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Extract from the Register of European Patents

EP About this file: EP3211469

EP3211469 - OBSERVATION DEVICE AND OBSERVATION METHOD [Right-click to bookmark this link]
StatusNo opposition filed within time limit
Status updated on  31.07.2020
Database last updated on 24.08.2024
FormerThe patent has been granted
Status updated on  23.08.2019
FormerGrant of patent is intended
Status updated on  17.04.2019
FormerExamination is in progress
Status updated on  02.11.2018
FormerRequest for examination was made
Status updated on  28.07.2017
FormerThe international publication has been made
Status updated on  24.05.2017
Most recent event   Tooltip08.07.2022Lapse of the patent in a contracting state
New state(s): MK		published on 10.08.2022  [2022/32]
Applicant(s)For all designated states
Olympus Corporation
2951 Ishikawa-machi
Hachioji-shi
Tokyo 192-8507 / JP
[2017/35]
Inventor(s)01 / TAKAHASHI, Shintaro
c/o OLYMPUS CORPORATION
2951 Ishikawa-machi
Hachioji-shi
Tokyo 192-8507 / JP
02 / HIRATA, Tadashi
c/o OLYMPUS CORPORATION
2951 Ishikawa-machi
Hachioji-shi
Tokyo 192-8507 / JP
03 / IGA, Yasunobu
c/o OLYMPUS CORPORATION
2951 Ishikawa-machi
Hachioji-shi
Tokyo 192-8507 / JP
04 / TAKIMOTO, Shinichi
c/o OLYMPUS CORPORATION
2951 Ishikawa-machi
Hachioji-shi
Tokyo 192-8507 / JP
05 / MIYOSHI, Takashi
c/o OLYMPUS CORPORATION
2951 Ishikawa-machi
Hachioji-shi
Tokyo 192-8507 / JP
 [2017/35]
Representative(s)Schicker, Silvia
Wuesthoff & Wuesthoff
Patentanwälte und Rechtsanwalt PartG mbB
Schweigerstraße 2
81541 München / DE
[N/P]
Former [2017/35]Schicker, Silvia
Wuesthoff & Wuesthoff
Patentanwälte PartG mbB
Schweigerstraße 2
81541 München / DE
Application number, filing date16772661.125.03.2016
[2017/35]
WO2016JP59686
Priority number, dateJP2015007297931.03.2015         Original published format: JP 2015072979
[2017/35]
Filing languageJA
Procedural languageEN
PublicationType: A1 Application with search report
No.:WO2016158780
Date:06.10.2016
Language:JA
[2016/40]
Type: A1 Application with search report 
No.:EP3211469
Date:30.08.2017
Language:EN
[2017/35]
Type: B1 Patent specification 
No.:EP3211469
Date:25.09.2019
Language:EN
[2019/39]
Search report(s)International search report - published on:JP06.10.2016
(Supplementary) European search report - dispatched on:EP19.12.2017
ClassificationIPC:G02B21/06, C12M1/34, G02B21/24, G02B21/08, G02B21/14
[2018/03]
CPC:
G02B21/06 (EP,KR,US); C12M1/34 (EP,KR,US); G02B21/084 (EP,US);
G02B21/086 (EP,US); G02B21/14 (EP,US); G02B21/24 (KR,US);
G02B21/361 (US); G02B5/02 (KR) (-)
Former IPC [2017/35]G02B21/06, C12M1/34, G02B21/24
Designated contracting statesAL,   AT,   BE,   BG,   CH,   CY,   CZ,   DE,   DK,   EE,   ES,   FI,   FR,   GB,   GR,   HR,   HU,   IE,   IS,   IT,   LI,   LT,   LU,   LV,   MC,   MK,   MT,   NL,   NO,   PL,   PT,   RO,   RS,   SE,   SI,   SK,   SM,   TR [2017/35]
Extension statesBANot yet paid
MENot yet paid
Validation statesMANot yet paid
MDNot yet paid
TitleGerman:BEOBACHTUNGSVORRICHTUNG UND BEOBACHTUNGSVERFAHREN[2017/35]
English:OBSERVATION DEVICE AND OBSERVATION METHOD[2017/35]
French:DISPOSITIF D'OBSERVATION ET PROCÉDÉ D'OBSERVATION[2017/35]
Entry into regional phase24.05.2017Translation filed 
24.05.2017National basic fee paid 
24.05.2017Search fee paid 
24.05.2017Designation fee(s) paid 
24.05.2017Examination fee paid 
Examination procedure24.05.2017Examination requested  [2017/35]
24.05.2017Date on which the examining division has become responsible
12.07.2018Amendment by applicant (claims and/or description)
24.10.2018Despatch of a communication from the examining division (Time limit: M04)
01.03.2019Reply to a communication from the examining division
18.04.2019Communication of intention to grant the patent
14.08.2019Fee for grant paid
14.08.2019Fee for publishing/printing paid
14.08.2019Receipt of the translation of the claim(s)
Opposition(s)26.06.2020No opposition filed within time limit [2020/36]
Fees paidRenewal fee
20.03.2018Renewal fee patent year 03
28.03.2019Renewal fee patent year 04
Opt-out from the exclusive  Tooltip
competence of the Unified
Patent Court		 See the Register of the Unified Patent Court for opt-out data
Responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or quality of the data displayed under the link provided lies entirely with the Unified Patent Court.
