Extract from the Register of European Patents

EP About this file: EP3016492

EP3016492 - PLANT GROWTH SYSTEM [Right-click to bookmark this link]
StatusPatent maintained as amended
Status updated on  28.02.2025
Database last updated on 07.03.2026
FormerThe patent has been granted
Status updated on  17.09.2021
FormerGrant of patent is intended
Status updated on  16.05.2021
FormerExamination is in progress
Status updated on  02.07.2020
Most recent event   Tooltip19.12.2025Lapse of the patent in a contracting state
New state(s): TR
published on 21.01.2026  [2026/04]
Applicant(s)For all designated states
ROCKWOOL A/S
Hovedgaden 584
2640 Hedehusene / DK
[2022/52]
Former [2017/06]For all designated states
Rockwool International A/S
Hovedgaden 584
2640 Hedehusene / DK
Former [2016/19]For all designated states
ROCKWOOL INTERNATIONAL A/S
584 Hovedgaden
DK-2640 Hedehusene / DK
Inventor(s)01 / DE GROOT, Jacob Frank
Elmpterweg 14
6042 KK Roermond / NL
02 / VAN DER VEEN, Dolf
Florentius Schaepdreef 14
6132 TG Sittard / NL
03 / HEMPENIUS, Eelke Gjalt
Smidstraat 2
6653 BX Deest / NL
 [2021/42]
Former [2016/19]01 / DE GROOT, Jacob Frank
Elmpterweg 14
NL-6042 KK Roermond / NL
02 / VAN DER VEEN, Dolf
Florentius Schaepdreef 14
NL-6132 TG Sittard / NL
03 / HEMPENIUS, Eelke Gjalt
Smidstraat 2
NL-6653 BX Deest / NL
Representative(s)Gill Jennings & Every LLP
The Broadgate Tower
20 Primrose Street
London EC2A 2ES / GB
[2016/19]
Application number, filing date14735961.604.07.2014
[2016/19]
WO2014EP64319
Priority number, dateEP2013017529405.07.2013         Original published format: EP 13175294
[2016/19]
Filing languageEN
Procedural languageEN
PublicationType: A1 Application with search report
No.:WO2015001083
Date:08.01.2015
Language:EN
[2015/01]
Type: A1 Application with search report 
No.:EP3016492
Date:11.05.2016
Language:EN
The application published by WIPO in one of the EPO official languages on 08.01.2015 takes the place of the publication of the European patent application.
[2016/19]
Type: B1 Patent specification 
No.:EP3016492
Date:20.10.2021
Language:EN
[2021/42]
Type: B2 New European patent specification 
No.:EP3016492
Date:02.04.2025
Language:EN
[2025/14]
Search report(s)International search report - published on:EP08.01.2015
ClassificationIPC:A01B79/00, A01G25/16, A01G31/02, A01G31/00
[2016/19]
CPC:
A01B79/005 (EP,US); A01G27/005 (RU); A01G9/24 (US);
A01G25/16 (US); A01G31/00 (RU); A01G31/02 (EP,RU,US);
A01G9/124 (US); G05B15/02 (US); A01G24/18 (EP,US);
Y02P60/12 (EP,US); Y02P60/21 (EP,US) (-)
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 [2016/19]
TitleGerman:PFLANZENWACHSTUMSSYSTEM[2016/19]
English:PLANT GROWTH SYSTEM[2016/19]
French:SYSTÈME DE CROISSANCE DE PLANTES[2020/51]
Former [2016/19]SYSTÈME DE CROISSANCE D'UN VÉGÉTAL
Entry into regional phase02.12.2015National basic fee paid 
02.12.2015Designation fee(s) paid 
02.12.2015Examination fee paid 
Examination procedure02.12.2015Examination requested  [2016/19]
29.06.2016Amendment by applicant (claims and/or description)
06.07.2020Despatch of a communication from the examining division (Time limit: M04)
30.10.2020Reply to a communication from the examining division
04.12.2020Despatch of a communication from the examining division (Time limit: M04)
26.03.2021Reply to a communication from the examining division
17.05.2021Communication of intention to grant the patent
08.09.2021Fee for grant paid
08.09.2021Fee for publishing/printing paid
08.09.2021Receipt of the translation of the claim(s)
Opposition(s)Opponent(s)01  19.07.2022  22.07.2022  ADMISSIBLE
SAINT-GOBAIN CULTILENE BV
Hoekeindsehof 1
2665 JZ Bleiswijk / NL
Opponent's representative
Saint-Gobain Recherche
41 Quai Lucien Lefranc
93300 Aubervilliers / FR
 [2024/48]
Former [2024/37]
Opponent(s)01  19.07.2022  22.07.2022  ADMISSIBLE
SAINT-GOBAIN CULTILENE BV
Hoekeindsehof 1
2665 JZ Bleiswijk / NL
Opponent's representative
Saint-Gobain Recherche
B.P. 135
39, quai Lucien Lefranc
93303 Aubervilliers Cedex / FR
Former [2022/35]
Opponent(s)01  19.07.2022  22.07.2022  ADMISSIBLE
SAINT-GOBAIN CULTILENE BV
Hoekeindsehof 1
2665 JZ Bleiswijk / NL
Former [2022/34]
