EP0459391B1 - Antenna for portable radio equipment - Google Patents

Antenna for portable radio equipment Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0459391B1
EP0459391B1 EP91108683A EP91108683A EP0459391B1 EP 0459391 B1 EP0459391 B1 EP 0459391B1 EP 91108683 A EP91108683 A EP 91108683A EP 91108683 A EP91108683 A EP 91108683A EP 0459391 B1 EP0459391 B1 EP 0459391B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
antenna
body section
extended
wavelength
portable radio
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
EP91108683A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0459391A3 (en
EP0459391A2 (en
Inventor
Hiroyuki C/O Nec Corporation Iwasaki
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.)
NEC Corp
Original Assignee
NEC Corp
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
Application filed by NEC Corp filed Critical NEC Corp
Publication of EP0459391A2 publication Critical patent/EP0459391A2/en
Publication of EP0459391A3 publication Critical patent/EP0459391A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0459391B1 publication Critical patent/EP0459391B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/08—Means for collapsing antennas or parts thereof
    • H01Q1/10—Telescopic elements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
    • H01Q1/22—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
    • H01Q1/24—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set
    • H01Q1/241—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM
    • H01Q1/242—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM specially adapted for hand-held use
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
    • H01Q1/22—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
    • H01Q1/24—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set
    • H01Q1/241—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM
    • H01Q1/242—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM specially adapted for hand-held use
    • H01Q1/243—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM specially adapted for hand-held use with built-in antennas
    • H01Q1/244—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM specially adapted for hand-held use with built-in antennas extendable from a housing along a given path

