Applied Materials wins thin-film court battle against Oerlikon
Applied Materials has won a battle against European-based OC Oerlikon Balzers AG in a dispute over IP related to thin-film solar technology. In an oral decision delivered this week, the European Patent Office (EPO) has revoked European Patent No. EP 0 871 979 issued to the University of Neuchatel (IMT), which pertains to photovoltaic (PV) technology, Applied stated in a press release. Oerlikon, which owns exclusive worldwide rights to the patent for solar cells on glass (and glass-like substrates), had filed the lawsuit alleging patent infringement against an Applied Materials thin-film solar customer.
Following oral proceedings held on March 31 in Berlin, Germany, the EPO panel ruled that the Neuchatel patent is invalid in its entirety and accordingly revoked the patent. Christophe Ballif, head of IMT PV lab expressed disappointment in the ruling, saying a mere technicality in the filing process has led the EPO to revoke the patent in its entirety. Oerlikon Solar CEO Jeannine Sargent added that the validity of the patent remains in force pending a final decision regarding an appeal.
The disputed patent describes a way to deposit microcrystalline silicon on glass and glass-like substrates, according to Oerlikon. Though this is an important process step in the production of thin-film silicon solar modules, the Oerlikon end-to-end solutions do not depend on this single aspect, the company noted.