Lapses during opposition  TooltipHU25.03.2016
AL25.09.2019
AT25.09.2019
CY25.09.2019
CZ25.09.2019
DK25.09.2019
EE25.09.2019
ES25.09.2019
FI25.09.2019
HR25.09.2019
IT25.09.2019
LT25.09.2019
LV25.09.2019
MC25.09.2019
MK25.09.2019
MT25.09.2019
NL25.09.2019
PL25.09.2019
RO25.09.2019
RS25.09.2019
SE25.09.2019
SI25.09.2019
SK25.09.2019
SM25.09.2019
TR25.09.2019
BG25.12.2019
NO25.12.2019
GR26.12.2019
IS26.01.2020
PT27.01.2020
GB25.03.2020
IE25.03.2020
LU25.03.2020
BE31.03.2020
CH31.03.2020
FR31.03.2020
LI31.03.2020
[2022/32]
Former [2022/27]HU25.03.2016
AL25.09.2019
AT25.09.2019
CY25.09.2019
CZ25.09.2019
DK25.09.2019
EE25.09.2019
ES25.09.2019
FI25.09.2019
HR25.09.2019
IT25.09.2019
LT25.09.2019
LV25.09.2019
MC25.09.2019
MT25.09.2019
NL25.09.2019
PL25.09.2019
RO25.09.2019
RS25.09.2019
SE25.09.2019
SI25.09.2019
SK25.09.2019
SM25.09.2019
TR25.09.2019
BG25.12.2019
NO25.12.2019
GR26.12.2019
IS26.01.2020
PT27.01.2020
GB25.03.2020
IE25.03.2020
LU25.03.2020
BE31.03.2020
CH31.03.2020
FR31.03.2020
LI31.03.2020
Former [2021/22]AL25.09.2019
AT25.09.2019
CZ25.09.2019
DK25.09.2019
EE25.09.2019
ES25.09.2019
FI25.09.2019
HR25.09.2019
IT25.09.2019
LT25.09.2019
LV25.09.2019
MC25.09.2019
NL25.09.2019
PL25.09.2019
RO25.09.2019
RS25.09.2019
SE25.09.2019
SI25.09.2019
SK25.09.2019
SM25.09.2019
BG25.12.2019
NO25.12.2019
GR26.12.2019
IS26.01.2020
PT27.01.2020
GB25.03.2020
IE25.03.2020
LU25.03.2020
BE31.03.2020
CH31.03.2020
FR31.03.2020
LI31.03.2020
Former [2021/13]AL25.09.2019
AT25.09.2019
CZ25.09.2019
DK25.09.2019
EE25.09.2019
ES25.09.2019
FI25.09.2019
HR25.09.2019
IT25.09.2019
LT25.09.2019
LV25.09.2019
MC25.09.2019
NL25.09.2019
PL25.09.2019
RO25.09.2019
RS25.09.2019
SE25.09.2019
SI25.09.2019
SK25.09.2019
SM25.09.2019
BG25.12.2019
NO25.12.2019
GR26.12.2019
IS26.01.2020
PT27.01.2020
IE25.03.2020
LU25.03.2020
BE31.03.2020
CH31.03.2020
FR31.03.2020
LI31.03.2020
Former [2021/07]AL25.09.2019
AT25.09.2019
CZ25.09.2019
DK25.09.2019
EE25.09.2019
ES25.09.2019
FI25.09.2019
HR25.09.2019
IT25.09.2019
LT25.09.2019
LV25.09.2019
MC25.09.2019
NL25.09.2019
PL25.09.2019
RO25.09.2019
RS25.09.2019
SE25.09.2019
SI25.09.2019
SK25.09.2019
SM25.09.2019
BG25.12.2019
NO25.12.2019
GR26.12.2019
IS26.01.2020
PT27.01.2020
IE25.03.2020
LU25.03.2020
CH31.03.2020
FR31.03.2020
LI31.03.2020
Former [2021/04]AL25.09.2019
AT25.09.2019
CZ25.09.2019
DK25.09.2019
EE25.09.2019
ES25.09.2019
FI25.09.2019
HR25.09.2019
IT25.09.2019
LT25.09.2019
LV25.09.2019
MC25.09.2019
NL25.09.2019
PL25.09.2019
RO25.09.2019
