EP0734043A1 - Doppel-Gate-Flaches Bildschirm - Google Patents

Doppel-Gate-Flaches Bildschirm Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0734043A1
EP0734043A1 EP96410030A EP96410030A EP0734043A1 EP 0734043 A1 EP0734043 A1 EP 0734043A1 EP 96410030 A EP96410030 A EP 96410030A EP 96410030 A EP96410030 A EP 96410030A EP 0734043 A1 EP0734043 A1 EP 0734043A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
grid
addressed
cathode
comb
rows
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP96410030A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0734043B1 (de
Inventor
Bernard Bancal
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.)
Pixtech SA
Original Assignee
Pixtech SA
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 Pixtech SA filed Critical Pixtech SA
Publication of EP0734043A1 publication Critical patent/EP0734043A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0734043B1 publication Critical patent/EP0734043B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J29/00—Details of cathode-ray tubes or of electron-beam tubes of the types covered by group H01J31/00
    • H01J29/46—Arrangements of electrodes and associated parts for generating or controlling the ray or beam, e.g. electron-optical arrangement
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J31/00—Cathode ray tubes; Electron beam tubes
    • H01J31/08—Cathode ray tubes; Electron beam tubes having a screen on or from which an image or pattern is formed, picked up, converted, or stored
    • H01J31/10—Image or pattern display tubes, i.e. having electrical input and optical output; Flying-spot tubes for scanning purposes
    • H01J31/12—Image or pattern display tubes, i.e. having electrical input and optical output; Flying-spot tubes for scanning purposes with luminescent screen
    • H01J31/123—Flat display tubes
    • H01J31/125—Flat display tubes provided with control means permitting the electron beam to reach selected parts of the screen, e.g. digital selection
    • H01J31/127—Flat display tubes provided with control means permitting the electron beam to reach selected parts of the screen, e.g. digital selection using large area or array sources, i.e. essentially a source for each pixel group

