Equivalence is one of the basic methods to judge patent infringement. It means that the infringer replaces some necessary technical features of the patent independent claim with substantially the same methods or technical means known to ordinary technicians in this field, resulting in substantially the same functions and effects as the patented technology. At this time, it should be considered that it is not out of the scope of patent protection, but it should still be regarded as infringement, which is an important principle to judge patent infringement.
According to the relevant judicial interpretation in China, the equivalent feature refers to the realization of basically the same function and effect as the recorded technical features by basically the same means, and ordinary technicians in this field can associate the characteristics of the alleged infringement without creative labor.