Power Integrations dismisses Fairchild suit

Power Integrations, based here, believes that it was first to invent the technology covered by the patent that is the subject of Fairchild's lawsuit, and that the suit is therefore without merit.

The suit asserts infringement of U.S. Patent No. 5,264,719 by Power Integrations' pulse width modulation (PWM) products. Fairchild (South Portland, Maine) is seeking a court order to stop Power Integrations from making, using, selling, offering for sale or importing the infringing products into the U.S. and to obtain monetary damages for Power Integrations' infringing activities.

The company also notes that it does not expect Fairchild's suit to have any impact on its own patent-infringement lawsuit against Fairchild.

That suit, initiated in October 2004, is currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. That case is expected to go to trial during the third quarter of 2006.