Skip to main content Skip to footer
HomeHome
 
  • Homepage
  • Searching for patents

    Patent knowledge

    Access our patent databases and search tools.

    Go to overview 

    • Overview
    • Technical information
      • Overview
      • Espacenet - patent search
      • European Publication Server
      • EP full-text search
    • Legal information
      • Overview
      • European Patent Register
      • European Patent Bulletin
      • European Case Law Identifier sitemap
      • Third-party observations
    • Business information
      • Overview
      • PATSTAT
      • IPscore
      • Technology insight reports
    • Data
      • Overview
      • Technology Intelligence Platform
      • Linked open EP data
      • Bulk data sets
      • Web services
      • Coverage, codes and statistics
    • Technology platforms
      • Overview
      • Plastics in transition
      • Water innovation
      • Space innovation
      • Technologies combatting cancer
      • Firefighting technologies
      • Clean energy technologies
      • Fighting coronavirus
    • Helpful resources
      • Overview
      • First time here?
      • Asian patent information
      • Patent information centres
      • Patent Translate
      • Patent Knowledge News
      • Business and statistics
      • Unitary Patent information in patent knowledge
    Image
    EPO TIR study-PV-web-720 x 237

    Technology insight report on advances in photovoltaics

  • Applying for a patent

    Applying for a patent

    Practical information on filing and grant procedures.

    Go to overview 

    • Overview
    • European route
      • Overview
      • European Patent Guide
      • Oppositions
      • Oral proceedings
      • Appeals
      • Unitary Patent & Unified Patent Court
      • National validation
      • Request for extension/validation
    • International route (PCT)
      • Overview
      • Euro-PCT Guide – PCT procedure at the EPO
      • EPO decisions and notices
      • PCT provisions and resources
      • Extension/validation request
      • Reinforced partnership programme
      • Accelerating your PCT application
      • Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)
      • Training and events
    • National route
    • Find a professional representative
    • MyEPO services
      • Overview
      • Understand our services
      • Get access
      • File with us
      • Interact with us on your files
      • Online Filing & fee payment outages
    • Forms
      • Overview
      • Request for examination
    • Fees
      • Overview
      • European fees (EPC)
      • International fees (PCT)
      • Unitary Patent fees (UP)
      • Fee payment and refunds
      • Warning

    UP

    Find out how the Unitary Patent can enhance your IP strategy

  • Law & practice

    Law & practice

    European patent law, the Official Journal and other legal texts.

    Go to overview 

    • Overview
    • Legal texts
      • Overview
      • European Patent Convention
      • Official Journal
      • Guidelines
      • Extension / validation system
      • London Agreement
      • National law relating to the EPC
      • Unitary patent system
      • National measures relating to the Unitary Patent
    • Court practices
      • Overview
      • European Patent Judges' Symposium
    • User consultations
      • Overview
      • Ongoing consultations
      • Completed consultations
    • Substantive patent law harmonisation
      • Overview
      • The Tegernsee process
      • Group B+
    • Convergence of practice
    • Options for professional representatives
    Image
    Law and practice scales 720x237

    Keep up with key aspects of selected BoA decisions with our monthly "Abstracts of decisions”

  • News & events

    News & events

    Our latest news, podcasts and events, including the European Inventor Award.

    Go to overview 

     

    • Overview
    • News
    • Events
    • European Inventor Award
      • Overview
      • About the award
      • Categories and prizes
      • Meet the finalists
      • Nominations
      • European Inventor Network
      • The 2024 event
    • Young Inventors Prize
      • Overview
      • About the prize
      • Nominations
      • The jury
      • The world, reimagined
      • The 2025 event
    • Press centre
      • Overview
      • Patent Index and statistics
      • Search in press centre
      • Background information
      • Copyright
      • Press contacts
      • Call back form
      • Email alert service
    • Innovation and patenting in focus
      • Overview
      • Water-related technologies
      • CodeFest
      • Green tech in focus
      • Research institutes
      • Women inventors
      • Lifestyle
      • Space and satellites
      • The future of medicine
      • Materials science
      • Mobile communications
      • Biotechnology
      • Patent classification
      • Digital technologies
      • The future of manufacturing
      • Books by EPO experts
    • "Talk innovation" podcast

    Podcast

    From ideas to inventions: tune into our podcast for the latest in tech and IP

  • Learning

    Learning

    The European Patent Academy – the point of access to your learning

    Go to overview 

    • Overview
    • Learning activities and paths
      • Overview
      • Learning activities
      • Learning paths
    • EQE and EPAC
      • Overview
      • EQE - European qualifying examination
      • EPAC - European patent administration certification
      • CSP – Candidate Support Programme
    • Learning resources by area of interest
      • Overview
      • Patent granting
      • Technology transfer and dissemination
      • Patent enforcement and litigation
    • Learning resources by profile
      • Overview
      • Business and IP managers
      • EQE and EPAC Candidates
      • Judges, lawyers and prosecutors
      • National offices and IP authorities
      • Patent attorneys and paralegals
      • Universities, research centres and technology transfer centres (TTOs)
    Image
    Patent Academy catalogue

    Have a look at the extensive range of learning opportunities in the European Patent Academy training catalogue

