Last Update: November 1, 2006

Sigma Designs has 30 US patent filings covering 18 inventions that are public record including 28 issued patents, and 2 pending applications. Sigma Designs has been filing an average of 3 patents a year for the past 11 years it has been in operation. However, a number of the filings are continuations of earlier inventions that have a shortened patent life. As a result, the remaining life span of the IP portfolio is from 6 to 17 years for the issued patents, with an average remaining life of 9.5 years. Patents in the pending application stage can expect a 20 year life from filing date once they have issued. The Sigma Designs filings focus primarily on digital signal processing, chromakey mixing, bufferless data compression, encoding streams, and animation sequences. Areas which are mainly not particularly key or relevant to the deployment of IPTV and MPEG stream handling.

Sigma Designs has taken a limited approach to Intellectual Property protection outside of the US. In fact, a single application resulted in the issuances of foreign patents. The company did file on two inventions with the World Intellectual Property organization but neither of these seemed to have been pursued in national filings. Hence, Sigma Designs has primarily focused on IP rights in the US.

Having 28 issued patents dating back to 1992 would normally provide Sigma Designs with a great opportunity to lead the area they claim to specialize in (IPTV). However, only about one third of Sigma Designs’ patents were filed between 1998 and 2002 which seems to be their most pertinent IPTV patents. After 2002, there is a large drop off in the US filings by the 15 inventors who filed patents for Sigma Designs in the 11 years prior to 2002. If Sigma has other patents not accounted for they are either filed using none of their previous 15 inventors or filed with express desire to keep them unpublished (which also means that there is not an intent to file in foreign countries). However, this is certainly possible.

Furthermore, there is a lack of clarity with respect to one of the company’s key inventors: Julien T. Nguyen. Either there are two engineers named Julien T. Nguyen working in the same field, or it would appear that this leading Sigma Designs engineer (note: Nguyen filed the most US patents of all Sigma Design’s engineers – 12 patents and 5 applications) seems to be filing patents for not only Sigma Designs but also for a third party (PlanetWeb, Inc.). As the patents are somewhat related to those filed for Sigma Systems, it is unclear how PlanetWeb ties into Sigma Designs – who doesn’t show up as an investor. Plantweb builds software such as web browsers for gaming stations like Sega and is recently building in the area of user interfaces for embedded devices.

Sigma Designs (8634) chipset competes with Broadcom (BCM7411), Focus Enhancements (TD 530), Philips (Nexperia), STMicroelectronics (?), and Texas Instrument (DM642). Of the 28 issued patents held by Sigma Designs, these patents are referenced 4 times by Philips, once by STMicroelectronics, and twice by Texas Instrument. Broadcom intellectual property did not surface during our research. Sigma Designs patents most frequently reference patents from C-Cube Microsystems, IBM, Hitachi, Intel, Sony, Texas Instrument, and Thomson. The two most heavily patented areas for Sigma Designs are digital signal processor technology and chromakey mixer, however neither of these patents were referenced by Sigma’s competition in the IPTV chipset marketplace.

While Sigma Designs does not appear to be currently facing a patent infringement lawsuit, the IPTV chip space represents a potential threat. In particular, several competitors in this area have significant patent portfolios and IP enforcement organizations indicating that there is the possibility that Sigma Designs face licensing costs in the future.

Overall, Sigma Designs has a reasonably complete IP portfolio however, the portfolio is somewhat dated and the focus of the portfolio is not in, what would appear to be, a key direction for the company: IPTV.

Research Details:

Relative timeline for inventions (based on discovered prior art)

• August 1979 - Solid state color imaging apparatus
• US Applications: 10 found (5 belonging to different companies), 2 already issued, 2 in processing, 1 having been allowed.
• US Patents: 27

Breakdown of inventors:

 

