EP0343403B1 - Circuit pour l'auto-excitation d'un oscillateur mécanique jusqu'à sa fréquence de résonance propre - Google Patents

Circuit pour l'auto-excitation d'un oscillateur mécanique jusqu'à sa fréquence de résonance propre Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0343403B1
EP0343403B1 EP89107994A EP89107994A EP0343403B1 EP 0343403 B1 EP0343403 B1 EP 0343403B1 EP 89107994 A EP89107994 A EP 89107994A EP 89107994 A EP89107994 A EP 89107994A EP 0343403 B1 EP0343403 B1 EP 0343403B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
circuit
amplifier
voltage
input
operational amplifier
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
EP89107994A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0343403A1 (fr
Inventor
Martin Pfändler
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.)
Endress and Hauser SE and Co KG
Original Assignee
Endress and Hauser SE and Co KG
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 Endress and Hauser SE and Co KG filed Critical Endress and Hauser SE and Co KG
Publication of EP0343403A1 publication Critical patent/EP0343403A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0343403B1 publication Critical patent/EP0343403B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B06—GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS IN GENERAL
    • B06B—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, e.g. FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL
    • B06B1/00—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency
    • B06B1/02—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy
    • B06B1/0207—Driving circuits
    • B06B1/0223—Driving circuits for generating signals continuous in time
    • B06B1/0238—Driving circuits for generating signals continuous in time of a single frequency, e.g. a sine-wave
    • B06B1/0246—Driving circuits for generating signals continuous in time of a single frequency, e.g. a sine-wave with a feedback signal
    • B06B1/0261—Driving circuits for generating signals continuous in time of a single frequency, e.g. a sine-wave with a feedback signal taken from a transducer or electrode connected to the driving transducer