  • About us

    About us

    Find out more about our work, values, history and vision

    Go to overview 

    • Overview
    • The EPO at a glance
    • 50 years of the EPC
      • Overview
      • Official celebrations
      • Member states’ video statements
      • 50 Leading Tech Voices
      • Athens Marathon
      • Kids’ collaborative art competition
    • Legal foundations and member states
      • Overview
      • Legal foundations
      • Member states of the European Patent Organisation
      • Extension states
      • Validation states
    • Administrative Council and subsidiary bodies
      • Overview
      • Communiqués
      • Calendar
      • Documents and publications
      • Administrative Council
    • Principles & strategy
      • Overview
      • Our mission, vision, values and corporate policy
      • Strategic Plan 2028
      • Towards a New Normal
    • Leadership & management
      • Overview
      • President António Campinos
      • Management Advisory Committee
    • Sustainability at the EPO
      • Overview
      • Environmental
      • Social
      • Governance and Financial sustainability
    • Services & activities
      • Overview
      • Our services & structure
      • Quality
      • Consulting our users
      • European and international co-operation
      • European Patent Academy
      • Chief Economist
      • Ombuds Office
      • Reporting wrongdoing
    • Observatory on Patents and Technology
      • Overview
      • Technologies
      • Innovation actors
      • Policy and funding
      • Tools
      • About the Observatory
    • Procurement
      • Overview
      • Procurement forecast
      • Doing business with the EPO
      • Procurement procedures
      • Sustainable Procurement Policy
      • About eTendering and electronic signatures
      • Procurement portal
      • Invoicing
      • General conditions
      • Archived tenders
    • Transparency portal
      • Overview
      • General
      • Human
      • Environmental
      • Organisational
      • Social and relational
      • Economic
      • Governance
    • Statistics and trends
      • Overview
      • Statistics & Trends Centre
      • Patent Index 2024
      • EPO Data Hub
      • Clarification on data sources
    • History
      • Overview
      • 1970s
      • 1980s
      • 1990s
      • 2000s
      • 2010s
      • 2020s
    • Art collection
      • Overview
      • The collection
      • Let's talk about art
      • Artists
      • Media library
      • What's on
      • Publications
      • Contact
      • Culture Space A&T 5-10
      • "Long Night"
    Image
    Patent Index 2024 keyvisual showing brightly lit up data chip, tinted in purple, bright blue