Inventor::	Pat:	App:	Areas of invention:
Izadian, Jamal S. (San Jose, CA)	1		Electromagnetic energy into light
DeClue, Larry (Saratoga, CA)	1		Electromagnetic energy into light
Fealkoff, David (Thousand Oaks, CA)	1		Electromagnetic energy into light
Le Cornec, Yann (Fremont, CA)	12		Pixel data compression, Synchronizing to an input signal, Accurate high speed digital signal processor, Sound board emulation, Encoding a stream of motion picture data, Decoding video signals at high speed using a memory buffer, Sound board emulation using DSP with data word, Output signal synchronized to an input signal, Audio output device
Mahe, Jacques (Fremont, CA)	2		Controlling consumption of time-stamped information within a buffer, Synchronizing presentation of digital video data
Trinh, Vincent (Pleasanton, CA)	2		Controlling consumption of time-stamped information within a buffer, Synchronizing presentation of digital video data
Ignaszewski, Michael (Fremont, CA)	3		Controlling consumption of time-stamped information within a buffer, Tamper-resistant encryption key, Synchronizing presentation of digital video data
Hu, Xiaoping (San Jose, CA)	3	5	USB video capture chip
Nguyen, Julien T. (Saratoga, CA)	12	5	Calibration of analog video chromakey mixer, Sound board emulation, Mixing of computer graphics and animation sequences, Decoding video signals at high speed using a memory buffer, Sound board emulation using DSP with data word, Coprocessor devices simulating memory interfaces, Audio output device, Analog video chromakey mixer
Doreau, Alain (Fremont, CA)	5	1	Calibration of analog video chromakey mixer, Synchronizing to an input signal, Output signal synchronized to an input signal
Popa-Radu, Aurelia (Dublin, CA)	3	1	Calibration of analog video chromakey mixer
Hsu, Mark (Fremont, CA)	4		Sound board emulation, Sound board emulation using DSP with data word, Audio output device
Chiang, Chen-Huei (Sunnyvale, CA)	3		Encoding a stream of motion picture data, Video and audio data presentation interface
Fraenkel, Bernard G. (Oakland, CA)	1		Decoding video signals at high speed using a memory buffer
Harscoet, Philippe (Fremont, CA)	1		Video and audio data presentation interface

Issued Patents: 

Reference Summary:

 

Company:	For-Ref Count:
Accom
Advanced Micro Devices
Apple
Applied Micro Circuits	2
Atari	1
ATI Technologies	4
Basic Software Limited	2
Bell Communications Research
Bibolar Integrated Technology
Booktree Corporation
C-Cube Microsystems
Canon	4
Casio
Cirrus Logic	2
Corporate Computer Systems	3
Corporation for PBS
Data Translation	2
Dell	1
Delta America	8
Digital Electronic Cinema	1
Digital Equipment	2
DuPont Pixel Systems
Eastman Kodak
Electric Power Research
Elonex IP Holdings	6
Freescale Semiconductor	1
Fujitsu	7
General electric
Gizmoz	2
Grass Valley
Hewlett Packard	1
Hitachi	2
Honeywell
Hughes Aircraft
IBP Pietzsch
Intel	2
IBM	5
Imagination Software	1
KDDI Corporation	1
Kopin Corporation	2
LSI Logic	10
Lucent	1
Matsushita	4
MCA Disco-Vision
Mitsubishi	3
Motorola
NCR Corporation
NEC	2
NeoMagic	2
Nippon Steel	1
Nvidia	2
Philips	4
RCA
S3 Incorporated
Samsung	1
Scientific Atlanta
Seiko	3
Sharp	1
Siemens	2
Sony	7
Starguide Digital Networks	2
Star Technology
STMicroelectronics	1
Telaction Corporation
TeleCruz Technology	1
Texas Instrument	2
Thomson	2
U-R Star	2
USWest	1
Video Logic
Video Magic	1
VLSI Technology
Wang Laboratories
Westinghouse
Winbond Electronics	1
Wyse Technology
Zapa Digital Arts	2
Zenith Electronics

Inventions:

• 4 chromakey mixer
• 2 Animation sequences
• 2 Bufferless data compression
• 2 Encoding a stream of motion picture data
• 6 digital signal processor
• 13 unique

Patents:

