🎓 Course Syllabus

This course teaches you how to create, revise, and quality-check clear, accurate, and professional utility patent drawings using Microsoft Visio — no prior Visio or drafting experience required.

You will learn the core patent drawing standards, the essential Microsoft Visio skills, and the practical patent-drawing techniques needed to create flowcharts, system diagrams, tables, graphs, GUI screenshots, and traced images.

The course is made up of short lessons that include:

  • Theory: Learn the concept
  • Practice: Apply the skill
  • Assignment Upload: Submit your work (optional unless required by instructor)

Important — Personalized Course View

This syllabus shows the full structure of the course.
Depending on your selected Learning Path or your institution’s requirements,
you may see only a subset of modules, units, and certification projects.

This is intentional — the course adapts so you focus only on the skills relevant to your role and goals.

📚 Course Modules

MODULE 1 — Patent Drawing Fundamentals
1.1 Understanding Utility Patent Drawings
1.2 Utility Patent Drawing Standards
  • Sheet size and margins
  • Figure formatting
  • Reference numbers
  • Lead lines
  • Figure numbering rules
  • Text and character requirements
  • Line types and restrictions
  • Prohibited elements
  • Inspection checklist
MODULE 2 — Visio Essentials (Core Skills)

You will learn the essential Visio skills needed for patent drawing work.

2.1 Getting Started
2.2 Navigation Skills
  • Zooming
  • Panning
2.3 Object Skills
  • Selecting objects
  • Moving shapes
  • Duplicating shapes
  • Resizing objects
2.4 Layout & Precision
  • Using the dynamic grid
  • Alignment and distribution
  • Maintaining clean spacing
2.5 Connectors
  • Basic connectors
  • Custom connectors
  • Connector formatting
  • Replacing connectors
  • Rerouting connectors
  • Creating custom connections
2.6 Page Management
  • Adding and managing pages
  • Organizing multi-figure drawings
2.7 Working With Text
  • Adding text to shapes
  • Editing and formatting text
2.8 Drawing Tools
  • Creating simple shapes
  • Using drawing tools for accuracy
2.9 Working With Images
  • Importing images
  • Cleaning, cropping, and preparing images
MODULE 3 — Patent Drawing Skills

These lessons teach you how to create the actual drawing types used in utility applications.

3.1 Annotation
  • Adding reference numbers
  • Adding lead lines
  • Labeling figures
3.2 Flowcharts
  • Building clear flowcharts
3.3 System Diagrams
  • Drafting block diagrams
  • Using containers
  • Combining images with symbols
  • Creating custom shapes
3.4 Image Tracing
  • Turning photos or sketches into clean line drawings
3.5 GUI Screenshots
  • Preparing and simplifying GUI-based drawings
3.6 Tables
  • Drafting patent-ready tables
3.7 Graphs
  • Creating graphs suitable for submissions
MODULE 4 — Additional Useful Skills
4.1 Reusable Components
  • Creating shape libraries
  • Reusing elements across drawings
4.2 Screenshot & Photo Cleanup
  • Preparing reference images
  • Enhancing clarity before tracing
MODULE 5 — Final Projects & Certification

Module 5 contains the Certification Final Projects.
Each certification path has its own project and upload area.
You will complete only the certification(s) that match your selected Learning Path or the requirements set by your instructor.

Available Certification Tracks

🔵 Fundamentals Certification
Demonstrates core Visio skills including selecting, moving, duplicating objects, alignment, spacing, text handling, and simple annotation.

🟢 Diagram-Type Patent Figure Drawing Certification (Level 1 & Level 2)
Focuses on creating flowcharts and system/process diagrams formatted as patent-ready figures.

🟣 Full Utility Patent Drawing Certification (Level 1 & Level 2)
Covers the full suite of patent drawing skills: diagrams, image tracing, tables, graphs, GUI figures, and multi-figure drawing sets.

🔴 Drawing Quality Reviewer Certification
For learners who review drawings rather than create them.
The project involves inspecting a full drawing set and identifying errors, rule violations, and formatting issues.

What You Will Do in Module 5

Depending on your selected certification track, you will:

  • Download a Final Project package (Visio file, stencils, instructions)
  • Complete the required drawing or reviewing tasks
  • Follow the standards and checklists learned in the course
  • Upload your completed work for assessment (if required by your instructor)

Your Learning Path determines which certifications are relevant to you.
If your institution assigns you a specific path, you will only see the certifications required for your program.

Last modified: Thursday, 18 December 2025, 3:28 AM