RS25.09.2019
SE25.09.2019
SI25.09.2019
SK25.09.2019
SM25.09.2019
BG25.12.2019
NO25.12.2019
GR26.12.2019
IS26.01.2020
PT27.01.2020
LU25.03.2020
Former [2020/50]AL25.09.2019
AT25.09.2019
CZ25.09.2019
DK25.09.2019
EE25.09.2019
ES25.09.2019
FI25.09.2019
HR25.09.2019
IT25.09.2019
LT25.09.2019
LV25.09.2019
MC25.09.2019
NL25.09.2019
PL25.09.2019
RO25.09.2019
RS25.09.2019
SE25.09.2019
SI25.09.2019
SK25.09.2019
SM25.09.2019
BG25.12.2019
NO25.12.2019
GR26.12.2019
IS26.01.2020
PT27.01.2020
Former [2020/36]AL25.09.2019
AT25.09.2019
CZ25.09.2019
DK25.09.2019
EE25.09.2019
ES25.09.2019
FI25.09.2019
HR25.09.2019
IT25.09.2019
LT25.09.2019
LV25.09.2019
NL25.09.2019
PL25.09.2019
RO25.09.2019
RS25.09.2019
SE25.09.2019
SK25.09.2019
SM25.09.2019
BG25.12.2019
NO25.12.2019
GR26.12.2019
IS26.01.2020
PT27.01.2020
Former [2020/27]AL25.09.2019
AT25.09.2019
CZ25.09.2019
EE25.09.2019
ES25.09.2019
FI25.09.2019
HR25.09.2019
IT25.09.2019
LT25.09.2019
LV25.09.2019
NL25.09.2019
PL25.09.2019
RO25.09.2019
RS25.09.2019
SE25.09.2019
SK25.09.2019
SM25.09.2019
BG25.12.2019
NO25.12.2019
GR26.12.2019
PT27.01.2020
IS24.02.2020
Former [2020/25]AL25.09.2019
AT25.09.2019
CZ25.09.2019
EE25.09.2019
ES25.09.2019
FI25.09.2019
HR25.09.2019
IT25.09.2019
LT25.09.2019
LV25.09.2019
NL25.09.2019
PL25.09.2019
RO25.09.2019
RS25.09.2019
SE25.09.2019
SK25.09.2019
BG25.12.2019
NO25.12.2019
GR26.12.2019
PT27.01.2020
IS24.02.2020
Former [2020/24]AL25.09.2019
AT25.09.2019
EE25.09.2019
ES25.09.2019
FI25.09.2019
HR25.09.2019
IT25.09.2019
LT25.09.2019
LV25.09.2019
NL25.09.2019
PL25.09.2019
RO25.09.2019
RS25.09.2019
SE25.09.2019
BG25.12.2019
NO25.12.2019
GR26.12.2019
PT27.01.2020
IS24.02.2020
Former [2020/23]AL25.09.2019
AT25.09.2019
EE25.09.2019
ES25.09.2019
FI25.09.2019
HR25.09.2019
IT25.09.2019
LT25.09.2019
LV25.09.2019
NL25.09.2019
PL25.09.2019
RO25.09.2019
RS25.09.2019
SE25.09.2019
BG25.12.2019
NO25.12.2019
GR26.12.2019
PT27.01.2020
Former [2020/22]AL25.09.2019
EE25.09.2019
FI25.09.2019
HR25.09.2019
LT25.09.2019
LV25.09.2019
NL25.09.2019
RS25.09.2019
SE25.09.2019
BG25.12.2019
NO25.12.2019
GR26.12.2019
PT27.01.2020
Former [2020/20]FI25.09.2019
HR25.09.2019
LT25.09.2019
LV25.09.2019
NL25.09.2019
RS25.09.2019
SE25.09.2019
BG25.12.2019
NO25.12.2019
GR26.12.2019
Former [2020/12]FI25.09.2019
HR25.09.2019
LT25.09.2019
LV25.09.2019
RS25.09.2019
SE25.09.2019
BG25.12.2019
NO25.12.2019
GR26.12.2019
Former [2020/10]FI25.09.2019
LT25.09.2019
SE25.09.2019
BG25.12.2019
NO25.12.2019
Former [2020/09]FI25.09.2019