Opponent(s)01  19.07.2022   
SAINT-GOBAIN CULTILENE BV
Hoekeindsehof 1
2665 JZ Bleiswijk / NL
Opponent's representative
Saint-Gobain Recherche
Département Propriété Industrielle
39 Quai Lucien Lefranc
93300 Aubervilliers / FR
03.08.2022Invitation to proprietor to file observations on the notice of opposition
13.12.2022Reply of patent proprietor to notice(s) of opposition
12.03.2024Date of oral proceedings
06.05.2024Despatch of interlocutory decision in opposition
06.05.2024Despatch of minutes of oral proceedings
28.08.2024Legal effect of interlocutory decision in opposition
20.09.2024Despatch of communication that the patent will be maintained as amended
Appeal following opposition08.07.2024Appeal received No.  T0937/24
08.07.2024Payment of appeal fee
28.08.2024Result of appeal procedure: appeal of the proprietor withdrawn
Fees paidRenewal fee
11.07.2016Renewal fee patent year 03
27.07.2017Renewal fee patent year 04
27.07.2018Renewal fee patent year 05
29.07.2019Renewal fee patent year 06
27.07.2020Renewal fee patent year 07
27.07.2021Renewal fee patent year 08
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Lapses during opposition  TooltipHU04.07.2014
AL20.10.2021
AT20.10.2021
CY20.10.2021
DK20.10.2021
EE20.10.2021
ES20.10.2021
FI20.10.2021
HR20.10.2021
IT20.10.2021
LT20.10.2021
LV20.10.2021
MC20.10.2021
MK20.10.2021
MT20.10.2021
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TR20.10.2021
BG20.01.2022
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IS20.02.2022
PT21.02.2022
IE04.07.2022
LU04.07.2022
CH31.07.2022
LI31.07.2022
DE01.02.2023
[2026/04]
Former [2024/41]HU04.07.2014
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DE01.02.2023
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Cited inInternational search[XI] US4015366  (HALL III ARTHUR D et al.)
 [A] US2007082600  (ASVESTAS BRYAN et al.)
 [A] EP2243352  (DEERE & CO et al.)
 [A] US2013060473  (TOMIDA TAKAHIRO et al.)
 [A] US2003024155  (KURODA TETSUO et al.)
 [XI] WO03040985  (AQUA CONSERVATION SYSTEMS INC et al.) [X] 1,4,10,12,17,19 * figures 1,5,6-10,15,16A-16M * * column 8, line 21 - line 23 * * column 8, line 49 - line 51 * * column 13, line 1 - line 7 * * column 13, line 65 - column 14, line 26 * * column 15, line 34 - column 16, line 21 * * column 33, line 31 - line 34 * * column 36, line 55 - column 37, line 19 * * column 37, line 23 - column 38, line 65 * * column 44, line 43 - line 55 * * column 45, line 43 - line 51 * * column 46, line 59 - column 47, line 11 * * page 48, line 26 - line 65 * * column 49, line 15 - column 51, line 8 * * column 52, line 50 - line 52 * * column 121, line 48 - line 57 *[I] 2,3,5-9,11,13-16,18,20
 [A] US6892113  (ADDINK JOHN et al.) [A] 1-20 * abstract * * paragraph [0002] * * paragraph [0012] - paragraph [0013] * * paragraph [0028] * * paragraph [0032] - paragraph [0034] * * paragraph [0042] - paragraph [0044] *
 [A] US5927603  (MCNABB GERALD J et al.) [A] 1-20 * abstract * * paragraph [0039] *
 [A] EP2243353  (DEERE & CO et al.) [A] 1-20 * abstract * * paragraph [0027] - paragraph [0032] * * paragraph [0038] *
 [A] US2012261486  (SARVER LARRY C et al.) [A] 1-20 * abstract * * paragraph [0034] - paragraph [0094] *
 [A] WO2013093084  (ROCKWOOL INT et al.) [A] 1-20 * abstract * * page 3, line 23 - page 6, line 24 *
by applicantEP2111746
 WO2010031773
 WO03005807
 US4015366
 US2007082600
OppositionWO2013093081
 WO2013093083
 WO2013093084
 WO2013093086
 US2010042234
 EP2166347
 WO2011141901
 CN101286060
 US2009223128
 US4992942
 WO9003724
 WO2012080689
 WO2008144563
 US2010038440
 US4015366
 WO2014122292
 WO2013093081
 WO2013093083
 WO2013093086
 US2010042234
 EP2166347
 WO2011141901
 CN101286060
 US2009223128
 US4992942
 WO9003724
 WO2012080689
 WO2008144563
 US2010038440
 WO2014122292
   KALOVREKTIS K, LYKAS CH, FOUNTAS I, GKOTSINAS A, LEKAKIS I: "Development and Application Embedded Systems and Wireless Network of Sensors to Control of Hydroponic Greenhouses", INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY, vol. 3, no. 5, 1 January 2013 (2013-01-01), pages 198 - 202, XP055950403, DOI: 10.5923/j.ijaf.20130305.02

