EP2230883B1 - Appareil de cuisson au micro-ondes et son procédé de fonctionnement - Google Patents

Appareil de cuisson au micro-ondes et son procédé de fonctionnement Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP2230883B1
EP2230883B1 EP20090290205 EP09290205A EP2230883B1 EP 2230883 B1 EP2230883 B1 EP 2230883B1 EP 20090290205 EP20090290205 EP 20090290205 EP 09290205 A EP09290205 A EP 09290205A EP 2230883 B1 EP2230883 B1 EP 2230883B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
plate
interior chamber
microwaves
cooking appliance
space
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.)
Active
Application number
EP20090290205
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2230883A1 (fr
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.)
Topinox SARL
Original Assignee
Topinox SARL
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 Topinox SARL filed Critical Topinox SARL
Priority to EP20090290205 priority Critical patent/EP2230883B1/fr
Publication of EP2230883A1 publication Critical patent/EP2230883A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2230883B1 publication Critical patent/EP2230883B1/fr
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

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
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/64—Heating using microwaves
    • H05B6/74—Mode transformers or mode stirrers

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a microwave cooking appliance, including:
  • the invention also relates to a method of operating a microwave cooking appliance, in particular a microwave cooking appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, the cooking appliance including:
  • GB 1 105 021 B discloses a heating apparatus or oven construction including an electrically conducting oven liner or member having a polished inner surface defining a resonant cavity.
  • the cavity contains conventional electric heating elements as well as a pedestal or tuning assembly for tuning the cavity and a coupling assembly for coupling radio frequency energy to the cavity from a fixed frequency oscillator.
  • the pedestal is adjustable in height.
  • the adjustable tuning assembly and coupling assembly return the resonant cavity to the frequency of the oscillator to ensure a maximum transfer of energy from the oscillator to the food. This does not ensure the absence of hot and cold spots.
  • the height of the cavity is made less than one wavelength of the frequency supplied by the oscillator to avoid standing waves and the problems introduced thereby.
  • the settings of the tuning assembly and the coupling assembly are continuously varies relative to each other. Because the continuous oscillation of the tuning assembly and the coupling assembly occur in quasi random relation to each other, the settings of these two assemblies will soon approach the relationship necessary to tune the resonant oven cavity to the oscillator. At this time, the tuning assembly and coupling assembly are arrested in the proper positions relative to each other in which the resonant cavity is tuned to the oscillator.
  • a problem of the known appliance is that it is too small to be suitable for use in large kitchens.
  • the provision of a stack of resonant cavities would require duplication of the coupling assemblies and tuning assemblies.
  • US 2,648,760 discloses a hollow rectangular or prismoidal enclosure or cavity made of a suitable metal, adapted to serve as the oven of a heating or cooking apparatus.
  • a magnetron is energised from any suitable source, and when so energised delivers high-frequency electromagnetic energy having a predetermined wavelength to a coaxial transmission line, an inner conductor of which is coupled to an oscillator of the magnetron and the outer conductor of which is connected to an evacuated envelope of the magnetron.
  • the inner conductor of the line extends directly into the interior of the oven through a suitable opening provided in a rear wall thereof.
  • a thin metallic plate member which may have substantially square upper and lower faces, is mounted horizontally inside the cavity near the upper end thereof
  • the dimensions of the faces of this plate member are somewhat smaller than the corresponding dimensions of the oven, but the face dimensions are each a substantial proportion of the corresponding oven dimensions, such as on the order of three-fourths thereof, for example.
  • the plate is fixed to a shaft, which extends through an upper wall of the oven by means of a hole in the central area thereof.
  • the shaft is mounted for vertical reciprocation with respect to the oven in a suitable bearing fixed to the top wall of the oven.
  • the shaft is adapted to be continuously reciprocated vertically.
  • At least one of the plate-like members substantially delimits the cooking space to one side thereof.
  • the interior chamber has a floor, the at least one plate-like members delimiting the cooking space only to a respective side thereof that is generally transverse to the floor.
  • At least one plate-like member may substantially partition the interior chamber into the cooking space and at least one further space, in particular a further space accommodating a fan wheel.
  • the plate-like member substantially partitioning the interior chamber is suspended, in particular from one or more surfaces defining the interior chamber, by at least one device including a resilient element.
  • this embodiment of the microwave cooking appliance may further include a control apparatus for varying a pressure difference between the further space and the cooking space so as to reposition the plate-like member substantially partitioning the interior chamber.
  • the plate-like member substantially partitioning the interior chamber may be arranged to leave free an opening at at least one edge between the plate-like member and a surface defining the interior chamber.
