France-based PV producer Carbon is concerned in patent litigation between JA Solar and Astronergy over tunneling silicon oxide (SiO2) layers, doped polysilicon layers, and electrodes in tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) photo voltaic merchandise .
Chinese photo voltaic module maker JA Solar is suing France-based Carbon in patent litigation proceedings in opposition to Chinese rival Astronergy for alleged patent infringement.
Astronergy initially disclosed the litigation, and JA Solar confirmed the lawsuit to pv journal. Carbon has not but responded to requests for extra particulars.
“Recent information that the European Patent Office (EPO) ‘raised the validity’ of a patent from Chinese PV producer JA Solar on October 2 is one other case within the ongoing dispute between Carbon and JA Solar,” a a spokesperson from Astronergy mentioned pv journal. “This case is getting used to mislead the assumption that Astronergy has holes in its patent technique.”
The spokesperson mentioned that the information of the patent validity dispute between JA Solar and Carbon re-focuses the highlight on the continued patent case between JA Solar and Astronergy. The spokesperson mentioned that the patent validity case is dealt with by the European Patent Office (EPO) and famous that the case on the Unified Patent Court (UPC) is a separate authorized course of.
Astronergy mentioned the choice taken by the EPO on October 2 issues JA Solar’s TOPCon patents EP 2 787 541 B1. This is said to the SiO2 layer and the doped polysilicon layer used on the again floor of TOPCon photo voltaic cells. According to the producer, this patent is legitimate till 2034 and is enforced in Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom.
“Astronergy turned concerned as a result of, in August of this yr, JA Solar made Astronergy a associated celebration within the Carbon Opposition Case,” Astronergy defined. “The EPO’s details about the end result of the oral proceedings is a preliminary opinion, not a conclusion.”
Astronergy says it’s making ready for proceedings involving JA Solar’s second TOPCon patent, EP 4 092 759 B1.
“For the JA patent case, Astronergy is making ready,” mentioned the spokesperson. “Currently, the case remains to be within the early levels. Based on previous instances, the litigation strategy of the complete case could take a yr or two, and even longer. Additional disclosure of associated litigation.”
The patent pertains to the association of electrodes and leads utilized in TOPCon merchandise. JA Solar mentioned it won’t expire earlier than 2035 and may be carried out with impact in all contracting states which can be members of the UPC.
Carbon plans to construct a vertically built-in TOPCon and IBC photo voltaic module manufacturing facility in Fos-sur-Mer, within the southern a part of the Bouches-du-Rhône division in France.
This content material is protected by copyright and will not be reused. If you wish to cooperate with us and wish to reuse a few of our content material, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
Popular content material
