EP1681448B1 - Système et méthode de commande pour moteur à combustion interne avec un catalyseur à trois voies - Google Patents

Système et méthode de commande pour moteur à combustion interne avec un catalyseur à trois voies Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1681448B1
EP1681448B1 EP04106631A EP04106631A EP1681448B1 EP 1681448 B1 EP1681448 B1 EP 1681448B1 EP 04106631 A EP04106631 A EP 04106631A EP 04106631 A EP04106631 A EP 04106631A EP 1681448 B1 EP1681448 B1 EP 1681448B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lambda
twc
oxygen
limits
internal combustion
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 - Fee Related
Application number
EP04106631A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1681448A1 (fr
Inventor
Jerome Edwards
Mario Balenovic
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.)
Ford Global Technologies LLC
Original Assignee
Ford Global Technologies LLC
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 Ford Global Technologies LLC filed Critical Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority to EP04106631A priority Critical patent/EP1681448B1/fr
Priority to DE200460007680 priority patent/DE602004007680T2/de
Publication of EP1681448A1 publication Critical patent/EP1681448A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1681448B1 publication Critical patent/EP1681448B1/fr
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D41/00—Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents
    • F02D41/02—Circuit arrangements for generating control signals
    • F02D41/14—Introducing closed-loop corrections
    • F02D41/1438—Introducing closed-loop corrections using means for determining characteristics of the combustion gases; Sensors therefor
    • F02D41/1477—Introducing closed-loop corrections using means for determining characteristics of the combustion gases; Sensors therefor characterised by the regulation circuit or part of it,(e.g. comparator, PI regulator, output)
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D41/00—Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents
    • F02D41/02—Circuit arrangements for generating control signals
    • F02D41/021—Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine
    • F02D41/0235—Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine in relation with the state of the exhaust gas treating apparatus
    • F02D41/0295—Control according to the amount of oxygen that is stored on the exhaust gas treating apparatus
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D2200/00—Input parameters for engine control
    • F02D2200/02—Input parameters for engine control the parameters being related to the engine
    • F02D2200/08—Exhaust gas treatment apparatus parameters
    • F02D2200/0814—Oxygen storage amount
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D41/00—Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents
    • F02D41/02—Circuit arrangements for generating control signals
    • F02D41/14—Introducing closed-loop corrections
    • F02D41/1438—Introducing closed-loop corrections using means for determining characteristics of the combustion gases; Sensors therefor
    • F02D41/1439—Introducing closed-loop corrections using means for determining characteristics of the combustion gases; Sensors therefor characterised by the position of the sensor
    • F02D41/1441—Plural sensors