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a circuit arrangement for self-excitation of natural resonance vibrations of the mechanical vibration system of a level sensor with an electromechanical transducer system, which is arranged in the feedback circuit of an electronic amplifier circuit, so that it is excited by the output AC voltage of the amplifier circuit to mechanical vibrations and an AC voltage to the input of the amplifier circuit Provides frequency of mechanical vibrations, wherein the amplifier circuit contains an operational amplifier with a non-linear gain characteristic, which results in a greater gain with small values of the input signal than with larger values of the input signal.
  • a circuit arrangement of this type is known from EP-A-240 360.
  • the nonlinear gain characteristic solves a problem that occurs in particular in mechanical vibration systems of level sensors.
  • the reaching of a predetermined level in a container with the aid of a mechanical oscillation system excited to natural resonance vibrations takes advantage of the fact that the vibrations cease when the sensor is immersed in the product due to the strong damping, while the re-insertion of the vibrations indicates that the level falls below the installation height of the sensor has fallen. If the sensor in the process container is exposed to high temperatures in such an application, the transmission factor of the sensor can change so much that it can no longer oscillate, which leads to an incorrect display of the fill level. In the same way, fillings (e.g.
  • lime, flour that tend to build up have a strong effect: If the buildup is strong, the sensor can no longer swing, so that it is incorrectly displayed that the sensor is covered, although in reality it is not immersed in the filling and is only covered with neck. If the gain of the amplifier circuit is increased to avoid this problem, the external vibration sensitivity becomes too great. This means that if the sensor is covered, vibrations on the container, which are caused, for example, by vibrators or flowing material, can cause output voltages from the amplifier circuit, which pretend that the sensor is not covered and is carrying out natural resonance vibrations, in which case the level is incorrectly displayed.
  • the nonlinear gain characteristic ensures safe start-up even under unfavorable operating conditions and reduces the risk of incorrect displays of the vibration state without the external vibration sensitivity becoming too great.
  • the feedback circuit of the operational amplifier contains a non-linear resistor with a positive temperature coefficient in series with a series resonant circuit formed from an inductance and a capacitance.
  • the nonlinear amplifier characteristic curve arises from the fact that the nonlinear resistance has a smaller one when the vibrations begin Has resistance value than in the stationary vibration state.
  • this circuit arrangement is complex, and it contains circuit elements which are not used with the usual semiconductor circuit technology.
  • diode function generators which are formed by an operational amplifier with a feedback resistor that varies depending on the signal amplitude.
  • the feedback circuit has a plurality of parallel branches, each of which contains a resistor in series with a diode.
  • the resistance values are graded in such a way that the diodes become conductive when the input signal has different values and then switch on the series resistance in parallel in the feedback branch. This results in a functional characteristic in the form of a broken line. However, this effect only occurs for one of the two current directions, because all diodes are blocked for the other current direction.
  • this AC voltage In order to change an AC voltage according to the functional characteristic, this AC voltage must be set on one side to the reference potential, so that it changes only on one side.
  • This known circuit arrangement is therefore not suitable for the self-excitation of natural resonance vibrations of the mechanical vibration system of a level sensor by means of an alternating voltage that is symmetrical with respect to the reference potential.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a circuit arrangement of the type specified in the introduction, which contains only circuit elements of conventional semiconductor circuit technology and which enables self-excitation of natural resonance vibrations of the mechanical vibration system of a level sensor by means of an alternating voltage which is symmetrical with respect to the reference potential.
  • this object is achieved in that the feedback circuit of the operational amplifier contains two resistors connected in series and that one of the two resistors has two semiconductor diodes connected in parallel in opposite directions.
  • a second embodiment of the invention is that the inverting input of the operational amplifier is connected to ground through a circuit branch which contains a field effect transistor, and that the current path resistance of the field effect transistor is variable by a control voltage applied to its gate electrode, which is different from the output voltage of the operational amplifier depends.
  • FIG. 1 shows, as an example of a mechanical vibration system that is to be excited to vibrate at the natural resonance frequency, a fill level sensor 10 with two vibrating bars 12, 14.
  • the vibrating bars are set into flexural-phase bending vibrations, which are so strongly damped when the bars are immersed in the product that the vibrations cease, whereby it can be determined that the filling material has reached a predetermined filling level, while conversely the re-insertion of the vibrations indicates that the filling level has again fallen below the level to be monitored.
  • the vibrating rods 12, 14 are each fastened at one end to a membrane 16 which is clamped at the edge in a holder 18.
  • an electromechanical transducer system 20 is connected to the membrane 16, which has a transmitter transducer 22 and a receiver transducer 24.
  • the transmitter converter 22 is connected to the output of an amplifier circuit 30 and is designed such that it converts an electrical alternating voltage (or an electrical alternating current) supplied by the amplifier circuit 30 into a mechanical oscillation which acts on the membrane 16 and on the oscillating rods 12, 14 is transmitted.
  • the reception converter 24 is connected to the input of the amplifier circuit 30 and is designed such that it converts the mechanical oscillation of the oscillation system 10 into an electrical alternating voltage of the same frequency.
  • This AC input voltage is amplified by the amplifier circuit, and the amplified AC output voltage of the same frequency thus obtained is applied to the transmitter converter 22.
  • the electromechanical transducers 22, 24 can be of any type known per se, for example electromagnetic or electrodynamic transducers with coils, magnetostrictive transducers, piezoelectric transducers or the like. In the described embodiment, it is assumed that it is a piezoelectric transducer which contains, in a known manner, a piezo crystal arranged between two electrodes, which undergoes a change in shape when an electrical voltage is applied to the two electrodes, and vice versa in the case of a mechanically forced one Shape change creates an electrical voltage between the two electrodes.
  • the transmitter converter 22 and the receiver converter 24 can therefore be of the same type.
  • the amplifier circuit 30 contains an input amplifier 32, the input terminals of which are connected to the two electrodes of the receiving transducer 24, a bandpass filter 34 connected to the output of the input amplifier 32, and a power amplifier 36, the output electrodes of which are connected to the two electrodes of the transmitter transducer 22.