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an antenna applicable to various kinds of mobile radio equipment, particularly portable radio equipment.
  • portable radio equipment may be provided with a built-in antenna in addition to the ⁇ /2 antenna, as also proposed in the past.
  • the built-in antenna will be substituted for the ⁇ /2 antenna when the latter is received in the casing of the equipment.
  • the problem with this kind of scheme is that not only the equipment is complicated in construction, but also the built-in antenna increases the overall size of the equipment.
  • US-A-4 860 024 discloses an antenna for a portable radio telephone including an auxiliary antenna element.
  • the telescopic antenna in its extended position outside the case of the radio telephone is used for transmission and reception and in its retracted position within the case for reception only.
  • GB-A-2 213 998 describes an assembly comprising an antenna, connector and impedance matching network.
  • a tubular telescopic antenna is designed such that it constitutes a half wave antenna in a fully extended position, while also constituting a quarter wave antenna in a fully retracted position.
  • the impedance matching network is by-passed in the fully retracted position.
  • EP-A-0 359 361 and EP-A-0 323 726 disclose a retractable cellular antenna and a multi-frequency antenna, respectively, comprising an antenna assembly having telescoping radiating sections and an impedance matching network with concentric outer and inner conductive tubular members.
  • an antenna comprises a telescopic body section having a length which is approximately one half of the wavelength of a carrier frequency used when said body section is extended, characterized in that said telescopic body section has a length of less than one-fourth of said wavelength of said carrier frequency when said body section is retracted and that a matching circuit is connected to one end of said body section when said body section is retracted.
  • the antenna has substantially the same impedance when extended and when retracted.
  • an antenna embodying the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral 10.
  • the antenna 10 has a telescopic conductive tube assembly 12 which resembles a rod and constitutes a body section.
  • a matching section 14 is connected to one end or base end of the tube assembly 12.
  • the tube assembly 12 is made up of a plurality of (three in the embodiment) telescoped tubes 12a, 12b and 12c each having a particular diameter.
  • the tube 12c having the largest diameter is connected to the matching section 14.
  • a feed section 16 incorporated in the body of portable radio equipment is also connected to the matching section 14. In the extended position shown in Fig.
  • the antenna 10 has a length which is approximately one half of the wavelength ⁇ of the carrier or center frequency of the equipment, i.e., it serves as a ⁇ /2 antenna. In the contracted position, the length of the antenna 10 is less than 1/4 of the wavelength ⁇ , and therefore the antenna 10 plays the role of, for example, a ⁇ /8 antenna.
  • the matching section 14 matches the antenna 10 and the body of the equipment with respect to impedance.
  • the matching section 14 also matches the impedance of the antenna 10 and that of the equipment body.
  • the ⁇ /2 and ⁇ /8 antennas are implemented by the single matching section 14.
  • the antenna 10 has a high impedance close to infinity ( ⁇ ).
  • the telescopic tube assembly 12 is sequentially contracted from the position shown in Fig. 1A to a particular length, substantially the same impedance as that of the ⁇ /2 antenna is obtained.
  • a length corresponds to a substantially ⁇ /8 wavelength.
  • the matching section 14, therefore, can set up impedance matching for both of the ⁇ /2 and ⁇ /8 antennas. This allows the power from the feed section 16 to be efficiently radiated via the antenna 10.
  • Fig. 2 shows portable radio equipment 20 having a casing 22 on which the antenna 10 is mounted.
  • the antenna 10 is approximately 0. 17 meter long when extended or 0. 045 meter long when contracted.
  • Fig. 3 plots return loss characteristics particular to the extended and contracted positions of the antenna 10.
  • the abscissa and the ordinate indicate respectively the carrier frequency and the return loss
  • the solid curve and the dashed curve indicate respectively the return loss in the extended position and the return loss in the contracted position.
  • the return loss change substantially in the same manner in both of the extended and contracted positions with respect to frequency, i. e. , impedances are successfully matched in both of the extended and contracted positions.
  • the matching section 14 has a so-called L circuit configuration constituted by a coil L and a capacitor C. Looking into the antenna 10 from a point X, the impedance is extremely high, as stated earlier. In light of this, the impedance matching between the antenna 10 and the feed section 16 is set up by the coil or inductance element L and the capacitor or reactance element C which are interposed between the feed point Y of the feed section 16 and the point X.
  • the characteristic impedance Z o at the feed point Y is 50 ohms. It is to be noted that the capacitor C is omissible if, looking into the feed point Y from the point X, the impedance is higher than the characteristic impedance Z o .
  • Figs. 5A and 5B show directivity characteristics in the horizontal plane particular to the antenna 10 as measured in the extended or ⁇ /2 position and the contracted or ⁇ /8 position, respectively.
  • solid curves each is representative of the directivity characteristic of the main polarization. It will be seen that in both of the ⁇ /2 wavelength position shown in Fig. 5A and the ⁇ /8 wavelength position shown in Fig. 5B the antenna 10 has substantially the same directivity characteristic approximate to 0 dBd in the +X and -X directions. Further, the directivity characteristic of the antenna 10 in the contracted position is comparable even with the directivity characteristic particular to a contracted ⁇ /4 helical whip antenna in the +X and -X directions, as shown in Fig. 6.
  • the carrier frequency f o was 870 megahertz
  • the telescopic tube assembly 12 was approximately 170 millimeters long when extended or approximately 45 millimeters long when contracted
  • the tubes 12c and 12a had diameters of 6 millimeter and 2 millimeter, respectively.
  • the present invention provides an antenna for portable radio equipment which serves as a ⁇ /2 wavelength long antenna when extended or as a less than ⁇ /4 wavelength long antenna, e.g., a ⁇ /8 antenna when contracted. Both of such antenna configurations have their impedances matched by a single matching circuit. The antenna radiates power efficiently in the horizontal plane.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Support Of Aerials (AREA)
  • Details Of Aerials (AREA)
  • Transceivers (AREA)