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method and a control system for an internal combustion engine with a three-way catalyst.
  • TWC three-way catalysts
  • the US-patent application US 2004/0040286 A1 discloses a system and a method for controlling an engine to regulate the oxygen storage level in an emission control device.
  • the system includes oxygen sensors disposed in an exhaust gas stream of the engine upstream and downstream of the emission control device.
  • the oxygen sensors generate a feedgas air fuel signal and a tailpipe air fuel signal.
  • the system further includes an electronic control unit configured to obtain an adjusted feedgas air fuel ratio responsive to the feedgas air fuel signal and the tailpipe air fuel signal in order to correct any bias in the feedgas air fuel signal.
  • the electronic control unit is further configured to obtain an estimate of an oxygen storage level in the emission control device responsive to the adjusted feedgas air fuel ratio and the tailpipe air fuel signal.
  • the electronic control unit is configured to generate a control signal for the engine responsive to the adjusted feedgas air fuel ratio and the oxygen storage level estimate for the emission control device.
  • control system for an internal combustion engine with a three-way catalyst (TWC).
  • Said control system may be implemented by means known in the art, for example by a microprocessor with associated software or by dedicated electronic circuits.
  • the control system comprises the following components in a parallel (i.e. not cascaded) arrangement:
  • the control system described above takes the level of oxygen stored in the TWC into account and guarantees that it lies within predetermined optimal limits. These limits can be determined such that the TWC behaves robust with respect to transient deviations of the exhaust gas composition from the optimal value, i.e. such that the TWC does not become severely ineffective if the exhaust gas is momentarily too rich or too lean.
  • the lambda-controller is only operative if the level of oxygen in the TWC lies within the predetermined oxygen-storage-limits such that the oxygen-storage-controller is idle.
  • the lambda-controller preferably operates in a closed loop comparing the measured lambda value within or behind the TWC with a desired lambda value.
  • the control system optionally comprises at least one heated exhaust gas oxygen (HEGO) sensor as it is well known in the state of the art.
  • HEGO heated exhaust gas oxygen
  • the oxygen-storage-controller is linked to a catalyst-model that is used to predict the level of oxygen stored in the TWC.
  • the aforementioned catalyst-model preferably receives as input signals the lambda value, the mass flow and/or the temperature of the exhaust gas in front of and/or behind the TWC. Based on these variables, the catalyst-model can estimate the level of oxygen stored in the TWC with good precision.
  • the catalyst-model may comprise an adaptation unit that is able to adjust the catalyst-model based on a comparison between the modeled and the measured lambda value within or behind the TWC.
  • Said lambda value can be readily derived from the catalyst-model additionally to the required prediction of the level of stored oxygen.
  • the measured lambda value is normally already available, too, as the feedback signal for the lambda-controller.
  • the control system may furthermore comprise a memory (e.g. ROM, RAM, hard disc etc.) in which the predetermined oxygen-storage-limits and/or the lambda-limits are stored as a function of engine operating parameters.
  • a memory e.g. ROM, RAM, hard disc etc.
  • the control system can always use the optimal parameters for the prevailing conditions, wherein said limits are preferably determined during a calibration procedure.
  • the engine operating parameters on which the limits depend may particularly comprise the mass flow and the temperature of the exhaust gas entering the TWC.
  • the invention further relates to a method for the control of an internal combustion engine with a three-way catalyst (TWC) which comprises the following steps, which are executed in parallel:
  • a lambda-controller for controlling the lambda-value ( ⁇ c ) is only operative if the level of oxygen stored in the TWC lies within the predetermined oxygen-storage-limits ( ⁇ low , ⁇ high ).
  • the method comprises in general form the steps that can be executed with a control system of the kind described above. Therefore, reference is made to the preceding description for more information on the details, advantages and improvements of that method.
  • the level of oxygen stored in the TWC is modeled as a function of engine operating parameters, for example of the mass flow, the temperature and/or the lambda value of the exhaust gas entering and/or leaving the TWC.
  • the aforementioned modeling may be further improved if it is adapted based on a comparison between a modeled value and the corresponding measured value of an operating parameter, wherein said operating parameter may particularly be the lambda value of the exhaust gas leaving the TWC.
  • FIG. 1 schematically depicts an internal combustion engine 2 which produces exhaust gas with a lambda value (i.e. normalized air-fuel-ratio) ⁇ e .
  • the exhaust gas passes through a three-way catalyst TWC 4 in which the emissions of carbon monoxide CO, hydrocarbons HC, and nitrogen oxides NOx are treated.
  • the TWC 4 consists of two bricks 4a, 4b, and the lambda value ⁇ c of the exhaust gas within the TWC is measured between these two bricks by means of a HEGO sensor 5.
  • This sensor layout is typical of current systems. A layout with the HEGO placed downstream of the entire catalyst volume would however possibly lead to further optimized control in this instance.
  • the control system comprises a first control loop with a lambda-controller 7 that shall guarantee operation of the TWC 4 with optimal efficiency under steady state conditions.
  • the lambda-controller 7 receives as input the difference between a desired HEGO voltage, HEGO ref , and the corresponding measured HEGO voltage, HEGO mes , sensed by the HEGO sensor 5.
  • the lambda-controller 7 then controls the internal combustion engine 2 such that the difference (HEGO ref -HEGO mes ) is minimized. This approach is based on the fact that optimum steady state conversion efficiency from a TWC can be directly mapped against post/mid converter HEGO voltage HEGO mes (which is a function of catalyst lambda ⁇ c ).
  • the control system of the present invention therefore further comprises a second control loop, wherein a catalyst-model 6 estimates the oxygen storage level ⁇ est within the TWC 4 based on inputs from the internal combustion engine 2.
  • Said inputs may for example comprise the mass flow m F and the temperature T of the exhaust gas entering the TWC as well as the lambda value ⁇ e at the entrance of the TWC that is measured by an UEGO sensor 3.
  • Suitable realizations of the model 6 may be found in literature (e.g. Balenovic, de Bie, Backx: "Development of a Model-Based Controller for a Three-Way Catalytic Converter", SAE paper no. 2002-01-0475 , which is incorporated into the present application by reference).
  • the oxygen storage level ⁇ est estimated by the catalyst-model 6 is compared to a reference storage level ⁇ ref , and the difference ( ⁇ ref - ⁇ est ) between these values is fed to an oxygen-storage-controller 1.
  • This oxygen-storage-controller 1 determines the desired air-fuel-ratio ⁇ e_ref at the inlet of the internal combustion engine 2 in such a way that the oxygen storage level ⁇ within the TWC lies within predetermined oxygen-storage-limits, i.e. ⁇ ⁇ [ ⁇ low , ⁇ high ].
