EP1713307B1 - Elément chauffant à couche épaisse - Google Patents

Elément chauffant à couche épaisse Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1713307B1
EP1713307B1 EP06013593A EP06013593A EP1713307B1 EP 1713307 B1 EP1713307 B1 EP 1713307B1 EP 06013593 A EP06013593 A EP 06013593A EP 06013593 A EP06013593 A EP 06013593A EP 1713307 B1 EP1713307 B1 EP 1713307B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
heater
track
resistance
bridge
power density
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
EP06013593A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1713307A3 (fr
EP1713307A2 (fr
Inventor
Martin Charles Critchley
Colin Peter Moughton
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.)
Strix Ltd
Original Assignee
Strix Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=10859151&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP1713307(B1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Strix Ltd filed Critical Strix Ltd
Publication of EP1713307A2 publication Critical patent/EP1713307A2/fr
Publication of EP1713307A3 publication Critical patent/EP1713307A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1713307B1 publication Critical patent/EP1713307B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H05ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05BELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B1/00Details of electric heating devices
    • H05B1/02Automatic switching arrangements specially adapted to apparatus ; Control of heating devices
    • H05B1/0227Applications
    • H05B1/0252Domestic applications
    • H05B1/0258For cooking
    • H05B1/0269For heating of fluids
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H05ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05BELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B1/00Details of electric heating devices
    • H05B1/02Automatic switching arrangements specially adapted to apparatus ; Control of heating devices
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H05ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05BELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B3/00Ohmic-resistance heating
    • H05B3/20Heating elements having extended surface area substantially in a two-dimensional plane, e.g. plate-heater
    • H05B3/22Heating elements having extended surface area substantially in a two-dimensional plane, e.g. plate-heater non-flexible
    • H05B3/26Heating elements having extended surface area substantially in a two-dimensional plane, e.g. plate-heater non-flexible heating conductor mounted on insulating base
    • H05B3/262Heating elements having extended surface area substantially in a two-dimensional plane, e.g. plate-heater non-flexible heating conductor mounted on insulating base the insulating base being an insulated metal plate
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H05ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05BELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B3/00Ohmic-resistance heating
    • H05B3/20Heating elements having extended surface area substantially in a two-dimensional plane, e.g. plate-heater
    • H05B3/22Heating elements having extended surface area substantially in a two-dimensional plane, e.g. plate-heater non-flexible
    • H05B3/26Heating elements having extended surface area substantially in a two-dimensional plane, e.g. plate-heater non-flexible heating conductor mounted on insulating base
    • H05B3/265Heating elements having extended surface area substantially in a two-dimensional plane, e.g. plate-heater non-flexible heating conductor mounted on insulating base the insulating base being an inorganic material, e.g. ceramic
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F15FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
    • F15BSYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F15B2211/00Circuits for servomotor systems
    • F15B2211/70Output members, e.g. hydraulic motors or cylinders or control therefor
    • F15B2211/71Multiple output members, e.g. multiple hydraulic motors or cylinders
    • F15B2211/7107Multiple output members, e.g. multiple hydraulic motors or cylinders the output members being mechanically linked
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H05ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05BELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B2203/00Aspects relating to Ohmic resistive heating covered by group H05B3/00
    • H05B2203/013Heaters using resistive films or coatings
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H05ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05BELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B2203/00Aspects relating to Ohmic resistive heating covered by group H05B3/00
    • H05B2203/017Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H05ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05BELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B2203/00Aspects relating to Ohmic resistive heating covered by group H05B3/00
    • H05B2203/021Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to electric heaters and in particular to electric heaters of the type comprising a resistive track provided on an insulating substrate.
