專利要求單一性（unity of invention）表示一份說明書僅揭露一種或是僅界定一個發明，實務上就是權利範圍各項之間應有一致的發明概念，或可說有一致具有發明貢獻（具有新穎性與進步性的特徵）的技術特徵。
摘自英國專利審查實務第14章：
"the requirements of the Act regarding unity of invention are met if the claims relate to a group of inventions which are so linked as to form a single inventive concept."
在判斷多個權利項之間是否具有單一性，在英國專利實務上仍是會參考這些權利範圍的共同技術特徵是否具有新穎性與進步性。
"One criterion which would be suitable for some sets of claims would be to determine whether the common subject-matter of the claims is novel and involves an inventive step."
判斷各項間的共同技術特徵是否有新穎性與進步性自然是根據檢索而來，包括透過檢索到的前案來判斷，不過在英國專利實務中，如果情況很清楚，審查委員仍可以依職權直接判斷不符單一性的問題。
"The lack of novelty or the obviousness of the common subject-matter may be established by citing documentary evidence, but this is not necessary, at least in the first instance, if the common matter is clearly known or obvious."
事實上，英國專利實務判斷單一性的標準也如多數國家以各項之間是否具有特別技術特徵（STF）而定，也就是共同技術特徵是否為具有發明貢獻的技術。
"Inventions should be treated as being linked so as to form a single inventive concept where there exists between the inventions a technical relationship which involves the same or corresponding “special technical features”, i.e. features which define a contribution which each of the claimed inventions, when considered as a whole, makes over the prior art."
若要在權利範圍中包括多種不同類別的標的，應要符合以下要求，顯然英國專利面對多樣性的權利範圍的單一性標準較為寬鬆：
(a)一個獨立項界定一個產品，另一獨立項界定該產品的製作，另一獨立項界定該產品的用途，這可以取得一件專利；
(b)一個獨立項界定一個程序，另一個獨立項界定實現該程序的裝置或手段，也可以在一件專利中；
(c)一個獨立項界定一個產品，另有獨立項製作該產品的程序，以及一個獨立項為實現該程序的裝置或手段，也可為一件專利中。
(a) in addition to an independent claim for a product, an independent claim for a process specially adapted for the manufacture of the product, and an independent claim for use of the product; or
(b) in addition to an independent claim for a process, an independent claim for an apparatus or means specifically designed for carrying out the process; or
(c) in addition to an independent claim for a product, an independent claim for a process specially adapted for the manufacture of the product and an independent claim for an apparatus or means specifically designed for carrying out the process.
各項範圍分別界定可以獨立運作，卻也一同運作的不同裝置，為不符單一性的不同發明，比如一個接收器與一個傳送器。以下內容表示，如果是一個解碼方法同時運用了接收器與傳送器，則為一件專利，但是就裝置而言，則為不同的發明。
"Another example where there is unity of invention would be a transmitter and receiver which were adapted to be used together, for example by employing a particular novel method of encoding or modulating the signal; however a transmitter and a receiver intended for use with it would be regarded as separate inventions if they could also be used with known receivers or transmitters."
就解決問題一致來看，如果發明界定解決同一問題的不同手段，比如製作同一產品的不同流程，不符單一性。
The fact that the inventions defined in independent claims may be directed to solving the same problem or to implementing the same idea, or that separately claimed processes may lead to the same product, may not be sufficient in itself to confer unity of invention.
另外，一旦專利獲准，之後無效或舉發理由不得以單一性作為撤銷理由，這與我國一樣。
英國專利分割案
分割案與單一性沒有絕對關係，不過不符單一性確實可以因此考慮申請分割案，英國審查意見通常也不會提示申請人這些！
分割案引用母案申請日
分割案應於母案獲准/審定前提出
分割案中應列出母案資訊
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