LT25.09.2019
NO25.12.2019
Former [2020/08]LT25.09.2019
NO25.12.2019
Documents cited:Search[XY]US2001028497  (UHL RAINER [DE]) [X] 1,11 * paragraphs [0014] - [0017] - [0020]; figure 1 * [Y] 1-11;
 [XY]JP2006174764  (OLYMPUS CORP) [X] 1,11 * paragraph [0029]; figure 1 * [Y] 1-11;
 [IY]JP2009217222  (GOTO TAKASHI) [I] 1,11 * paragraphs [0017] - [0018]; figures 2a-b * [Y] 2-10;
 [XY]  - LUGMAIER R A ET AL, "Phase contrast and DIC illumination for AFM hybrids", ULTRAMICROSCOPY, ELSEVIER, AMSTERDAM, NL, vol. 104, no. 3-4, ISSN 0304-3991, (20051002), pages 255 - 260, (20051001), XP027655278 [X] 1,11 * the whole document * [Y] 1-11
 [IY]  - TIM N FORD ET AL, "Phase-gradient microscopy in thick tissue with oblique back-illumination", NATURE METHODS, (20121028), vol. 9, no. 12, doi:10.1038/nmeth.2219, ISSN 1548-7091, pages 1195 - 1197, XP055429281 [I] 1,2,11 * page 1196; figure 1a * [Y] 2-10

DOI:   http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nmeth.2219
 [Y]  - K. F. WEBB, "Condenser-free contrast methods for transmitted-light microscopy : CONDENSER-FREE CONTRAST METHODS", JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY, GB, (20140916), vol. 257, no. 1, doi:10.1111/jmi.12181, ISSN 0022-2720, pages 8 - 22, XP055429298 [Y] 1-11 * pages 11,20-21; figure 3 *

DOI:   http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jmi.12181
International search[YA]JPH02232614  (JAPAN RES DEV CORP, et al) [Y] 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 11 * , specification, page 3, upper left column, line 7 to upper right column, line 3; fig. 1 (Family: none) * [A] 3-5, 8, 10;
 [XA]JP2006174764  (OLYMPUS CORP) [X] 1, 9, 11 * , paragraphs [0026] to [0037]; fig. 1 to 5 (Family: none) *[A] 2-8, 10;
 [YA]JP2011008188  (OLYMPUS CORP) [Y] 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 11 * , paragraphs [0038] to [0043], [0047]; fig. 1, 2, 4 (Family: none) * [A] 3-5, 8, 10;
 [Y]JP2011141444  (NIKON CORP) [Y] 6, 7 * , paragraph [0011]; fig. 3 (Family: none) *;
 [YA]WO2012029817  (SANYO ELECTRIC CO [JP], et al) [Y] 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 11 * , paragraph [0064]; fig. 1, 2 & JP 5677441 B & US 2013/0156287 A1 paragraph [0078]; fig. 1, 2 & US 2015/0264235 A1 & CN 103210338 A * [A] 3-5, 8, 10
The EPO accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of data originating from other authorities; in particular, it does not guarantee that it is complete, up to date or fit for specific purposes.