WO2002058439A1 - Ballast and method of feeding a fluorescent lamp - Google Patents

Ballast and method of feeding a fluorescent lamp Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2002058439A1
WO2002058439A1 PCT/IB2001/002656 IB0102656W WO02058439A1 WO 2002058439 A1 WO2002058439 A1 WO 2002058439A1 IB 0102656 W IB0102656 W IB 0102656W WO 02058439 A1 WO02058439 A1 WO 02058439A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
power
lamp
value
ballast
starting value
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2001/002656
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Arnold W. Buij
Marcel Beij
Original Assignee
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
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 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. filed Critical Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority to JP2002558785A priority Critical patent/JP2004518258A/en
Priority to DE60115292T priority patent/DE60115292T2/en
Priority to EP01273328A priority patent/EP1356714B1/en
Priority to AT01273328T priority patent/ATE311088T1/en
Publication of WO2002058439A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002058439A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
    • H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
    • H05B41/36—Controlling
    • H05B41/38—Controlling the intensity of light
    • H05B41/39—Controlling the intensity of light continuously
    • H05B41/392—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor
    • H05B41/3921—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor with possibility of light intensity variations
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S315/00—Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
    • Y10S315/04—Dimming circuit for fluorescent lamps

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a ballast for feeding a fluorescent lamp, comprising a power supply unit controlled by an input variable, for example a pulse duration-modulated power supply unit, dim means for setting the desired power through the lamp, and a control circuit for adapting the input variable, for example the pulse duration, from a starting value to a final value, the actual power through the lamp being at least substantially equal to the power setting.
  • a power supply unit controlled by an input variable for example a pulse duration-modulated power supply unit
  • dim means for setting the desired power through the lamp
  • a control circuit for adapting the input variable, for example the pulse duration, from a starting value to a final value, the actual power through the lamp being at least substantially equal to the power setting.
  • ballast is disclosed in international patent application WO 00/24232.
  • the most important function of a ballast is to stabilize the power in a fluorescent lamp.
  • a control circuit which controls the power supply unit in such a manner that the power supply unit sends the correct power, as set by the dim means, through the lamp.
  • this is achieved by adapting the pulse duration from a fixed starting value to a final value at which the desired power is obtained.
  • the control circuit is necessary because the actual power sent through the lamp does not only depend on the pulse duration but also on other factors, such as the temperature of the lamp, the degree of wear of the lamp, variations in supply voltage, variations in the value of power-determining components, such as the coil and the capacitor of the resonant circuit etc. Consequently, there is no proportional relationship between the pulse duration and the power.
  • a control circuit in accordance with the integral control principle also referred to as integrator
  • integrator Such a control circuit is characterized by a stabilizing, yet comparatively slow operation.
  • a customary characteristic of such control circuits is that they are capable of, for example, adapting the pulse duration by only 30% per second.
  • a problem associated with such a ballast is that undesirable light effects may occur. If the starting value of the pulse duration is set to, for example, maximum power, which level is customarily attained at a pulse duration of approximately 45%, and the dim means are set to a low power, for example 10%, then, upon ignition of the lamp, said lamp will initially burn at full power, after which the control circuit will regulate the pulse duration so as to be reduced to approximately 15%. As this requires some time, even if it is only a fraction of a second, the user will first see a flash of light. When the power is being re- adjusted by means of the dim means, the user will also notice that the reaction of the lamp is slightly delayed if the control circuit must shunt a large difference in power. For example, if the power is increased from 10% to 100%, whereby the pulse duration is increased from approximately 15% to approximately 45%, it may take a full second to complete this process, if the control circuit allows a maximum adaptation of 30% per second.
  • control circuit additionally comprises processor means capable of determining the starting value in dependence on the power setting.
  • processor means capable of determining the starting value in dependence on the power setting.
  • a variable starting value is applied which depends upon the power setting.
  • the control circuit only has to carry out the "fine adjustment" to shunt the effects of, for example, temperature and wear. In this manner, a rapid response time is obtained and the flash effect is precluded.