    Track the latest tech trends with our Patent Index

 
en de fr
  • Language selection
  • English
  • Deutsch
  • Français
Main navigation
  • Homepage
    • Go back
    • New to patents
  • New to patents
    • Go back
    • Your business and patents
    • Why do we have patents?
    • What's your big idea?
    • Are you ready?
    • What to expect
    • How to apply for a patent
    • Is it patentable?
    • Are you first?
    • Patent quiz
    • Unitary patent video
  • Searching for patents
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • Technical information
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Espacenet - patent search
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • National patent office databases
        • Global Patent Index (GPI)
        • Release notes
      • European Publication Server
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Release notes
        • Cross-reference index for Euro-PCT applications
        • EP authority file
        • Help
      • EP full-text search
    • Legal information
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • European Patent Register
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Release notes archive
        • Register documentation
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Deep link data coverage
          • Federated Register
          • Register events
      • European Patent Bulletin
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Download Bulletin
        • EP Bulletin search
        • Help
      • European Case Law Identifier sitemap
      • Third-party observations
    • Business information
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • PATSTAT
      • IPscore
        • Go back
        • Release notes
      • Technology insight reports
    • Data
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Technology Intelligence Platform
      • Linked open EP data
      • Bulk data sets
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Manuals
        • Sequence listings
        • National full-text data
        • European Patent Register data
        • EPO worldwide bibliographic data (DOCDB)
        • EP full-text data
        • EPO worldwide legal event data (INPADOC)
        • EP bibliographic data (EBD)
        • Boards of Appeal decisions
      • Web services
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Open Patent Services (OPS)
        • European Publication Server web service
      • Coverage, codes and statistics
        • Go back
        • Weekly updates
        • Updated regularly
    • Technology platforms
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Plastics in transition
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Plastics waste recovery
        • Plastics waste recycling
        • Alternative plastics
      • Innovation in water technologies
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Clean water
        • Protection from water
      • Space innovation
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Cosmonautics
        • Space observation
      • Technologies combatting cancer
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Prevention and early detection
        • Diagnostics
        • Therapies
        • Wellbeing and aftercare
      • Firefighting technologies
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Detection and prevention of fires
        • Fire extinguishing
        • Protective equipment
        • Post-fire restoration
      • Clean energy technologies
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Renewable energy
        • Carbon-intensive industries
        • Energy storage and other enabling technologies
      • Fighting coronavirus
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Vaccines and therapeutics
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Vaccines
          • Overview of candidate therapies for COVID-19
          • Candidate antiviral and symptomatic therapeutics
          • Nucleic acids and antibodies to fight coronavirus
        • Diagnostics and analytics
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Protein and nucleic acid assays
          • Analytical protocols
        • Informatics
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Bioinformatics
          • Healthcare informatics
        • Technologies for the new normal
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Devices, materials and equipment
          • Procedures, actions and activities
          • Digital technologies
        • Inventors against coronavirus
    • Helpful resources
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • First time here?
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Basic definitions
        • Patent classification
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC)
        • Patent families
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • DOCDB simple patent family
          • INPADOC extended patent family
        • Legal event data
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • INPADOC classification scheme
      • Asian patent information
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • China (CN)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Facts and figures
          • Grant procedure
          • Numbering system
          • Useful terms
          • Searching in databases
        • Chinese Taipei (TW)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Grant procedure
          • Numbering system
          • Useful terms
          • Searching in databases
        • India (IN)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Facts and figures
          • Grant procedure
          • Numbering system
        • Japan (JP)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Facts and figures
          • Grant procedure
          • Numbering system
          • Useful terms
          • Searching in databases
        • Korea (KR)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Facts and figures
          • Grant procedure
          • Numbering system
          • Useful terms
          • Searching in databases
        • Russian Federation (RU)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Facts and figures
          • Numbering system
          • Searching in databases
        • Useful links
      • Patent information centres (PATLIB)
      • Patent Translate
      • Patent Knowledge News
      • Business and statistics
      • Unitary Patent information in patent knowledge
  • Applying for a patent
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • European route
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • European Patent Guide
      • Oppositions
      • Oral proceedings
        • Go back
        • Oral proceedings calendar
          • Go back
          • Calendar
          • Public access to appeal proceedings
          • Public access to opposition proceedings
          • Technical guidelines
      • Appeals
      • Unitary Patent & Unified Patent Court
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Unitary Patent
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Legal framework
          • Main features
          • Applying for a Unitary Patent
          • Cost of a Unitary Patent
          • Translation and compensation
          • Start date
          • Introductory brochures
        • Unified Patent Court
      • National validation
      • Extension/validation request
    • International route
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Euro-PCT Guide
      • Entry into the European phase
      • Decisions and notices
      • PCT provisions and resources
      • Extension/validation request
      • Reinforced partnership programme
      • Accelerating your PCT application
      • Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)
        • Go back
        • Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) programme outline
      • Training and events
    • National route
    • MyEPO services
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Understand our services
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Exchange data with us using an API
          • Go back
          • Release notes
      • Get access
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Release notes
      • File with us
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • What if our online filing services are down?
        • Release notes
      • Interact with us on your files
        • Go back
        • Release notes
      • Online Filing & fee payment outages
    • Fees
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • European fees (EPC)
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Decisions and notices
      • International fees (PCT)
        • Go back
        • Reduction in fees
        • Fees for international applications
        • Decisions and notices
        • Overview
      • Unitary Patent fees (UP)
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Decisions and notices
      • Fee payment and refunds
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Payment methods
        • Getting started
        • FAQs and other documentation
        • Technical information for batch payments
        • Decisions and notices
        • Release notes
      • Warning
    • Forms
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Request for examination
    • Find a professional representative
  • Law & practice
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • Legal texts
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • European Patent Convention
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Archive
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Documentation on the EPC revision 2000
            • Go back
            • Overview
            • Diplomatic Conference for the revision of the EPC
            • Travaux préparatoires
            • New text
            • Transitional provisions
            • Implementing regulations to the EPC 2000
            • Rules relating to Fees
            • Ratifications and accessions
          • Travaux Préparatoires EPC 1973
      • Official Journal
      • Guidelines
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • EPC Guidelines
        • PCT-EPO Guidelines
        • Unitary Patent Guidelines
        • Guidelines revision cycle
