Linton Crystal Technologies Corp. has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Zhejiang Jingsheng Mechanical & Electrical Co. Ltd. (JSG), alleging that certain crystal-growth equipment made by the Chinese company infringes two U.S. patents covering Linton’s seed-lifting technology.
The civil complaint was filed September 22 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division. Linton, which develops and manufactures Czochralski (CZ) crystal-growth equipment, is seeking damages, enhanced damages, a permanent injunction and attorneys’ fees. The company has also requested a jury trial.
Patents Cover Crystal-Growth Technology
The lawsuit concerns U.S. Patent Nos. 11,255,024 and 11,814,746, both titled “Seed Lifting and Rotating System for Use in Crystal Growth.” The patents list John A. Reese and Joel C. Stefl as inventors.
According to Linton, the patents cover mechanisms used to lift and rotate crystal seeds during the CZ growth process. The process is widely used to produce monocrystalline silicon ingots, which are subsequently processed for applications including semiconductor wafers and photovoltaic products.
Linton alleges that certain JSG CZ crystal-growth pullers incorporate technology protected by the two patents. The allegations have not been adjudicated, and JSG has not been identified in the supplied information as having responded to the complaint.
Technology Developed in Rochester
Linton said the patented technology was developed by its engineering team at the company’s headquarters in Rochester, New York. The company describes the seed-lifting system as an engineering approach intended to reduce the size, weight and complexity of conventional mechanisms while improving their performance.
The dispute comes as crystal-growth equipment remains an important part of the semiconductor and solar manufacturing supply chain. CZ systems are used to produce single-crystal silicon ingots that form the starting material for semiconductor wafers and certain photovoltaic applications.
“Protecting our intellectual property is essential, not only for Linton, but for the broader effort to strengthen American manufacturing and innovation,” said Todd Barnum, executive board member of Linton Crystal Technologies.
Linton Seeks Damages and Injunction
Linton is seeking a judicial declaration that JSG infringed the patents, along with monetary damages. Its complaint also seeks enhanced damages, permanent injunctive relief and recovery of attorneys’ fees.
The company is represented by Nixon Peabody LLP.
The case will now proceed through the U.S. federal court system, where the infringement allegations, validity of the asserted patents and any defenses raised by JSG will be considered through the litigation process.