  • the bandpass filter 34 is tuned to the natural resonance frequency of the electromechanical oscillation system 10 to be excited, so that the electrical AC voltage is selectively amplified with this frequency. This can be the frequency of the fundamental oscillation or the frequency of a harmonic of the natural resonance of the mechanical oscillation system 10.
  • the peculiarity of the amplifier circuit 30 is that its gain characteristic, depending on the size of the input signal, is so non-linear that the amplification is greater for small amplitudes of the input signal than for large amplitudes.
  • this non-linear gain characteristic of the amplifier circuit 30 is achieved in that the input amplifier 32 is designed with a non-linear gain.
  • Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the input amplifier 32, which gives the desired non-linear gain characteristic with particularly simple means.
  • the input amplifier 32 is designed as a differential amplifier with an operational amplifier 40.
  • the two inputs of the operational amplifier 40 are connected via identical resistors 41, 42 of the resistance value R 1 to the two electrodes of the receiving transducer 24, so that the voltage between these electrodes forms the input voltage U e of the differential amplifier.
  • In the leading from the output to the inverting input feedback branch of the operational amplifier 40 are two resistors 43, 44 with the resistance values R2 and R3 in series, and two further resistors 45, 46 with the same resistance values R2 and R3 are in series between the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier 40 and ground connected.
  • Two semiconductor diodes 47, 48 are connected in parallel in opposite directions to resistor 44, and in a corresponding manner two further semiconductor diodes 49, 50 are connected in parallel in opposite directions to resistor 46.
  • the differential amplifier shown in FIG. 2 has the following mode of operation: If the mechanical oscillation system 10 is at rest when the device is switched on, the receiving transducer 24 initially only emits very small voltages which are caused by slight external vibrations, thermal noise and similar interference effects. These small voltages are amplified by the differential input amplifier 32. As long as the resulting output voltage U a of the differential input amplifier is so small that the voltage drops across the resistors 44 and 46 are smaller than the forward voltage of the semiconductor diodes 47, 48, 49, 50 (which is about 0.6 V for silicon diodes ), the semiconductor diodes block in both directions and the resistors 44 and 46 are fully effective.
  • the gain factor V of the differential input amplifier is 32 Those components of the output voltage U a whose frequencies are in the pass band of the bandpass filter 34 reach the final amplifier 36, from which they are further amplified with linear amplification.
  • the signal components amplified in this way are converted by the transducer 22 into mechanical vibrations, which excite the mechanical vibration system 10 to produce a natural resonance vibration.
  • This natural resonance oscillation is converted by the receiving converter 24 into an electrical AC voltage, which is fed to the input of the differential input amplifier 32 and is amplified by it in the manner described above. In this way, the vibrations of the mechanical vibration system 10 rock up.
  • the output voltage U a is determined by the constant gain factor V 1, so that it is proportional to the input voltage U e with a relatively high steepness is.
  • the amplifier circuit 30 has a high input sensitivity, so that a reliable start-up is ensured even with weak interference effects and with temperature-related changes in the transmission factor and with build-ups on the oscillating rods 12, 14.
  • the output voltage U a reaches a value U a1 due to the amplification with the amplification factor V1, which is equal to the forward voltage of the semiconductor diodes 47, 48, 49, 50.
  • the gain factor V therefore has the smaller value V2, so that the output voltage U a rises less steeply as a function of the input voltage U e .
  • the input sensitivity of the amplifier circuit is therefore reduced, so that voltages which are generated by interference vibrations cannot reach values which simulate a resonant vibration of the mechanical vibration system 10.
  • Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of the input amplifier 32, which also gives the desired non-linear gain characteristic.
  • the Input amplifier 32 from two amplifier stages.
  • the first amplifier stage corresponds to the input amplifier of FIG. 2 with the only difference that the resistors 44 and 46 with the semiconductor diodes 47, 48 and 49, 50 connected in parallel in opposite directions are omitted.
  • the remaining components of this amplifier stage which correspond to those of the input amplifier of FIG. 2, are designated by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 2.
  • the two electrodes of the receiving transducer 24 are connected via the same resistors 41, 42 of the resistance value R 1 to the two inputs of the operational amplifier 40, so that the voltage between these electrodes forms the input voltage U e of the differential amplifier.
  • the second amplifier stage contains an operational amplifier 60, the non-inverting input of which is connected to the output of the first amplifier stage, so that the output voltage U a 'of the first amplifier stage forms the input voltage of the second amplifier stage, the output voltage U a of which also represents the output voltage of the input amplifier 32.
  • a resistor 61 with the resistance value R4.
  • a circuit branch which contains a resistor 62 with the resistance value R5 in series with the current path of a field effect transistor 63.
  • the resistance R FET of the field effect transistor 63 depends on the control voltage applied to its gate electrode.
  • This control voltage is obtained from the output voltage U a by rectification by means of a rectifier circuit which contains two semiconductor diodes 64, 65 and a smoothing circuit with a capacitor 66 in parallel with a resistor 67.
  • the current path resistance R FET of the field effect transistor 63 is dependent on the amplitude of the output voltage U a .
  • the relationships between the amplification factors V I , V II , V G and the voltages U e , U a ', U a are shown in the diagrams in FIG. 5.
  • the diagram A shows the voltage-dependent course of the gain factor V I and the diagram B shows the relationship between the input voltage U e and the output voltage U a 'of the first amplifier stage.
  • the gain factor V 1 is constant, so that the voltage U a ' is proportional to the input voltage U e .
  • the diagrams C and D show the conditions for the second amplifier stage in a corresponding manner. Up to a value U a1 'of the voltage U a' has the amplification factor V II a relatively large constant value V II1, so that the output voltage U a of the voltage U a 'with a relatively large slope is proportional.
  • diagram E shows the total amplification factor V G of the input amplifier 32, which results from the product of the two amplification factors V I and V II
  • diagram F shows the corresponding relationship between the Input voltage U e and the output voltage U a .
  • diagram F of FIG. 5 is very similar to diagram B of FIG. 3.
  • the input amplifier has a large amplification factor and therefore a high input sensitivity for small values of the input voltage U e , while the amplification factor is smaller for higher values of the input voltage and consequently the input sensitivity is reduced.
  • the embodiment of FIG. 4 therefore gives the same advantageous effects as were previously explained for the embodiment of FIG. 2.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Amplifiers (AREA)
  • Oscillators With Electromechanical Resonators (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Mechanical Vibrations Or Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
  • Inductance-Capacitance Distribution Constants And Capacitance-Resistance Oscillators (AREA)