Description

  • The present invention relates to an antenna applicable to various kinds of mobile radio equipment, particularly portable radio equipment.
  • It is a common practice to provide portable radio equipment with a whip antenna whose length is one half of the wavelength λ of the carrier or center frequency particular to the equipment, i.e., λ/2. Such a λ/2 wavelength long whip antenna insures a relatively high gain of the order of 0 dBd (dipole ratio) in the horizontal plane and causes a minimum of decrease in gain even when the equipment is brought closer to the human body. Such an antenna, however, lacks portability since its element is as long as λ/2 wavelength. To eliminate this problem, portable radio equipment capable of receiving the λ/2 antenna in the casing thereof has been proposed in the past. This, however, brings about another problem that the λ/2 antenna practically fails to play the role of an antenna when received in the casing. In light of this, portable radio equipment may be provided with a built-in antenna in addition to the λ/2 antenna, as also proposed in the past. The built-in antenna will be substituted for the λ/2 antenna when the latter is received in the casing of the equipment. Nevertheless, the problem with this kind of scheme is that not only the equipment is complicated in construction, but also the built-in antenna increases the overall size of the equipment.
  • US-A-4 860 024 discloses an antenna for a portable radio telephone including an auxiliary antenna element. The telescopic antenna in its extended position outside the case of the radio telephone is used for transmission and reception and in its retracted position within the case for reception only.
  • GB-A-2 213 998 describes an assembly comprising an antenna, connector and impedance matching network. A tubular telescopic antenna is designed such that it constitutes a half wave antenna in a fully extended position, while also constituting a quarter wave antenna in a fully retracted position. The impedance matching network is by-passed in the fully retracted position.
  • EP-A-0 359 361 and EP-A-0 323 726 disclose a retractable cellular antenna and a multi-frequency antenna, respectively, comprising an antenna assembly having telescoping radiating sections and an impedance matching network with concentric outer and inner conductive tubular members.
  • It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an antenna for portable radio equipment which is free from the drawbacks particular to the conventional λ/2 antenna as discussed above.
  • It is another object of the present invention to provide an antenna for portable radio equipment which has a telescopic body section to selectively serves as either one of a λ/2 wavelength long antenna and a less than λ/4 wavelength long antenna.
  • It is another object of the present invention to provide an antenna for portable radio equipment which radiates power effectively in the horizontal plane at all times and insures a relatively high gain of the order of 0 dBd.
  • It is another object of the present invention to provide an antenna for portable radio equipment which has a single matching circuit capable of matching both a λ/2 wavelength long antenna and a less than λ/4 wavelength long antenna with respect to impedance.
  • In accordance with the present invention, an antenna comprises a telescopic body section having a length which is approximately one half of the wavelength of a carrier frequency used when said body section is extended, characterized in that said telescopic body section has a length of less than one-fourth of said wavelength of said carrier frequency when said body section is retracted and that a matching circuit is connected to one end of said body section when said body section is retracted. Especially the antenna has substantially the same impedance when extended and when retracted.
  • The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings in which:
    • Figs. 1A and 1B are views showing an antenna embodying the present invention in an extended position and a contracted position, respectively;
    • Fig. 2 is a perspective view of portable radio equipment implemented with the illustrative embodiment;
    • Fig. 3 plots return loss characteristics particular to the extended and contracted positions of the embodiment;
    • Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a specific construction of a matching section included in the embodiment;
    • Figs. 5A and 5B are charts showing respectively the directivity characteristics in the horizontal plane particular to the extended position and the contracted position of the embodiment; and
    • Fig. 6 shows a curve representative of a directivity characteristic in the horizontal plane particular to a conventional contracted λ/4 wavelength long helical whip antenna.
  • Referring to Figs. 1A and 1B of the drawing, an antenna embodying the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral 10. As shown, the antenna 10 has a telescopic conductive tube assembly 12 which resembles a rod and constitutes a body section. A matching section 14 is connected to one end or base end of the tube assembly 12. The tube assembly 12 is made up of a plurality of (three in the embodiment) telescoped tubes 12a, 12b and 12c each having a particular diameter. The tube 12c having the largest diameter is connected to the matching section 14. A feed section 16 incorporated in the body of portable radio equipment is also connected to the matching section 14. In the extended position shown in Fig. 1A, the antenna 10 has a length which is approximately one half of the wavelength λ of the carrier or center frequency of the equipment, i.e., it serves as a λ/2 antenna. In the contracted position, the length of the antenna 10 is less than 1/4 of the wavelength λ, and therefore the antenna 10 plays the role of, for example, a λ/8 antenna.
  • When the antenna 10 is extended to serve as a λ/2 antenna, the matching section 14 matches the antenna 10 and the body of the equipment with respect to impedance. When the antenna 10 is contracted to play the role of, for example, a λ/8 antenna, the matching section 14 also matches the impedance of the antenna 10 and that of the equipment body. Stated another way, the λ/2 and λ/8 antennas are implemented by the single matching section 14. Specifically, in the extended or λ/2 position shown in Fig. 1A, the antenna 10 has a high impedance close to infinity (∞). As the telescopic tube assembly 12 is sequentially contracted from the position shown in Fig. 1A to a particular length, substantially the same impedance as that of the λ/2 antenna is obtained. Such a length corresponds to a substantially λ/8 wavelength. The matching section 14, therefore, can set up impedance matching for both of the λ/2 and λ/8 antennas. This allows the power from the feed section 16 to be efficiently radiated via the antenna 10.
  • Fig. 2 shows portable radio equipment 20 having a casing 22 on which the antenna 10 is mounted. In the illustrative embodiment, the antenna 10 is approximately 0. 17 meter long when extended or 0. 045 meter long when contracted. Fig. 3 plots return loss characteristics particular to the extended and contracted positions of the antenna 10. In Fig. 3, the abscissa and the ordinate indicate respectively the carrier frequency and the return loss, while the solid curve and the dashed curve indicate respectively the return loss in the extended position and the return loss in the contracted position. As the curves indicate, the return loss change substantially in the same manner in both of the extended and contracted positions with respect to frequency, i. e. , impedances are successfully matched in both of the extended and contracted positions.
  • Referring to Fig. 4, a specific construction of the matching section 14 will be described. As shown, the matching section 14 has a so-called L circuit configuration constituted by a coil L and a capacitor C. Looking into the antenna 10 from a point X, the impedance is extremely high, as stated earlier. In light of this, the impedance matching between the antenna 10 and the feed section 16 is set up by the coil or inductance element L and the capacitor or reactance element C which are interposed between the feed point Y of the feed section 16 and the point X. The characteristic impedance Zo at the feed point Y is 50 ohms. It is to be noted that the capacitor C is omissible if, looking into the feed point Y from the point X, the impedance is higher than the characteristic impedance Zo.
  • Figs. 5A and 5B show directivity characteristics in the horizontal plane particular to the antenna 10 as measured in the extended or λ/2 position and the contracted or λ/8 position, respectively. In these figures, solid curves each is representative of the directivity characteristic of the main polarization. It will be seen that in both of the λ/2 wavelength position shown in Fig. 5A and the λ/8 wavelength position shown in Fig. 5B the antenna 10 has substantially the same directivity characteristic approximate to 0 dBd in the +X and -X directions. Further, the directivity characteristic of the antenna 10 in the contracted position is comparable even with the directivity characteristic particular to a contracted λ/4 helical whip antenna in the +X and -X directions, as shown in Fig. 6.
  • Regarding the parameters used to determine the directivity characteristics shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, the carrier frequency fo was 870 megahertz, the telescopic tube assembly 12 was approximately 170 millimeters long when extended or approximately 45 millimeters long when contracted, and the tubes 12c and 12a had diameters of 6 millimeter and 2 millimeter, respectively.
  • In summary, it will be seen that the present invention provides an antenna for portable radio equipment which serves as a λ/2 wavelength long antenna when extended or as a less than λ/4 wavelength long antenna, e.g., a λ/8 antenna when contracted. Both of such antenna configurations have their impedances matched by a single matching circuit. The antenna radiates power efficiently in the horizontal plane.

