EP0412137B1 - Magnetic materials for security applications - Google Patents

Magnetic materials for security applications Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0412137B1
EP0412137B1 EP90901612A EP90901612A EP0412137B1 EP 0412137 B1 EP0412137 B1 EP 0412137B1 EP 90901612 A EP90901612 A EP 90901612A EP 90901612 A EP90901612 A EP 90901612A EP 0412137 B1 EP0412137 B1 EP 0412137B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
marker
deactivating
tag
magnetic
active
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP90901612A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0412137A1 (en
Inventor
Dafydd Geraint Davies
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Meto International GmbH
Original Assignee
Esselte Meto International GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=10649786&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0412137(B1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Esselte Meto International GmbH filed Critical Esselte Meto International GmbH
Publication of EP0412137A1 publication Critical patent/EP0412137A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0412137B1 publication Critical patent/EP0412137B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
    • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
    • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
    • G08B13/2405—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting characterised by the tag technology used
    • G08B13/2408—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting characterised by the tag technology used using ferromagnetic tags
    • G08B13/2411—Tag deactivation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
    • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
    • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
    • G08B13/2405—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting characterised by the tag technology used
    • G08B13/2414—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting characterised by the tag technology used using inductive tags
    • G08B13/2417—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting characterised by the tag technology used using inductive tags having a radio frequency identification chip
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
    • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
    • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
    • G08B13/2428—Tag details
    • G08B13/2437—Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
    • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
    • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
    • G08B13/2428—Tag details
    • G08B13/2437—Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags
    • G08B13/2442—Tag materials and material properties thereof, e.g. magnetic material details
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F41/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or assembling magnets, inductances or transformers; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing materials characterised by their magnetic properties
    • H01F41/14—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or assembling magnets, inductances or transformers; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing materials characterised by their magnetic properties for applying magnetic films to substrates
    • H01F41/24—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or assembling magnets, inductances or transformers; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing materials characterised by their magnetic properties for applying magnetic films to substrates from liquids
    • H01F41/26—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or assembling magnets, inductances or transformers; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing materials characterised by their magnetic properties for applying magnetic films to substrates from liquids using electric currents, e.g. electroplating