  • the starting value can be determined after ignition of the lamp and also after a change of the desired power setting by the dim means.
  • control circuit is a digital control circuit, which comprises a digital-to-analog converter that is capable of converting a measured analog power value to a digital power value.
  • the processor means can readily be used to determine the starting value by means of a mathematical function, or the ballast can additionally be readily provided with memory means, so that the processor means can determine the starting value by means of pairs of power values and starting values stored in the memory means in the form of, for example, a table.
  • the invention also relates to a method of feeding a fluorescent lamp, wherein dim means are used to set the desired power through the lamp, and wherein a control circuit sets the power supplied to the lamp by an input variable-controlled power supply unit by adapting the input variable from a starting value to a final value, so that the actual power through the lamp is at least substantially equal to the power setting, and wherein the starting value is determined in dependence upon said power setting.
  • Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows a ballast in accordance with the invention
  • Fig. 2 graphically shows the general connection between the pulse duration of the power supply unit in a ballast and the power flowing through the lamp.
  • a ballast 1 comprises a pulse duration-modulated power supply unit 2 and a dimmer 3 that sets a target power value Pt in memory means 4.
  • the power supply can be controlled by varying the pulse duration.
  • pulse duration-modulated power supply units apart from pulse duration-modulated power supply units, other types of power supply units exist wherein the power is controlled by varying an input variable, such as the operating (switching) frequency or the DC supply voltage of the converter, to which the principle of the current invention also applies.
  • the ballast 1 comprises a control circuit including an analog-to-digital (A/D) sampling device 5 that measures the power Pm through the fluorescent lamp 7 and converts this analog signal by means of an A/D converter to a series of digital values, a processor 6 that compares the measured value Pm with the target value Pt. If the measured power value Pm differs from the target power Pt set by the dimmer 3, then the processor 3 orders the power supply unit 2 to adapt the power sent through the lamp 7 by gradually changing the pulse duration until said target power Pt is achieved.
  • A/D analog-to-digital
  • the control circuit will gradually adapt the power until the new, desired power is attained.
  • an integrator control circuit is used which, on the one hand, has a stabilizing effect yet, on the other hand, is comparatively slow, this adaptation will be carried out rather slowly, so that it may be visible and annoying to the user, and hence fails to meet the DALI standard that is well-known in the industry and that prescribes a maximum adaptation time.
  • the starting value is determined instead by the processor means 6 in dependence upon the desired power set by the dimmer 3. If the dimmer 3 is set to a low power, the pulse duration will be directly set to a low value by the processor 6. In this manner, said flash of light is precluded. If another power value is set by the dimmer 3, the processor will also choose a new starting value for the pulse duration, leading to a power which, under normal conditions, will be close to the desired final value. As described hereinabove, the power through the lamp does not only depend on the pulse duration setting of the power supply unit but also on external factors, such as temperature and wear of the lamp 7 as well as other factors as mentioned in the opening paragraph.
  • Fig. 2 shows a general connection between the pulse duration and the power through the lamp, as could be the case for a certain lamp under average conditions.
  • This graphically shown connection is used by the processor 6 to determine a starting value for the pulse duration PW by means of the power P set by the dimmer 3. If the desired power P is, for example, 50% of the maximum power, then the graph shows that the starting value for the pulse duration PW should be set to 0.29.
  • This method is referred to as "first guess method" because the starting value thus obtained will generally not directly lead to the desired power but to a value close to said desired power.
  • the control circuit subsequently provides the exact setting.
  • connection shown may be included in a table with associated values for the power P and the pulse duration PW. This table will be stored in a memory that can be consulted by the processor 6.
  • the connection can alternatively be represented by a mathematical function that is used by the processor 6 to determine, by means of a power P, the associated pulse duration PW.

Abstract

A ballast for feeding a fluorescent lamp, comprising a power supply unit controlled by an input variable, dimming means for adjusting the desired power through the lamp, and a control circuit for adapting the input variable from a starting value to a final value, the actual value through the lamp being at least substantially equal to the adjusted power value, said control circuit additionally comprising processor means capable of determining the starting value in dependence upon the adjusted power value.