Claims (4)

  1. Circuit pour l'auto-excitation d'oscillations de résonance propre du système mécanique d'oscillations (10) d'un capteur de niveau de remplissage équipé d'un convertisseur électromécanique (20-24), qui est disposé dans le circuit de rétroaction d'un circuit amplificateur électronique (30), de sorte qu'il engendre des vibrations mécaniques en raison de la tension alternative de sortie (Ua) du circuit amplificateur et fournit à l'entrée du circuit amplificateur une tension alternative (Ue) avec la fréquence des vibrations mécaniques, le circuit amplificateur (30) contenant un amplificateur opérationnel (40) avec une courbe caractéristique d'amplification non linéaire qui, avec de faibles valeurs du signal d'entrée (Ue), donne une amplification plus importante qu'avec des valeurs plus élevées du signal d'entrée, caractérisé par le fait que le circuit de rétroaction (43, 44, 47, 48) de l'amplificateur opérationnel (40) contient deux résistances montées en série (43, 44) et que deux diodes semi-conductrices (47, 48) sont branchées en parallèle, tête-bêche, sur l'une (44) des deux résistances.
  2. Circuit selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par le fait que l'amplificateur opérationnel (40) est conçu comme un amplificateur différentiel avec deux résistances supplémentaires (45, 46) raccordées en série entre l'entrée non inverseuse et la masse et que deux diodes semi-conductrices (49, 50) sont branchées en parallèle, tête-bêche, sur l'une des résistances supplémentaires (46).
  3. Circuit pour l'auto-excitation d'oscillations de résonance propre du système mécanique d'oscillations (10) d'un capteur de niveau de remplissage équipé d'un convertisseur électromécanique (20-24), qui est disposé dans le circuit de rétroaction d'un circuit amplificateur électronique (30), de sorte qu'il engendre des vibrations mécaniques en raison de la tension alternative de sortie (Ua) du circuit amplificateur et fournit à l'entrée du circuit amplificateur une tension alternative (Ue) avec la fréquence des vibrations mécaniques, le circuit amplificateur (30) contenant un amplificateur opérationnel (40) avec une courbe caractéristique d'amplification non linéaire qui, avec de faibles valeurs du signal d'entrée, donne une amplification plus importante qu'avec des valeurs plus élevées du signal d'entrée, caractérisé par le fait que l'entrée inverseuse de l'amplificateur opérationnel (60) est reliée à la masse par une branche de circuit qui contient un transistor à effet de champ (63) et que la résistance du trajet du courant du transistor à effet de champ (63) est modifiable par une tension de commande appliquée sur son électrode de grille qui dépend de la tension de sortie (Ua) de l'amplificateur opérationnel (60).
  4. Circuit selon la revendication 3, caractérisé par le fait que la tension de commande est formée par redressement de la tension de sortie.
EP89107994A 1988-05-03 1989-05-03 Circuit pour l'auto-excitation d'un oscillateur mécanique jusqu'à sa fréquence de résonance propre Expired - Lifetime EP0343403B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3815007 1988-05-03
DE3815007 1988-05-03

