POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC. V. FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR
- Sep 26 2018 |
- Category: CAFC Updates
Power Integrations sued Fairchild Semiconductor for infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 6,212,079 and 6,538,908 relating to switching regulators in power supply controller chips used in power supplies, such as chargers for electronic devices. A jury found Fairchild literally infringed certain claims of the ’079 patent and infringed certain claims of the ’908 patent under the doctrine of equivalents. In a second trial, a jury awarded damages of roughly $140 million, finding that the entire market value rule applied in calculating damages for infringement of the ’079 patent. The district court denied Fairchild’s motions for judgment as a matter of law and Fairchild appeals. The CAFC affirms the judgments of infringement, but vacates the damages award and remands, concluding that the entire market value rule cannot be used here to calculate damages because Power Integrations did not meet its burden to show that the patented feature was the sole driver of consumer demand, i.e., that it alone motivated consumers to buy the accused products.