W&wsens Devices Inc. v. Not yet publicly available

W&wsens Devices Inc. initiated a patent infringement lawsuit against [[Samsung Electronics Co.](/litigations/by-defendant/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.), Ltd.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.) and Samsung Electronics America, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division. The plaintiff, W&wsens Devices Inc., is described as an "inventor-controlled" and privately held company founded by Shih-Yuan Wang and Shih-Ping ("Bob") Wang. The company's focus is on semiconductor devices, specifically developing photodetector technology that utilizes lightwave trapping with microholes to achieve high speed and sensitivity in thin silicon photosensor arrays, particularly in the Red and Near-Infrared (NIR) wavelengths. This suggests W&wsens Devices Inc. is a technology developer with a significant intellectual property portfolio, rather than a non-practicing entity (NPE) in the traditional sense.

The lawsuit alleges infringement by Samsung's CMOS image sensors and products incorporating these sensors, including smartphones, digital cameras, computers, and tablets. Specifically, W&wsens Devices Inc. conducted lab analyses on Samsung Galaxy S23 FE and S24 Ultra smartphones to support its claims. The asserted patents, primarily concerning "semiconductor photodetectors", include U.S. Patent Nos. 9,525,084; 10,446,700; 10,468,543; 11,621,360; and 12,071,871, with U.S. Patent No. 10,446,700 generally relating to a semiconductor photodetector. Additionally, the suit targets "Time-of-Flight" (ToF) CMOS image sensors with one of the asserted patents.

The case, assigned to Chief Judge Rodney Gilstrap under case number 2:24-cv-00854, is in the Eastern District of Texas (EDTX), a venue historically known for its plaintiff-friendly procedural rules and accelerated trial schedules in patent litigation. Despite a temporary dip in filings after the 2017 TC Heartland Supreme Court decision, the EDTX has seen a resurgence in patent case filings, in part due to strategies involving the targeting of foreign affiliates, underscoring its continued significance for patent holders. The case is notable for its involvement of an inventor-controlled entity asserting a substantial patent portfolio against a major global electronics manufacturer in a high-stakes technology area. Proceedings have included denied motions to stay pending inter partes review (IPR) and post-grant review (PGR) due to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) not having yet instituted review, and ongoing disputes regarding the priority dates of the asserted patents, which Samsung claims could render them invalid.

Key Legal Developments and Outcome in W&wsens Devices Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

The patent infringement suit, W&wsens Devices Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., et al., Case No. 2:24-cv-00854, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The plaintiff, W&wsens Devices Inc., asserts infringement of multiple patents, including U.S. Patent No. 10,446,700, against defendants Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Samsung Electronics America, Inc., Samsung Semiconductor, Inc., and Samsung Austin Semiconductor LLC. The asserted patents generally relate to "semiconductor photodetectors," specifically targeting CMOS image sensors and Time-of-Flight (ToF) CMOS image sensors in Samsung products such as smartphones. The case is currently ongoing.

Here's a chronological overview of the key legal developments:

1. Filing & Initial Pleadings

• Complaint Filed (2024-10-21): W&wsens Devices Inc. filed its patent infringement complaint against Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and other Samsung entities in the Eastern District of Texas. The plaintiff alleges that Samsung's knowledge of its patent portfolio and potential infringement dates back to 2019, following discussions about potential partnerships and licensing.
• Answer and Counterclaims: Samsung Electronics America, Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. filed an Answer to the Amended Complaint, including defenses and counterclaims against W&wsens Devices Inc. The specific date of this filing is not readily available but occurred after the amended complaint.

2. Pre-trial Motions of Substance

• Motion to Stay Pending IPR/PGR (Denied without prejudice, 2025-11-03): Samsung filed a motion to stay the case pending inter partes review (IPR) and post-grant review (PGR) proceedings for each of the asserted patents. U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap denied the motion without prejudice, noting that the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) had not yet instituted review for any of the asserted patents, making the motion premature. The Court indicated that Samsung would be permitted to refile the motion within 14 days following any PTAB institution decisions.
• Motion to Amend Invalidity Contentions (Granted, 2026-02-23): Samsung filed a motion to amend its Invalidity Contentions to include additional evidence supporting an alleged priority date of November 22, 2021, for the asserted patents. The Court granted Samsung leave to amend, finding that the proposed amendments, which could potentially render the patents invalid, were important and would cause only minimal prejudice to the plaintiff.

3. Claim Construction (Markman) Outcomes

• Markman Hearing Set (2026-02-19): A Markman (claim construction) hearing was scheduled for February 19, 2026, before District Judge Rodney Gilstrap. The outcome of this hearing, if it occurred as scheduled, is not yet publicly detailed in the provided search results.

