On June 22, 2012, Judge Andrews issued an opinion construing thirteen claim terms in L-3 Communications Corp.’s patents relating to electronic imaging technology. L-3 Communications Corp. v. Sony Corp., et al., C.A. No. 10-734-RGA (D. Del. June 22, 2012). The patents claim inventions that “use imaging arrays to convert invisible light to electrical signals that create a viewable image. The imaging arrays are formed by combinations of image elements, or pixels, which are further composed of various circuit components.” Id. at 2. The following disputed claim terms were considered:
“Provide” and “Providing”
“Image element”
“Charge storage element”
“Storage means for storing said charge at said image element”
“Gain control element”
“Charge drain”
“Means for draining stored charge from said charge storage means in response to an element resetting signal”
“Logic gate having a pair of inputs”
“An output switch having a control input which is one of said pair of inputs and when closed connecting said output voltage level to an output signal conductor”
“Means for randomly accessing said image elements”
“Means for photovoltaically producing an electrical charge in response to incident light”
“Connecting said stored charge to an output device only in response to an interrogation signal to said image element”
“Wherein said step of providing said output amplifier includes providing a transistor at said image element”
L-3 Communications Corp. v. Sony Corp., et al., C.A. No. 10-734-RGA (D. Del. June 22, 2012).
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