  • the microwave cooking appliance may also include an apparatus for causing continual reciprocating movement of the plate-like member whilst the microwaves are provided to the interior chamber, in particular at a frequency in a range of 5-50 min -1 .
  • a method of operating a microwave cooking appliance according to claim 9 is provided.
  • the invention is based on the surprising insight that, because at least one of the plate-like members is movable such as to allow a change in the distance to the opposite surface by an amount of the order of at least a quarter wavelength ⁇ , it is possible for the positions of maxima and minima of a standing wave field distribution established in the interior chamber including the cooking space to be substantially interchanged. As a result, the cooking space can be large enough to form a resonant cavity without adverse consequences for the energy distribution in the cooking space. Because the distance between opposite reflective surfaces is allowed to vary whilst the microwaves are provided to the interior chamber, the surfaces that would otherwise cause standing wave patterns are moved.
  • the cooking space is not obstructed by the plate-like member or members. Moreover, the homogeneity of the energy distribution is improved across substantially the entire cooking space. The distance between reflecting surfaces on either side of the cooking space is varied at substantially all levels.
  • the ceiling and floor do not comprise or support plate-like members.
  • This embodiment is structurally easier to achieve, because the floor already supports the foodstuffs, or at least accessories for carrying the foodstuffs, and may additionally comprise components of an arrangement for draining the cooking space of moisture, e.g. cleaning liquids.
  • the ceiling area can similarly comprise devices, e.g. a device for showering cleaning liquid into the cooking space, when empty, or a device for spraying aromas or other substances onto the foodstuffs in the cooking space.
  • the at least one plate-like member substantially partitions the interior chamber into the cooking space and at least one further space, in particular a further space accommodating a fan wheel, then an additional plate-like member need not be provided.
  • a partitioning member of this type is common in microwave cooking appliances with means for circulating the cooking atmosphere. This embodiment also makes more efficient use of available space, because the plate-like member must generally be additional to the walls defining the interior chamber. Those walls must be arranged to prevent microwave leakage. They cannot easily comprise the plate-like member for that reason.
  • the plate-like member substantially partitioning the interior chamber is carried by, in particular suspended from, one or more surfaces defining the interior chamber, by at least one device including a resilient element, then at least some of the movement of the plate-like member can be brought about without energising an actuator. Suspending the plate-like member by means of resilient elements obviates the need for bearings, making the construction cheaper.
  • the appliance further includes a control apparatus for varying a pressure difference between the further space and the cooking space so as to reposition the plate-like member substantially partitioning the interior chamber, no separate actuators need be provided to move the plate-like member. Reciprocating movement can be brought about by increasing and decreasing the pressure difference between the further space and the cooking space against the force exerted by the resilient elements on the plate-like member.
  • a recirculation of the atmosphere in the cooking space is brought about using a plate-like member substantially partitioning the interior chamber that is arranged to leave free an opening at at least one edge between the plate-like member and a surface defining the interior chamber.
  • One or more openings in the plane of the plate-like member are provided for drawing the atmosphere from the cooking space into the further space.
  • an electromagnetic field distribution having minima and maxima can be established in at least the cooking space, but locations of the minima and maxima are continually changed by the movement of the at least one plate-like member during the microwave cooking process.
  • Fig. 1 shows a cooking appliance 1 comprising an interior chamber substantially partitioned into a cooking space 2 and a pressure space 3 by means of a fluid guide member 4.
  • the interior chamber is defined by a back wall 5, left and right side walls 6,7 and a door 8, as well as by a ceiling 9 and floor 10 ( Figs. 2 and 3 ).
  • the walls 5,6,7, ceiling 9, floor 10 and door 8 are reflective to microwaves, being either made of metal or provided with a metal coating.
  • a metal mesh (not shown) can be provided on the inside of an otherwise transparent window, for example.
  • Foodstuffs to be heated are accommodated in the cooking space 2, which, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises a rack 11 for supporting trays 12 or other carriers for foodstuffs at various levels in the cooking space 2.
  • the rack 11 is just an example of an accessory for supporting foodstuff carriers.
  • plate racks or the like can be provided, or the cooking space can be arranged to accommodate a trolley or a rotisserie assembly, for example.
  • the cooking appliance 1 illustrated in the drawings comprises a fan wheel 13 driven by a motor 14.
  • the motor 14 is located in an electrical equipment chamber 15 and connected to the fan wheel 13 by means of an axle 16 extending through the side wall 6 in such a manner as substantially to prevent microwave leakage.