  • a switch 8 is provided by which either the oxygen-storage-controller 1 or the lambda-controller 7 is connected to the internal combustion engine 2.
  • the downstream lambda signal predicted by the model 6 (scaled with the HEGO sensor characteristic) is compared with the reading HEGO mes of the HEGO sensor 5 to estimate the model error ⁇ at a time instant.
  • This model error ⁇ is fed into an observer (i.e. Kalman filter with gain K) which updates the predicted oxygen level in order to cope with noise, system biases and model uncertainties.
  • the control system described above uses an embedded model 6 to continuously drive the level ⁇ of oxygen stored in the TWC to its optimal value, therefore guaranteeing maximum robustness to air/fuel excursions.
  • additional control based on HEGO sensor signals via the lambda-controller 7 will provide optimum catalyst conversion efficiency. Therefore, the original system performance is retained while the robustness is improved.
  • the oxygen storage level ⁇ should typically approach 50% full (to buffer excursions during transients) and when this criterion is satisfied the inlet lambda should be controlled to that which results in the highest steady state conversion.
  • the oxygen-storage-controller 1 is used in the first instance to maintain the oxygen store between set limits ⁇ low , ⁇ high (to maintain high conversion during lambda excursions), and when within these limits HEGO controller 7 will be used to further raise the conversion efficiency to the best possible under steady state conditions by supplying the best input lambda reference.
  • the oxygen-storage-controller 1 can revert back to controlling the oxygen storage at times when the store violates the set limits.
  • the model prediction of oxygen store is then used as feedback signal, and the error between the estimated and reference oxygen store signal is fed to the controller 1 that drives the system towards the desired oxygen store level.
  • an optimal steady state catalyst lambda is determined and related to the corresponding HEGO voltage. It is selected on the basis of best three-way conversion in the presence of little or no input excursions.
  • the actual reference steady state level of stored oxygen and set limits ⁇ low , ⁇ high can be determined on the basis of model conversion characteristics.
  • Set limits determine oxygen store levels ⁇ at which either HC/CO conversion during rich lambda excursions or NOx conversion during lean inlet lambda excursions substantially decrease.
  • Figure 2 shows the dependence of the conversion efficiency (vertical axis) for CO, HC, and NOx in dependence on oxygen storage level ⁇ .
  • Optimal steady state points can be stored as a map (function of exhaust flow and temperature) in the control system or engine control unit (ECU).
  • the operation of the control system is divided into two modes: tracking and regulating mode.
  • the model 6 operates continuously in either of the two modes.
  • the tracking- or oxygen-storage-controller 1 is switched on.
  • This mode uses the estimated oxygen store level ⁇ est as the feedback signal.
  • the controller 1 sets the required engine air-fuel ratio ⁇ e_ref , which is achieved by a standard air-fuel ratio engine controller placed in the inner control loop, to return within the desired limits.
  • the system switches to the regulating mode, which uses the lambda-controller 7 with a direct feedback from the HEGO sensor. In this way the controlled system achieves extra robustness and low susceptibility to small drifts that are typical for such an application.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Exhaust Gas After Treatment (AREA)
  • Electrical Control Of Air Or Fuel Supplied To Internal-Combustion Engine (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Système de commande d'un moteur à combustion interne (2) à catalyseur à trois voies TWC (4), qui comprend l'agencement en parallèle de :
    a) un contrôleur (1) de stockage d'oxygène adapté pour commander le moteur à combustion interne (2) de telle sorte que le niveau d'oxygène stocké dans le TWC(4) reste à l'intérieur de limites prédéterminées de stockage d'oxygène (ζbas, ζhaut),
    b) un contrôleur de lambda (7) adapté pour commander le moteur à combustion interne (2) de telle sorte que la valeur de lambda (λc) des gaz d'échappement à l'intérieur ou en aval du TWC (4) soit située à l'intérieur des limites prédéterminées de lambda,
    caractérisé en ce que le contrôleur de lambda (7) ne fonctionne que si le niveau d'oxygène stocké dans le TWC (4) est situé à l'intérieur des limites prédéterminées de stockage d'oxygène (ζbas, ζhaut).
  2. Système de contrôle selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un détecteur HEGO (5) qui mesure la valeur de lambda (λc) des gaz d'échappement à l'intérieur ou en aval du TWC (4).
  3. Système de contrôle selon l'une des revendications 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un modèle (6) de catalyseur qui prédit le niveau (ζest) d'oxygène stocké dans le TWC (4).
  4. Système de contrôle selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que le modèle (6) de catalyseur reçoit comme signal d'entrée la valeur de lambda (λe), le débit massique (mF) et/ou la température (T) des gaz d'échappement qui entrent et/ou sortent du TWC (4).
  5. Système de contrôle selon les revendications 3 ou 4, caractérisé en ce que le modèle (6) de catalyseur comprend une unité d'adaptation capable d'ajuster le modèle en fonction d'une comparaison entre la valeur modélisée et la valeur mesure de lambda (λe) à l'intérieur ou en aval du TWC (4).
  6. Système de contrôle selon l'une des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend une mémoire dans laquelle les limites prédéterminées de stockage d'oxygène (ζbas, ζhaut) et/ou les limites de lambda sont conservées en fonction des paramètres de fonctionnement du moteur.
  7. Procédé de contrôle d'un moteur à combustion interne (2) doté d'un catalyseur à trois voies TWC (4) et qui comprend les étapes suivantes, exécutées en parallèle :
    a) commander le moteur à combustion interne (2) de telle sorte que le niveau d'oxygène stocké dans le TWC (4) reste à l'intérieur des limites prédéterminées de stockage d'oxygène (ζbas, ζhaut),
    b) commander le moteur à combustion interne (2) de telle sorte que la valeur de lambda (λc) des gaz d'échappement à l'intérieur ou en aval du TWC (4) soit située à l'intérieur de limites prédéterminées de lambda,
    un contrôleur de lambda (7) qui contrôle la valeur de lambda (λc) ne fonctionnant que si le niveau d'oxygène stocké dans le TWC (4) est situé à l'intérieur des limites prédéterminées de stockage d'oxygène (ζbas, ζhaut).
  8. Procédé selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que le niveau d'oxygène stocké dans le TWC (4) est modélisé en fonction de paramètres de fonctionnement du moteur.
  9. Procédé selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que la modélisation est adaptée à partir d'une comparaison entre la valeur modélisée et la valeur mesurée d'un paramètre de fonctionnement.
EP04106631A 2004-12-16 2004-12-16 Système et méthode de commande pour moteur à combustion interne avec un catalyseur à trois voies Expired - Fee Related EP1681448B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04106631A EP1681448B1 (fr) 2004-12-16 2004-12-16 Système et méthode de commande pour moteur à combustion interne avec un catalyseur à trois voies
DE200460007680 DE602004007680T2 (de) 2004-12-16 2004-12-16 Regelungssystem und Verfahren für eine Brennkraftmaschine mit einem Dreiwegkatalysator

