Seoul Semiconductor announced that it has expanded its patent infringement litigation against Fry’s Electronics, a U.S. based consumer electronics retailer, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
In September, Seoul Semiconductor filed a patent infringement lawsuit that accused Fry’s Electronics of selling LED TV products that violate 15 of Seoul Semiconductor’s patents for LED backlight unit process. In its amended complaint, Seoul asserts that the top brand televisions being sold in Fry’s stores infringe 19 patents covering backlight lenses, backlight modules, LED chips, LED packages, and phosphors, as well as WICOP technology that enables LED chips to be directly soldered onto printed circuit boards (PCB).
(WICOP Technology by Seoul Semiconductor)
Seoul’s backlight lens patents are related to a new concept of lens technology for manufacturing thin and light televisions. This patented technology was developed jointly with Dr. David Pelka and includes substantial research and development investments in optical lenses. Seoul has approximately 160 related patents in this area.
Seoul has also worked with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation in the development of KSF phosphors. With the patented technology, the backlight module can improve the color gamut of LCD displays. This technology has been widely incorporated in most mobile phones and increasingly applied in LCD TVs.
Seoul’s WICOP (Wafer Incorporated Chip on PCB) patents enable LED chips to be soldered to a PCB without an LED package. According to Seoul, it is a revolutionary technology for semiconductor structures and the company has decided to expand its infringement claims to protect its patented technology.