Kyocera Corp. is suing the Japanese arm of South Korean conglomerate Hanwha Group for patent infringement related to technology that maximizes the efficiency of solar batteries.
Kyocera said Thursday it filed the suit against Hanwha Q Cells Japan Co. with the Tokyo District Court after talks on halting the sale of products using the technology failed to progress.
It did not disclose the damages sought.
The Kyoto-based company is negotiating with several other solar battery manufacturers and distributors selling similar products in Japan, with an eye toward suing them as well, Kyocera said.
The patent involves the number, size and precise placing of electrodes on solar cells to reduce electrical resistance and increase the area hit by sunlight, hence improving efficiency.
Hanwha Q Cells Japan, established in 1984, exports and imports a wide range of products including solar batteries, chemical products and automobile components.
A Hanwha official said the company will respond in the near future.