• [5404437] Mixing of computer graphics and animation sequences (1992)
  • Rev-Ref: 0
  • For-Ref: Atari, ATI Technologies, Basic Software Limited, Canon, Cirrus Logic, Data Translation, 4-Delta America, Digital Equipment, 3-Elonex IP Holdings, 3-Fujitsu, Gizmoz, Hitachi, Kopin Corporation, Mitsubishi, NeoMagic, Sony, U-R Star, Zapa Digital Arts
• [5615401] Video and audio data presentation interface (1994)
  • Rev-Ref: 0
  • For-Ref: Imagination Software, IBM, 2-Sony
• [5598576] Audio output device having digital signal processor for responding to commands issued by processor by emulating designated functions according to common command interface (1994)
  • Rev-Ref: 0
  • For-Ref: 2-IBM, 2-Nvidia, Siemens
• [5528309] Analog video chromakey mixer (1994)
  • Rev-Ref: 0
  • For-Ref: Dell, Sony [6621480], Video Magic
• [5515107] Encoding a stream of motion picture data (1994)
  • Rev-Ref: 0
  • For-Ref: 3-Corporate Computer Systems, Digital Electronic Cinema, 2-IBM, 6-LSI Logic, Lucent, Matsushita, Nippon Steel, Sony [6356311], 2-Starguide Digital Networks, USWest [5990959], Philips
• [5790881] Computer system including coprocessor devices simulating memory interfaces (1995)
  • Rev-Ref: 0
  • For-Ref: 2-Applied Micro Circuits, Freescale Semiconductor, Fujitsu [6388671], Hewlett Packard, Sony [7039247] 
• [5719511] Circuit for generating an output signal synchronized to an input signal (1996)
  • Rev-Ref: 0
  • For-Ref: Intel [6943844], 2-Phillips, Matsushita [5973523], TeleCruz Technology
• [5821947] Mixing of computer graphics and animation sequences (1996)
  • Rev-Ref: 0
  • For-Ref: ATI, Canon, Seiko
• [5818468 ] Decoding video signals at high speed using a memory buffer (1996)
  • Rev-Ref: 0
  • For-Ref: Canon, Philips, 3-LSI Logic, 2-Seiko
• [6128726] Accurate high speed digital signal processor (1996)
  • Rev-Ref: Accom, Advanced Micro Devices, Apple [5097257], Bell Communications Research, Bipolar Integrated Technology, 2-Booktree Corporation, 8-C-Cube Microsystems, Canon, Casio, PBS, 2-Digital Equipment, DuPont Pixel Systems, Eastman Kodak, Electric Power Research, 2-Fujitsu, 5-General Electric, 4-Hitachi, Honeywell, Hughes Aircraft, IBP Pietzsch, 9-Intel, 10-IBM, Matsushita, MCA Disco-Vision, Motorola, NCR Corporation, 2-RCA, 3-S3 Incorporated, Scientific Atlanta, SGS-Thomson, 2-Sony, Star Technologies, Telaction Corporation 3-Texas Instrument 2-Thomson, Videologic Limited, VLSI Technology, Wang Laboratories, Westinghouse, Wyse Technology, Zenith Electronics
  • For-Ref: Mitsubishi [6510446]
• [6124897] Automatic calibration of analog video chromakey mixer (1996)
  • Rev-Ref: Advanced Micro Devices, Apple [5097257], Bell Communications Research, Bipolar Integrated Technology, 2-Brooktree Corporation, C-Cube, Canon, Cirrus [5832120], Corporate Communications Consultants, PBS, Eastman Kodak, Electric Power Research, Fujitsu, 4-General Electric, 3-Hitachi, Honeywell, IBP Pietzsch, 4-Intel, 6-IBM, Matsushita [5138307], MCA Disco-Vision, NCR, 2-RCA, Ricoh, Scientific Atlanta, 2-Sony, Tektronix, 2-Texas Instrument, Thomson, Time Warner [5463565], Videologic Limited, Wang Laboratories, Wyse Technology
  • For-Ref: Thomson
• [6084909] Encoding a stream of motion picture data (1997)
  • Rev-Ref: Accom, Advanced Micro Devices, Apple [5097257], Bell Communications Research, Bipolar Integrated Technology, 2-Brooktree Corporation, 8-C-Cube, Canon, Casio, PBS, 2-Digital Equipment, DuPont Pixel Systems, Eastman Kodak, Electric Power Research, 2-Fujitsu, 5-General Electric, 4-Hitachi, Honeywell, Hughes Aircraft, IBP Pietzsch, 4-Intel, 10-IBM, Matsushita [5138307], MCA Disco-Vision, NCR, 2-RCA, 3-S3 Incorporated, 2-Scientific Atlanta, 2-Sony, Star Technologies, Telaction, 3-Texas Instrument, 2-Thomson, Time Warner [5463565], Videologic Limited, VLSI Technology, Wang Laboratories, Westinghouse, Wyse Technology, Zenith
  • For-Ref: KDDI Corporation, Matsushita, NEC, STMicroelectronics
• [5797029] Sound board emulation using digital signal processor using data word to determine which operation to perform and writing the result into read communication area (1997)
  • Rev-Ref: Accom, Advanced Micro Devices, Apple [5097257], Bell Communications Research, 2-Brooktree Corporation, 8-C-Cube, Canon, Casio, Compaq, PBS, 2-Digital Equipment, DuPont Pixel Systems, Eastman Kodak, Electric Power Research, 2-Fujitsu, 5-General Electric, 5-Hitachi, Honeywell, Hughes Aircraft, IBP Pietzsch, 3-Intel, 12-IBM, Matsushita [5138307], MCA Disco-Vision, NCR, Pioneer Electronic [5218710], 2-RCA, 3-S3 Incorporated, Scientific Atlanta, 2-Sony, Star Technologies, Telaction, 4-Texas Instrument, 2-Thomson, Videologic Limited, VLSI Technology, Wang Laboratories, 2-Westinghouse, Wyse Technology, Zenith
