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Product category: EMC Components
News Release from: Smiths Interconnect - EMC Technology
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 23 July 2002

Patent case resolved against Methode

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A US District Court has resolved EMC Technology's patent infringement lawsuit against Methode Electronics, and its subsidiary Methode Development Corporation.

On 26th February 2002 a consent judgment was entered in the US District Court, District of New Jersey resolving the previously announced patent infringement lawsuit by EMC Technology against Methode Electronics, and its subsidiary Methode Development Corporation EMC Technology holds a patent for a "temperature variable attenuator" (US Patent No 5,332,981, issued 26th July 1994)

EMC's attenuating device is marketed under the trademarked name Thermopad and is widely used in military, space and commercial RF applications.

In the consent judgment Methode acknowledged that the '981 patent owned by EMC is valid and enforceable.

Methode further acknowledged that its attempt to market a temperature variable attenuator infringed exclusive rights provided to EMC by the '981 patent.

As part of the agreement, Methode agrees to cease and desist from offering for sale any devices embodying claims of the patent.

Stephen Phipson, Managing Director of Smiths Group Interconnect Division, said, "The EMC patent related to Thermopad technology is extremely valuable.

We are pleased that EMC's intellectual property rights have been affirmed and that this issue is satisfactorily resolved".

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