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the production of a flat display screen. It applies more particularly to a flat screen of the type comprising an electron bombardment cathode of an anode carrying phosphor elements. It is, for example, a fluorescent screen in which an electronic emission is obtained by extraction of electrons from microtips or from a thin film, for example a carbon-diamond film.
  • FIG. 1 represents the functional structure of a flat screen with microtips of the type to which the invention relates.
  • Such a microtip screen essentially consists of a cathode 1 with microtips 2 and a grid 3 provided with holes 4 corresponding to the locations of the microtips 2.
  • the cathode 1 is placed opposite a cathodoluminescent anode 5 including a substrate of glass 6 constitutes the screen surface.
  • the cathode 1 is organized in columns and consists, on a substrate 10 for example of glass, of cathode conductors organized in meshes from a conductive layer.
  • the microtips 2 are produced on a resistive layer 11 deposited on the cathode conductors and are arranged inside the meshes defined by the cathode conductors.
  • FIG. 1 partially represents the interior of a mesh, the cathode conductors do not appear in this figure.
  • the cathode 1 is associated with the grid 3 which is it organized in rows, an insulating layer (not shown) being interposed between the cathode conductors and the grid 3. The intersection of a row of the grid 3 and a column of cathode 1 defines a pixel.
  • This device uses the electric field created between the cathode 1 and the grid 3 so that electrons are extracted from the microtips 2 towards phosphor elements 7 of the anode 5 by crossing an empty space between electrodes 12.
  • the anode 5 is provided with alternating bands of phosphor elements 7, each corresponding to a color (Blue, Red, Green). The strips are separated from each other by an insulator 8.
  • the phosphor elements 7 are deposited on electrodes 9, consisting of corresponding strips of a transparent conductive layer such as indium tin oxide (ITO) .
  • ITO indium tin oxide
  • the sets of blue, red and green bands are alternately polarized with respect to the cathode 1, so that the electrons extracted from the microtips 2 of a pixel of the cathode / grid are alternately directed towards the phosphor elements 7 opposite each other colours.
  • the display of an image is carried out by suitably polarizing the anode, the cathode and the grid by means of control electronics (not shown).
  • the rows of the grid 3 are sequentially polarized at a potential of the order of 80 volts while the strips of phosphor elements (for example 7g in Figure 1) to be excited are biased under a voltage of the order of 400 volts, the other bands (for example 7r and 7b in Figure 1) being at zero potential.
  • the columns of cathode 1, the potential of which represents for each row of grid 3 the brightness of the pixel defined by the intersection of the column of cathode and of the row of grid in the color considered, are brought to potentials respective between a maximum emission potential and a non-emission potential (for example, 0 and 30 volts respectively).
  • the choice of the values of the polarization potentials is linked to the characteristics of the phosphor elements 7 and of the microtips 2. Conventionally, below a potential difference of 50 volts between the cathode 1 and the grid 3, there is no electronic emission and the maximum emission used corresponds to a potential difference of 80 volts.
  • a drawback of conventional screens is that the individual addressing of the rows of the grid 3 requires one connection per row to the control electronics.
  • the control electronics must therefore include one output stage per grid row, which increases the cost.
  • the output stages associated with the grid must, in addition, withstand voltages of up to 100 volts, which makes them relatively expensive.
  • the silicon surface being proportional to the square of the breakdown voltage, such output stages, produced in the form of an integrated circuit, require relatively large surfaces.
  • connection per row of grids prohibits the production of high definition screens and small dimensions because of the minimum pitch which it is necessary to maintain between two connections of two neighboring rows. Indeed, the connection for steps less than about 200 ⁇ m is very difficult to achieve.
  • the present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a flat display screen in which the number of output stages and connections intended for addressing the grid is less than the number of lines on the screen.
  • the invention also aims to allow the realization of a high definition screen and small dimensions.
  • the invention further aims to propose the production of such a flat display screen which does not require modification of the cathode and the anode, nor of the elements of the control electronics associated with the cathode or the anode.
  • the present invention provides a flat display screen of the type comprising a cathode organized in columns of electronic bombardment of an anode provided with phosphor elements, and comprising a first grid organized in rows capable of being addressed individually and a second grid consisting of at least two combs of alternating tracks parallel to said rows of said first grid, the same row of said first grid being associated with a track of each comb and the intersection of each track with a column of the cathode defining one pixel of the screen.
  • the display of an image is effected, in an interlaced manner, by sequentially addressing said rows of the first grid for the duration of an alternative addressing of said combs of the second grid.
  • the columns of the cathode are addressed simultaneously to each row of the first grid, their potential being a function of the desired brightness for the pixel defined by their intersection with the track of the addressed comb of the second. grid which is plumb with the current row.
  • the polarization potentials of said combs are chosen so that the tracks of an addressed comb focus, towards the anode, the electrons emitted by the columns of the cathode to plumb with the track of said focusing comb associated with an addressed row, and so that the tracks of a comb which is not addressed collect the electrons emitted by the columns of the cathode in line with the track of said collecting comb associated with the addressed row.
  • the potential of a focusing comb is greater than the potential of the rows of the first grid which are not addressed, the potential of a collecting comb being less than the potential of the rows of the first grid. that are not addressed.
  • the pitch of the rows of the first grid is dimensioned as a function of the minimum pitch to be respected between the individual connections of these rows to a control electronics, the number of combs of the second grid being chosen according to the desired definition for the screen.
  • said grids are applied to a color screen whose anode is provided with three sets of alternating strips of phosphor elements each corresponding to a color.
  • said grids are applied to a monochrome screen whose anode consists of phosphor elements of a single type.
  • the main idea of the present invention is to associate with the screen cathode two superimposed grids and addressed differently.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates, by a top view of a cathode plate / grid of a microtip screen, an embodiment of the present invention.
  • a first grid 20 is similar to the grid (3, FIG. 1) with which conventional screens are provided, except that the width of its rows 21 corresponds to at least two pixels of the screen.
  • the rows 21 of this first grid 20 are addressed individually and are therefore connected individually by one of their ends to a control electronics (not shown).