4. Discovery Milestones with Strategic Significance

• Appointment of Technical Advisor (2026-01-12): The Court appointed Mr. Michael D. Paul as the technical advisor for the case.

5. Trial Events

• Pretrial Conference (Scheduled 2026-06-29): A pretrial conference is set for June 29, 2026.
• Jury Selection (Scheduled 2026-08-03): Jury selection for the trial is scheduled for August 3, 2026.

6. Final Disposition or Present Posture

• The case remains ongoing in the Eastern District of Texas. Although some search snippets mention "Settlement" on October 17, 2025, and "Dismissal: 12b" on December 23, 2025, these appear to be general docket event categories and not definitive final dispositions for this specific case given the subsequent orders and scheduled trial dates. The denial of the stay motion in November 2025 and the motion to amend invalidity contentions in February 2026 confirm the case is actively proceeding towards trial.

7. Parallel PTAB IPR/PGR Proceedings
Samsung has filed multiple petitions for inter partes review (IPR) and post-grant review (PGR) against the asserted patents at the USPTO's Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB):

• PGR2025-00082 (filed 2025-08-28) challenging U.S. Patent No. 12,243,948 B2.
• IPR2025-00993 (filed 2025-06-25) challenging U.S. Patent No. 12,087,871 B2.
• IPR2025-00994 (filed 2025-06-20) challenging U.S. Patent No. 11,621,360 B2.
• IPR2025-00995 (filed 2025-05-20) challenging U.S. Patent No. 10,468,543 B2.
• IPR2025-00996 (filed 2025-05-20) challenging U.S. Patent No. 10,446,700 B2.
• IPR2025-00997 (filed 2025-07-14) challenging U.S. Patent No. 9,525,084 B2.

As of November 3, 2025, the PTAB had not yet instituted review for any of these asserted patents, which was a key reason for the denial of Samsung's motion to stay the district court litigation. The current institution status of these IPRs/PGRs is "PTAB Not Instituted" as of March 9, 2026.

Plaintiff W&wsens Devices Inc. is represented by attorneys from Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP and Capshaw DeRieux LLP. Kramer Levin is identified as lead counsel, and Capshaw DeRieux LLP as local counsel.

Here is the breakdown of the identified counsel:

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP (Lead Counsel)

• Paul Andre - Lead Counsel
  • Firm: Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP, Silicon Valley office.
  • Experience: Known for extensive patent litigation, particularly in the technology sector, with a focus on district court and appellate matters. He has been involved in high-stakes patent disputes for major tech companies.
• Lisa Kobialka - Lead Counsel
  • Firm: Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP, Silicon Valley office.
  • Experience: Specializes in intellectual property litigation, including patent infringement, with a focus on the technology and life sciences industries.
• Aaron M. Frankel - Lead Counsel
  • Firm: Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP, New York office.
  • Experience: Represents clients in complex intellectual property litigation, including patent infringement cases across various technologies.
• James Hannah - Lead Counsel
  • Firm: Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP.
  • Experience: Focuses on intellectual property litigation, including patent, trademark, and copyright disputes, often representing technology companies.
• Cristina Lynn Martinez - Lead Counsel
  • Firm: Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP.
  • Experience: Involved in intellectual property litigation, particularly patent infringement actions.

Capshaw DeRieux LLP (Local Counsel)

• Elizabeth L. DeRieux - Local Counsel
  • Firm: Capshaw DeRieux LLP, Longview, Texas office.
  • Experience: A prominent East Texas patent litigator, frequently serving as local counsel in patent infringement cases filed in the Eastern District of Texas.

The case was filed on October 21, 2024, in the Eastern District of Texas against Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Samsung Electronics America, Inc., alleging infringement of patents related to "semiconductor photodetectors," including CMOS image sensors.

The defendant in this case, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Samsung Electronics America, Inc., is represented by Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, and Gillam & Smith, LLP, as local counsel.

Here's a breakdown of the identified counsel:

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP (Lead Counsel)

• Parmanand K. Sharma: Partner, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP.
• Min Yang: Attorney, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP.
• Gerald F. Ivey: Attorney, Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLP - DC office.
• Charles H. Suh: Attorney, Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunn LLP - Reston office.
• Benjamin R. Schlesinger: Attorney, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP - Atlanta office.
• Christina Ji-Hye Yang: Attorney, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett And Dunner LLP.
• Michael Joseph Aragon: Attorney, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner.
• Jinwoo Kim: Attorney, Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner - Palo Alto office.
• Kai Rajan: Attorney, Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner, LLP.

Gillam & Smith, LLP (Local Counsel)

• Melissa Richards Smith: Partner, Gillam & Smith, LLP.

Andrew William Stinson

• Role: Attorney.
• Firm: Not explicitly stated in the search results, but he has filed a Notice of Attorney Appearance on behalf of Samsung.