Rambus holds patents related to memory architecture and logic, and licenses memory designs to companies. Fujitsu Semiconductor designs and makes integrated circuits, and also manufactures processors, microcontrollers and memory used in a range of products.

Rambus did not disclose the deal's financial details and did not respond to requests for comment.

Rambus in the past sued numerous companies that it claims violated its memory patents and chip technologies. The company is waging a legal battle against Micron Technology and SK Hynix, but has settled cases with Samsung, Nvidia and Mediatek. The memory makers contend that Rambus deceived standards-setting organization the Joint Electron Device Engineering Council (JEDEC) by not disclosing patents while working to create memory standards.

The agreement with Fujitsu Semiconductor shows the strength of Rambus' product portfolio, said Rambus' CEO, Ronald Black, in a statement.

However, Rambus has been in financial trouble, reporting a loss in the most recent fiscal quarter. The company in August also laid off 500 employees in an effort to raise profitability. The company said the layoffs were not tied to the court battles.