Description

Ballast and method of feeding a fluorescent lamp
The invention relates to a ballast for feeding a fluorescent lamp, comprising a power supply unit controlled by an input variable, for example a pulse duration-modulated power supply unit, dim means for setting the desired power through the lamp, and a control circuit for adapting the input variable, for example the pulse duration, from a starting value to a final value, the actual power through the lamp being at least substantially equal to the power setting.
Such a ballast is disclosed in international patent application WO 00/24232. The most important function of a ballast is to stabilize the power in a fluorescent lamp. To achieve this, use is made of a control circuit which controls the power supply unit in such a manner that the power supply unit sends the correct power, as set by the dim means, through the lamp. In the case of a pulse duration-modulated power supply unit, this is achieved by adapting the pulse duration from a fixed starting value to a final value at which the desired power is obtained. To achieve this, the control circuit is necessary because the actual power sent through the lamp does not only depend on the pulse duration but also on other factors, such as the temperature of the lamp, the degree of wear of the lamp, variations in supply voltage, variations in the value of power-determining components, such as the coil and the capacitor of the resonant circuit etc. Consequently, there is no proportional relationship between the pulse duration and the power. In ballasts provided with dim means, generally a control circuit in accordance with the integral control principle, also referred to as integrator, is applied. Such a control circuit is characterized by a stabilizing, yet comparatively slow operation. A customary characteristic of such control circuits is that they are capable of, for example, adapting the pulse duration by only 30% per second.
A problem associated with such a ballast is that undesirable light effects may occur. If the starting value of the pulse duration is set to, for example, maximum power, which level is customarily attained at a pulse duration of approximately 45%, and the dim means are set to a low power, for example 10%, then, upon ignition of the lamp, said lamp will initially burn at full power, after which the control circuit will regulate the pulse duration so as to be reduced to approximately 15%. As this requires some time, even if it is only a fraction of a second, the user will first see a flash of light. When the power is being re- adjusted by means of the dim means, the user will also notice that the reaction of the lamp is slightly delayed if the control circuit must shunt a large difference in power. For example, if the power is increased from 10% to 100%, whereby the pulse duration is increased from approximately 15% to approximately 45%, it may take a full second to complete this process, if the control circuit allows a maximum adaptation of 30% per second.
It is an object of the invention to provide an inexpensive, effective ballast provided with dim means, which has a shorter response time, and in which said flash effect is less noticeable or completely absent.
To achieve this, the control circuit additionally comprises processor means capable of determining the starting value in dependence on the power setting. Thus, instead of a fixed starting value, for example a pulse duration of 45%, a variable starting value is applied which depends upon the power setting. By choosing the starting value of, for example, the pulse duration to be such that, under average conditions, the desired power is achieved before the control circuit starts functioning (the so-called first guess method), the control circuit only has to carry out the "fine adjustment" to shunt the effects of, for example, temperature and wear. In this manner, a rapid response time is obtained and the flash effect is precluded. The starting value can be determined after ignition of the lamp and also after a change of the desired power setting by the dim means.
Preferably, the control circuit is a digital control circuit, which comprises a digital-to-analog converter that is capable of converting a measured analog power value to a digital power value. In such a digital system, the processor means can readily be used to determine the starting value by means of a mathematical function, or the ballast can additionally be readily provided with memory means, so that the processor means can determine the starting value by means of pairs of power values and starting values stored in the memory means in the form of, for example, a table.
The invention also relates to a method of feeding a fluorescent lamp, wherein dim means are used to set the desired power through the lamp, and wherein a control circuit sets the power supplied to the lamp by an input variable-controlled power supply unit by adapting the input variable from a starting value to a final value, so that the actual power through the lamp is at least substantially equal to the power setting, and wherein the starting value is determined in dependence upon said power setting. These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to an exemplary embodiment described hereinafter.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows a ballast in accordance with the invention; and Fig. 2 graphically shows the general connection between the pulse duration of the power supply unit in a ballast and the power flowing through the lamp.