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0343403A1 EP0343403A1 (fr) 1989-11-29
EP0343403B1 true EP0343403B1 (fr) 1993-09-08

Family

ID=6353496

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89107994A Expired - Lifetime EP0343403B1 (fr) 1988-05-03 1989-05-03 Circuit pour l'auto-excitation d'un oscillateur mécanique jusqu'à sa fréquence de résonance propre

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US5029268A (fr)
EP (1) EP0343403B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH0775700B2 (fr)
DE (1) DE58905505D1 (fr)
ES (1) ES2042865T3 (fr)
WO (1) WO1989010802A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4327167C2 (de) * 1993-08-13 1996-07-04 Grieshaber Vega Kg Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Feststellen eines vorbestimmten Füllstandes in einem Behältnis
US5446420A (en) * 1993-08-25 1995-08-29 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for reducing jitter and improving testability of an oscillator
DE4429236C2 (de) * 1994-08-18 1998-06-18 Grieshaber Vega Kg Messung des Füllstandes in einem Behälter
DE112012005578B4 (de) * 2012-01-05 2019-11-07 Tdk Corporation Differenzielles Mikrofon und Verfahren zum Ansteuern eines differenziellen Mikrofons
US9934902B2 (en) * 2012-12-05 2018-04-03 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Apparatus and method for transceiving wireless power

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB845267A (en) * 1955-10-20 1960-08-17 Vickers Electrical Co Ltd Improvements relating to electronic circuits
US3469211A (en) * 1967-10-16 1969-09-23 Branson Instr Oscillatory circuit for electro-acoustic converter with starting means
US4393373A (en) * 1981-03-16 1983-07-12 Fuji Electrochemical Co., Ltd. Piezoelectric audible sound generator
JPS57158687A (en) * 1981-03-27 1982-09-30 Oki Electric Ind Co Ltd Hangul character display unit
JPH0763676B2 (ja) * 1986-04-03 1995-07-12 超音波工業株式会社 超音波発振装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2042865T3 (es) 1993-12-16
DE58905505D1 (de) 1993-10-14
WO1989010802A1 (fr) 1989-11-16
JPH02502267A (ja) 1990-07-26
EP0343403A1 (fr) 1989-11-29
JPH0775700B2 (ja) 1995-08-16
US5029268A (en) 1991-07-02