  • the fan wheel 13 is part of a centrifugal fan, sucking in the cooking space atmosphere through a central opening 17 in the plane of the fluid guide member 4 and expelling it radially.
  • the gases, fumes and vapour return to the cooking space by way of slits 18,19 left free at edges of the fluid guide member 4, by virtue of the fact that the centrifugal fan establishes a pressure difference between the pressure space 3 and the cooking space 2.
  • conventional electrical resistance heater elements can be placed in the flow generated by the central fan to provide electrical heating of the cooking space 2. Additionally, injectors of vapour, aromas and the like can be present in the cooking appliance 1.
  • the cooking appliance 1 further includes a microwave generator 20, e.g. a magnetron, and a waveguide 21 for providing microwaves generated by the microwave generator to the interior chamber.
  • the microwave generator 20 generates electromagnetic waves with a frequency of about 2.45 GHz, which translates to a wave-length ⁇ of about 12 cm. In other embodiments, other frequencies are used.
  • the waveguide 21 is provided with an aperture or antenna (not shown) for emitting microwave radiation into the pressure space 3 adjacent the cooking space. Both the pressure space 3 and cooking space 2 are dimensioned such that they can form resonant cavities, being typically several wavelengths deep and high and, in the case of the cooking space, wide.
  • an electromagnetic field distribution would form in an oven cavity of the dimensions indicated above, the field distribution having fixed minima and maxima. This could lead to an uneven cooking result.
  • the position of the minima and maxima depends on several factors, including the resonant frequency, the dimensions and geometry of the oven cavity, the dimensions and configuration of antennas or waveguide apertures for feeding the microwaves into the oven cavity, the presence and configuration of foodstuffs and accessories in the oven cavity, etc.
  • the illustrated cooking appliance 1 is provided with first and second plate-like members 22,23 that are movable so as to vary the distance between them and opposite reflective surfaces delimiting the cooking space 2, in this case, the inside surface of the door 8 and the fluid guide member 4, respectively.
  • the fluid guide member 4 is movable in a direction transverse to its plane, just like the first and second plate-like members 22,23.
  • the first and second plate-like members 22,23 and the fluid guide member 4 are movable whilst microwave energy is being fed into the interior chamber. Because they delimit the cooking space 2 to the rear and to the sides, the dimensions of the resonant cavity comprising the cooking space 2 change, in use, and thus also the positions of the minima and maxima of the electromagnetic field distribution. Over a period typical for most cooking operations (several minutes), the positions may be changed from five to fifty times, for example, so that the average energy distribution over the cooking period is relatively homogeneous.
  • the plate-like members 22,23 extend in height over the major part of the height of the cooking space 2 (distance between floor 10 and ceiling 9), e.g. more than 80 % or even 90 %, so that a relatively large degree of homogeneity of the microwave energy distribution at substantially all levels can be achieved. This is an effect that would be hard to achieve with only one or a few mode stirrers that are conventionally used to achieve a more homogeneous energy distribution. It also allows one to provide only one waveguide 21 or antenna, or at least a limited number thereof.
  • the first plate-like member 22 substantially delimits the cooking space 2 in the sense that it extends over the major part of the width thereof (distance between fluid guide member 4 and opposite side wall 7), e.g. more than 80 or 90 % of the width.
  • the first plate-like member 22 substantially covers the entire rear wall 5 of the interior chamber.
  • actuators 24,25,26,27 are provided for moving the first and second plate-like members 22,23.
  • Any suitable type of actuator can be used, including mechanical or electromagnetic actuators, for example.
  • the amplitude of movement of the first and second plate-like members 22,23 is at least equal to a quarter of the wave-length of the microwaves, i.e. about 3 cm or more. This ensures substantial displacement of the maxima and minima of the electromagnetic field distribution. Movement may be continuous, e.g. sinusoidal, or the position of the plate-like members 22,23 can be changed at intervals in a step-like manner.
  • the characteristics of the movement of the plate-like members 22,23 correspond to those for the fluid guide member 4.
  • the actuator mechanisms can differ, two alternatives being illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 respectively.
  • the fluid guide member 4 is suspended between the ceiling 9 and floor 10 of the interior chamber by means of pins 28,29 that travel in apertures (not shown in detail) in the ceiling 9 and floor 10.
  • Actuators (not shown) provided outside the interior chamber move the pins 28,29 such that the fluid guide member 4 reciprocates in a directions generally transverse to its plane.
  • the actuators can include an electrical motor or an electromagnetic actuator, for example.
  • the fluid guide member 4 is suspended from the floor 10 and ceiling 9 of the interior chamber by means of resilient elements 30,31 in the form of coil springs.
  • the resilient elements 30,31 can be made of plastics or spring steel, for example. They are sufficiently flexible to allow the fluid guide member 4 to move over a distance in the order of several centimetres towards and away from the upright side wall 6 of the interior chamber. They provide a restoring force tending in the same direction. This force counters the force due to the pressure difference between the pressure space 3 and the cooking space 2 (i.e. the pressure difference between the two sides of the fluid guide member 4).
