10 September 2018

SETi files patent infringement litigation in US court against UV LED sterilizer firm

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Sensor Electronic Technology Inc (SETi) of Columbia, SC, USA - which manufactures UV-A, UV-B and UV-C ultraviolet LED products emitting at wavelengths shorter than 365nm - has filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the US District Court for the Northern District of California asserting that both US-based Bolb Inc and Quantum Egg Inc (Q-egg). Bolb and Q-Egg are selling UV LED sterilizer devices that infringe on six of its patents covering fundamental UV LED technology, encompassing UV LED sterilizer structures and drivers, chip fabrication, and epitaxial layer growth.

Since its establishment in 1999, SETi has been dedicated to R&D on patented UV LED technologies. Its expertise has been recognized with government project grants focused on UV LED technology, including for the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

SETi has also collaborated with South Korean UV LED maker Seoul Viosys Co Ltd (SVC), resulting in the development of Violeds technology for UV LED-based disinfection, deodorization, phototherapy and curing. Violeds technology has also been used by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The UV LED market was estimated to be $223m in 2017 and is projected to grow at more than 33% per year to $1.224bn by 2022. The UV LED appliance market has similarly expanded to many fields, including curing machines, medical devices and purification devices. In particular, the sterilization and purification market is projected to grow significantly over the next few years.

“It is important that such growth is accompanied by fair competition, including respect of intellectual property,” SETi says. “An increasing number of products in the marketplace infringe on SETi’s established patents,” it believes. To protect its intellectual property, SETi has committed to monitoring the market for patent infringement and engaging in enforcement activities.

“SETi strongly opposes the distribution of products in the market that infringe our patents. For this reason, our company will be undertaking enforcement actions against suspected infringers where appropriate and necessary,” the firm concludes.

Tags: Sensor Electronic Technology UV LEDs

Visit: www.s-et.com

Visit: www.seoulviosys.com