EP0830063A1 - A heater unit for ovens - Google Patents

A heater unit for ovens

Info

Publication number
EP0830063A1
EP0830063A1 EP97914170A EP97914170A EP0830063A1 EP 0830063 A1 EP0830063 A1 EP 0830063A1 EP 97914170 A EP97914170 A EP 97914170A EP 97914170 A EP97914170 A EP 97914170A EP 0830063 A1 EP0830063 A1 EP 0830063A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
door
cavity
oven
heater unit
food
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
EP97914170A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0830063B1 (en
Inventor
Christian Eskildsen
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.)
Electrolux AB
Original Assignee
Electrolux AB
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 Electrolux AB filed Critical Electrolux AB
Publication of EP0830063A1 publication Critical patent/EP0830063A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0830063B1 publication Critical patent/EP0830063B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24CDOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C15/00Details
    • F24C15/32Arrangements of ducts for hot gases, e.g. in or around baking ovens
    • F24C15/322Arrangements of ducts for hot gases, e.g. in or around baking ovens with forced circulation
    • F24C15/327Arrangements of ducts for hot gases, e.g. in or around baking ovens with forced circulation with air moisturising
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24CDOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C15/00Details
    • F24C15/008Illumination for oven cavities
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24CDOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C15/00Details
    • F24C15/02Doors specially adapted for stoves or ranges
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24CDOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C15/00Details
    • F24C15/08Foundations or supports plates; Legs or pillars; Casings; Wheels
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24CDOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C15/00Details
    • F24C15/22Reflectors for radiation heaters
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24CDOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F24C15/00Details
    • F24C15/32Arrangements of ducts for hot gases, e.g. in or around baking ovens
    • F24C15/322Arrangements of ducts for hot gases, e.g. in or around baking ovens with forced circulation
    • F24C15/325Arrangements of ducts for hot gases, e.g. in or around baking ovens with forced circulation electrically-heated

Definitions

  • the inventions concerns a heater unit for ovens for the preparation of food.
  • Ovens for the preparation of food generally consist of a cavity and heating means.
  • the traditional electrical oven has heating elements in conjunction with the walls of the cavity which is made of a heat resistant material, such as sheet metal. These heating means may be supplemented with radiating high temperature heating means, such as a grill.
  • More recent oven constructions circulate the hot air, and in some cases all the energy is supplied as hot air which is generated in a heater unit external to the cavity but connected to it by an inlet and an exhaust . The hot air is re-circulated in the oven-heater unit system, and is reheated before injection.
  • the door unit may be manufactured in a high-technology manufacturing plant with all electrical installations and controls. Such units may be individually tested on test benches which take up much less space than traditional test benches.
  • the manufacture of the oven itself may take place in a low-technology assembly plant where the door is a component connected by hinges and pluggable connections to the rest of the oven.
  • An advantageous embodiment of the invention is particular in that the components comprise a steam generating unit. This means that the whole cooking and baking process may be controlled entirely from the oven door.
  • a further advantageous embodiment is particular in that the cavity is free-standing and transparent. This enables the close supervision of the baking process, and there is no need to peer through the door window. In effect, the door may have no inspection function at all.
  • the lights for the inside of the cavity may also be placed in the door, and a suitable stream of air may prevent condensation on the sides of the transparent cavity.
  • a further advantageous embodiment comprises a radiating heating element in the door, the radiation of which is distributed over the food by means of an infrared reflector.
  • This reflector may perform a scanning motion in order to reach all the food.
  • Fig. 1 shows the principal components in an oven door according to the invention
  • Fig. 2 shows an infrared scanning device.
  • a cavity 1 for an oven Thi ⁇ cavity is quite thin and may be in a transparent material .
  • the cavity is closed by means of an oven door which is hinged at 2.
  • the oven door contains a heating unit consisting of a ventilator 3 rotated by a motor 4 which pulls air from air inlets 5 and 5' and heats it by means of a heating resistance 6.
  • the air is expelled through the flow control grid 7.
  • the temperature inside the oven is sensed by means of the temperature sensor 9, and the operation is controlled from a control panel 10 disposed at the top of the door above the handle 11.
  • the control panel also comprises a control computer for controlling the operation of heater 6 and the velocity of air by controlling the motor 4.
  • the internal wiring is not shown, however by means of plug 12 the door is connected to the oven chassis. This forms the only connection between the chassis and the oven door.
  • the controls also comprise a safety device which disables the heating and ventilator when the door is opened.
  • Fig. 2 a door which is similar to that shown in Fig. 1.
  • the cavity is shown in broken lines 1.
  • a halogen line source 13 is fitted inside a reflector 14.
  • the radiation which is both visible light and infrared is directed towards a reflector 15, from which it is directed towards the food, essentially covering the horizontal plane 16 inside the cavity.
  • the plane reflector 15 is a Fresnel-type reflector (cylindrical, i.e. with straight parallel prismatic reflectors) which is the only practical way to provide in a small space an uneven distribution of radiation in the directions a and b.
  • a greater part of the radiation from the halogen line source is directed towards a and relatively less towards b. This is necessary to provide an even radiation density over the plane 16.
  • a similar distribution may be obtained with a cylindrical curved reflector, however the space taken up by the reflector would be greater.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Electric Stoves And Ranges (AREA)
  • Yarns And Mechanical Finishing Of Yarns Or Ropes (AREA)
  • Tunnel Furnaces (AREA)
  • Electric Ovens (AREA)
  • Resistance Heating (AREA)