  • a second grid 23 is attached to this first grid.
  • This second grid 23 consists of at least two combs 24 and 25 of alternating conductive tracks, 26 and 27 respectively.
  • One track of each comb is plumb with a row 21 of the first grid 20 so that each row 21 is covered with two tracks 26 and 27 of the second grid 23.
  • all the tracks 26, respectively 27, are capable of being addressed simultaneously by being connected together to the control electronics.
  • a pixel of the screen is here defined by the intersection of a column, or a conductor 28, of the cathode 1 with a track 26 or 27 of the second grid 23.
  • the rows 21 of the first grid 20 and the tracks 26 and 27 of the second grid 23 are provided with holes 4 at the location of the microtips arranged on conductors 28 of the cathode 1 organized in columns.
  • holes 4 For the sake of clarity, only one hole 4 per pixel has been represented in FIG. 2 whereas in practice the number of holes 4 corresponds to the number of microtips and is several thousand per pixel. Likewise, the mesh of the cathode conductors 28 has not been shown.
  • Each grid is, for example, made up of a layer of niobium etched according to the appropriate pattern.
  • An insulating layer, etched directly above each microtip, is interposed between the cathode 1 and the first grid 20 and, between the first grid 20 and the second grid 23.
  • each comb 24 or 25 of the second grid 23 is to allow, alternately, depending on whether or not it is addressed, the focusing of the electrons emitted by the microtips which are plumb with the row 21 addressed from the first grid 20 and of track 26, respectively 27, addressed, or the collection of electrons emitted by the microtips which are vertically aligned with row 21 addressed and track 27, respectively 26, not addressed.
  • the display of an image takes place during a frame time (for example 20 ms) by suitably polarizing the anode, the cathode and the grids by means of the control electronics.
  • a frame time for example 20 ms
  • the bands of phosphor elements 7 of the anode 5 are sequentially polarized, during a frame, by sets of bands of the same color, that is to say for a duration of sub-frame corresponding to one third of the frame time (for example 6.6 ms).
  • the display is carried out line by line but in an interlaced manner, during each sub-frame.
  • the other comb (for example 25) of the second grid 23 is addressed and again, sequentially, all the rows 21 of the first grid 20 are addressed during a "row time" during which each column 28 of the cathode 1 is brought to a potential which is a function of the brightness of the pixel to be displayed along the track (for example 27) associated with the current row 21 in the color considered.
  • a "line time” (for example 13.7 ⁇ s) corresponds to the duration of a sub-frame divided by the number of rows 21 of the first grid 20 multiplied by the number of combs of the second grid 23.
  • FIG. 3 shows, partially and in exploded perspective, a conductor 28 of the cathode 1 and the two grids 20 and 23 according to the invention.
  • FIG. 3 shows, partially and in exploded perspective, a conductor 28 of the cathode 1 and the two grids 20 and 23 according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows, partially and in exploded perspective, a conductor 28 of the cathode 1 and the two grids 20 and 23 according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows, partially and in exploded perspective, a conductor 28 of the cathode 1 and the two grids 20 and 23 according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows, partially and in exploded perspective, a conductor 28 of the cathode 1 and the two grids 20 and 23 according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows, partially and in exploded perspective, a conductor 28 of the cathode 1 and the two grids 20 and 23 according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows, partially and in exploded perspective, a conductor 28 of the ca
  • the potential V G of a row 21 of the first grid 20 which is addressed is, as for conventional screens, for example of 80 volts while it is 0 volts for the rows 21 which are not addressed.
  • the potential V K of the columns 28 of the cathode is, as for conventional screens, for example between 0 and 30 volts depending on the desired brightness for the pixel considered.
  • the potential V f of the tracks of an addressed comb is greater than the potential of the rows 21 which are not addressed. If the first grid 20 is polarized between 0 and 80 volts, we will choose, for example, a potential V f of the order of 5 volts for the focusing comb.
  • the potential V c thereof is lower than the potential of the rows 21 which are not addressed. If the first grid 20 is polarized between 0 and 80 volts, we will choose, for example, a potential V c of the order of -5 volts for the collector comb.
  • the number of combs of the second grid 23 is chosen according to the number of output stages, or connections, desired for the grids and / or the desired definition for the screen in the direction of the columns 28 of the cathode 1 and / or the form in which the luminance setpoints arrive in the control electronics.
  • the second grid 23 consists of three combs with one comb per color.
  • the second grid 23 has a greater number of combs. For example, it is conceivable that the scanned image is saved in a frame memory whose content can easily be read in jumps of eight. It is then advantageously possible to provide eight combs for the second grid 23 and thus make it possible to view eight successive interlaced subframes.
  • An advantage of the present invention is that for a screen of a given number N of lines, the number of output stages of the control electronics associated with the gates, therefore of connections of the gates to the control electronics, is of M + N / M, where M represents the number of combs of the second grid 23. In the example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the number of output stages and connections necessary for the grids is almost halved .
  • a screen, according to the invention, of 288 rows by 360 columns, the second grid of which has two combs can be produced by using 146 (144 for rows 21 and 2 for combs 24 and 25) output stages and connections associated with the gates.
  • Another advantage of the present invention is that it makes it possible to reduce the number of output stages and connections without modifying the structure of the cathode and the anode of the screen, nor of the associated control electronics. at the cathode and at the anode.
  • Another advantage of the present invention is that it makes it possible to produce screens of high definition and of small dimensions, where at least one of the dimensions of a pixel is less than the minimum pitch between the connections of the grid rows.
  • the implementation of the invention makes it possible to increase the definition of the screen, at least in the direction perpendicular to the rows of the grid, by a factor of M corresponding to the number of combs of the second grid 23. In the example shown in Figures 2 and 3, this amounts to doubling the definition of the screen in that direction.
  • the connections of the cathode columns and / or the first grid must be allow.
  • a square screen of 1024 pixels side can, according to the invention, be produced on a surface of 10 cm side.
  • the pixel pitch is then of the order of 0.1 mm.
  • the pitch of rows 21 of the first grid is 0.2 mm, which is compatible with the minimum pitch of conventional connections.
  • Each track 26 or 27 of the second grid 23 has, for example, a width of the order of 75 ⁇ m and two neighboring tracks are spaced about 25 ⁇ m apart.
  • the invention also applies to a fluorescent screen, the cathode of which is formed from a film, for example of carbon-diamond, of electronic emission.

