ITC ALJ Determines FCI Does Not Infringe
VCSEL Driver Patent
SINGAPORE (January 22, 2014) — FCI, a leading supplier of connectors and interconnect systems, today announces that an International Trade Commission (ITC) Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued an Initial Determination (ID) on December 13, 2013. The ALJ concluded that FCI’s production and sale of active optical cable and optical transmitter products do not infringe U.S. Patent Number 5,596,456 to Avago, which is directed to a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) driver. The VCSEL driver patent was asserted against FCI by Avago in ITC Investigation 337-TA-860, filed in September 2012. FCI sources its VCSEL drivers from a third party.
The ALJ also found that certain FCI products containing a particular type of VCSEL infringe U.S. Patent No. 5,596,595 to Avago. The VCSEL patent expires on June 8, 2015. FCI and staff attorneys at the ITC have both asked the ITC to review the portion of the ID relating to the VCSEL patent. A final determination by the ITC on this issue is not expected until mid-April 2014. The VCSELs in the products at issue are supplied to FCI by third parties.
Even if the VCSEL finding of the ID is upheld by the ITC, there is no projected impact to FCI’s current or planned product offerings and no material adverse effect on the company’s business or financial position.
About FCI Electronics
With 6,500 employees globally and sales of 555M USD in 2012, FCI Electronics is a leading global manufacturer of interconnects and cable assemblies that combines a broad product offering with field engineering resources to meet specific customer needs. FCI Electronics delivers proven connections and innovative solutions for various markets such as datacom, telecom, consumer, industrial, instrumentation, medical and renewable energy.
FCI Electronics’ full portfolio comprises proven legacy products and innovative new designs including backplane connectors, board and wire systems, active optical cables, transceivers, fiber optic adaptors, high-speed connectors, I/O connectors, mezzanine connectors, PCB terminal blocks, flex connectors, power solutions, storage interfaces and custom cable assemblies. For more information, please visit us at www.fci.com.