  • Such heaters are used or have been proposed for use in a variety of applications, for example in domestic appliances such as water heating vessels, water heaters and irons.
  • an insulating layer eg of glass, ceramic, or glass ceramic (hereinafter collectively referred to as "glass") is provided on a metallic base such as a plate (which may for example form a part of the base of a liquid heating vessel) and the resistive track laid down on the insulating layer, usually by a printing technique.
  • the base may be a solid ceramic body.
  • a further electrical insulating layer may be applied over the track to protect it and prevent corrosion and oxidation.
  • Such heaters are termed “thick film” heaters in the art.
  • the heater should not be allowed to seriously overheat in a fault condition since this may cause substantial damage not only to the device or appliance in which it is being used, but also, potentially, to users thereof.
  • the track fails due to a current in excess of the track's current carrying capability passing through a section of track when the bridge becomes sufficiently conductive at elevated temperatures. It has been found that in such a situation, the track section may fuse at any point along its length depending, for example on how accurately the track has been laid down and so on. Furthermore, when the track fails, an arc is generated. This arc is highly conductive and is mobile in a magnetic field and may, therefore, be drawn to other components such as control components. The arc may even damage the insulating layer on which the track is provided, leading potentially to the heater being live after failure. This is potentially dangerous and such a system would not meet present day safety standards.
  • the present invention improves on the above proposals and provides an electrical resistance or heater as defined by claim 1.
  • the invention achieves this goal by providing means which concentrates locally the current flowing through the section of track which will fail.
  • the present invention therefore allows a more controlled failure of the track.
  • the current concentrator is preferably arranged away from any current carrying or earthed parts e.g. of a control associated with the heater.
  • the current concentration can be achieved in a number of ways. Preferably, however, it is achieved by reducing locally the width of the track.
  • the track may be waisted in to achieved the desired concentration, but preferably the effect is achieved by providing a hole, for example a circular hole, through the track. This hole will then act as a focus for the failure of the track.
  • the severe overheat protection bridge is also applied as an overglaze bridging the appropriate track sections.
  • the bridge is positioned over abutting track section ends.
  • a "self protecting" heater will self protect in a severe overheat condition depends on the temperature of the heater in the region of the bridge of material. The hotter the heater becomes, the hotter the bridge becomes and the more quickly it will reach the temperature at which it will pass a failure current. In the context of say a water heating vessel such as a kettle, it is quite clearly important to prevent premature failure of the heater, particularly in a time before any primary overheat protection such as a bimetallic actuator has operated.
  • the eg glass bridge By placing the eg glass bridge in a lower power density area of the heater, the temperature rise of that region in an overheat situation will lag behind the temperature rise in adjacent higher power density areas, thereby providing a longer time to failure.
  • the position of the bridge should still be such that the heater will fail in that location rather than elsewhere. Accordingly, if a separate overglaze is provided over the heater track, it should be chosen such that breakdown does not occur elsewhere on the track first.
  • the lower power density region is flanked by higher power density areas.
  • the lower power density area is provided in a radially intermediate section of the heater track, with at least the radially outer regions of the track having a higher power density.
  • the bridge may be applied locally between adjacent track sections or over the whole track.
  • a thick film planar heater 2 embodying the present invention.
  • the heater comprises a 0.5 mm thick stainless steel substrate 4 on which is deposited in a conventional manner an insulating layer 6 and heating track 8.
  • the insulating layer 6 is made from of Dupont 3500 ink and is about 85 microns thick (+/- 10 microns).
  • the resistive heating track 8 laid down on the insulating layer 6 is made from a blend of Dupont F/612/F629 resistive inks and is about 13 microns (+/- 2 microns) thick.
  • the resistive heating track 8 is made up of a series of eight concentric arcuate track sections 8a, 8b....8h whose ends are joined by silver links 10. Such a track configuration is disclosed in general terms in Applicant's WO98/366182 .
  • Track sections 8a, 8b, 8c and 8h extend substantially completely around the heater while the other track portions are subdivided into generally semi-circular portions.