        • Consultation results
        • Summary of user responses
        • Archive
      • Extension / validation system
      • London Agreement
      • National law relating to the EPC
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Archive
      • Unitary Patent system
        • Go back
        • Travaux préparatoires to UP and UPC
      • National measures relating to the Unitary Patent 
    • Court practices
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • European Patent Judges' Symposium
    • User consultations
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Ongoing consultations
      • Completed consultations
    • Substantive patent law harmonisation
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • The Tegernsee process
      • Group B+
    • Convergence of practice
    • Options for professional representatives
  • News & events
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • News
    • Events
    • European Inventor Award
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • About the award
      • Categories and prizes
      • Meet the inventors
      • Nominations
      • European Inventor Network
        • Go back
        • 2024 activities
        • 2025 activities
        • Rules and criteria
        • FAQ
      • The 2024 event
    • Young Inventors Prize
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • About the prize
      • Nominations
      • The jury
      • The world, reimagined
      • The 2025 event
    • Press centre
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Patent Index and statistics
      • Search in press centre
      • Background information
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • European Patent Office
        • Q&A on patents related to coronavirus
        • Q&A on plant patents
      • Copyright
      • Press contacts
      • Call back form
      • Email alert service
    • In focus
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Water-related technologies
      • CodeFest
        • Go back
        • CodeFest Spring 2025 on classifying patent data for sustainable development
        • Overview
        • CodeFest 2024 on generative AI
        • CodeFest 2023 on Green Plastics
      • Green tech in focus
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • About green tech
        • Renewable energies
        • Energy transition technologies
        • Building a greener future
      • Research institutes
      • Women inventors
      • Lifestyle
      • Space and satellites
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Patents and space technologies
      • Healthcare
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Medical technologies and cancer
        • Personalised medicine
      • Materials science
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Nanotechnology
      • Mobile communications
      • Biotechnology
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Red, white or green
        • The role of the EPO
        • What is patentable?
        • Biotech inventors
      • Classification
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Nanotechnology
        • Climate change mitigation technologies
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • External partners
          • Updates on Y02 and Y04S
      • Digital technologies
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • About ICT
        • Hardware and software
        • Artificial intelligence
        • Fourth Industrial Revolution
      • Additive manufacturing
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • About AM
        • AM innovation
      • Books by EPO experts
    • Podcast
  • Learning
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • Learning activities and paths
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Learning activities: types and formats
      • Learning paths
    • EQE and EPAC
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • EQE - European Qualifying Examination
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Compendium
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Paper F
          • Paper A
          • Paper B
          • Paper C
          • Paper D
          • Pre-examination
        • Candidates successful in the European qualifying examination
        • Archive
      • EPAC - European patent administration certification
      • CSP – Candidate Support Programme
    • Learning resources by area of interest
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Patent granting
      • Technology transfer and dissemination
      • Patent enforcement and litigation
    • Learning resources by profile
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Business and IP managers
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Innovation case studies
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • SME case studies
          • Technology transfer case studies
          • High-growth technology case studies
        • Inventor's handbook
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Introduction
          • Disclosure and confidentiality
          • Novelty and prior art
          • Competition and market potential
          • Assessing the risk ahead
          • Proving the invention
          • Protecting your idea
          • Building a team and seeking funding
          • Business planning
          • Finding and approaching companies
          • Dealing with companies
        • Best of search matters
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Tools and databases
          • EPO procedures and initiatives
          • Search strategies
          • Challenges and specific topics
        • Support for high-growth technology businesses
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Business decision-makers
          • IP professionals
          • Stakeholders of the Innovation Ecosystem
      • EQE and EPAC Candidates
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Paper F brain-teasers
        • Daily D questions
        • European qualifying examination - Guide for preparation
        • EPAC
      • Judges, lawyers and prosecutors
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Compulsory licensing in Europe
        • The jurisdiction of European courts in patent disputes
      • National offices and IP authorities
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Learning material for examiners of national officers
        • Learning material for formalities officers and paralegals
      • Patent attorneys and paralegals
      • Universities, research centres and TTOs
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Modular IP Education Framework (MIPEF)
        • Pan-European Seal Young Professionals Programme
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • For students
          • For universities
            • Go back
            • Overview
            • IP education resources
            • University memberships
          • Our young professionals
          • Professional development plan
        • Academic Research Programme
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Completed research projects
          • Current research projects
        • IP Teaching Kit
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Download modules
        • Intellectual property course design manual
        • PATLIB Knowledge Transfer to Africa
          • Go back
          • Core activities
          • Stories and insights
  • About us
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • The EPO at a glance
    • 50 years of the EPC
      • Go back
      • Official celebrations
      • Overview
      • Member states’ video statements
        • Go back
        • Albania
        • Austria
        • Belgium
        • Bulgaria
        • Croatia
        • Cyprus
        • Czech Republic
        • Denmark
        • Estonia
        • Finland
        • France
        • Germany
        • Greece
        • Hungary
        • Iceland
        • Ireland
        • Italy
        • Latvia
        • Liechtenstein
        • Lithuania
        • Luxembourg
        • Malta
        • Monaco
        • Montenegro
        • Netherlands
        • North Macedonia
        • Norway
        • Poland
        • Portugal
        • Romania
        • San Marino
        • Serbia
        • Slovakia
        • Slovenia
        • Spain
        • Sweden
        • Switzerland
        • Türkiye
        • United Kingdom
      • 50 Leading Tech Voices
      • Athens Marathon
      • Kids’ collaborative art competition
    • Legal foundations and member states
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Legal foundations
      • Member states
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Member states by date of accession
      • Extension states
      • Validation states
    • Administrative Council and subsidiary bodies
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Communiqués
        • Go back
        • 2024
        • Overview
        • 2023
        • 2022
        • 2021
        • 2020
        • 2019
        • 2018
        • 2017
        • 2016
        • 2015
        • 2014
        • 2013
      • Calendar
      • Documents and publications
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Select Committee documents
      • Administrative Council
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Composition
        • Representatives
        • Rules of Procedure
        • Board of Auditors
        • Secretariat
        • Council bodies
    • Principles & strategy
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Mission, vision, values & corporate policy
      • Strategic Plan 2028
        • Go back
        • Driver 1: People
        • Driver 2: Technologies
        • Driver 3: High-quality, timely products and services
        • Driver 4: Partnerships
        • Driver 5: Financial sustainability
      • Towards a New Normal
      • Data protection & privacy notice
    • Leadership & management
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • About the President
      • Management Advisory Committee
    • Sustainability at the EPO
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Environmental
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Inspiring environmental inventions
      • Social
