ITC judge rules AnalogicTech did not infringe Linear's patents

MANHASSET, N.Y. — A legal battle between two analog IC companies has tilted toward Advanced Analogic Technologies (AnalogicTech, Sunnyvale, Calif.) with a favorable ruling from the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC).

In a hearing on a case filed earlier this year by Linear Technology Corp. (Milpitas, Calif.) against AnalogicTech, an ITC judge found that AnalogicTech's power management ICs do not infringe Linear's patents.

ITC Administrative Law Judge Sidney Harris issued his initial determination Tuesday (May 22), saying that he found all asserted claims by Linear involving U.S. Patent Nos. 6,411,531 and 6,580,258 were either not infringed or were invalid.

Linear, a leader in the analog semiconductor industry, had claimed that AnalogicTech's power management ICs—charge pumps and switching regulators widely used in mobile devices —violated Linear's patents. A major application for charge pump devices is white LED backlight drivers, while switching regulators are also used in cellphones.

The worst-case scenario for AnalogicTech would have been an ITC order excluding AnalogicTech's products from the U.S. market. Based on the finding, Judge Harris ruled that none of AnalogicTech's charge pump or switching regulator products should be subject to an exclusion order under Section 337 of the Tariff Act.

The initial determination will now be considered by the full ITC. A final determination is expected by Sept. 22, 2007.

An AnalogicTech spokesman predicted the initial determination would be confirmed.