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04106631A EP1681448B1 (fr) 2004-12-16 2004-12-16 Système et méthode de commande pour moteur à combustion interne avec un catalyseur à trois voies

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1681448A1 EP1681448A1 (fr) 2006-07-19
EP1681448B1 true EP1681448B1 (fr) 2007-07-18

Family

ID=34930066

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04106631A Expired - Fee Related EP1681448B1 (fr) 2004-12-16 2004-12-16 Système et méthode de commande pour moteur à combustion interne avec un catalyseur à trois voies

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1681448B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE602004007680T2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102005044729A1 (de) 2005-09-19 2007-03-22 Volkswagen Ag Lambdaregelung mit Sauerstoffmengenbilanzierung
US7997063B2 (en) 2007-10-29 2011-08-16 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Controlled air-fuel ratio modulation air fuel sensor input
DE102009007572B4 (de) * 2009-02-05 2013-10-02 Continental Automotive Gmbh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Betreiben einer Brennkraftmaschine
DE102012019964B4 (de) * 2012-10-11 2016-10-13 Audi Ag Verfahren zum Betreiben einer Brennkraftmaschine, bei welchem eine Gemischzusammensetzung anhand eines Überblendparameters aus zwei Lambdasignalen ermittelt wird, sowie entsprechende Brennkraftmaschine
DE102016222108A1 (de) * 2016-11-10 2018-05-17 Robert Bosch Gmbh Verfahren zum Einstellen eines Kraftstoff/Luft-Verhältnisses eines Verbrennungsmotors
DE102018220475B3 (de) * 2018-11-28 2020-02-06 Audi Ag Verfahren zum Betreiben einer Antriebseinrichtung sowie entsprechende Antriebseinrichtung
DE102018220474B3 (de) * 2018-11-28 2019-11-21 Audi Ag Verfahren zum Betreiben einer Antriebseinrichtung sowie entsprechende Antriebseinrichtung
WO2020189080A1 (fr) 2019-03-20 2020-09-24 日立オートモティブシステムズ株式会社 Dispositif de commande de moteur à combustion interne

