US 8319512

Here's a concise summary of US patent 8319512:

US Patent 8319512

• Title: Flexible substrate including inspection electrode for outputting signal processed in integrated circuit, electro-optical device, and electronic device
• Assignee: 138 East LCD Advancements Ltd (current assignee); Seiko Epson Corp (original assignee)
• Inventor(s): Katsutoshi Ueno
• Filing Date: 2010-03-12
• Issue Date: 2012-11-27
• Abstract: A flexible substrate includes a substrate body; a plurality of lines that are arranged on the substrate body; a plurality of connection terminals that are arranged on an end portion of the substrate body and electrically connected to the respective lines; an integrated circuit that is arranged on the substrate body and electrically connected to at least one of the lines; and an inspection electrode that is arranged on the substrate body and electrically connected to the integrated circuit and capable of outputting a signal processed in the integrated circuit.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a flexible substrate that has a main body, multiple electrical lines, and connection points at one end for these lines. It also includes an integrated circuit on the substrate connected to at least one line. Critically, it features an "inspection electrode" on the substrate that's connected to the integrated circuit and can output a signal processed by the integrated circuit. Furthermore, this flexible substrate includes a "switching section" that can turn the inspection electrode's operation on or off, controlling whether it outputs the processed signal.
• Claim 8: Similar to Claim 1, this claim describes a flexible substrate with a substrate body, multiple lines, connection terminals, an integrated circuit, and an inspection electrode connected to the integrated circuit for outputting processed signals. The key distinction here is that it includes a "switching section" specifically designed to change the type of signal that the inspection electrode outputs.
• Claim 9: This claim also describes a flexible substrate with a substrate body, multiple wirings (lines), and connection terminals for connecting a device to at least one wiring. It includes an inspection electrode that connects to an integrated circuit and outputs a signal processed by the integrated circuit. A "switching section" is present to switch the types of signals the inspection electrode outputs. A specific feature is that the inspection electrode is located physically between two of the wirings, and the integrated circuit is connected to at least one of the wirings.
• Claim 10: This claim describes a flexible substrate that includes a substrate body, multiple wirings, and connection terminals to electrically connect a device to at least one of these wirings. It also has an inspection electrode on the substrate body that is electrically connected to an integrated circuit and can output a signal processed by that integrated circuit. Similar to Claim 9, a key aspect is that the inspection electrode is positioned between one of the wirings and another of the wirings, and the integrated circuit is electrically connected to at least one of the wirings.

USPTO and CAFC 2026 Dockets:

A search of the USPTO database confirms that US Patent 8319512 is currently "Active" and is set to expire on 2031-02-04. The Google Patents information for US8319512B2 also indicates that the "Family has litigation," with several US cases filed in the Texas Eastern District Court (e.g., 2:25-cv-00440, 2:23-cv-00165, 2:25-cv-00358) and a PTAB IPR case (IPR2025-01413) filed in 2025. Direct CAFC dockets for 2026 specifically associated with patent number 8319512 were not found through the performed searches.