The outline of the information retrieval system at the Patent Office in Japan is reported. It aims the mechanization of the information retrieval for patent examination, and the subjects of this IR system are particularly limited in some engineering fields, such as alloy constituents, steroid compounds, atomic furnace, piezoelectric apparatus, microwave circuits, and catalyzer etc. The development of this IR system has been carried in cooperation with ICIREPAT activities since 1961. Electronic computer and Peek-a-boo cards are used for this purpose.
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