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19606652B4 (de) * 1996-02-23 2004-02-12 Robert Bosch Gmbh Verfahren der Einstellung des Kraftstoff-Luftverhältnisses für eine Brennkraftmaschine mit nachgeschaltetem Katalysator
NL1017481C2 (nl) * 2001-03-02 2002-09-03 Stichting Tech Wetenschapp Autonoom mobiel voertuig.
US6840036B2 (en) * 2002-08-30 2005-01-11 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Control of oxygen storage in a catalytic converter
US7000379B2 (en) * 2003-06-04 2006-02-21 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Fuel/air ratio feedback control with catalyst gain estimation for an internal combustion engine

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE602004007680T2 (de) 2008-08-07
DE602004007680D1 (de) 2007-08-30
EP1681448A1 (fr) 2006-07-19

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN109937292B (zh) 用于调节催化器的用于废气组分的储存器的填充度的方法
US8240129B2 (en) System and method for diagnosing operation of a NOx adsorber catalyst
JP5311082B2 (ja) 窒素酸化物吸蔵触媒を有する排気ガス浄化装置を備えたディーゼルエンジンの運転方法
US10859018B1 (en) Exhaust gas purification system using three-way catalyst and method of controlling the same
GB2380692A (en) A method and system for controlling an internal combustion engine.
GB2381762A (en) Control of reagent addition to NOx emission reducing systems, especially vehicle exhaust systems
JPH1047048A (ja) 内燃機関の排気浄化装置
GB2380434A (en) A method for estimating a change in the amount of oxidants stored in the catalyst of an exhaust system.
JP6018543B2 (ja) 内燃機関における触媒の酸素吸蔵量推定方法、内燃機関の空燃比制御方法、触媒の酸素吸蔵量推定装置、内燃機関の空燃比制御装置及び自動二輪車
CN110552803B (zh) 调节催化器的用于废气成分的存储器的填充水平的方法
CN109937293B (zh) 用于调节燃烧马达的燃料/空气比的方法
US6632764B2 (en) Method for controlling the regeneration of an NOx storage converter
JP4908759B2 (ja) 排気ガス温度調節のための方法及び制御装置
EP1681448B1 (fr) Système et méthode de commande pour moteur à combustion interne avec un catalyseur à trois voies
JP3879511B2 (ja) エンジンの排気浄化装置
US11125177B2 (en) System for controlling air-fuel ratio for flex fuel vehicle using oxygen storage amount of catalyst and method thereof
EP3705693B1 (fr) Procédé d'évaluation du veillissement d'un catalyseur à trois voies
US8468798B2 (en) Process and device for the lambda control of an internal combustion engine with exhaust catalyst
US8020369B2 (en) Expanded mixture control for reducing exhaust-gas emissions
JP4636273B2 (ja) 内燃機関の排気浄化装置
US6470675B1 (en) System and method controlling engine based on predicated engine operating conditions
KR102676523B1 (ko) 프로브 작동 준비 상태가 존재하지 않을 때, 배기가스 성분을 위한 촉매 컨버터의 어큐뮬레이터의 충전 레벨을 제어하기 위한 방법 및 제어 장치
CN114135375A (zh) 用于对催化器的所建模的反应动力学进行调整的方法和计算单元
Balenović et al. Vehicle application of model-based catalyst control
JP3993962B2 (ja) エンジンの排気浄化装置

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): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA HR LV MK YU

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20070119

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

AKX Designation fees paid

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 602004007680

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20070830

Kind code of ref document: P

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

Effective date: 20080421

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 12

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R082

Ref document number: 602004007680

Country of ref document: DE

Representative=s name: DOERFLER, THOMAS, DR.-ING., DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 13

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 14

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20191114

Year of fee payment: 16

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

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20191122

Year of fee payment: 16

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20191126

Year of fee payment: 16

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 602004007680

Country of ref document: DE

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

Effective date: 20201216

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: 20201231

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: 20210701

Ref country code: GB

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

Effective date: 20201216