Litigation Quality Patents®

Semiconductor Patent Attorney

Semiconductor innovation is measured in nanometers and design cycles. Craige Thompson, a licensed electrical engineer (PE) and USPTO-registered patent attorney, drafts semiconductor claims that capture device structure, circuit design and process improvements precisely.

Complimentary Patent Needs Assessment See All Industries

What We Protect in Semiconductors

Semiconductor inventions span design, structure and manufacturing. We protect:

Integrated circuit design — Analog, digital and mixed-signal circuits and architectures.
Semiconductor devices — Transistor, memory, sensor and power-device structures.
Fabrication processes — Deposition, etching, lithography, packaging and test methods.
Power semiconductors — Devices and topologies for efficient power conversion and control.
Photonic and optoelectronic devices — LEDs, photodetectors, lasers and optical interconnects.

Process improvements can be hard to detect in a competitor’s product, so we think carefully about which inventions to patent and which to keep as trade secrets, and draft claims that can be enforced in practice.

Related Patent Types

Most semiconductors inventions draw on one or more of the patent types we prepare:

Electrical Patents Other Patent Types

Why Work With Thompson Patent Law

Semiconductor patents need an attorney who can read a layout, a process flow and a datasheet. Craige Thompson is a licensed PE with an electrical engineering degree and more than 20 years of patent experience, so the claims describe your real innovation in terms that will hold up to technical scrutiny.

Have a semiconductor invention to protect?

Tell us about your invention in a Complimentary Patent Needs Assessment. We’ll tell you honestly whether it’s patentable, what it would take to protect it, and what it would cost.

Get a Complimentary Patent Needs Assessment

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a manufacturing process be patented?

Yes. A new and non-obvious fabrication or test process can be patented. Because processes can be hard to detect in a competitor’s product, it is worth deciding case by case whether a patent or a trade secret gives better protection.

Should I patent a circuit, the device structure, or both?

Often both. Circuit claims protect the design, and structural claims protect the physical device. Covering both makes the patent harder to design around.

What is mask work protection?

The Semiconductor Chip Protection Act protects the layout of an integrated circuit (the mask work) for 10 years once registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. It is separate from, and narrower than, patent protection.

Do I need to file abroad?

Semiconductor manufacturing and sales are global, so many clients file in key markets. You generally have 12 months from your first filing to file abroad and claim its priority date.

How long does a semiconductor patent take?

Typically 18 months to 3+ years from filing. Track One prioritized examination can shorten this for an added fee.