In accordance with Fig. 1, a ballast 1 comprises a pulse duration-modulated power supply unit 2 and a dimmer 3 that sets a target power value Pt in memory means 4. In the case of a pulse duration-modulated power supply unit, which is assumed to be known from the prior art, the power supply can be controlled by varying the pulse duration. However, apart from pulse duration-modulated power supply units, other types of power supply units exist wherein the power is controlled by varying an input variable, such as the operating (switching) frequency or the DC supply voltage of the converter, to which the principle of the current invention also applies. In addition, the ballast 1 comprises a control circuit including an analog-to-digital (A/D) sampling device 5 that measures the power Pm through the fluorescent lamp 7 and converts this analog signal by means of an A/D converter to a series of digital values, a processor 6 that compares the measured value Pm with the target value Pt. If the measured power value Pm differs from the target power Pt set by the dimmer 3, then the processor 3 orders the power supply unit 2 to adapt the power sent through the lamp 7 by gradually changing the pulse duration until said target power Pt is achieved. It has hitherto been common practice to take a fixed starting value for the pulse duration after ignition of the lamp 7, at which fixed starting value, for example, the maximum power is supplied, after which said power is adapted by the control circuit until the target value has been attained. As a result, if the dimmer 3 is set to a low power, a short flash of light occurs upon ignition of the lamp because the lamp 7 burns at full power before the power is reduced to the dimmed power.
If the desired power is changed during operation of the lamp by setting the dimmer 3 to a different value, the control circuit will gradually adapt the power until the new, desired power is attained. As, customarily, an integrator control circuit is used which, on the one hand, has a stabilizing effect yet, on the other hand, is comparatively slow, this adaptation will be carried out rather slowly, so that it may be visible and annoying to the user, and hence fails to meet the DALI standard that is well-known in the industry and that prescribes a maximum adaptation time.
For this reason, no fixed starting value for the pulse duration is applied in the ballast in accordance with the invention; instead the starting value is determined instead by the processor means 6 in dependence upon the desired power set by the dimmer 3. If the dimmer 3 is set to a low power, the pulse duration will be directly set to a low value by the processor 6. In this manner, said flash of light is precluded. If another power value is set by the dimmer 3, the processor will also choose a new starting value for the pulse duration, leading to a power which, under normal conditions, will be close to the desired final value. As described hereinabove, the power through the lamp does not only depend on the pulse duration setting of the power supply unit but also on external factors, such as temperature and wear of the lamp 7 as well as other factors as mentioned in the opening paragraph.
Fig. 2 shows a general connection between the pulse duration and the power through the lamp, as could be the case for a certain lamp under average conditions. This graphically shown connection is used by the processor 6 to determine a starting value for the pulse duration PW by means of the power P set by the dimmer 3. If the desired power P is, for example, 50% of the maximum power, then the graph shows that the starting value for the pulse duration PW should be set to 0.29. This method is referred to as "first guess method" because the starting value thus obtained will generally not directly lead to the desired power but to a value close to said desired power. The control circuit subsequently provides the exact setting.
The connection shown may be included in a table with associated values for the power P and the pulse duration PW. This table will be stored in a memory that can be consulted by the processor 6. The connection can alternatively be represented by a mathematical function that is used by the processor 6 to determine, by means of a power P, the associated pulse duration PW.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. A ballast for feeding a fluorescent lamp, comprising a power supply unit controlled by an input variable, dim means for setting the desired power through the lamp, and a control circuit for adapting the input variable from a starting value to a final value, the actual power through the lamp being at least substantially equal to the power setting, characterized in that the control circuit further comprises processor means which are capable of determining the starting value in dependence on the power setting.
2. A ballast as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the power supply unit is a pulse duration-modulated power supply unit, and the input variable is the pulse duration.
3. A ballast as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control circuit is a digital-to-analog converter capable of converting a measured analog power value to a digital power value.
4. A ballast as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the processor means are capable of determining the starting value by means of a mathematical function.
5. A ballast as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the ballast additionally comprises memory means, the processor means being capable of determining the starting value by means of pairs of power values and starting values stored in said memory means.
6. A method of feeding a fluorescent lamp, wherein dim means are used to set the desired power through the lamp, and wherein a control circuit sets the power supplied to the lamp by an input variable-controlled power supply unit by adapting the input variable from a starting value to a final value, so that the actual power through the lamp is at least substantially equal to the power setting, characterized in that the starting value is determined in dependence upon said power setting.
7. A method as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the starting value is determined after the lamp has been ignited.
8. A method as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the starting value is determined when the desired power setting has been changed.
PCT/IB2001/002656 2001-01-22 2001-12-19 Ballast and method of feeding a fluorescent lamp WO2002058439A1 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2002558785A JP2004518258A (en) 2001-01-22 2001-12-19 Ballast for supplying fluorescent lamp and method for supplying fluorescent lamp
DE60115292T DE60115292T2 (en) 2001-01-22 2001-12-19 BALLASTERUNG AND METHOD FOR SUPPLYING A FLUORESCENT LAMP
EP01273328A EP1356714B1 (en) 2001-01-22 2001-12-19 Ballast and method of feeding a fluorescent lamp
AT01273328T ATE311088T1 (en) 2001-01-22 2001-12-19 BALLAST CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR POWERING A FLUORESCENT LAMP

