How are CPC sections designated and what do they represent?
CPC sections are the highest level of the classification hierarchy. According to MPEP 905.01:
“Each section is designated by one of the capital letters A through H and has an associated section title. There are nine sections, eight of which correlate to the sections of the International Patent Classification (IPC). The ninth section is used for classifying documents covering subject matter pertaining to a plurality of the sections.”
The sections represent broad technological areas:
- A: Human Necessities
- B: Performing Operations; Transporting
- C: Chemistry; Metallurgy
- D: Textiles; Paper
- E: Fixed Construction
- F: Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating; Weapons; Blasting
- G: Physics
- H: Electricity
- Y: General Tagging of New Technological Developments; Cross-sectional Technologies
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