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
DE1572996C3 (de) Monolithischer, elektromechanischer Oszillator
DE3035315C2 (de) Piezoelektrische Lichtablenkvorrichtung
DE19621449C2 (de) Vibrationsresonator, Verfahren zum Betreiben eines solchen Vibrationsresonators und Vibrations-Füllstand-Grenzschalter mit einem solchen Vibrationsresonator
DE2903489A1 (de) Kraftgeber
DE102005036872A1 (de) Vorrichtung zur Vibrations-Füllstand-Grenzstanderfassung und Verfahren zur Vibrations-Füllstand-Grenzstanderfassung
DE1276834B (de) Elektromechanische Vorrichtung zum AEndern der Amplitude eines akustischen Signals
EP0875741B1 (fr) Dispositif pour la détermination et/ou la surveillance d'un niveau prédéterminé dans un réservoir
DE3145245C2 (de) Thermometer mit einem Quarzkristallschwinger
DE2353840A1 (de) Oberflaechenwellenoszillator
CH615505A5 (fr)
DE3111109C2 (fr)
DE2745915C2 (de) Gebervorrichtung zur Verwendung bei einer Instrumentierungsanlage für die industrielle Verfahrensregelung
DE10023306C2 (de) Verfahren zur Ansteuerung von piezoelektrischen Antrieben in Füllstandmessgeräten
DE2010196A1 (de) Schwingungswandler für Biegeschwinger
EP0343403B1 (fr) Circuit pour l'auto-excitation d'un oscillateur mécanique jusqu'à sa fréquence de résonance propre
DE4203967C2 (de) Vorrichtung zur Feststellung und/oder Überwachung eines vorbestimmten Füllstands in einem Behälter
DE2201156A1 (de) Elektrischer Signalgenerator,insbesondere Messsender
DE2815434A1 (de) Verfahren und vorrichtung zum ansteuern eines wandlers mit einem resonanzkreis
EP1693663A2 (fr) Procédé et dispositif de determination de deux paramètres d'un fluide
DE2650777A1 (de) Breitbandoszillator mit elektrischer frequenzsteuerung
EP0875742B1 (fr) Dispositif pour la détermination et/ou la surveillance d'un niveau prédéterminé dans un réservoir
DE10328113B4 (de) Vorrichtung zum Betreiben einer schwingfähigen Einheit eines Vibrationsresonators
EP0875740B1 (fr) Dispositif pour la détermination et/ou la surveillance d'un niveau prédéterminé dans un réservoir
EP1323232B1 (fr) Composant muni d'un materiau a activite acoustique
DE4042600C3 (de) Piezoelektrischer Beschleunigungsmesser

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): CH DE ES FR GB IT LI NL

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19891123

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19920226

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): CH DE ES FR GB IT LI NL

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed

Owner name: BARZANO' E ZANARDO MILA

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 58905505

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19931014

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2042865

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

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

Effective date: 19931203

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20000412

Year of fee payment: 12

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

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20000417

Year of fee payment: 12

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

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20000519

Year of fee payment: 12

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 NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20010504

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: 20010602

Ref country code: CH

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

Effective date: 20010602

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: 20011201

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 20011201

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20030203

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20070522

Year of fee payment: 19

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20070522

Year of fee payment: 19

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

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20070525

Year of fee payment: 19

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

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20070516

Year of fee payment: 19

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

Effective date: 20080503

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20090119

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

Ref country code: DE

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

Effective date: 20081202

Ref country code: FR

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

Effective date: 20080602

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: 20080503

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

Ref country code: IT

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

Effective date: 20080503