Also. . .

* Shares of San Diego-based medical-equipment maker ResMed Inc. fell as much as 6% after a U.S. court dismissed the company’s charge that Respironics Inc. had infringed a sleep timer patent. Shares of San Diego-based ResMed ended the day on the New York Stock Exchange down $1.50 at $32, after falling as low as $31.38 earlier. The U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh had previously dismissed two of the three claims on which ResMed in 1995 brought suit against Respironics for infringement. A fourth infringement claim has not yet been decided. ResMed said it intends to appeal the rulings “at the appropriate time.” Pittsburgh-based Respironics said it expects to prevail.

* Parsons Corp., a Pasadena-based engineering and construction company, said it will acquire ProtectAir Inc., a privately held Canadian company that provides integrated vehicle emissions inspection and compliance services. Privately held Parsons said the acquisition would help it expand its capabilities in specialized and high-technology markets. Terms weren’t disclosed.