AmberWave Files Patent Suit Against Intel
By Ed Sutherland – July 20, 2005 4:03PM

"As an engineering firm, we are very proud of the significant advances offered by our patent-protected technologies," said AmberWave CEO Richard Faubert. "We have no choice but to defend our intellectual property rights."

Chipmaking giant Intel is facing yet another lawsuit, this time for technology used in the semiconductor-manufacturing process to reduce the heat and increase the speed of processors designed for mobile devices.

The lawsuit, filed by Salem, N.H.-based AmberWave Systems in Texas, alleges that Intel is infringing AmberWave's patent involving the processor-creation technology called strained silicon.

"As an engineering firm, we are very proud of the significant advances offered by our patent-protected technologies," said AmberWave CEO Richard Faubert. "We have no choice but to defend our intellectual property rights."

Imperitive Technology?
The rapidly shrinking size of mobile devices, coupled with the increasing speeds of the processors that power them, creates more heat in these systems. Essentially, the strained-silicon material increases the distance between electrons, a chipmaking technique that can produce greater processing speeds without creating additional heat.

Strained silicon "is imperative to use" in the semiconductor industry, said George Lee, spokesperson for AmberWave.

Although AmberWave would not confirm it, several chipmakers, including AMD, IBM and Fujitsu, are investigating the strained-silicon process.

Intel's Expanding Strategy
The AmberWave lawsuit is a sign of Intel's "expanding strategy for supporting other devices," said Joe Wilcox, an analyst with Jupiter Research.

This strategy is one reason Apple Computer decided to jump from IBM's PowerPC processors to Intel's. "Apple can put Intel chips in other products," according to Wilcox. For example, Intel chips could reach into the iPod line.

In addition to the AmberWave suit, Intel still must contend with an antitrust lawsuit from rival AMD. AMD's claim against Intel received a significant boost after a Delaware U.S. District Court ruled that computer makers and retailers cannot shred documents that could become evidence in the AMD suit.

Last week, the European Union raided Intel offices in Germany, England, Spain and Italy in response to the AMD charges. And in March, Japan's Fair Trade Commission ruled Intel had broken that country's antitrust laws by favoring computer makers that agreed not to buy chips from AMD.

About AmberWave Systems
Founded in 1998, AmberWave Systems has become a leader in the research, development and licensing of advanced technologies for semiconductor manufacturing. By funding and guiding university research, AmberWave Systems is bringing new technology developments to fruition through patents and technology licensing. In conjunction with its university research projects, AmberWave Systems conducts its own research, development and limited manufacturing in its semiconductor fabrication facility in Salem, New Hampshire. In addition, AmberWave Systems collaborates with other technology focused companies to further expand and develop its research. For more information about the company, please visit its Web site at www.amberwave.com.