Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Patent Figure Descriptions agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The figure-description skill is an agent skill for patent drafting. It makes an agent read the technical diagrams you supply, label their components with reference numerals, write standard drawing description sentences, and check those numerals against your claims. It is aimed at patent drafters, inventors and patent agents who already have their diagrams and need consistent numbering. By the end of this guide you will know how to install it, how to phrase a request that triggers it, and what files it produces.
Patent Figure Descriptionswanshuiyin/Auto-claude-code-research-in-sleep · MIT Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download the ZIP. Download the figure-description skill ZIP from the skill's page on this site.
- 2Unzip into a skills folder. Unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder for one project.
- 3Prepare the patent folder. Make sure patent/INVENTION_DISCLOSURE.md and patent/CLAIMS.md exist in your project.
- 4Add your figures. Place PNG, JPG, SVG or PDF figure files in patent/figures/, figures/ or the project root.
- 5Send a trigger request. Ask for 附图说明 or a figure description, naming the jurisdiction and the figures to process.
- 6Review the output. Check patent/figures/figure_descriptions.md and patent/figures/numeral_index.md, and resolve any flagged MISSING items.
What is an agent skill, and what does this one do?
An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file that tells a compatible agent, such as Claude Code, how to perform a specific task. This skill is named figure-description and is published under the MIT licence.
Once installed, the agent takes the technical diagrams you provide for a patent application and reads each one. It lists the labelled components and how they connect, and assigns reference numerals such as 100, 102 and 200 in a separate 100-series for each figure. It then writes drawing description sentences in Chinese (附图说明) or English, and an index table linking each numeral to a claim element.
The skill flags any claim element that has no matching figure or numeral. It does not draw or edit the figures themselves; the source says the original figures are not modified, only described.
Install the figure-description skill
You can install the skill in one of three places. Download the ZIP from the skill's page on this site and unzip it into your personal skills folder, ~/.claude/skills/, so it is available in every project. Alternatively, unzip it into a project's .claude/skills/ folder so it applies only to that project.
If you use the Claude apps rather than Claude Code, upload the skill under Settings → Capabilities → Skills instead.
- Personal install: unzip into ~/.claude/skills/
- Project install: unzip into the project's .claude/skills/ folder
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload the skill
Prepare your project files before you ask
The skill relies on a patent/ folder in your project. It reads patent/INVENTION_DISCLOSURE.md to understand which components to look for, and patent/CLAIMS.md to map numerals to claim elements. Without these two files the skill has nothing to map against, so the source says projects without them are not a good fit.
Place your figure images in your project. The skill accepts PNG, JPG, SVG and PDF files. It searches patent/figures/, figures/ and the project root, and also checks INVENTION_BRIEF.md or INVENTION_DISCLOSURE.md for figure references.
- patent/INVENTION_DISCLOSURE.md
- patent/CLAIMS.md
- Figure images in PNG, JPG, SVG or PDF format
Trigger the skill with natural requests
The skill activates when your request matches its description. The trigger phrases listed in the source are 附图处理, figure description, 附图说明 and drawings description. You can also ask in ordinary words if you want the agent to describe patent figures with reference numerals.
The skill also accepts an optional argument giving a figure directory or a list of figures. Your request should name the figures or the folder when they are not in a default location.
- "附图处理"
- "figure description for the figures in patent/figures/"
- "Write 附图说明 for FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 in English for a US filing"
- "Describe the patent figures with reference numerals and check them against my claims"
What the output files look like
The skill writes two files. patent/figures/figure_descriptions.md holds one formal description per figure, with all reference numerals. patent/figures/numeral_index.md holds the full table of numerals, components, figures and claim mappings.
The claim check marks each claim element as covered or flags it. Missing items appear as text such as [MISSING FIGURE: ...] or [MISSING NUMERAL: ...], so you can see gaps before filing.
- patent/figures/figure_descriptions.md
- patent/figures/numeral_index.md
## Reference Numeral Index
| Numeral | Component Name | Figure(s) | Claim Element |
|---------|---------------|-----------|---------------|
| 100 | System | FIG. 1 | Claim X preamble |
| 102 | Processor | FIG. 1 | Claim X, element 1 |Safety notes: scripts, network and file access
The skill does not run scripts, according to its listing. It does use the network, and its declared tools include Bash, Read, Write, Edit, Grep, Glob, WebSearch and WebFetch. Bash access means the agent can run shell commands in your project while the skill is active.
Review the SKILL.md before installing, and check what the agent runs when it works on your files. Keep your unfiled inventions in a project you control, since the skill reads your disclosure and claims files.
- Runs scripts: no
- Uses network: yes
- Declared tools include Bash(*) and WebSearch/WebFetch
Tips for better results
Give the skill clear, legible figures with visible labels. The agent identifies components from what is shown, so unlabelled or blurry diagrams produce weaker numeral tables.
Keep your CLAIMS.md current. The claim mapping is only as good as the claim text it reads. Ask for the jurisdiction explicitly, because the source gives different description formats for CN and US/EP filings.
- Label every component in the drawing before you run the skill
- Specify CN, US or EP so the right description format is used
- Review the numeral index against your specification
What people use it for
- Drafting 附图说明 for a Chinese filing with numbered system and method diagrams
- Producing a US-style set of FIG. descriptions with consistent numerals across figures
- Checking that every element in your CLAIMS.md appears in at least one figure
- Building a numeral index that links components in several figures to the same reference number
Frequently asked questions
Is the figure-description skill free to use?
The skill is published under the MIT licence, as stated on its page. Check the licence text in the repository before you use it commercially. This guide does not state any price.
What do I need to run the figure-description skill?
You need Claude Code or a compatible agent that supports SKILL.md skills, Bash tool access, the files patent/INVENTION_DISCLOSURE.md and patent/CLAIMS.md, and your figure images in PNG, JPG, SVG or PDF format.
How do I install the figure-description skill?
Download the ZIP from the skill's page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or a project's .claude/skills/ folder. In the Claude apps, upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
Does the skill draw or edit my patent figures?
No. It reads the figures you provide and describes them. The skill's rules say user-provided figures must not be modified.
Can I use this for data charts or graphs?
No. The skill is for technical patent diagrams only. Its description says a different skill handles data plots and charts.
Do I still need a patent professional to review the output?
Yes. The output is a drafting aid, and errors in numerals or claim mapping can weaken an application, so a qualified patent professional should review it.
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Our verdict
Use this skill if you are drafting a patent with existing diagrams and want consistent reference numerals and a claim-to-figure check in CN, US or EP format. Skip it if you need data charts, if you have no patent/ folder with the disclosure and claims files, or if you expect the agent to draw figures for you.
Download the skill