Abstract

All components and installations for an oven for food preparation including controls are placed in the oven door. This means that the door can be connected by means of hinges and plugs to any door frame and any cavity. The cavity may be transparent so that the food may be inspected from any angle.

Description

otherhoc
A heater unit for ovens
The inventions concerns a heater unit for ovens for the preparation of food.
Ovens for the preparation of food generally consist of a cavity and heating means. The traditional electrical oven has heating elements in conjunction with the walls of the cavity which is made of a heat resistant material, such as sheet metal. These heating means may be supplemented with radiating high temperature heating means, such as a grill. More recent oven constructions circulate the hot air, and in some cases all the energy is supplied as hot air which is generated in a heater unit external to the cavity but connected to it by an inlet and an exhaust . The hot air is re-circulated in the oven-heater unit system, and is reheated before injection. It has been considered a complex task to redesign an oven to a different volume, because the cavity has to be reconstructed with new inlet and outlet vents, and the utilization of space outside the cavity has to be redesigned. Furthermore the temperature measuring means have to be redesigned and placed differently. This makes the change of models more expensive which reflects in the cost to the consumer or end user.
This situation is redressed by the invention which is particular in that all components, such as heating means, air circulating means, temperature control means, or adjustment means are disposed in the oven door. In this manner it becomes possible to have a completely free hand in designing the cavity which may be made any size smaller than the maximum that the door unit will supply.
The use of the invention also means that the door unit may be manufactured in a high-technology manufacturing plant with all electrical installations and controls. Such units may be individually tested on test benches which take up much less space than traditional test benches. The manufacture of the oven itself may take place in a low-technology assembly plant where the door is a component connected by hinges and pluggable connections to the rest of the oven.
An advantageous embodiment of the invention is particular in that the components comprise a steam generating unit. This means that the whole cooking and baking process may be controlled entirely from the oven door.
A further advantageous embodiment is particular in that the cavity is free-standing and transparent. This enables the close supervision of the baking process, and there is no need to peer through the door window. In effect, the door may have no inspection function at all. The lights for the inside of the cavity may also be placed in the door, and a suitable stream of air may prevent condensation on the sides of the transparent cavity.
A further advantageous embodiment comprises a radiating heating element in the door, the radiation of which is distributed over the food by means of an infrared reflector. This reflector may perform a scanning motion in order to reach all the food.
The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the drawing, in which
Fig. 1 shows the principal components in an oven door according to the invention, and
Fig. 2 shows an infrared scanning device. In Fig. 1 is shown a cavity 1 for an oven. Thiε cavity is quite thin and may be in a transparent material . The cavity is closed by means of an oven door which is hinged at 2. The oven door contains a heating unit consisting of a ventilator 3 rotated by a motor 4 which pulls air from air inlets 5 and 5' and heats it by means of a heating resistance 6. The air is expelled through the flow control grid 7. In order not to heat the outside of the oven door it is insulated as shown at 8. The temperature inside the oven is sensed by means of the temperature sensor 9, and the operation is controlled from a control panel 10 disposed at the top of the door above the handle 11. The control panel also comprises a control computer for controlling the operation of heater 6 and the velocity of air by controlling the motor 4. The internal wiring is not shown, however by means of plug 12 the door is connected to the oven chassis. This forms the only connection between the chassis and the oven door. The controls also comprise a safety device which disables the heating and ventilator when the door is opened.
In Fig. 2 is shown a door which is similar to that shown in Fig. 1. The cavity is shown in broken lines 1. In order to provide radiant heat to the food, a halogen line source 13 is fitted inside a reflector 14. The radiation which is both visible light and infrared is directed towards a reflector 15, from which it is directed towards the food, essentially covering the horizontal plane 16 inside the cavity. The plane reflector 15 is a Fresnel-type reflector (cylindrical, i.e. with straight parallel prismatic reflectors) which is the only practical way to provide in a small space an uneven distribution of radiation in the directions a and b. A greater part of the radiation from the halogen line source is directed towards a and relatively less towards b. This is necessary to provide an even radiation density over the plane 16. A similar distribution may be obtained with a cylindrical curved reflector, however the space taken up by the reflector would be greater.