Landscapes

  • Cathode-Ray Tubes And Fluorescent Screens For Display (AREA)
  • Control Of Indicators Other Than Cathode Ray Tubes (AREA)
EP96410030A 1995-03-22 1996-03-21 Doppel-Gate-Flaches Bildschirm Expired - Lifetime EP0734043B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9503570A FR2732159B1 (fr) 1995-03-22 1995-03-22 Ecran plat de visualisation a double grille
FR9503570 1995-03-22

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0734043A1 true EP0734043A1 (de) 1996-09-25
EP0734043B1 EP0734043B1 (de) 2000-05-31

Family

ID=9477451

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96410030A Expired - Lifetime EP0734043B1 (de) 1995-03-22 1996-03-21 Doppel-Gate-Flaches Bildschirm

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US5764204A (de)
EP (1) EP0734043B1 (de)
JP (1) JPH08293273A (de)
DE (1) DE69608598T2 (de)
FR (1) FR2732159B1 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0854493A1 (de) * 1997-01-16 1998-07-22 International Business Machines Corporation Kathode für eine Bildanzeigevorrichtung

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR0160321B1 (ko) * 1994-04-28 1998-12-01 박현승 평면가스표시관
FR2748348B1 (fr) * 1996-05-06 1998-07-24 Pixtech Sa Ecran couleur a micropointes a double grille
FR2758642B1 (fr) * 1997-01-20 1999-02-26 Gec Alsthom Transport Sa Systeme pour le controle de l'affichage d'une information
US6133893A (en) * 1998-08-31 2000-10-17 Candescent Technologies, Inc. System and method for improving emitter life in flat panel field emission displays
JP5044113B2 (ja) * 2005-10-04 2012-10-10 日本放送協会 冷陰極装置、電界放出型ディスプレイ、及び電界放出型ディスプレイの駆動方法

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3935500A (en) * 1974-12-09 1976-01-27 Texas Instruments Incorporated Flat CRT system
FR2708380A1 (fr) * 1993-05-28 1995-02-03 Futaba Denshi Kogyo Kk Dispositif d'affichage d'images et circuit de commande associé.
FR2712426A1 (fr) * 1993-09-30 1995-05-19 Futaba Denshi Kogyo Kk Dispositif d'affichage fluorescent à émission de champ et méthode de commande de ce dispositif.
EP0660368A1 (de) * 1993-12-22 1995-06-28 Gec-Marconi Limited Feldemissionselektronenvorrichtung

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2568394B1 (fr) * 1984-07-27 1988-02-12 Commissariat Energie Atomique Dispositif de visualisation par cathodoluminescence excitee par emission de champ
US5557296A (en) * 1989-06-01 1996-09-17 U.S. Philips Corporation Flat-panel type picture display device with insulating electron-propagation ducts
US5012153A (en) * 1989-12-22 1991-04-30 Atkinson Gary M Split collector vacuum field effect transistor
US5625253A (en) * 1990-05-24 1997-04-29 U.S. Philips Corporation Flat-panel type picture display device
US5191217A (en) * 1991-11-25 1993-03-02 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for field emission device electrostatic electron beam focussing
JPH0745218A (ja) * 1993-05-26 1995-02-14 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 平面型画像表示装置