Definitions

  • This application relates to magnetic materials and their use in tags or markers in systems for security tagging, anti-pilferage, article location and article identification.
  • Anti-pilferage tags or markers are applied to articles of commerce in order to protect them from theft from the sale premises. Similar tags are applied to articles or persons for stock control or identification purposes, being detected when the articles or persons pass or attempt to pass preselected detection stations.
  • the markers are also attached to fixed articles which may be concealed, encased or covered over by other structures or materials; in this case, the articles to which the markers are attached are located by the use of a portable marker detector.
  • magnetic elements of the marker in the form of thin sheets, foils, or films.
  • One is an 'active' magnetic material which has soft magnetic properties, i.e. high permeability and low coercive force (under 100 Am ⁇ 1). It is known from EP-A-0 295 028 to use electrodeposited cobalt-nickel-based alloys as this 'active' magnetic material.
  • the second component is a semi-hard or hard magnetic material, which is often referred to as a 'deactivation' material, and which has a medium permeability and a medium to hard coercive force (over 1000 Am ⁇ 1).
  • the active material produces the detectable signal
  • the semi-hard or hard component produces a switchable dc magnetic field which biases or suppresses the response of the active material under appropriate conditions.
  • Both types of material are currently produced using comparatively expensive alloys and processes to achieve the special magnetic properties required. Examples of current alloys are Vacozet, Vitrovac and Crovac from Vacuumschmeltze in Germany; and Arnokrome from Arnolds in the USA. We have identified materials and processes which may result in cheaper production of the magnetic components.
  • a magnetically active tag or marker which comprises a substrate; an 'active' magnetic material which is a soft magnetic material having a high magnetic permeability and a low coercive force; and a deactivating material which is a hard or semi-hard magnetic material having a moderate or high coercive force and a moderate magnetic permeability, whereby the deactivating material, when subjected to a sufficiently high magnetising force, is able to clamp the magnetic properties of the 'active' material so as to deactivate the 'active' material, characterised in that said deactivating material is electrodeposited nickel.
  • the deactivating material is produced by a technique such as electrodeposition, electroforming or electroless chemical deposition.
  • a technique such as electrodeposition, electroforming or electroless chemical deposition.
  • These processes are advantageous for producing thin foils of material with well-defined properties at low cost. They involve deposition of a metal or metallic alloy film from a liquid containing the metallic ions in solution, such as a nickel sulphamate solution; deposition being driven either by electric current or by chemical catalysis.
  • electroforming the film is formed onto a mould, die, template, tool or mandrel, and may then be removed as a free-standing foil. The addition of small quantities of organic molecules to the working solution is used to control the stress in the electroformed film.
  • the foil is usually deposited onto a metallic or conducting substrate or carrier from which it is not subsequently removed, while in electroless deposition the substrate need not be conducting.
  • a further advantage of using such deposition processes is that the foil may also be formed as discontinuous elements (e.g. dots or islands) or as a sheet with holes, without material cutting or waste, since the area of deposition can be controlled by a simple masking technique. We have discovered that this masking can be achieved either by screen printing of a non-conducting ink or paint onto the metallic substrate, or by the use of an ink roller with a suitable pattern. Alternatively, a reusable mask may be pressed against the substrate during deposition, or photolithographic masking can be used.
  • Another method is to fix non-conducting areas of material such as polymer or resin onto the former or mandrel in the electroforming process.
  • a discontinuous film, or one containing a plurality of holes is advantageous because the non-uniform shape enhances the magnetic effect of the semi-hard or deactivating component in the marking system.
  • a further advantage of these processes is that the magnetic properties are usually isotropic or uniform in the film plane, so that the materials do not have to be specially oriented during manufacture of the markers. The magnetic performance of the components is thus also isotropic, leading to a better performance of the marker.
  • rolled or cast materials tend to have a strong anisotropy - for example, the coercive force may vary by a factor of two for different directions in the film plane, requiring that the material by aligned along specific directions during manufacture of the marker.
  • the crystal grain structure produced by these deposition processes is often columnar in nature, i.e. long thin crystals with the long axis perpendicular to the foil plane. This gives the advantageous isotropic properties in the plane, as referred to above. For some applications, however, it is desirable to have anisotropic properties. We have discovered that this can be achieved by changing the additives to the electrolyte and changing the deposition conditions in order to achieve planar, rather than columnar, crystal growth.
  • the conditions required to achieve planar grain growth (often referred at as a 'bright' deposition) would be known to a person skilled in these deposition techniques.
  • the microscopic magnetic fields associated with the end faces of the columns may lead to unwanted magnetic effects, such as stray magnetic fields, when the material is nominally not magnetised.
  • unwanted magnetic effects such as stray magnetic fields
  • stray magnetic fields when the material is nominally not magnetised.
  • a suitable material for the active or soft magnetic element is eletrodeposited nickel-iron alloy with 60-100% Ni. Low magnetostriction is achieved with Ni at 75-80%. Some subsequent heat treatment may be necessary if it is required to reduce the coercive force of the foil to a value below about 20 Am ⁇ 1.
