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Shunpei YamazakiJapanese inventor
Country:
 Japan |
Content:
- Biography of Shunpei Yamazaki
- Most Prolific Inventor
- Semiconductor Energy Laboratory
- New Display Technology
- Legal Battle with Samsung
Biography of Shunpei Yamazaki
Shunpei Yamazaki is a Japanese inventor, expert in information technology and solid-state physics. He was born in Japan and is currently the president of Semiconductor Energy Laboratory, a research company located in Tokyo.
Most Prolific Inventor
As of June 25, 2013, Yamazaki held 3,193 American patents for various inventions, making him one of the most prolific inventors in history. In 2005, he was recognized as the Most Prolific Inventor in history by USA Today. However, this title was later surpassed by Kia Silverbrook.
Semiconductor Energy Laboratory
Yamazaki's company, Semiconductor Energy Laboratory, is well-known globally and specializes in technology for computer displays. Many of the patents owned by Yamazaki are associated with display technologies and are filed under his company's name. The company has gained recognition and has consistently ranked high in the annual ratings of the Intellectual Property Owners Association, which lists companies with the highest number of American patents. From 1996 to 2011, Semiconductor Energy Laboratory climbed from the 124th position to the 34th position, with 761 patents.
New Display Technology
Recently, Semiconductor Energy Laboratory developed a new technology for creating displays using indium gallium zinc oxide crystals, which are ideal for developing transparent semiconductors. These displays, developed in collaboration with Sharp Corporation, are an advancement of TFT monitors. This new technology significantly expanded the company's patent portfolio and in 2013, the company received the Gold Award for "Display of the Year" from the Society for Information Display.
Legal Battle with Samsung
In 1996, Semiconductor Energy Laboratory became involved in a high-profile patent lawsuit against Samsung. The court ruled that one of the patents held by the company was not valid due to the dishonest behavior of the company's representatives. It was discovered that the company intentionally withheld important information and misled the investigating inspector. In 2000, the decision was upheld by the United States Federal District Court of Appeals. Although this defeat was not significant for Semiconductor Energy Laboratory itself, it set an important precedent in American patent law, forcing a re-evaluation of certain rules. The court ruled that the concealment of references could be considered important evidence if the hidden information revealed crucial factors, even if those factors could be discovered through other references during an investigation. This ruling led the patent office to recommend that applicants assess the significance of the limiting part of an invention's formula in terms of the importance of the information it contains. The patent office also emphasized the importance of providing information in its entirety.
Overall, Shunpei Yamazaki has made significant contributions to the field of technology and holds a remarkable number of patents. His inventions have had a significant impact on the development of computer displays and his company, Semiconductor Energy Laboratory, continues to innovate in the field.