  • One end of track 8e is connected by a silver track 14 to a silver pad 16 for receiving a silver contact (not shown), and one end of track 8d is connected to a further contact receiving pad 18 by a silver link 20.
  • the contacts mounted on the pads eg by soldering, receive a 230V (or other voltage) supply.
  • the outer diameter of the outermost track 8a is about 60mm, the gap between adjacent tracks being about 0.5 mm.
  • the total power of this element is 1000W at 230V AC, the power contribution of each track portion being given in Figure 2 .
  • the width of the track portions 8a to 8h varies from the edge of the element to its centre.
  • the outermost track portion 8a is the narrowest, the track width increasing towards the track portions 8e and 8f in the radially central region, before decreasing again towards the innermost track portion 8h.
  • power density is inversely proportional to the track width, the power density decreases from a maximum at track 8a to a minimum at tracks 8e - 8f and then increases to a second, local maximum in track 8h.
  • the effect of this width distribution is to reduce the tendency of the insulating layer 6 to microcrack in an severe overheat situation.
  • a "self protecting" glaze bridge 22 about 7mm wide and 4 mm long.
  • This bridge 22 is printed from ESL 4771G material and is about 13 microns (+/- 2 microns)thick. It will be seen that the bridge 22 is arranged over the track portions connected to the respective ends of the track 8 so that a relatively large voltage drop occurs over the bridge 22. In fact, the bridge is arranged at about 61 mm from the end of track 8e and about 30mm from the end of track. This produces a voltage difference of about 208 V across the bridge.
  • a hole 24 approximately 1mm in diameter is provided in the section of the track 8d between the bridge 22 and the end of the track 8d linked to the contact pad 18.
  • the whole element is overprinted with protective glaze eg of Dupont 3500 to a thickness of eg 13 microns +/- 2 microns.
  • the heater shown is mounted for example in the base of a liquid heating vessel such as a kettle. Should the kettle boil dry or be switched on without any water in the kettle, then the temperature of the heater will rise very quickly due to the high power rating of the heater and its low thermal mass. Should any primary overheat protection such as a bimetallic actuator fail to operate then the temperature of the heater will continue to rise. However at a certain predetermined temperature, the conductivity of the self protecting overglaze bridge 22 will rise to the point where it effectively short circuits the majority of the track resulting in a very high current passing through the track sections 8d and 8e bridged by the track.
  • the resistance of these track sections is about 5 ⁇ , leading to a current flowing through the sections of about 46 amps, which is well above the normal operating current of about 4.35 amps and well in excess of the current carrying capability of the track sections. Accordingly, one or both of these track sections will fail.
  • the current is, however, sufficiently low to prevent domestic fuses from blowing or earth leakage trips from operating. In general it has been found that a current at failure of between 10 and 15 A/mm produces a satisfactory failure.
  • the track section 8d will in fact fail due to the presence of the hole 24. This acts to concentrate locally the current flowing through the track so that the region around the hole 24 will be much greater than elsewhere in the section 8d causing failure to occur in that region.
  • the bridge 22 is provided between relatively wide track sections. This acts to reduce the power density in the region of the bridge which means that the bridge will not get as hot as surrounding regions. This has the effect of increasing the time taken to reach the breakdown temperature of the bridge 22, thereby prolonging the time before the heater fails. This is advantageous in that it reduces the likelihood of the heater failing before a primary overheat protector operates.
  • the time in which the heater self protects is about 8 seconds. This is well above the 4 seconds as would be expected for the operating time of a primary overheat protection bimetal so that the heater will not prematurely fail in the event of overheating say in a dry boil or dry switch on situation in a kettle or the like. It is, however below the time at which the insulating substrate of the heater will break down, leading to a safe failure mode.
  • the invention allows a controlled failure of the heater in a severe overheat situation in a manner which reduces the likelihood of the heater breaking down to neutral or earth.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Resistance Heating (AREA)
  • Surface Heating Bodies (AREA)
  • Control Of Resistance Heating (AREA)
  • Measuring Volume Flow (AREA)
  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
  • Electrodes For Cathode-Ray Tubes (AREA)
  • Saccharide Compounds (AREA)
  • Non-Adjustable Resistors (AREA)
  • Design And Manufacture Of Integrated Circuits (AREA)
  • Semiconductor Integrated Circuits (AREA)