  • electroformed Ni produced on a drum mandrel can be rapidly and cheaply manufactured without undesirable residual stresses at thicknesses between 2 microns and 100 microns, and with coercive force easily controllable in the range 5000-6000 Am ⁇ 1 without the need for heat treatment.
  • Ni is also highly resistant to corrosion.
  • electroformed Ni foil is also easily cut compared to currently used special alloys, so that pieces or holes may be easily stamped from the foils mechanically.
  • the electrodeposited material is rendered magnetically discontinuous or non-homogeneous by a selective cold-forming or deformation process such as stamping, rolling, processing or embossing.
  • the deformation process changes the magnetic properties, in particular the permeability of the material in the plane of the foil.
  • the purpose of this is that, as described previously, a pattern of changing magnetic properties enhances the structure and efficacy of the magnetic field of the material.
  • the advantage of a deformation process is that it leaves a mechanically continuous foil, with little or no topographic variations, which is simpler and cheaper to handle in subsequent stages such as lamination, and which gives a more uniform surface finish in the final product.
  • the deformation is simple to implement in comparison with foil masking, or cutting or removing pieces from the foil.
  • This Example describes the manufacture of a deactivation material from electroformed nickel foil.
  • a continuous roll of electroformed plain nickel foil having a thickness of 20 microns was purchased from INCO Alloys Ltd in the UK.
  • the foil was then annealed for 24 hours at a temperature of 280 o C, followed by a 24 hour cooling period to room temperature. This reduced the coercive force from 6000 A/m to 2000 A/m, which was the required value for this particular application.
  • the finished material was in the form of a roll of width 50 cm. This roll was then slit to rolls of width 8 mm, and then used as the deactivator supply material for lamination with other components in an anti-pilferage label manufacturing process.
  • This Example describes the manufacture of a hole-permeated foil of deactivation material using an electroforming process.
  • the same electrolytic process and conditions as in Example 1 were used, but the forming mandrel consisted of a titanium drum of width 50 cm, covered with a continuous array (based on a hexagonal lattice) of circular embedded epoxy resin islands of diameter 1.5 mm and centre to centre spacing of 3 mm.
  • the resin was embedded in depressions of the appropriate size machined into the titanium drum to a depth of 1 mm, and the resin was then machined back to be flush with the drum surface.
  • Electroforming the foil on this mandrel produced a 20 micron thick nickel foil which could be produced continuously and which had 1.5mm circular holes the pattern of which corresponded to the pattern of the epoxy resin islands.
  • the foil was then annealed in the manner described in Example 1. Finally, the foil was laminated to a continuous foil-like 'active' magnetic material which had been deposited on a 25 micron polymer film.
  • the advantage of this process is that the active material and the deactivation material may be handled as continuous webs for the lamination process, and thereby facilitated the production of a continuous web which could then be cut into deactivatable anti-pilferage markers of any required size.
  • This Example describes the manufacture of a structurally continuous deactivation foil which is rendered magnetically discontinuous by a selective cold working process.
  • the same nickel foil as that employed in Example 1 was used in this Example.
  • the foil of width 50cm, was fed into a flatbed parallel press as illustrated in Figures 1a and 1b.
  • the press tool consisted of a lower face 1 formed of a mild steel which was machined to be smooth and flat; and an upper face 2 which was formed with a mesh of lines 3 arranged in a square grid array, the side of the square being 2.5cm.
  • the upper face 2 was formed of a tool grade steel, and the square grid pattern 3 was formed by machining the array of grid lines to a depth of 0.5mm. (see Figure 1b).
  • the press tool 1, 2 covered an area of 50cm x 2cm, so that by feeding the nickel foil through the press in a direction normal to the long side of the tool, and advancing the foil in steps of 2cm after each pressing operation, the entire continuous roll of foil could be treated easily.
  • the result of using this press tool was to form a roll of foil carrying a deformation pattern 4 (see Figure 2) throughout its width and length, the pattern conforming to that of the grid array of Fig. 1b.
  • a press force in the range of 20 to 100 tons weight per stroke of the press tool was required.
  • the force was about 50 tons force.
  • Example 2 Below the lower limit of 20 tons, the resultant plastic deformation was insufficient to cause an adequate disruption of any magnetic circuit in the plane of the foil.
  • the resultant continuous foil roll of deactivating material was then laminated to an active magnetic material (in the form of a foil) in a continuous process as described above in Example 2.
  • a nickel foil was pressed with a deformation pattern, as described above in Example 3, but in this Example a rotary embossing-type process was used in place of the flatbed press of Figure 1.
  • the cylindrical rotary roller tools were of similar materials and patterns to those described in Example 2, but lower forces, in the range 2-10 tons force, were necessary because the instantaneous contact area was smaller in this example. This produced a similar material to that described in Example 3 but the foil could be processed more quickly and there was less tool wear in the rotary process.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Soft Magnetic Materials (AREA)
  • Paints Or Removers (AREA)
  • Burglar Alarm Systems (AREA)
  • Hard Magnetic Materials (AREA)
  • Magnetic Treatment Devices (AREA)
  • Electrochromic Elements, Electrophoresis, Or Variable Reflection Or Absorption Elements (AREA)
  • Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
  • Guiding Agricultural Machines (AREA)
  • Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)
  • Valve Device For Special Equipments (AREA)
EP90901612A 1989-01-09 1990-01-09 Magnetic materials for security applications Expired - Lifetime EP0412137B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB898900398A GB8900398D0 (en) 1989-01-09 1989-01-09 Magnetic materials
GB8900398 1989-01-09
PCT/GB1990/000024 WO1990007784A1 (en) 1989-01-09 1990-01-09 Magnetic materials for security applications

