EP0978221A1 - Circuitry for dimming a fluorescent lamp - Google Patents
Circuitry for dimming a fluorescent lampInfo
- Publication number
- EP0978221A1 EP0978221A1 EP98924143A EP98924143A EP0978221A1 EP 0978221 A1 EP0978221 A1 EP 0978221A1 EP 98924143 A EP98924143 A EP 98924143A EP 98924143 A EP98924143 A EP 98924143A EP 0978221 A1 EP0978221 A1 EP 0978221A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- frequency
- arrangement according
- circuit arrangement
- circuit
- switches
- 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
Links
- 230000010355 oscillation Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000001208 nuclear magnetic resonance pulse sequence Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000033228 biological regulation Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000003990 capacitor Substances 0.000 description 6
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005669 field effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
- H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
- H05B41/26—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc
- H05B41/28—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc using static converters
- H05B41/282—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc using static converters with semiconductor devices
- H05B41/2821—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc using static converters with semiconductor devices by means of a single-switch converter or a parallel push-pull converter in the final stage
- H05B41/2822—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc using static converters with semiconductor devices by means of a single-switch converter or a parallel push-pull converter in the final stage using specially adapted components in the load circuit, e.g. feed-back transformers, piezoelectric transformers; using specially adapted load circuit configurations
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
- H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
- H05B41/36—Controlling
- H05B41/38—Controlling the intensity of light
- H05B41/39—Controlling the intensity of light continuously
- H05B41/392—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor
- H05B41/3921—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor with possibility of light intensity variations
- H05B41/3927—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor with possibility of light intensity variations by pulse width modulation
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S315/00—Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
- Y10S315/04—Dimming circuit for fluorescent lamps
Definitions
- the invention relates to a circuit arrangement for dimmable operation of a fluorescent lamp, in particular for use in motor vehicles as instrument lighting.
- Corresponding circuit arrangements are known from the prior art, in which the fluorescent lamp is operated at an operating frequency. By switching the operating frequency on and off with a device and thus the lamp with a dimming frequency that is above the visual frequency of the human eye, it is achieved that the human eye has the impression that the fluorescent lamp is of different brightness, depending on the pulse width Dimming frequency.
- the object of the invention is therefore to provide a simply constructed circuit arrangement for dimming a fluorescent lamp.
- This object is achieved in that the device which switches the operating frequency on and off with the dimming frequency, at the same time the supply voltage can be switched on and off with a switching frequency, and the lamp current can thereby be set, the switching frequency being greater than the operating frequency.
- a particularly simple push-pull converter is realized by an oscillating circuit consisting of a capacitance and an inductor, which is connected to a first pole of the supply voltage.
- the resonant circuit can also be connected alternately via two switches directly or via a third switch to the second pole of the supply voltage. The two switches are each connected to the capacitance and / or inductance connections.
- the fluorescent lamp can either be arranged parallel to the inductance and / or capacitance or can be supplied with the operating frequency via a transformer, the primary winding of the transformer advantageously forming the inductance of the resonant circuit.
- the circuit arrangement according to claim 6 specifies a particularly effective regulation of the lamp current, which is nevertheless simple and constructed with few components.
- the positive feedback device in the form of a coil which is applied to the same coil body as the inductor, can be produced easily and simultaneously with the inductor.
- a circuit arrangement in which the operating frequency of the fluorescent lamp approximately corresponds to the resonance frequency of the resonant circuit gives an almost sinusoidal operating frequency with few harmonics. This reduces interference that can emanate from the circuit and thus increases the electromagnetic compatibility of the circuit.
- the current contained in the resonant circuit can be short-circuited and the fluorescent lamp can thus be prevented from shining.
- the current through the circuit can be additionally stabilized and kept sinusoidal.
- FIG. 1 a first circuit with a push-pull converter
- FIG. 2 individual courses of state variables of the circuit from FIG
- FIG. 3 a second circuit with a push-pull converter
- FIG. 4 individual profiles of state variables of the circuit from FIG
- FIG. 5 a third circuit with a push-pull converter
- FIG. 6 individual profiles of the state variables of the circuit from FIG
- the push-pull converter from FIG. 1 has an oscillating circuit consisting of the capacitor C and the coil L, which is connected directly to the positive supply voltage and can be connected alternately to the ground potential via the series inductor Lv and the transistor S3 via the transistors S1, S2.
- the following description assumes that the transistor S3 is turned on, that is to say that the transistors S1, S2 are connected to the second pole of the supply voltage.