  • For-Ref: Siemens [7054851]
• [6184936] Multi-function USB capture chip using bufferless data compression (1997)
  • Rev-Ref: 8x8 [5982459], Bipolar Integrated Technology, Cirrus Logic, Harris Corporation, Intel, IBM, Matsushita [5650824], Ricoh [5142380]
  • For-Ref: Grass Valley, Logitech, Winbond
• [6175880] Sound board emulation using digital signal processor (1998)
  • Rev-Ref: Advanced Micro Devices, Bipolar Integrated Technology, Fujitsu, Intel, Ricoh
  • For-Ref: Matsushita, Siemens [510446]
• [6448825] Synchronizing to an input signal (1998)
  • Rev-Ref: 8x8, Advanced Micro Devices, Cirrus Logic, Fujitsu, General Electric, Hughes Aircraft, Intel, 2-IBM, Matsushita, Ricoh, 2-Thomson, Phillips
  • For-Ref: Sharp
• [6690834] Compression of pixel data (1999)
  • Rev-Ref: 8x8, Advanced Micro Devices, 6-C-Cube, Cirrus Logic, Daewoo Electronics, Faroudja Yves C., Fujitsu, Harris Corporation, 2-Intel, 2-IBM, 2-Matsushita, Ricoh
  • For-Ref: none
• [6687770] Controlling consumption of time-stamped information by a buffered system (1999)
  • Rev-Ref: 8x8, Advanced Micro Devices, Bipolar Integrated Technology, C-Cube, Casino, Cirrus Logic, Emulex Corporation, 2-Fujitsu, Harris Corporation, Intel, 2-IBM, Matsushita, Ricoh, Sony, Telefonaktiebolaget, Kohl Group, Thomson
  • For-Ref: none
• [6675297] Generating and using a tamper-resistant encryption key (1999)
  • Rev-Ref: 8x8 [5982459]-1999, Advanced Micro Devices [4675612]-1987, Bell Atlantic, Bipolar Integrated Technology, Cirrus, Fujitsu, Harris Corporation, 3-Intel, 3-IBM, Matsushita, News Datacom, Ricoh
  • For-Ref: none
• [6427203] Accurate high speed digital signal processor (2000)
  • Rev-Ref: Advanced Micro Devices, Apple, Bell Communications Research, Booktree Corporation, 6-C-Cube Microsystems, Canon, PBS, 2-Digital Equipment, DuPont Pixel Systems, Eastman Kodak, Electric Power Research, 2-Fujitsu, 5-General Electric, 4-Hitachi, Honeywell, Hughes Aircraft, IBP Pietzsch, 7-Intel, 8-IBM, John Fluke, Matsushita, MCA Disco-Vision, 2-Motorola, NCR Corporation, Proxim, 2-RCA, Scientific Atlanta, SGS-Thomson, 2-Sony, Star Technologies, Telaction Corporation, 3-Texas Instrument, 2-Thomson, Videologic Limited, Wang Laboratories, Westinghouse, Wyse Technology, Zenith Electronics
  • For-Ref: Samsung Electronics
• [6412024] Sound board emulation using digital signal processor (2000)
  • Rev-Ref: ATI Technologies, Brunswick Bowling, 2-Compaq, Hitachi, 3-IBM, John Fluke, Pioneer Electronic, Proxim, 2-Sony, Survival Technology, Westinghouse Electric
  • For-Ref: Winbond Electronics
• [6275269] Automatic calibration of analog video chromakey mixer (2000)
  • Rev-Ref: Apple, Digital Equipment, Eastman Kodak, Intel, 2-IBM, Matsushita, MCA Disco-Vision, NCR Corporation, RCA, Sony, 2-Texas Instrument, Wyse Technology
  • For-Ref: Atari, ATI Technologies, Basic Software Limited, Canon, Cirrus Logic, Data Translation, 4-Delta America, Digital Equipment, 3-Elonex IP Holdings, 3-Fujitsu, Gizmoz, Hitachi, Kopin Corporation, Mitsubishi, NeoMagic, Sony, U-R Star, Zapa Digital Arts
• [6275263] Multi-function USB video capture chip using bufferless data compression (2000)
  • Rev-Ref: 8x8, Advanced Micro Devices, Cirrus Logic, Fujitsu, Harris Corporation, IBM, Matsushita
  • For-Ref: Grass Valley, Intel, Texas Instrument
• [6654956] Computer program product for synchronizing presentation of digital video data with serving of digital video data (2000)
  • Rev-Ref: 8x8, Advanced Micro Devices, C-Cube Microsystems, 3-Cirrus Logic, Dell, Emulex Corporation, 2-Fujitsu, Harris Corporation, Hitachi, Intel, 2-IBM, 2-Matsushita, Ricoh, 4-Sony, Grass Valley Group
  • For-Ref: ATI Technologies, NEC, Thomson
• [6614486] Multi-function USB video capture chip using bufferless data compression (2001)
  • Rev-Ref: 6-C-Cube Microsystems, Cirrus Logic, Compaq Computer, Faroudja Yves C., Harris Corporation, Matsushita, Ricoh
  • For-Ref: LSI Logic, Texas Instrument
• [6501512] Automatic calibration of analog video chromakey mixer (2001)
  • Rev-Ref: Advanced Micro Devices, Corporate Communications Consultants, PBS, Daewoo Electronics, Digital Equipment, Fujitsu, General Electric, 2-Intel, NCR Corporation, 2-RCA, 2-Thomson
  • For-Ref: none meaningful
• [7034464] Generating light from electromagnetic energy (2002)
  • Rev-Ref: IBM, LG Electronics, Matsushita
  • For-Ref: none

