United States District Court Eastern District of Michigan Southern Division
2:07-cv-13150-GCS-SDP Doc # 38 Filed 08/12/08 Pg 1 of 37 Pg ID 1255 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION ALTAIR ENGINEERING, INC., Plaintiff, Case No. 07-CV-13150 HON. GEORGE CARAM STEEH vs. LEDdynamics, Inc., Defendant. ___________________________________/ ORDER RESOLVING CLAIM CONSTRUCTION DISPUTE Plaintiff Altair Engineering, Inc. (Altair) has filed suit against defendant LEDdynamics, Inc. (LEDdynamics) for patent infringement arising out of the sale of fluorescent tube replacement lights. Now before the Court are the parties competing briefs regarding claim construction. Both sides have filed lengthy opening briefs, response briefs, and voluminous exhibits. The Court has carefully considered all of the papers filed. Oral argument was heard on July 31, 2008. For the reasons set forth below, the Court adopts the claim construction argued by LEDdynamics. I. INTRODUCTION Altair is the owner by assignment of United States Patent No. 7,049,761 (‘761 patent). The ‘761 patent issued on May 23, 2006. (Doc. 23, Exhibit A). It covers light- emitting diodes (LEDs) based fluorescent tube replacement lights. According to Altair, the invention seeks to replace and improve upon traditional fluorescent light tubes which have as their shortcomings a short life expectancy, a tendency to fail if subjected to vibration, the consumption of high amounts of power to operate, and general 2:07-cv-13150-GCS-SDP Doc # 38 Filed 08/12/08 Pg 2 of 37 Pg ID 1256 unreliability. LEDdynamics, on the other hand, alleges that the invention was intended to mount fluorescent tubes in a conventional fluorescent fixture or socket, not necessarily to produce the same lighting effect.
[Show full text]