IXYS Corp. v. Advanced Power Technology, Inc.

CLAIM CONSTRUCTION ORDER FOR U.S. PATENTS NOS. 5,486,-715, 5,801,419, AND 5,283,202

Plaintiff Ixys Corporation (Ixys) filed this action against defendant Advanced Power Technology, Inc. (APT), alleging infringement of two U.S. patents, numbered 5,486,715 (the “ ’715 patent”) and 5,801,419 (the “ ’419 patent”), that it holds on an improved design for power MOSFET devices. APT has counterclaimed for infringement of its patent, numbered 5,283;-202 (the “ ’202 patent”), on the design for transistors with lifetime control. The parties have requested that this court construe various disputed terms contained within these three patents. After having considered the parties’ arguments and submissions, and for the reasons set forth below, the court rules as follows.

BACKGROUND

This patent infringement case concerns the design and production of transistors and other semiconductor devices. Plaintiff Ixys Corporation and defendant Advanced Power Technology, Inc. are both semiconductor manufacturing firms that do business in Santa Clara, California. Ixys filed suit against APT on August 15, 2002, alleging that APT was infringing two related patents detailing an improved design for…