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