  • the position of the fluid guide member 4 is changed periodically by adjusting the pressure difference between the pressure space 3 and the cooking space 2. To this end, an appropriate control device adjusts the settings of the centrifugal fan.
  • Fig. 3 thus requires no additional actuators. Moreover, the suspension arrangement does not extend through either the ceiling 9 or the floor 10 of the interior chamber. This makes it easier to seal off the interior chamber to prevent microwaves and/or fumes escaping.
  • the continual adjustment of the electromagnetic field distribution in the interior chamber, in particular in the cooking space 2 ensures that the foodstuffs at the different levels and at different positions on the trays 12 are heated at approximately the same rate.
  • Embodiments in which only the fluid guide member 4 is movable, and in which the other plate-like members 22,23 are absent, also provide the effects set out above, and are easy to build, as well as being easy to clean, in use.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Constitution Of High-Frequency Heating (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Appareil de cuisson à micro-ondes, comprenant :
    une chambre intérieure, comprenant un espace de cuisson (2) destiné à recevoir des aliments à cuire ;
    un appareil (20, 21) permettant d'acheminer des micro-ondes d'au moins une longueur d'onde λ dans la chambre intérieure, et
    au moins un élément en forme de plaque (4, 22, 23) ayant au moins une surface réfléchissant les micro-ondes, et dirigé vers une surface opposée réfléchissant les micro-ondes dans la chambre intérieure,
    dans lequel l'élément en forme de plaque (4, 22, 23) est mobile de manière à faire varier la distance jusqu'à la surface opposée pendant que les micro-ondes sont acheminées dans la chambre intérieure,
    caractérisé en ce que
    au moins un des éléments en forme de plaque (4, 22, 23) est mobile, de manière à permettre un changement de la distance jusqu'à la surface opposée d'une quantité égale à au moins un quart de la au moins une longueur d'onde λ.
  2. Appareil de cuisson à micro-ondes selon la revendication 1, dans lequel au moins un des éléments en forme de plaque (4, 22, 23) délimite sensiblement l'espace de cuisson (2) à un de ses côtés.
  3. Appareil de cuisson à micro-ondes selon la revendication 2, dans lequel la chambre intérieure a un plancher (10), les éléments en forme de plaque (4, 22, 23) délimitant l'espace de cuisson (2) uniquement à un de ses côtés respectifs qui est généralement transversal au plancher (10).
  4. Appareil de cuisson à micro-ondes selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel
    au moins un élément en forme de plaque (4) divise sensiblement la chambre intérieure en l'espace de cuisson (2) et au moins un espace supplémentaire (3), en particulier un espace supplémentaire (3) recevant une roue de ventilateur (13).
  5. Appareil de cuisson à micro-ondes selon la revendication 4, dans lequel l'élément en forme de plaque (34) divisant sensiblement la chambre intérieure est suspendue, en particulier à partir d'une ou plusieurs surfaces (10, 9) définissant la chambre intérieure, par l'intermédiaire d'au moins un dispositif comprenant un élément élastique (30, 31).
  6. Appareil de cuisson à micro-ondes selon les revendications 4 et 5, comprenant en outre un appareil de commande permettant de faire varier une différence de pression entre l'espace supplémentaire (3) et l'espace de cuisson (2) de manière à repositionner l'élément en forme de plaque (4) divisant sensiblement la chambre intérieure.
  7. Appareil de cuisson à micro-ondes selon l'une quelconque des revendications 4 à 6, dans lequel l'élément en forme de plaque (4) divisant sensiblement la chambre intérieure est agencé pour laisser une ouverture (18, 19) de libre au niveau d'au moins un côté entre l'élément en forme de plaque (4) et une surface (10, 9) définissant la chambre intérieure.
  8. Appareil de cuisson à micro-ondes selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant :
    un appareil (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29) permettant d'entraîner un déplacement en va-et-vient continu de l'élément en forme de plaque (4, 22, 23) pendant que les micro-ondes sont acheminées dans la chambre intérieure, en particulier à une fréquence se trouvant dans une plage comprise entre 5 et 50 min-1.
  9. Procédé de fonctionnement d'un appareil de cuisson à micro-ondes (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, l'appareil de cuisson comprenant :
    une chambre intérieure, comprenant un espace de cuisson (2) permettant de recevoir des aliments à cuire ;
    un appareil (20, 21) pour acheminer des micro-ondes d'au moins une longueur d'onde λ dans la chambre intérieure ; et
    au moins un élément en forme de plaque (4, 22, 23) ayant au moins une surface réfléchissant les micro-ondes, et dirigé vers une surface opposée réfléchissant les micro-ondes dans la chambre intérieure,
    dans lequel l'élément en forme de plaque (4, 22, 23) peut se déplacer de manière à faire varier la distance jusqu'à la surface opposée pendant que les micro-ondes sont acheminées dans la chambre intérieure, dans lequel
    une répartition de champ électromagnétique ayant des minimums et des maximums est établie dans au moins l'espace de cuisson (2), et les emplacements des minimums et des maximums sont modifiés par le déplacement d'au moins un élément en forme de plaque (4, 22, 23).
EP20090290205 2009-03-19 2009-03-19 Appareil de cuisson au micro-ondes et son procédé de fonctionnement Active EP2230883B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20090290205 EP2230883B1 (fr) 2009-03-19 2009-03-19 Appareil de cuisson au micro-ondes et son procédé de fonctionnement

