Taiwan-based connector makers Aces Electronics and Alltop Technology have both recently signed contracts with Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) to license USB 3.0 patents to avoid any possible lawsuits in the future, according to sources from connector players.
Alltop has signed a contract with Foxconn to license USB 3.0 A Type I/O non-exclusive patents, while Aces licensed USB 3.0 A Type Receptacle patents for electronics connector products in July, the sources noted; However, both makers declined to comment about the events.
The sources pointed out that although the current penetration of USB 3.0 is not high, there will be at least 450 million devices equipped with USB 3.0 support in 2012 and the USB 3.0 market is also expected to contribute a a double-digit percentage CAGR in the future, helping the standard to become the mainstream specification in 2015.