Untitled case

This patent infringement litigation, case number 4:22-cv-05448, is before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and involves semiconductor technology. The plaintiffs are Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited and Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Incorporated, which are integrated device manufacturers of power semiconductors, including MOSFETs (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors). The defendant and patent owner is Force MOS Technology Co., Ltd.. The specific products accused of infringement are related to MOSFETs.

The sole patent asserted in this case is U.S. Patent No. 7,629,634, titled "Trenched MOSFET Structure with an Integrated Ohmic Contact". This patent generally describes a MOSFET with a trenched source contact, which aims to improve device ruggedness by ensuring ohmic contact between the sidewall of the source contact and the contact metal plug.

The case is assigned to Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr., with future filings directed to "4:22-cv-05448-HSG," indicating the Oakland Division of the Northern District of California. This venue is a common forum for patent litigation, particularly involving technology companies. The case is notable for its direct linkage to ongoing inter partes review (IPR) proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Petitioner Inergy Technology, Inc. (with ASUSTek Computer, Inc. and Panjit International Inc. as real parties in interest) has challenged claims of U.S. Patent No. 7,629,634 in IPR2024-00093, citing the Northern District of California case as a related matter. The PTAB has already granted institution of this IPR, indicating a reasonable likelihood that the petitioner would prevail in challenging at least one claim of the patent. This parallel PTAB proceeding signifies a significant challenge to the validity of the asserted patent and will likely influence the district court litigation.

It is important to note that searches for "4:22-cv-05448" also frequently return results pertaining to the "In re: Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation" MDL against Meta Platforms, Inc. et al., which also uses the case number 4:22-md-03047-YGR in the Northern District of California, and sometimes references 4:23-cv-05448. However, the patent at issue, 7629634, and the identified parties confirm that the case being summarized here is the patent infringement matter involving semiconductor companies, not the social media addiction litigation.

This analysis details the key legal developments and current status of the patent infringement litigation identified by case number 4:22-cv-05448. The case is Alpha and Omega Semiconductor, Ltd., et al. v. Force MOS Technology Co., Ltd., filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

1. Filing & Initial Pleadings

• Case Filing: The case was filed on September 23, 2022, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California under case number 4:22-cv-05448. The plaintiffs are Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited et al., and the defendant is Force MOS Technology Co., Ltd.. This indicates the case is likely a declaratory judgment action by Alpha and Omega Semiconductor seeking a declaration of non-infringement or invalidity against Force MOS Technology, the patent owner.
• Patent at Issue: The patent at issue is U.S. Patent No. 7,629,634 ('634 patent). This patent pertains to a "trenched MOSFET with trenched source contact."

2. Pre-trial Motions of Substance

Details on specific pre-trial motions such as motions to dismiss, transfer, or for summary judgment for this particular case (4:22-cv-05448) were not found in the public search results. Such information would typically be available through a detailed PACER docket review.

3. Claim Construction (Markman) Outcomes

There is no public record available from the searches indicating a Markman hearing or order has been issued in this specific case (4:22-cv-05448).

4. Discovery Milestones with Strategic Significance

Specific discovery milestones for this case are not publicly detailed in the search results.

5. Trial Events, Verdict, and Post-trial Motions

There is no public record indicating that this case has proceeded to trial, reached a verdict, or involved post-trial motions.

6. Settlement, Dismissal, Judgment, or Appeal

The current disposition of the case, such as a settlement, dismissal, or final judgment, is not readily available in the public search results. The case remains listed as active based on its mention in a May 21, 2024 IPR institution decision.

7. Parallel PTAB IPR/PGR Proceedings

A significant parallel proceeding involves the '634 patent at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB):

• IPR2024-00093: On October 27, 2023, Inergy Technology, Inc. filed a petition for inter partes review (IPR) of U.S. Patent No. 7,629,634. Force MOS Technology Co., Ltd. is the Patent Owner.
• Real Parties in Interest: Inergy Technology, Inc., ASUSTek Computer, Inc. ("ASUS"), and Panjit International Inc. are identified as real parties in interest for the IPR.
• Institution of IPR: On May 21, 2024, the PTAB instituted an inter partes review for claims 1-9 of the '634 patent, finding a "reasonable likelihood that the petitioner would prevail with respect to at least [one] of the claims challenged in the petition."
• Related Litigation: The PTAB's institution decision notes that the '634 patent is also the subject of parallel litigation in the Eastern District of Texas between Force MOS and ASUSTek Computer, Inc. (Case No. 2:22-cv-00460), and this Northern District of California case (4:22-cv-05448) is a related matter.
• Effect on Litigation: The institution of IPR on claims 1-9 of the '634 patent could lead to a stay of the district court litigation pending the outcome of the IPR. If the PTAB ultimately finds the challenged claims unpatentable, it would significantly impact or likely conclude the district court case regarding those claims.

The patent infringement case 4:22-cv-05448, filed in the California Northern District Court, lists Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited as the plaintiff. The patent at issue is 7629634, among others.

To identify the counsel of record for the plaintiff, Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited, in this specific patent infringement case, further direct access to the court's electronic docket (PACER) would be necessary. However, based on publicly available information, specific counsel details for the plaintiff were not immediately found in the provided search results. The search results that appeared to be for case 4:22-cv-05448 frequently conflated it with the "IN RE: SOCIAL MEDIA ADOLESCENT ADDICTION/PERSONAL INJURY PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION" MDL, which has a similar but distinct case number (4:23-cv-05448 or 4:22-md-03047) and involves different plaintiffs (state attorneys general) and claims (social media addiction, not patent infringement).

Without direct access to the docket for 4:22-cv-05448 to review appearance filings, the specific names of the attorneys, their roles, firms, and office locations representing Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited cannot be definitively identified at this time. Filings for counsel appearances are typically among the first entries on a case docket.

Based on the available information, the defendant, Force MOS Technology Co., Ltd., is represented by attorneys from Dickinson Wright PLLC.

Here are the identified counsel of record for Force MOS Technology Co., Ltd. in case 4:22-cv-05448:

• Mark Howard Rogge - Lead Counsel.
  • Firm: Dickinson Wright PLLC.
  • Office Location: Specific office location not immediately available, but Dickinson Wright has multiple offices.
  • Note: Mark Howard Rogge is listed as representing Force MOS Technology Co., Ltd. in this case.
• Joshua Gabriel Jones - Counsel.
  • Firm: Dickinson Wright PLLC.
  • Office Location: Not specified in the search results.
• Michael David Saunders - Counsel.
  • Firm: Dickinson Wright PLLC.
  • Office Location: Not specified in the search results, but Michael Saunders is also listed as respondent counsel in related PTAB IPR proceedings for Force MOS Technology Co., Ltd.
• Christopher Hanba - Counsel.
  • Firm: Dickinson Wright PLLC.
  • Office Location: Not specified in the search results.
  • Note: Christopher Hanba was noted as a defendant attorney in a minute entry for a trial setting conference and motion hearing on April 14, 2026.
• Ariana Pellegrino - Counsel.
  • Firm: Dickinson Wright PLLC.
  • Office Location: Not specified in the search results.
  • Note: Ariana Pellegrino was noted as a defendant attorney in a minute entry for a trial setting conference and motion hearing on April 14, 2026.

It is worth noting that while the initial case filing in the Northern District of California assigned the case to Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr. (4:22-cv-05448-HSG), a more recent docket entry from April 14, 2026, references proceedings held before Judge P. Casey Pitts. This suggests a reassignment of the case or a magistrate judge handling certain proceedings.