Applications:

• [20020147788] Dynamic preloading of web pages (1996)
  • Issued patent [6584498] filed
  • Assigned to “PlanetWeb, Inc.” – may NOT be the same inventor (Julien T. Nguyen , Redwood City, CA)
• [20020059447] Active electronic mail (1997)
  • Issued patent [6542923]
  • Assigned to “PlanetWeb, Inc.” – may NOT be the same inventor (Julien T. Nguyen , Santa Clara, CA)
• [20020075411] Analog video chromakey mixer (1998)
  • Issued patent [ 6421096 ]
  • – Sigma spelled as “Sigman”
• [20030053702] Compressing digital images (2001)
  • Issued patent [6757429]
  • Assigned to “Boly Media Communications” – may NOT be the same inventor (Xiaoping Hu , San Jose, CA)
• [20020172418] Compressing digital images (2001)
  • Issued patent [6823082]
  • Assigned to “Boly Media Communications” – may NOT be the same inventor (Xiaoping Hu , San Jose, CA)
• [20020141422] Bitwise adaptive encoding using prefix prediction (2001)
  • Will be allowed upon re-write
• [20010043282] Multi-function USB video capture chip using bufferless data compression (2001)
  • Issued patent [6614486] – already accounted for above
• [20020021370] Automatic calibration of analog video chromakey mixer (2001)
  • Issued patent [6501512] – already accounted for above
• [20040105021] Color filter patterns for image sensors (2002)
  • Non-final rejection:
    • [4281338 ] HuTakahashi of Hitachi
      • Solid state color imaging apparatus (8/29/1979)
      • apparatus (8/29/1979) “a color image sensor comprising at least a first color filter for sensing a luminance from an entire spectrum relevant to said color image sensor tessellated with two or more other colors on a same layer wherein said two or more colors respond to overlapping segments of said entire spectrum.”
      • NOTE: this patent has expired and is now for public use
    • [20040222972] Multimedia communication and presentation (2004)
      • Assigned to “PlanetWeb, Inc.” – may NOT be the same inventor (Julien T. Nguyen , Redwood City, CA

US filings by year: [+x] for applications

• 1992 – 1
• 1993 - 0
• 1994 – 4
• 1995 – 1
• 1996 – 5
• 1997 – 3
• 1998 – 2 +1
• 1999 – 3
• 2000 – 5
• 2001 – 2 +1
• 2002 – 1 +1

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