Claims (6)

  1. An antenna comprising:
    a telescopic body section (12) having a length which is approximately one half of the wavelength of a carrier frequency used when said body section (12) is extended, characterized in that said telescopic body section (12) has a length of less than one-fourth of said wavelength of said carrier frequency when said body section (12) is retracted and that a matching circuit (14) is connected to one end of said body section when said body section is retracted.
  2. An antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body section comprises a conductive tube assembly made up of a plurality of telescoped conductive tubes.
  3. An antenna as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plurality of conductive tubes each has a particular diameter.
  4. An antenna as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein said conductive tube assembly is approximately 0.17 meter long when extended or approximately 0. 045 meter long when retracted.
  5. An antenna as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the length of said body section is approximately one-eighth of said wavelength when retracted.
  6. An antenna as claimed in claim 5, wherein the length of said body section is selected such that said body section has substantially the same impedance when extended and when retracted.
EP91108683A 1990-05-29 1991-05-28 Antenna for portable radio equipment Expired - Lifetime EP0459391B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP137125/90 1990-05-29
JP13712590A JPH0432305A (en) 1990-05-29 1990-05-29 Antenna

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0459391A2 EP0459391A2 (en) 1991-12-04
EP0459391A3 EP0459391A3 (en) 1992-03-04
EP0459391B1 true EP0459391B1 (en) 1997-02-19

Family

ID=15191406

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91108683A Expired - Lifetime EP0459391B1 (en) 1990-05-29 1991-05-28 Antenna for portable radio equipment

