Patents refer to inventions and creations protected by patent law, that is, patented technologies. They are proprietary technologies recognized by the country and protected by law on the basis of disclosure. The types of patents have different regulations in different countries. In my country's "Patent Law", they are: invention patents, utility model patents and design patents.

According to Article 2 of the Patent Law of the People's Republic of China, the inventions and creations referred to in this Law refer to inventions, utility models and designs.

Invention refers to a new technical solution proposed for a product, method or improvement thereof.

Utility model refers to a new technical solution proposed for the shape, structure or combination of a product that is suitable for practical use.

Appearance design refers to a new design that is aesthetically pleasing and suitable for industrial application, based on the overall or partial shape, pattern, or combination of the product, as well as the combination of color, shape, and pattern.