- the voltage is also coupled through the coil L1, which is wound on the same coil former as the coil L, and the alternating voltage that occurs alternately blocks the transistors S1, S2 with the oscillation frequency of the resonant circuit.
- the operating point of the two transistors S1, S2 is set via the resistor R.
- the resonant circuit transmits its energy via the transformer, which is formed from the coils L, L1 and L2, to the lamp circuit which, in addition to the coil L2, also has the fluorescent lamp KL, the impedance Z and a shunt SH.
- the voltage is tapped between the fluorescent lamp KL and the shunt SH and fed to the rectifier G.
- the rectified voltage U1 is present at the minus input of the comparator K.
- There is a sawtooth at the positive input of the comparator Voltage U2 with the frequency f3 1: T3, the course of which is shown in FIG. 2b.
- the square wave voltage U3 of the frequency f3 at the output of the comparator K1 is changed in its pulse width W3.
- the pulse width W3 becomes shorter, and correspondingly longer with a smaller current.
- the current setpoint can be set by the level of the delta voltage in Figure 2b.
- the output voltage U3 of the comparator K1 is fed to an input of the AND gate A, while the dimming frequency f2 with the voltage curve U4 is applied to the second input of the AND gate A (FIG. 2a).
- the dimming frequency f2 is rectangular and its pulse width W2 can also be changed.
- the pulse width W2 of the dimming frequency f2 determines the duty cycle of the push-pull converter and thus of the fluorescent lamp KL, as will be described in more detail later.
- the pulse width W2 of the dimming frequency f2 is e.g. either automatically depending on the ambient brightness or manually depending on the desired brightness of the fluorescent lamp KL.
- the voltage U5 is present at the output of the AND gate A.
- the pulse width W2 of the dimming frequency f2 it has switching pulses of pulse width W3 with the switching frequency f3.
- the transistor S3 is turned on with the pulse width W3 during the switching pulses.
- the transistor S3 With the first pulse with the pulse width W3 during a pulse width W2 of the dimming frequency f2, the transistor S3 is switched through.
- this Time IB can flow from the supply voltage source + ÜB into the resonant circuit.
- the resonant circuit begins to oscillate at its resonance frequency.
- transistor S3 blocks, the resonant circuit continues to oscillate and the current stored in the resonant circuit flows through the series reactor Lv and the diode D connected as a freewheeling diode back into the resonant circuit, but decreases accordingly.
- transistor S3 switches through again: current can flow again from the supply voltage source + ÜB into the resonance circuit and the current IB increases during the switch-on time.
- the current fluctuates during the pulse width W2 of the dimming frequency f2 around its mean value IM (FIG. 2 f).
- the current IB is increased or decreased accordingly and the lamp current IL via the transformer.
- the transistor S3 is blocked during the pause time P of the frequency f2.
- the resonant circuit swings out due to its loading by the lamp KL and its own losses, the currents IB and IL become 0 again and the fluorescent lamp goes out.
- the dimming frequency f2 is above the human visual frequency, the fluorescent lamp appears differently bright to the human eye depending on the pulse width W2.
- the fluorescent lamp KL can also be arranged in the primary circuit, for example parallel to the capacitor C. be net, so that the secondary coil L2 can be dispensed with. Furthermore, the voltage for the rectifier G can also be tapped via a shunt in the primary circuit.
- the circuit from FIG. 3 also has an oscillating circuit consisting of the capacitor C and the coil L, which is connected to the positive supply voltage and can be connected alternately to the ground potential via the transistors S4, S5.
- the control device SE is connected via a control line SL1, SL2 to the base of the transistors S4, S5.
- the transistors S4, S5 are alternately driven with the pulse sequences with the switching frequency f3 during the pulse width W2 of the dimming frequency f2 (FIG. 4a), the duration T5 of the individual contiguous pulses for a transistor S4, S5 being half the oscillation period T1 of the resonant circuit is ( Figure 4b, c).
- the resonant circuit oscillates almost sinusoidally, so that only minor disturbing harmonics occur. It is therefore also advantageous if the oscillation period T of the resonance frequency is an even multiple of the oscillation period T3 of the switching frequency f3.
- the oscillation period T1 of the oscillating circuit corresponds to four times the oscillation period T3 of the individual pulses.
- the average current IM in the primary circuit and thus also the lamp current IL in the secondary circuit is set by the pulse width W3 of the individual pulses. If both transistors S4, S5 are turned on at the end of the dimming pulse at time t5 (FIG. 2b, c), the current in the resonant circuit is short-circuited, so that it quickly drops to a zero point and thus switches off the fluorescent lamp KL without uncontrolled afterglow.
