Microchip sues ZilOG over microcontroller patents

SAN FRANCISCO: Microchip Technology Inc. said it filed a patent infringement lawsuit against ZiLOG Inc., alleging that a line of ZiLOG microcontroller chips infringes three Microchip patents.

The complaint, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, alleges that ZiLOG's 8-pin Z8 Encore! XP 4K series of microcontrollers infringes three Microchip patents covering 8-pin microcontrollers.

The suit seeks preliminary and permanent injunctive relief and damages, the company said in a statement.

Microchip introduced its first 8-pin microcontrollers in 1996, it said.

Zilog is a maker of 8-bit microcontrollers used in everything from consumer electronics to cash registers to automobile components.

Spokesmen for both companies were not immediately available to comment.