Claims

P A T E N T C L A I M S
1. A heater unit for ovens for the preparation of food c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that all components, such as heating means, air circulating means, temperature control means, or adjustment means are disposed in the oven door.
2. A heater unit according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the components comprise a steam generating unit.
3. A heater unit according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the cavity is free-standing and transparent.
4. A heater according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that it comprises a radiating heating element in the door, the radiation of which is distributed over the food by means of an infrared reflector.
EP97914170A 1996-03-18 1997-03-18 A heater unit for ovens Expired - Lifetime EP0830063B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DK30296 1996-03-18
DK30296 1996-03-18
PCT/DK1997/000118 WO1997034490A1 (en) 1996-03-18 1997-03-18 A heater unit for ovens

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0830063A1 true EP0830063A1 (en) 1998-03-25
EP0830063B1 EP0830063B1 (en) 2002-08-28

Family

ID=8092019

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97914170A Expired - Lifetime EP0830063B1 (en) 1996-03-18 1997-03-18 A heater unit for ovens

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0830063B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE222696T1 (en)
AU (1) AU2152297A (en)
DE (1) DE69714927D1 (en)
WO (1) WO1997034490A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2019129440A1 (en) 2017-12-26 2019-07-04 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi Profile assembly and electrical connections in a transparent cooker
EP3680558A1 (en) * 2019-01-11 2020-07-15 LG Electronics Inc. Cooking appliance
EP3680559B1 (en) * 2019-01-11 2021-10-13 LG Electronics Inc. Cooking appliance

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19836732A1 (en) * 1998-08-13 2000-02-24 Aeg Hausgeraete Gmbh Temperature indicator and sensor, for oven having glass door, to indicate to cook that door is too hot to touch
DE10019934A1 (en) * 2000-04-20 2001-10-31 We Ma Werkzeug Und Maschb Gmbh Device for a heating oven provided with an oven door
DE10040321A1 (en) 2000-08-17 2002-04-11 Schott Glas Temperature indicator
ITTO20080151A1 (en) 2008-02-29 2009-09-01 Indesit Co Spa DOMESTIC COOKING OVEN
EP3165829A1 (en) 2015-11-03 2017-05-10 Arçelik Anonim Sirketi An oven with improved hot air circulation
EP3165830A1 (en) 2015-11-03 2017-05-10 Arçelik Anonim Sirketi An oven with improved hot air circulation
TR201721973A2 (en) 2017-12-26 2019-07-22 Arcelik As BOTTOM AIR DISTRIBUTION TRANSPARENT COOKER
TR201721951A2 (en) 2017-12-26 2019-07-22 Arcelik As MODULAR AIR DUCT TRANSPARENT COOKER
TR201721835A2 (en) 2017-12-26 2019-07-22 Arcelik As VERTICAL AIR CHANNEL TRANSPARENT COOKER