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0412137A1 EP0412137A1 (en) 1991-02-13
EP0412137B1 true EP0412137B1 (en) 1994-05-11

Family

ID=10649786

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP90901612A Expired - Lifetime EP0412137B1 (en) 1989-01-09 1990-01-09 Magnetic materials for security applications

Country Status (11)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0412137B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP2582942B2 (ja)
AT (1) ATE105649T1 (ja)
AU (1) AU620198B2 (ja)
BR (1) BR9004571A (ja)
CA (1) CA2024608C (ja)
DE (1) DE69008789T2 (ja)
DK (1) DK0412137T3 (ja)
GB (1) GB8900398D0 (ja)
NO (1) NO903875L (ja)
WO (1) WO1990007784A1 (ja)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DK0774740T3 (da) * 1989-10-31 2003-06-10 Checkpoint Systems Inc Etiket til anvendelse med et elektronisk vareovervågningssystem
AU669014B2 (en) * 1992-12-23 1996-05-23 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Dual status thin-film EAS marker
US5580664A (en) * 1992-12-23 1996-12-03 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Dual status thin-film eas marker having multiple magnetic layers
US5401584A (en) * 1993-09-10 1995-03-28 Knogo Corporation Surveillance marker and method of making same
US5405702A (en) * 1993-12-30 1995-04-11 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Method for manufacturing a thin-film EAS and marker
US5847650A (en) * 1996-10-04 1998-12-08 Knogo North America Inc. Theft resistant circuit assembly
DE19834367A1 (de) 1998-07-30 2000-02-03 Meto International Gmbh Bandmaterial, Sicherungselement und Verfahren zur Herstellung eines Sicherungselements für die elektronische Artikelsicherung
GB2394725A (en) * 2002-10-04 2004-05-05 Qinetiq Ltd Method of forming a magnetic information tag by electroless deposition

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1988002538A1 (en) * 1986-10-02 1988-04-07 The University Of Toronto Innovations Foundation Magnetic recording material

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4484184A (en) * 1979-04-23 1984-11-20 Allied Corporation Amorphous antipilferage marker
NL8102148A (nl) * 1981-05-01 1982-12-01 Philips Nv Magnetisch overdrachtselement alsmede magnetisch permeabel onderdeel voor een magnetisch overdrachtselement.
US4661216A (en) * 1986-04-21 1987-04-28 International Business Machines Corporation Electrodepositing CoNiFe alloys for thin film heads
GB8713353D0 (en) * 1987-06-08 1987-07-15 Scient Generics Ltd Magnetic article surveillance systems
DE3880202T2 (de) * 1987-06-08 1993-08-05 Esselte Meto Int Gmbh Magnetische vorrichtungen.

