3M has filed suit against several big electronics companies, including Sony and Lenovo Group, for allegedly violating two patents related to lithium-ion battery technology.

In a suit filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court of Minnesota, 3M charged Sony, Lenovo, Matsushita Industrial Electric, Panasonic of North America, Hitachi, CDW and others of violating patents related to the composition of the cathode, or positive electrode, used in lithium-ion batteries they manufactured, imported or sold in the United States.

3M is seeking financial damages an injunction from the court to stop the companies from infringing its battery patents.

"3M has suffered, and will continue to suffer, irreparable injury and damages," the company said in the complaint, asking that it be awarded treble damages for the harm allegedly caused by the defendants.

A Sony spokesman in Tokyo declined to comment, saying the company is still gathering information related to the suit. Matsushita also declined to comment, saying it had not yet received a copy of 3M's complaint.

Attempts to contact representatives at other companies named as defendants in the lawsuit were not immediately successful.