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1027739A (en) * 1910-09-30 1912-05-28 Wm Heap & Co Electric oven or cooker.
US2668898A (en) * 1949-12-09 1954-02-09 Tropic Aire Inc Electric food broiler
GB1089886A (en) * 1965-03-27 1967-11-08 Fellows Chamberlin Ltd Improvements relating to space heating appliances and doors therefor
US3564201A (en) * 1967-06-14 1971-02-16 Viking Sauna Co Compact sauna unit
GR59813B (en) * 1975-04-25 1978-03-01 Elmetherm Heating door
DE3151094C2 (en) * 1981-12-23 1985-03-07 Bosch-Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH, 7000 Stuttgart oven
FR2592915B1 (en) * 1986-01-15 1989-06-30 Alexandre Andre DOOR BLOCK ASSEMBLY PROVIDED WITH A HEATING ELEMENT.

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9734490A1 *

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2019129440A1 (en) 2017-12-26 2019-07-04 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi Profile assembly and electrical connections in a transparent cooker
EP3680558A1 (en) * 2019-01-11 2020-07-15 LG Electronics Inc. Cooking appliance
EP3680559B1 (en) * 2019-01-11 2021-10-13 LG Electronics Inc. Cooking appliance
EP3973828A1 (en) * 2019-01-11 2022-03-30 LG Electronics Inc. Cooking appliance
EP3974729A1 (en) * 2019-01-11 2022-03-30 LG Electronics Inc. Cooking appliance
US11454401B2 (en) 2019-01-11 2022-09-27 Lg Electronics Inc. Cooking appliance
EP4246045A3 (en) * 2019-01-11 2023-12-06 LG Electronics Inc. Cooking appliance

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1997034490A1 (en) 1997-09-25
AU2152297A (en) 1997-10-10
EP0830063B1 (en) 2002-08-28
DE69714927D1 (en) 2002-10-02
ATE222696T1 (en) 2002-09-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0830063B1 (en) A heater unit for ovens
CN103156532B (en) Combined oven and the method utilizing baking box shell to carry out cooking
KR100793794B1 (en) Cooking Device
KR100793797B1 (en) Heating device and Cooking device having the same
US5805769A (en) Adjustable ellipsoidal reflector for food heating apparatus
CN103155960A (en) Combination oven with catalytic converter
KR20030091964A (en) Speedcooking oven including a convection/bake mode
NZ555424A (en) Space heater with pretreated heat exchanger
US20140151362A1 (en) Method for preheating an oven appliance
US3334620A (en) Radiant oven
KR102514099B1 (en) Cooking apparatus and controlling method thereof
CN109330398A (en) A kind of cooking apparatus
US5994673A (en) Variable volume oven
CN1971141A (en) Microwave oven with electric oven function
CN103486630A (en) Energy-storable heatable lightwave stove, energy-storable heatable electric ceramic stove, induction cooker and pan
US10302309B2 (en) Oven appliance having a broiler assembly
CN106377173A (en) Electric oven with spraying function
US2607877A (en) Heating system
US20190203951A1 (en) Oven appliance with a sensor shield
CN108852032A (en) Multi-functional electric oven
CN110312426A (en) Shelf-type furnace and the system for using shelf-type furnace
US5424511A (en) Electric thermal convection cooktop
CN208941870U (en) A kind of multi-layer rack oven
CN208973514U (en) Multi-functional electric oven
CN206491701U (en) It is a kind of that there is spraying function electric heating stoves

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: 19971215

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

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

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19991130

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

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): AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB IE IT LI LU MC NL SE

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

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20020828

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20020828

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 PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT;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: 20020828

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20020828

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20020828

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20020828

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20020828

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 222696

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 20020915

Kind code of ref document: T

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69714927

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20021002

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

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 FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20021128

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20021128

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 FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20021129

NLV1 Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20030228

ET Fr: translation filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

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: 20030318

Ref country code: IE

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

Effective date: 20030318

Ref country code: GB

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

Effective date: 20030318

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

Ref country code: MC

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

Effective date: 20030331

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

Effective date: 20030530

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

Effective date: 20030318

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: 20031127

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A