- the dimming frequency f2 is only present internally in the control device SE. Their pulse width W2 determines the duty cycle of the resonant circuit and thus the duty cycle of the fluorescent lamp KL.
- the circuit shown in Figure 3 corresponds to a controller.
- individual pulse width values W2 of the dimming frequency f2 for various desired brightnesses and / or operating temperatures can be stored in the memory devices, which are directly present in the memory device SE or which the control device SE can access.
- FIG. 5 shows a fluorescent lamp L, which is connected to a high-voltage capacitor Z with the secondary circuit L2 of a transformer.
- the transformer in its primary circuit L is energized by two push-pull MOSFET transistors S6 and S7, which are controlled by a control device SL, the primary circuit L of the transformer being connected to the operating voltage U B at the same time.
- Each gate G of the transistors S6, S7 is connected to the control device SL.
- the drain D of each transistor S6, S7 leads to the primary winding L of the transformer, the sources S of the MOSFET transistors S6, S7 leading together to a shunt resistor R1 which is connected to ground.
- the control device SL processes a voltage drop across the shunt resistor R1 as an input signal.
- the voltage drop is fed to the inverting input of a comparator K, at the non-inverting input of which there is a reference voltage U REF with a constant value.
- the output of the comparator K is connected to
- the two MOSFET transistors S6, S7 are driven one after the other each with a pulse 1. This triggers the resonant circuit, consisting of the secondary coil L2, the high-voltage capacitor Z and the fluorescent lamp KL.
- the resonant circuit decays according to an e-function (see signal 4, point 2).
- the gas in the cold cathode fluorescent lamp KL can ionize and organize itself during this time.
- the transistors S6, S7 are continuously driven alternately (signal 1 and 2, point 4). From this point on, the cold cathode fluorescent lamp KL emits light immediately (as can be seen from signal 4 in point 3).
- the control device SL drives the MOSFET transistors S6, S7 in pulse form (FIG. 6a, signals 1 and 2).
- the through the MOSFET Transistors S6, S7 current flowing is measured as a voltage drop across the shunt resistor R1 and evaluated by the comparator K2, which emits a low or high signal depending on whether the measured voltage exceeds the reference value or not.
- the output signal of the comparator K2 is logically linked to the signal 1 in the control device SL. This leads to the fact that the MOSFET transistors S6, S7 are turned on or off during the control by the control logic in time with the output signal of the comparator K.
- the two MOSFET transistors S6, S7 are activated simultaneously, as can be seen from FIG. 6b, signal 1 and 2 at time 5.
- the energy is suddenly withdrawn from the resonant circuit L2, Z, KL and the light emission from the cold cathode fluorescent lamp stops immediately.
- This device has the advantage that the flicker-free operation of the fluorescent lamp L is only achieved by the special control of the MOSFET transistors S6, S7. Comprehensive control circuits, as is usually the case, can be dispensed with.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Power Engineering (AREA)
- Discharge-Lamp Control Circuits And Pulse- Feed Circuits (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE1997117309 DE19717309A1 (en) | 1997-04-24 | 1997-04-24 | Fluorescent lamp dimming circuit |
DE19717309 | 1997-04-24 | ||
DE19733939 | 1997-08-06 | ||
DE19733939A DE19733939A1 (en) | 1997-08-06 | 1997-08-06 | Fluorescent lamp dimming circuit |
PCT/EP1998/002290 WO1998048597A1 (en) | 1997-04-24 | 1998-04-17 | Circuitry for dimming a fluorescent lamp |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0978221A1 true EP0978221A1 (en) | 2000-02-09 |
EP0978221B1 EP0978221B1 (en) | 2004-12-22 |
Family
ID=26036062
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP98924143A Expired - Lifetime EP0978221B1 (en) | 1997-04-24 | 1998-04-17 | Circuitry for dimming a fluorescent lamp |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6351080B1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP0978221B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4116092B2 (en) |
DE (1) | DE59812414D1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1998048597A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6946806B1 (en) | 2000-06-22 | 2005-09-20 | Microsemi Corporation | Method and apparatus for controlling minimum brightness of a fluorescent lamp |