Claims (12)

  1. Résistance ou filament chauffant électrique (2) du type comportant une piste résistive à film épais (8) agencée sur un substrat isolant (4), deux sections prédéterminées (8e, 8d) de ladite piste (8) ayant une capacité d'acheminement de courant prédéterminée étant mises en pont localement par l'intermédiaire d'un pont (22) d'un matériau en verre lequel, à une température prédéterminée, devient suffisamment conducteur pour amener un courant de défaillance à circuler à travers au moins l'une desdites sections (8d), caractérisé en ce que ladite section de piste (8d) est munie de moyens pour concentrer localement le courant circulant à travers elle, de sorte qu'une défaillance survient dans une position prédéterminée sur ladite section de piste (8d).
  2. Résistance ou filament chauffant selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la concentration de courant est obtenue en réduisant localement la largeur de la section de piste (8d).
  3. Résistance ou filament chauffant selon la revendication 2, dans lequel un trou (24) est agencé à travers la section de piste (8d).
  4. Résistance ou filament chauffant selon la revendication 3, dans lequel le trou (24) a un diamètre d'approximativement 1 mm.
  5. Résistance ou filament chauffant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les moyens de concentration de courant sont agencés dans ladite section de piste (8d) entre le pont (22) et l'extrémité de la section de piste (8d).
  6. Résistance ou filament chauffant électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ledit pont (22) est appliqué en tant que pont discret.
  7. Résistance ou filament chauffant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le pont (22) est appliqué en tant que glaçure mettant en pont les sections de piste (8c, 8d).
  8. Résistance ou filament chauffant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le pont (22) est positionné sur les extrémités de la section de piste venant en butée (8e, 8d).
  9. Résistance ou filament chauffant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le pont (22) de matériau est agencé dans une région du filament chauffant (2) qui a une densité de puissance relativement faible.
  10. Résistance ou filament chauffant selon la revendication 9, dans lequel ladite région de densité de puissance relativement faible est encadrée par des zones de densité de puissance plus élevée.
  11. Résistance ou filament chauffant selon la revendication 9 ou 10, dans lequel la zone de densité de puissance plus faible est agencée dans une section radicalement intermédiaire du filament chauffant (2).
  12. Résistance ou filament chauffant selon la revendication 11, dans lequel au moins les régions radicalement externes de la piste du filament chauffant (8) ont une densité de puissance plus élevée.
EP06013593A 1999-08-13 2000-08-14 Elément chauffant à couche épaisse Expired - Lifetime EP1713307B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9919205A GB2353457B (en) 1999-08-13 1999-08-13 Electric heaters
EP00953316A EP1121835B1 (fr) 1999-08-13 2000-08-14 Organe chauffant a film mince

Related Parent Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00953316.7 Division 2000-08-14
EP00953316A Division EP1121835B1 (fr) 1999-08-13 2000-08-14 Organe chauffant a film mince

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1713307A2 EP1713307A2 (fr) 2006-10-18
EP1713307A3 EP1713307A3 (fr) 2006-12-06
EP1713307B1 true EP1713307B1 (fr) 2010-12-15

Family

ID=10859151

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06013593A Expired - Lifetime EP1713307B1 (fr) 1999-08-13 2000-08-14 Elément chauffant à couche épaisse
EP00953316A Expired - Lifetime EP1121835B1 (fr) 1999-08-13 2000-08-14 Organe chauffant a film mince

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00953316A Expired - Lifetime EP1121835B1 (fr) 1999-08-13 2000-08-14 Organe chauffant a film mince

Country Status (10)

Country Link
EP (2) EP1713307B1 (fr)
CN (3) CN2461236Y (fr)
AT (2) ATE492139T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU6583000A (fr)
DE (2) DE60034019T2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2284516T3 (fr)
GB (1) GB2353457B (fr)
HK (1) HK1040590A1 (fr)
RU (1) RU2001111004A (fr)
WO (1) WO2001013680A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2373157B (en) * 2001-03-05 2004-12-15 Strix Ltd Thick film heaters and resistances
DE202007011746U1 (de) 2007-08-22 2007-10-31 Günther Heisskanaltechnik Gmbh Elektrische Heizung zum Erwärmen von im Wesentlichen zylindrischen Objekten
NL2001690C2 (en) * 2008-06-16 2009-12-17 Otter Controls Ltd Device and method for generating steam, and heating element for use in such a device.
CN111698799A (zh) * 2020-05-14 2020-09-22 佛山市也牛科技有限公司 烹饪用非金属发热盘及其制备方法和加热装置