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3935500A (en) * 1974-12-09 1976-01-27 Texas Instruments Incorporated Flat CRT system
FR2708380A1 (fr) * 1993-05-28 1995-02-03 Futaba Denshi Kogyo Kk Dispositif d'affichage d'images et circuit de commande associé.
FR2712426A1 (fr) * 1993-09-30 1995-05-19 Futaba Denshi Kogyo Kk Dispositif d'affichage fluorescent à émission de champ et méthode de commande de ce dispositif.
EP0660368A1 (de) * 1993-12-22 1995-06-28 Gec-Marconi Limited Feldemissionselektronenvorrichtung

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0854493A1 (de) * 1997-01-16 1998-07-22 International Business Machines Corporation Kathode für eine Bildanzeigevorrichtung
US5889372A (en) * 1997-01-16 1999-03-30 International Business Machines Corporation Device cathode with extractor grid for display

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69608598D1 (de) 2000-07-06
EP0734043B1 (de) 2000-05-31
US5764204A (en) 1998-06-09
FR2732159B1 (fr) 1997-06-13
DE69608598T2 (de) 2001-02-08
FR2732159A1 (fr) 1996-09-27
JPH08293273A (ja) 1996-11-05

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0704877B1 (de) Elektrischer Schutz von einer Anode eines flachen Bildschirms
EP0155895B1 (de) Verfahren zur Herstellung flacher Bildwiedergabeschirme und nach diesem Verfahren hergestellte Schirme
FR2568394A1 (fr) Dispositif de visualisation par cathodoluminescence excitee par emission de champ
FR2709375A1 (fr) Dispositif d'affichage d'images et circuit de commande associé.
FR2633765A1 (fr) Ecran fluorescent a micropointes ayant un nombre reduit de circuits d'adressage et procede d'adressage de cet ecran
EP0734043B1 (de) Doppel-Gate-Flaches Bildschirm
EP0867912A1 (de) Montieren von Abstandshältern in einer flachen Anzeigetafel
EP1139374A1 (de) Kathodenplatte für einen flachen Bildschirm
EP0734042B1 (de) Anode eines flachen Bildschirms mit Widerstandsstreifen
FR2714209A1 (fr) Dispositif d'affichage.
EP0649162B1 (de) Flaches Kaltkathodeanzeigegerät mit geschalteter Anode
EP0817232B1 (de) Verfahren zur Regenerierung von Mikrospitzen einer flachen Anzeigetafel
EP1210721B1 (de) Flache feldemissionsanzeigevorrichtung mit modulationselektrode
EP0806788A1 (de) Anode eines flachen Bildschirms mit Schutzring
EP0747875B1 (de) Steuerverfahren für eine flache Anzeigetafel
EP0844642A1 (de) Flaches Bildschirm mit fokussierenden Gittern
EP0877407A1 (de) Anode eines flachen Bildschirms
FR2735265A1 (fr) Commutation d'une anode d'ecran plat de visualisation
EP0844643A1 (de) Flaches Bildschirm mit seitlicher Ablenkung
FR2800512A1 (fr) Ecran plat de visualisation a grille de protection
EP0905670A1 (de) Vereinfachung einer Mikrospitzen-Anzeige mit einer Rücksetzungselektrode
FR2761522A1 (fr) Uniformisation de l'emission electronique potentielle d'une cathode d'ecran plat a micropointes
FR2704967A1 (fr) Ecran plat à micropointes à anode doublement commutée.
FR2770338A1 (fr) Elimination de l'effet de moire d'un ecran plat de visualisation
FR2790861A1 (fr) Dispositif d'attaque pour dispositif luminescent a emission par effet de champ

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

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19970305

111Z Information provided on other rights and legal means of execution

Free format text: DE FR GB IT

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19990705

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 FR GB IT

GBT Gb: translation of ep patent filed (gb section 77(6)(a)/1977)

Effective date: 20000612

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69608598

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20000706

RAP2 Party data changed (patent owner data changed or rights of a patent transferred)

Owner name: PIXTECH S.A.

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
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: GB

Payment date: 20030916

Year of fee payment: 8

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

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20030930

Year of fee payment: 8

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20030930

Year of fee payment: 8

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: 20040321

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: 20041001

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

Effective date: 20040321

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: 20041130

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

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: 20050321