The US Legal Victory in Texas.
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2005-04-18 -- Universal Instruments won a legal victory last month over the individuals Kermit Aguayo and Khanh Tran of Austin. The "federal court in Texas -- plaintiffs' home court and one of the most hostile jurisdictions in the nation for defendants, according to the American Tort Reform Association." All 17 patent claims were refused by the judge. The same plaintiffs had previously taken Motorola to court. On that occasion all 28 patent claims were thrown out - on the grounds of prior art not seen by the patent examiners. Motorola then settled out of court granting a monetary sum and allowing the plaintiffs to sue further infringments by other companies.
Media Echo
2004-04-14 US Business Wire: Orrick Prevails for Universal Instruments and the Electronics Industry in Texas Patent Trial
2004-04-13 US Circuits Assembly: Universal Wins Patent Showdown In Texas
2002-02-22 US Law.com: Taking on Goliath
The Patent Claim
First claim of US Patent 5283943:
- A system for assembling multiple component products, comprising: an assembly machine which assembles products using components retrieved from a plurality of compartments located at a corresponding plurality of locations, each compartment located according to a type of component stored within; a component identifier that identifies the type of component stored in each compartment by analyzing indicia of the components or component compartments; and at least one location indicator, responsive to the component identifier, for producing an indication signal of the corresponding location of each component compartment or component after the type of component has been identified.