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9302965D0 (en) 1993-02-15 1993-03-31 Strix Ltd Immersion heaters
GB2296847B (en) * 1994-11-30 1999-03-24 Strix Ltd Electric heaters
DE69719318T2 (de) * 1996-04-18 2003-09-04 Strix Ltd Elektrische heizelemente
GB2322274B (en) * 1997-02-17 1999-01-13 Strix Ltd Controls for electric heaters
ES2248909T3 (es) 1997-07-11 2006-03-16 Strix Limited Calentadores electricos de pelicula gruesa.
GB2353456B (en) 1999-08-13 2004-08-25 Strix Ltd Electric heaters

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU6583000A (en) 2001-03-13
CN100396163C (zh) 2008-06-18
ATE492139T1 (de) 2011-01-15
ATE357832T1 (de) 2007-04-15
GB2353457A (en) 2001-02-21
CN1180661C (zh) 2004-12-15
HK1040590A1 (zh) 2002-06-14
CN1523931A (zh) 2004-08-25
EP1713307A3 (fr) 2006-12-06
DE60034019T2 (de) 2007-12-13
EP1121835A1 (fr) 2001-08-08
DE60045400D1 (de) 2011-01-27
CN1320355A (zh) 2001-10-31
RU2001111004A (ru) 2003-03-10
DE60034019D1 (de) 2007-05-03
EP1713307A2 (fr) 2006-10-18
GB9919205D0 (en) 1999-10-20
WO2001013680A1 (fr) 2001-02-22
EP1121835B1 (fr) 2007-03-21
ES2284516T3 (es) 2007-11-16
GB2353457B (en) 2004-08-25
CN2461236Y (zh) 2001-11-21

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0787417B2 (fr) Perfectionnements apportes a des elements a couche epaisse
US6207938B1 (en) Resistive heating track with bridge fuse
EP0715483A2 (fr) Elément de chauffage électrique
EP1713307B1 (fr) Elément chauffant à couche épaisse
EP1145598B1 (fr) Amelioration d'elements de chauffage electriques
EP0956737B1 (fr) Element chauffant pour recipient de chauffage de liquide
EP1145597B1 (fr) Ameliorations apportees a des bouilloires electriques
CN208445766U (zh) 一种加热器
EP1366640B1 (fr) Appareils de chauffage et resistances a couche epaisse
CN108449814A (zh) 一种加热器
WO2001093638A1 (fr) Ameliorations apportees a des elements de chauffage electrique
RU2226750C2 (ru) Нагреватель с элементом, выполненным методом трафаретной печати, и способ изготовления этого нагревателя
WO1997014269A1 (fr) Dispositifs de chauffage electriques
GB2347058A (en) Resistive track heater having intermediate electrical connection locations

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

AC Divisional application: reference to earlier application

Ref document number: 1121835

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: P

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

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

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

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

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20070605

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20070706

AKX Designation fees paid

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

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AC Divisional application: reference to earlier application

Ref document number: 1121835

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: P

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

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

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 60045400

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20110127

Kind code of ref document: P

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: T3

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

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: 20101215

Ref country code: CY

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: 20101215

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: 20101215

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: 20101215

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: 20110326

Ref country code: GR

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: 20110316

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: 20101215

Ref country code: PT

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: 20110415

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

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

Ref country code: DK

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

Effective date: 20101215

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20110916

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

Ref country code: IT

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

Effective date: 20101215

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 60045400

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20110916

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: 20110831

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: LI

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

Effective date: 20110831

Ref country code: CH

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

Effective date: 20110831

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

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

Ref country code: IE

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

Effective date: 20110814

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: 20110814

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

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20140826

Year of fee payment: 15

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20140827

Year of fee payment: 15

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

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20140818

Year of fee payment: 15

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20140827

Year of fee payment: 15

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 60045400

Country of ref document: DE

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

Effective date: 20150814

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20150901

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20160429

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 NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20150901

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: 20150814

Ref country code: DE

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

Effective date: 20160301

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: 20150831