Have you ever wondered how the size of modern devices is shrinking so quickly? From slow brick-sized smartphones to palm-sized smartphones, we've come a long way. I did. Thanks to the ever-evolving semiconductor technology that forms the core of these devices. This is a direct manifestation of Moore's Law, Gordon's Moore's observation that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles every year.
Semiconductors are essential to powering the performance and functionality of all modern devices that have become essential to our society. The rapid evolution of the semiconductor industry and the intense competition among market players vying for greater market share have inevitably led to an explosion in patent applications. This increase has led to an increase in intellectual property (IP) disputes and patent litigation.
Figure 1 – Number of patent applications in the semiconductor field worldwide Information source: https://www.mathys-squire.com/insights-and-events/news/semiconductor-patents-rise-by-59-in-five-years-to-reach-to-record-high/
Due to the small size of semiconductor devices, detection of infringement remains the most difficult subject in semiconductor IP litigation. The most effective way to identify breaches within semiconductors lies in understanding the fundamentals of semiconductor device manufacturing.
Semiconductor IP Industry Revealed: A Practical Overview
The relentless pursuit of miniaturization, increased efficiency, and improved performance has propelled the semiconductor industry to unprecedented heights. As the demand for smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient electronic devices increases, So is the importance of protecting and monetizing intellectual property. In a context driven by innovation and technological advances, protection of intellectual property rights has become a top concern for both existing players and new entrants in the semiconductor field.
In recent years, patent lawsuits within the semiconductor industry have increased rapidly both globally and in the United States due to the need to protect intellectual property rights and maintain competitiveness. This surge in semiconductor litigation can also be attributed to non-performing entities (NPEs).
Figure 2 – Number of patent lawsuits filed in the US semiconductor field Information source: https://www.managingip.com/article/2bbiyswqrorclbhuecveo/lot-network-aims-to-snag-group-of-semiconductor-firms
The only decline observed in the past six years was in 2021, which may be a result of the economic slowdown due to COVID-19.
The Chip and Science Act passed by the U.S. Congress will inject $280 billion into the semiconductor market, boosting research activity and potentially increasing patent filings, which could lead to even more patent litigation. there is.
With an expected surge in patent litigation, protecting semiconductor intellectual property is becoming increasingly important in driving technological progress and stimulating innovation. However, one of the main obstacles to monetizing semiconductor patents is the difficulty in determining whether infringement has occurred.
Before we dive into how to detect infringement in semiconductor IP litigation, let's take a quick look at the steps involved in manufacturing a semiconductor device.
circuit design process
Semiconductor manufacturing, also known as chip manufacturing, is a complex process of creating integrated circuits (ICs) from semiconductor materials. At a higher level, the steps may include:
Source: SK Hynix
While silicon wafer fabrication is critical to the device manufacturing lifecycle, the process of creating schematics, graphic data stream (GDS) layouts, register transfer level (RTL) code, and netlists also depends on their proper fabrication, operation, and Just as important as the netlist creation process. Under test.
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