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Inspiring social inventions
      • Governance and Financial sustainability
    • Procurement
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Procurement forecast
      • Doing business with the EPO
      • Procurement procedures
      • Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) publications
      • Sustainable Procurement Policy
      • About eTendering
      • Invoicing
      • Procurement portal
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • e-Signing contracts
      • General conditions
      • Archived tenders
    • Services & activities
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Our services & structure
      • Quality
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Foundations
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • European Patent Convention
          • Guidelines for examination
          • Our staff
        • Enabling quality
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Prior art
          • Classification
          • Tools
          • Processes
        • Products & services
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Search
          • Examination
          • Opposition
          • Continuous improvement
        • Quality through networking
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • User engagement
          • Co-operation
          • User satisfaction survey
          • Stakeholder Quality Assurance Panels
        • Patent Quality Charter
        • Quality Action Plan
        • Quality dashboard
        • Statistics
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Search
          • Examination
          • Opposition
        • Integrated management at the EPO
      • Consulting our users
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Standing Advisory Committee before the EPO (SACEPO)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Objectives
          • SACEPO and its working parties
          • Meetings
          • Single Access Portal – SACEPO Area
        • Surveys
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Detailed methodology
          • Search services
          • Examination services, final actions and publication
          • Opposition services
          • Formalities services
          • Customer services
          • Filing services
          • Key Account Management (KAM)
          • Website
          • Archive
      • Our user service charter
      • European and international co-operation
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Co-operation with member states
          • Go back
          • Overview
        • Bilateral co-operation with non-member states
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Validation system
          • Reinforced Partnership programme
        • Multilateral international co-operation with IP offices and organisations
        • Co-operation with international organisations outside the IP system
      • European Patent Academy
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Partners
      • Chief Economist
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Economic studies
      • Ombuds Office
      • Reporting wrongdoing
    • Observatory on Patents and Technology
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Technologies
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Innovation against cancer
        • Assistive robotics
        • Space technologies
      • Innovation actors
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Startups and SMEs
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Publications
        • Research universities and public research organisations
      • Policy and funding
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Financing innovation programme
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Our studies on the financing of innovation
          • EPO initiatives for patent applicants
          • Financial support for innovators in Europe
        • Patents and standards
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Publications
          • Patent standards explorer
      • Tools
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Deep Tech Finder
      • About the Observatory
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Work plan
    • Transparency portal
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • General
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Annual Review 2024
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Executive summary
          • Driver 1 – People
          • Driver 2 – Technologies
          • Driver 3 – High-quality, timely products and services
          • Driver 4 – Partnerships
          • Driver 5 – Financial Sustainability
        • Annual Review 2023
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Foreword
          • Executive summary
          • 50 years of the EPC
          • Strategic key performance indicators
          • Goal 1: Engaged and empowered
          • Goal 2: Digital transformation
          • Goal 3: Master quality
          • Goal 4: Partner for positive impact
          • Goal 5: Secure sustainability
        • Annual Review 2022
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Foreword
          • Executive summary
          • Goal 1: Engaged and empowered
          • Goal 2: Digital transformation
          • Goal 3: Master quality
          • Goal 4: Partner for positive impact
          • Goal 5: Secure sustainability
      • Human
      • Environmental
      • Organisational
      • Social and relational
      • Economic
      • Governance
    • Statistics and trends
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Statistics & Trends Centre
      • Patent Index 2024
        • Go back
        • Insight into computer technology and AI
        • Insight into clean energy technologies
        • Statistics and indicators
          • Go back
          • European patent applications
            • Go back
            • Key trend
            • Origin
            • Top 10 technical fields
              • Go back
              • Computer technology
              • Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
              • Digital communication
              • Medical technology
              • Transport
              • Measurement
              • Biotechnology
              • Pharmaceuticals
              • Other special machines
              • Organic fine chemistry
            • All technical fields
          • Applicants
            • Go back
            • Top 50
            • Categories
            • Women inventors
          • Granted patents
            • Go back
            • Key trend
            • Origin
            • Designations
      • Data to download
      • EPO Data Hub
      • Clarification on data sources
    • History
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • 1970s
      • 1980s
      • 1990s
      • 2000s
      • 2010s
      • 2020s
    • Art collection
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • The collection
      • Let's talk about art
      • Artists
      • Media library
      • What's on
      • Publications
      • Contact
      • Culture Space A&T 5-10
        • Go back
        • Catalyst lab & Deep vision
          • Go back
          • Irene Sauter (DE)
          • AVPD (DK)
          • Jan Robert Leegte (NL)
          • Jānis Dzirnieks (LV) #1
          • Jānis Dzirnieks (LV) #2
          • Péter Szalay (HU)
          • Thomas Feuerstein (AT)
          • Tom Burr (US)
          • Wolfgang Tillmans (DE)
          • TerraPort
          • Unfinished Sculpture - Captives #1
          • Deep vision – immersive exhibition
          • Previous exhibitions
        • The European Patent Journey
        • Sustaining life. Art in the climate emergency
        • Next generation statements
        • Open storage
        • Cosmic bar
      • "Long Night"
  • Boards of Appeal
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • Decisions of the Boards of Appeal
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Recent decisions
      • Selected decisions
    • Information from the Boards of Appeal
    • Procedure
    • Oral proceedings
    • About the Boards of Appeal
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • President of the Boards of Appeal
      • Enlarged Board of Appeal
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Pending referrals (Art. 112 EPC)
        • Decisions sorted by number (Art. 112 EPC)
        • Pending petitions for review (Art. 112a EPC)
        • Decisions on petitions for review (Art. 112a EPC)
      • Technical Boards of Appeal
      • Legal Board of Appeal
      • Disciplinary Board of Appeal
      • Presidium
        • Go back
        • Overview
    • Code of Conduct
    • Business distribution scheme
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Technical boards of appeal by IPC in 2025
      • Archive
    • Annual list of cases
    • Communications
    • Annual reports
      • Go back
      • Overview
    • Publications
      • Go back
      • Abstracts of decisions
    • Case Law of the Boards of Appeal
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Archive
  • Service & support
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • Website updates
    • Availability of online services
      • Go back
      • Overview
    • FAQ
      • Go back
      • Overview
    • Publications
    • Ordering
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Patent Knowledge Products and Services
      • Terms and conditions
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Patent information products
        • Bulk data sets
        • Open Patent Services (OPS)
        • Fair use charter
    • Procedural communications
    • Useful links
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Patent offices of member states
      • Other patent offices
      • Directories of patent attorneys
      • Patent databases, registers and gazettes
      • Disclaimer
    • Contact us
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Filing options
      • Locations
    • Subscription centre
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Subscribe
      • Change preferences
      • Unsubscribe
    • Official holidays
    • Glossary
    • RSS feeds
Board of Appeals
Decisions