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP01200217.6 2001-01-22
EP01200217 2001-01-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2002058439A1 true WO2002058439A1 (en) 2002-07-25

Family

ID=8179785

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB2001/002656 WO2002058439A1 (en) 2001-01-22 2001-12-19 Ballast and method of feeding a fluorescent lamp

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US6624598B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1356714B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2004518258A (en)
CN (1) CN1419800A (en)
AT (1) ATE311088T1 (en)
DE (1) DE60115292T2 (en)
WO (1) WO2002058439A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5032926B2 (en) * 2007-09-14 2012-09-26 パナソニック株式会社 Organic EL lighting device and lighting fixture
CN104412714A (en) * 2012-07-09 2015-03-11 皇家飞利浦有限公司 Method of controlling a lighting device
KR101612401B1 (en) 2015-12-14 2016-04-14 한국전기시스템 주식회사 A halogan lamp control module

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0796036A2 (en) * 1996-03-14 1997-09-17 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Discharge lamp igniting apparatus
US5680017A (en) * 1996-05-03 1997-10-21 Philips Electronics North America Corporation Driving scheme for minimizing ignition flash
WO1998039950A1 (en) * 1997-03-04 1998-09-11 Tridonic Bauelemente Gmbh Method and device for controlling the operation of gas discharge lamps
US6291946B1 (en) * 2000-07-31 2001-09-18 Philips Electronics North America Corporation System for substantially eliminating transients upon resumption of feedback loop steady state operation after feedback loop interruption

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4958108A (en) * 1989-02-14 1990-09-18 Avtech Corporation Universal fluorescent lamp ballast
US5528111A (en) * 1994-12-02 1996-06-18 Motorola, Inc. Ballast circuit for powering gas discharge lamp
US5612595A (en) * 1995-09-13 1997-03-18 C-P-M Lighting, Inc. Electronic dimming ballast current sensing scheme
US6121734A (en) 1998-10-16 2000-09-19 Szabados; Barna Apparatus for dimming a fluorescent lamp with a magnetic ballast
US6150772A (en) * 1998-11-25 2000-11-21 Pacific Aerospace & Electronics, Inc. Gas discharge lamp controller
US6307765B1 (en) * 2000-06-22 2001-10-23 Linfinity Microelectronics Method and apparatus for controlling minimum brightness of a fluorescent lamp

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0796036A2 (en) * 1996-03-14 1997-09-17 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Discharge lamp igniting apparatus
US5680017A (en) * 1996-05-03 1997-10-21 Philips Electronics North America Corporation Driving scheme for minimizing ignition flash
WO1998039950A1 (en) * 1997-03-04 1998-09-11 Tridonic Bauelemente Gmbh Method and device for controlling the operation of gas discharge lamps
US6291946B1 (en) * 2000-07-31 2001-09-18 Philips Electronics North America Corporation System for substantially eliminating transients upon resumption of feedback loop steady state operation after feedback loop interruption

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US6624598B2 (en) 2003-09-23
CN1419800A (en) 2003-05-21
DE60115292D1 (en) 2005-12-29
EP1356714A1 (en) 2003-10-29
JP2004518258A (en) 2004-06-17
DE60115292T2 (en) 2006-08-10
EP1356714B1 (en) 2005-11-23
US20020097009A1 (en) 2002-07-25
ATE311088T1 (en) 2005-12-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1683398B2 (en) Thermal protection for lamp ballasts
US7940015B2 (en) Thermal protection for lamp ballasts
US7002305B2 (en) Electronic ballast for a discharge lamp
US6958580B2 (en) Electronic ballast for a high intensity discharge lamp
US6316886B1 (en) Method and device for controlling the operational performance of gas discharge lamps
JPH07245189A (en) Operating circuit device of low-voltage discharge lamp
EP1356714B1 (en) Ballast and method of feeding a fluorescent lamp
CA2305021A1 (en) Method for adjusting at least one operating parameter of an operating unit for electric lamps
US6316888B1 (en) Ballast for at least one gas discharge lamp and method for operating such a ballast
WO2002098187A1 (en) Power control device, apparatus and method of controlling the power supplied to a discharge lamp
EP0893943A1 (en) Inverter for a gas discharge lamp and stepwise variable frequencies
US6392353B1 (en) Circuit device for dimming a discharge lamp
JP3334006B2 (en) Power control device, dimming device, and lighting device using the same
JP2004518259A (en) Ballast for supplying fluorescent lamp and method for supplying fluorescent lamp
WO2012110949A1 (en) Circuit arrangement for operating a high pressure discharge lamp
MXPA99000873A (en) Inverter for a gas discharge lamp and variable frequencies step a p

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): CN JP

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

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

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2001273328

Country of ref document: EP

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 01806941X

Country of ref document: CN

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2002558785

Country of ref document: JP

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 2001273328

Country of ref document: EP

WWG Wipo information: grant in national office

Ref document number: 2001273328

Country of ref document: EP