Jen-Hsun Huang is the CEO of the US-based chipmaker Nvidia. [Photo/mydrivers.com]

US chipmaker Nvidia has sued rival Qualcomm and handset maker Samsung, saying the two have infringed on its patents on graphics processing technology.

The lawsuit is asking a US court to prevent shipments of Samsung devices, alleging the devices contain graphics technologies from Qualcomm, ARM Holdings, and Imagination Technologies that use patented Nvidia technology without a license.

Imagination also provides graphics technology to Apple.

But Nvidia has not filed suit against ARM, Imagination or Apple.

Samsung says it will fight with Nvidia's lawsuits.

The other companies have not commented.

Nvidia provides graphics technology for high-end personal computers but has struggled to expand into smartphones, a sector dominated by Qualcomm.

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