Recent decisions

Overview
  • 2025 decisions
  • 2024 decisions
  • 2023 decisions
  1. Home
  2. T 1531/05 30-10-2009
Facebook X Linkedin Email

T 1531/05 30-10-2009

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2009:T153105.20091030
Date of decision
30 October 2009
Case number
T 1531/05
Petition for review of
-
Application number
01308656.6
IPC class
H04N 3/185
Language of proceedings
EN
Distribution
NO DISTRIBUTION (D)

Download and more information:

Decision in EN 71.83 KB
Documentation of the appeal procedure can be found in the European Patent Register
Bibliographic information is available in:
EN
Versions
Unpublished
Application title

Power-supplying device for an electron gun

Applicant name
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Opponent name
-
Board
3.5.04
Headnote
-
Relevant legal provisions
European Patent Convention Art 83 1973
Keywords
Disclosure - sufficiency - (no)
Catchword
-
Cited decisions
G 0002/93
T 0171/84
Citing decisions
-

I. The appeal is directed against the decision by the examining division to refuse European patent application No. 01 308 656.6, published as EP 1 255 402 A1, on the ground of insufficient disclosure of the invention (Article 83 EPC 1973).

II. In its statement of grounds of appeal the appellant explained how inconsistencies in the description and drawings of the application which caused difficulties in interpretation could be remedied so as to make the invention solve the technical problem. The appellant filed claims according to a main, a first and a second auxiliary request, as well as an amended page 6 of the description.

III. The appellant requested that the decision under appeal be set aside and that a patent be granted on the basis of the claims of the main request, the first auxiliary request or the second auxiliary request, in that order, all filed with the statement of grounds of appeal.

IV. In an annex to the summons to oral proceedings the board observed that it was not clear which information in the application would lead the skilled person, using common general knowledge, to read the application as suggested by the appellant in the statement of grounds of appeal, and that there was no clear disclosure of an embodiment solving the technical problem identifiable from the application as filed.

V. In a letter dated 17 September 2009 the appellant informed the board that it would not be attending the scheduled oral proceedings.

VI. The board held oral proceedings on 30 October 2009 in the absence of the appellant.

VII. Claim 1 according to the main request reads as follows.

"A power supply apparatus for an electron gun in a colour display tube CDT, the apparatus comprising:

a flyback transformer FBT having a focus voltage output terminal and an acceleration voltage output terminal;

a power supplying part supplying a predetermined reference voltage;

a focus voltage detection part detecting a focus voltage of the focus voltage output terminal; and

a focus voltage boost part boosting the focus voltage of the focus voltage output terminal when the focus voltage detected by the focus voltage detection part is lower than the reference voltage of the power supplying part."

VIII. Claim 1 according to the first auxiliary request reads as follows.

"A power supply circuit for an electron gun, the circuit comprising:

a flyback transformer (10);

means (16, 28) for providing a focus voltage at a focus voltage output (EC3-0) from the voltage across a secondary winding (12) of the flyback transformer (10); wherein said means (16, 28) for providing a focus voltage comprises a potential divider (16, 28) for dividing the voltage across said secondary winding, including a resistor (28) connected to ground; and

means (23, 25, 27) for boosting the focus voltage in the event of a transient period of increased focus current due to a discharge, wherein said means for boosting the focus voltage includes a diode (25) for providing a unidirectional current path from a voltage source (23) through the ground connected resistor (28), wherein the diode (25) is conductive only when the focus voltage drops below the voltage of the voltage source (23)."

IX. Claim 1 according to the second auxiliary request reads as follows.

"A power supply circuit for an electron gun, the circuit comprising:

a flyback transformer (10) having first and second secondary windings (12, 13);

focus voltage means (16, 28) for providing a focus voltage at a focus voltage output (EC3-D) from the voltage across the first secondary winding (12) of the flyback transformer (10), the focus voltage means comprising a potential divider (16, 28) for dividing the voltage across said secondary winding, including a resistor (28) connected to ground; and

means (20, 25, 27) for maintaining a predetermined voltage across the ground connected resistor, comprising a diode (25) for providing a unidirectional current path from a voltage source (20) through the ground connected resistor (28), the diode (25) being connected in series with a further resistor (26), a capacitor (27) is connected between the junction between the diode and the further resistor and ground and the further resistor (26) is connected to the ground connected resistor (28), wherein the diode (25) is conductive only when the voltage across the ground connected resistor (28) drops as a result of a drop in the focus voltage."

X. The reasoning in the decision under appeal may be summarised as follows.

The application relates to the generation of high voltages, in particular a high focus voltage, for an electron gun. The problem to be solved, as indicated in the description, consists in designing a power supply in which the focus voltage can easily recover to a normal value after a discharge event in the electron gun. This problem has already been recognised and solved in the prior art. The present application attempts to provide the further solution according to figure 3.

