BibTeX, biblatex and biber ⇒ How to reference a patent using bibtex?

[Eenzc]

Hello,

This is more of an open question than a specific problem so I don't have a MWE to go with this.

I am writting my thesis and I would like to reference a patent application.

I am using a java program called JabRef to organise my Reference.bib file and I'm running bibtex using a chapterbib called via a batch file on all my separate chapter.tex files... but thats all kinda irrelevant. (Just trying to show off)

Anyhoo, my problem is that JabRef doesn't have a patent type entry and I'm not sure what fields I need to include if I create an @patent{} type.

Should I just try to use an @article{} or @book{} type and hope for the best?

Any advice appreciated.

[gmedina]

...Should I just try to use an @article{} or @book{} type and hope for the best?...

Yes, that would be the first approach (you can also try the @misc{} type).

[localghost]

Think about using @manual or @techreport. With biblatex you would get an extended list of entry types.


Best regards
Thorsten

[josephwright]

It does depend on the bibtex style you use. Some do have "patent" types, most obviously biblatex.

[sandramau]

There's quite a few approaches, but IMHO the one with the best results is using biblatex.

Alternatively, you can use the IEEEtran style which includes a @patent entry, or co-opt one of the standard ones such as @misc, @manual, etc.

I've posted a few comparative examples here http://see-out.com/sandramau/bibpat.html (formerly located at see-in.net), and I also provide a tool that converts patents in RIS format (as obtained from PatentLens.org) to biblatex, bibtex misc or bibtex IEEEstyle.