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0459391B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH0432305A (en)
AU (1) AU640787B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2043321C (en)
DE (1) DE69124714T2 (en)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2703670B2 (en) * 1991-04-12 1998-01-26 三菱電機株式会社 Antenna device
JP2503856B2 (en) * 1993-01-29 1996-06-05 日本電気株式会社 Antenna for portable radio
US5717408A (en) * 1995-12-18 1998-02-10 Centurion International, Inc. Retractable antenna for a cellular telephone
KR100285950B1 (en) * 1997-12-26 2001-04-16 윤종용 Method for emboding antenna circuit of mobile phone for reducing an influence of human body
KR100605817B1 (en) * 2004-06-01 2006-08-01 삼성전자주식회사 Antenna apparatus for sliding type portable terminal
CN101740849B (en) * 2010-01-26 2013-06-12 华为终端有限公司 Multi-band antenna

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0323726A2 (en) * 1987-12-25 1989-07-12 Nippon Antenna Co., Ltd. Multi-frequency antenna
US4890114A (en) * 1987-04-30 1989-12-26 Harada Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Antenna for a portable radiotelephone
EP0359361A1 (en) * 1988-08-03 1990-03-21 Alliance Research Corporation Retractable cellular antenna

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6094507A (en) * 1983-10-28 1985-05-27 Fujitsu Ten Ltd Variable length whip antenna
GB2213998B (en) * 1987-12-23 1991-06-12 Technophone Ltd Antenna, connector and impedance matching network assembly
JPH01105237U (en) * 1987-12-28 1989-07-14
US4868576A (en) * 1988-11-02 1989-09-19 Motorola, Inc. Extendable antenna for portable cellular telephones with ground radiator

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4890114A (en) * 1987-04-30 1989-12-26 Harada Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Antenna for a portable radiotelephone
EP0323726A2 (en) * 1987-12-25 1989-07-12 Nippon Antenna Co., Ltd. Multi-frequency antenna
EP0359361A1 (en) * 1988-08-03 1990-03-21 Alliance Research Corporation Retractable cellular antenna

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACT OF JAPAN, vol. 9, no. 244 (E346) 25 May 1985 & JP-A-60 94 507 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69124714T2 (en) 1997-06-26
EP0459391A3 (en) 1992-03-04
AU640787B2 (en) 1993-09-02
AU7804191A (en) 1991-12-05
DE69124714D1 (en) 1997-03-27
CA2043321C (en) 1997-08-19
EP0459391A2 (en) 1991-12-04
CA2043321A1 (en) 1991-11-30
JPH0432305A (en) 1992-02-04

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
AU753669B2 (en) Dual band antenna for radio terminal
US4730195A (en) Shortened wideband decoupled sleeve dipole antenna
EP0613207B1 (en) Antenna for a radio communication apparatus
EP0885470B1 (en) Antenna for a radio telecommunications device
US5353036A (en) Dual antenna assembly with antenna retraction inactivation
US4121218A (en) Adjustable antenna arrangement for a portable radio
US6310578B1 (en) Multiple band telescope type antenna for mobile phone
US5945964A (en) Multi-band antenna structure for a portable radio
US6054962A (en) Dual band antenna
RU2177660C2 (en) Dual-band antenna for mobile communications
JP2764348B2 (en) Antenna device for portable device
CA2074015C (en) Miniature antenna
US5673053A (en) Antenna coupling device for coupling an antenna of a hand-portable telephone to a remotely located antenna
JPH0770896B2 (en) Extendable antenna system and portable radio using the same
US6034648A (en) Broad band antenna
JP3300844B2 (en) Dual function antenna structure and portable wireless device having this antenna structure
EP0718909B1 (en) Retractable top load antenna
JP2002500456A (en) Retractable radiotelephone antenna with extended feeder
EP0459391B1 (en) Antenna for portable radio equipment
US6008765A (en) Retractable top load antenna
GB2326531A (en) Capacitive coupling for combined helical and whip antenna
US2866197A (en) Tuned antenna system
JP3230841B2 (en) Variable length whip antenna
JPH07326920A (en) Antenna assembly for portable transceiver
JP2896391B2 (en) Antenna device

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: 19910626

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): DE GB IT SE

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): DE GB IT SE

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19940720

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE GB IT SE

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69124714

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19970327

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 19970506

Year of fee payment: 7

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19970730

Year of fee payment: 7

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
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: 19980529

EUG Se: european patent has lapsed

Ref document number: 91108683.3

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: 19990302

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20000524

Year of fee payment: 10

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: 20010528

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20010528

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 NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES;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.

Effective date: 20050528