In normal operation the voltage across the focus voltage detecting resistor of figure 3 is slightly above a reference voltage (210V) but well below the focus voltage (several kV). The current injected through the "boost" arrangement during a transient discharge event prevents the voltage across the detecting resistor from dropping considerably below the reference voltage. This only marginally influences the focus voltage, essentially due to the substantial difference in magnitude. Thus the circuit of figure 3 does not disclose means for boosting the focus voltage so as to solve the technical problem presented in the description. There is also no indication of other means for boosting in the application. Furthermore no other meaningful technical problem is addressed by the circuit of figure 3.

Article 83, read in combination with Rule 27(1)(c) EPC 1973, requires that the application provide sufficient information to teach the skilled person, using common general knowledge, what to do for which purpose. This requirement is not fulfilled in the present case.

XI. The appellant's arguments may be summarised as follows.

The skilled person would gather from the operation of the circuit as described that the reference voltage at terminal 20 must be comparable to the focus voltage in order to solve the technical problem. It is thus in the order of at least several kV, and significantly greater than the 210V erroneously indicated in the figures (only). The resistances of the distribution network 16 are set so that the focus voltage (EC3-D) is about 6kV. In this network this can be achieved with a resistance R5 around 100 MOmega. The relevant wording of page 6 of the description has been amended back to make clear, as in the originally filed version, that the voltage across resistor R5 is about 6kV. The capacitor C2 has a smoothing function to adjust the waveform of the static focus voltage which has a peak-to-peak voltage in the order of 300V to 400V. The second and third paragraphs on page 6 describe in detail that the circuitry can boost the focus voltage when it collapses. This can only apply if the voltage at terminal 20 in figures 2 and 3 is significantly greater than 210V. Although the description and drawings contain some inconsistencies, the skilled person looking at the total information content of the document would be able to perform the invention.

1. The appeal is admissible.

2. Main request

2.1 In order to meet the requirements of Article 83 EPC 1973, a European patent application must contain sufficient information to allow a person skilled in the art, using common general knowledge, to perceive the technical teaching inherent in the claimed invention and to put it into effect accordingly (see G 0002/93, OJ 1995, 275, point 4 of the reasons), if necessary after having recognised and rectified evident errors in the application documents (see T 0171/84, OJ 1986, 095).

2.2 The present application refers to the technical problem that a discharge current in the electron gun of a colour display tube may cause an accidental voltage drop at the (dynamic) focus voltage output terminal (17 or EC3-D), which has a high electric potential and a fairly high output impedance. The present invention is presented as providing a power supply device which can recover from such a voltage drop by boosting the focus voltage to return to the normal voltage (see, for instance, paragraphs [0010], [0011], [0018] and [0030] in the application as published).

2.3 The solution according to the single embodiment disclosed in the application consists in an arrangement (25, 26, 27 in figure 3) supplying additional current from an output terminal (20 in figures 2 and 3) when the voltage across a sensing resistor (28 or R5) drops below a reference voltage.

2.4 This reference voltage is derived from the voltage at terminal 20, which is shown in both figures 2 and 3 as being equal to 210V. Thus the voltage across the sensing resistor, taking account of the voltage drops across a diode (D4) and a further resistor (R4), should be below 210V, which is an order of magnitude smaller than the normal focus voltage (typically several kV). As can be seen from figures 2 and 3, the focus voltage between terminal EC3-D (or 17) and ground represents the sum of the voltage across capacitor (C2) and the voltage across resistor R5 (or 28). In normal operation, when capacitor C2 is fully charged and essentially neither supplies nor draws current, the voltage across resistor R5 is determined by resistance values of a purely resistive voltage dividing network (16). The resistance value of the sensing resistor (28; R5) accordingly has to be small compared to the resistance value of the resistors in the voltage dividing network (16). The board thus agrees with the examining division that the arrangement (25, 26, 27) shown in the figures provides a voltage across resistor R5 which is well below the (normal) focus voltage.

2.5 The appellant contends that the circuit arrangement can boost the focus voltage only if the voltage produced is significantly greater than 210V and that the value "210V" at terminal 20 in figures 2 and 3 is erroneous. It argues that there are some inconsistencies in the description and drawings and that the skilled person looking at the total disclosure of the application would recognise that the value in the drawings should actually be significantly greater than 210V and of an order comparable to the focus voltage, i.e. of the order of at least several kV up to a few tens of kV. It also argues that the sensing resistor should accordingly have a value of about 100 MOmega to obtain such a value.

2.6 As correctly acknowledged by the appellant, the description as originally filed sets out that "a high voltage is also generated across the second secondary winding 13" and, in contrast to the figures, discloses no explicit numerical value for the voltage at terminal 20. A value of 540V is mentioned however for the high voltage at another terminal 19 of the second secondary winding 13 (see page 5, lines 13 to 17, corresponding to paragraph [0026] in the application as published). The description and drawings also do not disclose numerical values for the resistance of the sensing resistor (28 or R5) and the normal output voltage at terminal 14, which would have allowed the skilled person to compute the value for the normal voltage across the sensing resistor and to indirectly derive a value (or a range) for the voltage at terminal 20.

2.7 In the board's view values different from 210V were also not derivable by the skilled person from the paragraphs describing the operation of the "voltage boost part", for the following reasons.

