3.5 Anticipation of amendments to claims 

In principle, and in so far as possible and reasonable, the search covers all the subject-matter to which the claims are directed or to which they might reasonably be expected to be directed if they are amended (see, however, B‑VII, 1.3 on cases of lack of unity and H‑IV, 4 on the ambit of Rule 137(5)).

Example

Where an application relating to an electric circuit contains one or more claims directed only to the function and manner of operation, and the description and drawings include an example detailing a non-trivial transistor circuit, the search includes this circuit.

However, it is not sufficient for the application as filed to contain one broadly worded independent claim covering several embodiments, and no dependent claims, for the applicant to be entitled to a search of all the features of those embodiments (see T 1679/10).