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1988002538A1 (en) * 1986-10-02 1988-04-07 The University Of Toronto Innovations Foundation Magnetic recording material

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU620198B2 (en) 1992-02-13
JPH03504183A (ja) 1991-09-12
GB8900398D0 (en) 1989-03-08
JP2582942B2 (ja) 1997-02-19
ATE105649T1 (de) 1994-05-15
BR9004571A (pt) 1991-07-30
DE69008789D1 (de) 1994-06-16
DK0412137T3 (da) 1994-06-06
CA2024608C (en) 1997-08-19
EP0412137A1 (en) 1991-02-13
DE69008789T2 (de) 1994-11-24
WO1990007784A1 (en) 1990-07-12
CA2024608A1 (en) 1990-07-10
AU4824890A (en) 1990-08-01
NO903875D0 (no) 1990-09-05
NO903875L (no) 1990-09-05

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
DE3880202T2 (de) Magnetische vorrichtungen.
EP0643376B1 (en) Surveillance marker and method of making same
US5631039A (en) Security thread, a film and a method of manufacture of a security thread
US5368948A (en) Magnetic materials for security applications
US5697649A (en) Articles employing a magnetic security feature
DE3784822T2 (de) Zweistand-artikelueberwachungsetikett, magnetisch mit einem muster zu versehen.
EP0412137B1 (en) Magnetic materials for security applications
US20030051806A1 (en) Security tag and process for making same
AU2002326876A1 (en) Security tag and process for making same
DE102006025485A1 (de) Antennenanordnung sowie deren Verwendung
US4222517A (en) Magnetic marker
US5582924A (en) Magnetic materials for security applications
WO1996004143A1 (en) A security product, a film and a method of manufacture of a security product
WO1995013620A1 (en) Method of patterning magnetic members
WO2006108500A1 (de) Verfahren zum herstellen einer leiterstruktur auf einem substrat
US20010011948A1 (en) Method of manufacturing resonant circuit devices
EP0506933B1 (en) Magnetic property modification
US5166501A (en) Financial transaction cards having tagging element capable of deactivation by application of personalizing data
EP1103036B1 (de) Bandmaterial, sicherungselement und verfahren zur herstellung eines sicherungselements für die elektronische artikelsicherung
DE69328819T2 (de) Doppelstatus-Dünnfilmmarkierung für elektronische Artikelüberwachung
CN1297554A (zh) 形成具有阶跃磁通变化的电子物品监视标记的横向场退火处理
DE19753500A1 (de) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von Streifenelementen für die elektronische Artikelsicherung sowie entsprechendes Streifenelement

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19901204

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: ESSELTE METO INTERNATIONAL PRODUKTIONS GMBH

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19930211

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: ESSELTE METO INTERNATIONAL GMBH

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRE;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.SCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19940511

Ref country code: AT

Effective date: 19940511

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: THE PATENT HAS BEEN ANNULLED BY A DECISION OF A NATIONAL AUTHORITY

Effective date: 19940511

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 105649

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19940515

Kind code of ref document: T

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DK

Ref legal event code: T3

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69008789

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19940616

ET Fr: translation filed
EAL Se: european patent in force in sweden

Ref document number: 90901612.3

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19950131

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DK

Payment date: 20040123

Year of fee payment: 15

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050131

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20050426

Year of fee payment: 16

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20050429

Year of fee payment: 16

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 20050525

Year of fee payment: 16

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20050722

Year of fee payment: 16

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20050728

Year of fee payment: 16

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20050801

Year of fee payment: 16

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 20050802

Year of fee payment: 16

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DK

Ref legal event code: EBP

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20060109

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20060110

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20060131

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20060131

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20060131

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20060131

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20060801

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20060801

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

EUG Se: european patent has lapsed
GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20060109

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 20060801

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20060929

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: *ESSELTE METO INTERNATIONAL G.M.B.H.

Effective date: 20060131