2.7.1 The paragraph from page 5, line 29, to page 6, line 3, of the description as originally filed (paragraph [0028] as published) states that "[t]he voltage applied to the dynamic focus grid (G4) is detected by measuring the voltage across the focus voltage detection resistance 28" and that "the voltage detected across the focus voltage detection resistance is about 6kV" in normal operation. The appellant regards this numerical value of 6kV as both the detected value of the focus voltage ("the focus voltage (EC3-D) is about 6kV" in the statement of grounds of appeal, page 2, third paragraph) and the value measured across the sensing resistor ("the voltage across R5 is about 6kV" in the statement of grounds of appeal, page 2, fourth paragraph). These statements by the appellant would imply that the voltage across capacitor C2, connected in series between the focus voltage terminal (17 or EC3-D) and resistor R5, is close to zero, which is however contrary to the alleged purpose of smoothing the waveform ascribed to capacitor C2 in the statement of grounds of appeal.

A further look at the various statements made in the examination proceedings reveals that the then applicant assumed the value of the voltage across the sensing resistor to be 6kV in a first letter (dated 9 September 2003) and then about 210V in subsequent letters (dated 14 April 2004 and 15 November 2004). Page 6 of the description filed with the statement of grounds of appeal corrects an amendment previously made in the examination proceedings, by returning to the version of paragraph [0028] as originally filed. Therefore this amendment does not affect the above considerations.

In the board's view these inconsistent statements reflect the very ambiguity of paragraph [0028] of the description, which therefore does not clearly disclose an implementation with a voltage of 6kV across the sensing resistor, let alone a voltage of 6kV at terminal 20.

2.7.2 The paragraph on page 6, lines 5 to 14, of the description as originally filed (paragraph [0029] as published) states that "the line to which the focus voltage detection resistance 28 is connected, is connected to the power-supplying terminal 20 supplying vertical and dynamic waveform power to a parabola waveform output terminal 23 of the FBT 10". This sentence has no correspondence in the drawing of figure 3 and is inconsistent with figure 2, in which terminal 20 is not suitable to be connected to terminal 23 (or PARABOLA). It does not therefore contribute to resolving the inconsistencies as proposed by the appellant.

2.7.3 Thus the arguments by the appellant based on the paragraphs ([0028] and [0029]) describing the operation of the "voltage boost part" are not convincing.

2.8 In conclusion, the arguments and explanations provided by the appellant have not demonstrated that the skilled person, using common general knowledge, would have interpreted and modified the disclosure of the invention so as to provide a voltage of 6kV, or of several kV, at terminal 20.

2.9 The appellant has not provided any other facts and arguments as to why the decision under appeal was wrong in concluding that "the means for boosting the focus voltage" could not fulfil their purpose. The board could also not find any other passages in the description supporting the appellant's case.

2.10 Consequently the requirement of Article 83 EPC 1973 is not met and the main request is not allowable.

3. First auxiliary request

3.1 Claim 1 according to the first auxiliary request corresponds to claim 1 according to the main request rejected by the examining division. In addition to means "for boosting the focus voltage" it incorporates details of the arrangement of the components, as depicted in figure 3, that allegedly lead to a focus voltage boost.

3.2 Since no specific arguments were presented in conjunction with this first auxiliary request, the conclusion arrived at for the main request also applies to the first auxiliary request. The requirement of Article 83 EPC 1973 is thus also not met, and the first auxiliary request is not allowable.

4. Second auxiliary request

4.1 Claim 1 according to the second auxiliary request corresponds to claim 1 according to the first auxiliary request rejected by the examining division. It is directed at the details of the structure shown in figure 3.

4.2 The arrangement is set out "for maintaining a predetermined voltage across the ground connected resistor" (i.e. the sensing resistor mentioned in the foregoing) rather than "for boosting the focus voltage".

4.3 Original claim 12, which contained a similar feature ("for maintaining the voltage across the ground-connected resistor above a predetermined minimum value") was dependent on claim 10, which set out "means for maintaining the focus voltage during transient periods of increased focus current". Maintaining the voltage across the sensing resistor (28 or R5) does not constitute an object in itself which may be understood from the disclosure of the application, but has to be understood in the context of boosting the focus voltage by boosting the voltage across the sensing resistor (see page 6, lines 11 to 24). The invention for which protection is sought by this different wording is thus essentially the same as the invention according to the main request, as far as the underlying problem and its solution are concerned.

4.4 Since no specific arguments were presented in conjunction with this second auxiliary request as to the disclosure in the application of how maintaining the relatively small voltage across the sensing resistor effectively maintains the much higher focus voltage during transient periods, the conclusion arrived at for the main request also applies to the second auxiliary request. The requirement of Article 83 EPC 1973 is thus also not met, and the second auxiliary request is not allowable.

5. None of the appellant's requests being allowable, the appeal must be dismissed.

Order

ORDER

For these reasons it is decided that:

The appeal is dismissed.

Footer - Service & support
  • Service & support
    • Website updates
    • Availability of online services
    • FAQ
    • Publications
    • Procedural communications
    • Contact us
    • Subscription centre
    • Official holidays
    • Glossary
Footer - More links
  • Jobs & careers
  • Press centre
  • Single Access Portal
  • Procurement
  • Boards of Appeal
Facebook
European Patent Office
EPO Jobs
Instagram
EuropeanPatentOffice
Linkedin
European Patent Office
EPO Jobs
EPO Procurement
X (formerly Twitter)
EPOorg
EPOjobs
Youtube
TheEPO
Footer
  • Legal notice
  • Terms of use
  • Data protection and privacy
  • Accessibility