US6307765B1 (en) * | 2000-06-22 | 2001-10-23 | Linfinity Microelectronics | Method and apparatus for controlling minimum brightness of a fluorescent lamp |
US7304439B2 (en) | 2001-09-06 | 2007-12-04 | E. Energy Technology Limited | Phase-controlled dimmable electronic ballasts for fluorescent lamps with very wide dimming range |
US6969958B2 (en) * | 2002-06-18 | 2005-11-29 | Microsemi Corporation | Square wave drive system |
US6979959B2 (en) * | 2002-12-13 | 2005-12-27 | Microsemi Corporation | Apparatus and method for striking a fluorescent lamp |
US7061191B2 (en) * | 2003-07-30 | 2006-06-13 | Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. | System and method for reducing flicker of compact gas discharge lamps at low lamp light output level |
DE10340198B4 (en) * | 2003-08-27 | 2009-03-12 | Institut für Mikroelektronik- und Mechatronik-Systeme gGmbH | Circuit arrangement for dimming gas discharge lamps and method for their operation |
US7187139B2 (en) * | 2003-09-09 | 2007-03-06 | Microsemi Corporation | Split phase inverters for CCFL backlight system |
US7183727B2 (en) * | 2003-09-23 | 2007-02-27 | Microsemi Corporation | Optical and temperature feedbacks to control display brightness |
US6969955B2 (en) * | 2004-01-29 | 2005-11-29 | Axis Technologies, Inc. | Method and apparatus for dimming control of electronic ballasts |
US7468722B2 (en) * | 2004-02-09 | 2008-12-23 | Microsemi Corporation | Method and apparatus to control display brightness with ambient light correction |
US7112929B2 (en) * | 2004-04-01 | 2006-09-26 | Microsemi Corporation | Full-bridge and half-bridge compatible driver timing schedule for direct drive backlight system |
US7755595B2 (en) | 2004-06-07 | 2010-07-13 | Microsemi Corporation | Dual-slope brightness control for transflective displays |
US7569998B2 (en) * | 2006-07-06 | 2009-08-04 | Microsemi Corporation | Striking and open lamp regulation for CCFL controller |
US8093839B2 (en) | 2008-11-20 | 2012-01-10 | Microsemi Corporation | Method and apparatus for driving CCFL at low burst duty cycle rates |
Family Cites Families (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4358716A (en) | 1980-04-14 | 1982-11-09 | White Castle System, Inc. | Adjustable electrical power control for gas discharge lamps and the like |
DE3528838A1 (en) * | 1985-08-10 | 1987-02-12 | Diehl Gmbh & Co | IGNITION AND DIMMING CONTROL FOR A FLUORESCENT TUBE |
FR2649277B1 (en) | 1989-06-30 | 1996-05-31 | Thomson Csf | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR GRADING LIGHT FOR A FLUORESCENT LAMP FOR THE REAR LIGHTING OF A LIQUID CRYSTAL SCREEN |
JPH03112096A (en) * | 1989-09-26 | 1991-05-13 | Matsushita Electric Works Ltd | Lighting device for discharge lamp |
JP3196206B2 (en) | 1990-09-25 | 2001-08-06 | 東芝ライテック株式会社 | Discharge lamp lighting device |
US5272327A (en) | 1992-05-26 | 1993-12-21 | Compaq Computer Corporation | Constant brightness liquid crystal display backlight control system |
JPH06333695A (en) * | 1993-05-26 | 1994-12-02 | Sharp Corp | Dimming device |
DE4326415B4 (en) | 1993-08-06 | 2006-04-13 | Siemens Ag | Method for controlling a fluorescent lamp and arrangement for carrying out the method |
EP0673184B1 (en) | 1994-03-16 | 2004-10-27 | Linear Technology Corporation | Fluorescent lamp power supply and control circuit for wide range operation |
DE4437204A1 (en) | 1994-08-31 | 1996-03-07 | Vdo Schindling | Method of operating vehicle instrument fluorescent lamps over wide range of settings |
EP0781500B1 (en) | 1995-07-10 | 2001-12-05 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Circuit arrangement |
JPH09245976A (en) * | 1996-03-01 | 1997-09-19 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Dimmed lighting device for discharge lamp |
US5920155A (en) * | 1996-10-28 | 1999-07-06 | Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. | Electronic ballast for discharge lamps |
-
1998
- 1998-04-17 US US09/402,619 patent/US6351080B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1998-04-17 EP EP98924143A patent/EP0978221B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-04-17 WO PCT/EP1998/002290 patent/WO1998048597A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1998-04-17 DE DE59812414T patent/DE59812414D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1998-04-17 JP JP54500398A patent/JP4116092B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO9848597A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE59812414D1 (en) | 2005-01-27 |
JP2002511181A (en) | 2002-04-09 |
JP4116092B2 (en) | 2008-07-09 |
US6351080B1 (en) | 2002-02-26 |
EP0978221B1 (en) | 2004-12-22 |
WO1998048597A1 (en) | 1998-10-29 |
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