Microchip Technology Inc on Friday said it filed a patent infringement lawsuit against ZiLOG Inc, alleging that a line of ZiLOG micro-controller chips infringes three Microchip patents.
The complaint, which was filed in the US District Court for the District of Arizona, alleges that ZiLOG's 8-pin Z8 Encore! XP 4K series of micro-controllers infringes three Microchip patents covering 8-pin micro-controllers.
The suit seeks preliminary and permanent injunctive relief and damages, the company said in a statement.
Microchip introduced its first 8-pin micro-controllers in 1996, it said.
Zilog is a maker of 8-bit micro-controllers used in everything from consumer electronics to cash registers to automobile components.
Spokesmen for both companies were not immediately available to comment.