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20090290205 EP2230883B1 (fr) 2009-03-19 2009-03-19 Appareil de cuisson au micro-ondes et son procédé de fonctionnement

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2230883A1 EP2230883A1 (fr) 2010-09-22
EP2230883B1 true EP2230883B1 (fr) 2011-09-07

Family

ID=40756355

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20090290205 Active EP2230883B1 (fr) 2009-03-19 2009-03-19 Appareil de cuisson au micro-ondes et son procédé de fonctionnement

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2230883B1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2944882B1 (fr) * 2014-05-16 2019-02-27 Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag Appareil de cuisine avec un volume chauffable à rendement énergétique amélioré
DE102019210119A1 (de) * 2019-07-09 2021-01-14 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Haushalts-Mikrowellengerät mit Modenvariationsvorrichtung

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2648760A (en) * 1950-09-21 1953-08-11 Raytheon Mfg Co Heating apparatus
US3321604A (en) 1964-02-03 1967-05-23 Sunbeam Corp Electronic oven
JPH06223962A (ja) * 1993-01-28 1994-08-12 Toshiba Corp 電子レンジ
MY123981A (en) * 1997-08-26 2006-06-30 Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Microwave oven having a cooking chamber reflecting microwaves at varying angles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2230883A1 (fr) 2010-09-22

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1676465B1 (fr) Four de cuisson rapide a antenne hyperfrequences fendue
EP2630839B1 (fr) Four à micro-ondes
AU2018201838B2 (en) System for preparing at least one food product
US4455467A (en) Metal rack for microwave oven
EP1566985B1 (fr) Four à micro-ondes
EP2605617B1 (fr) Appareil de chauffage par micro-ondes avec cavité à double niveau
CN110547043B (zh) 用于烤箱支撑结构和空气过滤组装件的装置和系统
EP2230883B1 (fr) Appareil de cuisson au micro-ondes et son procédé de fonctionnement
EP3476183B1 (fr) Four à micro-ondes à alimentation multiple à fonction croustillante améliorée
KR100739158B1 (ko) 플랫 테이블형 전자레인지의 균일 가열 장치
KR100593073B1 (ko) 멀티 슬롯을 이용한 균일가열 시스템
KR100710035B1 (ko) 전자레인지
EP4383947A1 (fr) Appareil de cuisson
US20240049367A1 (en) Cooking appliance
WO2023074551A1 (fr) Dispositif de chauffage par micro-ondes
JPH06104077A (ja) 高周波加熱装置
RU2646616C2 (ru) Микроволновая печь
JP2000179864A (ja) 高周波加熱装置
KR100565655B1 (ko) 전자레인지
KR20230046914A (ko) 조리기기
KR20060013843A (ko) 전자렌지의 조리실 분리 구조
JPH0674465A (ja) 高周波加熱装置
KR19990000173U (ko) 전자렌지의 조리용 트레이
KR100774216B1 (ko) 조리기기
KR100671829B1 (ko) 전자렌지의 고주파 조절장치

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: 20100622

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA RS

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

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: THE INVENTOR HAS AGREED TO WAIVE HIS ENTITLEMENT T

AKX Designation fees paid

Designated state(s): DE GB

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602009002551

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20111201

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: 20120611

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602009002551

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20120611

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20180326

Year of fee payment: 10

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R084

Ref document number: 602009002551

Country of ref document: DE

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

Effective date: 20190319

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: 20190319

P01 Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered

Effective date: 20230619

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20240321

Year of fee payment: 16