DOI:   http://dx.doi.org/10.5923/j.ijaf.20130305.02
   Y W ZHU; X X ZHONG; J F SHI: "The Design of Wireless Sensor Network System Based on ZigBee Technology for Greenhouse", JOURNAL OF PHYSICS: CONFERENCE SERIES, INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS PUBLISHING, BRISTOL, GB, vol. 48, no. 1, 1 October 2006 (2006-10-01), GB , pages 1195 - 1199, XP020110900, ISSN: 1742-6596, DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/48/1/223

DOI:   http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/48/1/223
   PARDOSSI ALBERTO, INCROCCI LUCA, INCROCCI GIORGIO, MALORGIO FERNANDO, BATTISTA PIERO, BACCI LAURA, RAPI BERNARDO, MARZIALETTI PAOL: "Root Zone Sensors for Irrigation Management in Intensive Agriculture", SENSORS, vol. 9, no. 4, pages 2809 - 2835, XP055950401, DOI: 10.3390/s90402809 * D18a - English (machine) translation of D18. *

DOI:   http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/s90402809
   ARGUEDAS-RODRIGUEZ FELIX RUBEN, RISTVEY ANDREW G., KANTOR GEORGE , COX LEA, ROSS D. S.: "Wireless Sensor Networks to precisely monitor substrate moisture and electrical conductivity dynamics in a Cut-Flower greenhouse Operation", ACTA, 1 April 2011 (2011-04-01), pages 1057 - 1063, XP055950399
   HAENGGI MARTIN: "Opportunities and challenges in wireless Sensor Networks", SENSOR NETWORKS HANDBOOK OF SENSOR NETWORKS - COMPACT WIRELESS AND WIRED SENSING SYSTEMS, 28 July 2004 (2004-07-28), pages 1 - 138, XP055950387
   LEA-COX JOHN D.: "Using Wireless Sensor Networks for Precision Irrigation Scheduling", PROBLEMS, PERSPECTIVES AND CHALLENGES OF AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT, INTECH, 9 March 2012 (2012-03-09), pages 234 - 259, XP055950382
   KALOVREKTIS K, LYKAS CH, FOUNTAS I, GKOTSINAS A, LEKAKIS I: "Development and Application Embedded Systems and Wireless Network of Sensors to Control of Hydroponic Greenhouses", INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY, vol. 3, no. 5, 1 January 2013 (2013-01-01), pages 198 - 202, DOI: 10.5923/j.ijaf.20130305.02
   Webpage from Scientific & Academic Publishing showing Article D4
   Webpage from Scientific & Academic Publishing showing archive of International Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
   Process to access metadata in D4 PDF
   Webpage from DOI Foundation website showing DOI resolution tool
   Webpage showing results page for D4 DOI number on DOI Foundation website
   Development and Application Embedded Systems and Wireless Network of Sensors to Control of Hydroponic Greenhouses
   English translation of CN 101286060
   Zhu et al., The Design of Wireless Sensor Network System Based on ZigBee Technology for Greenhouse, Journal of Physics
   Pardossi et al., Root Zone Sensors for Irrigation Management iIntensive Agriculture * D18a - English (machine) translation of D18. *
   User manual for the moisture sensor type HH2 from Detla-Devices LTD
   Handleiding Cultilne WET
   English translation of Handleiding Cultilene WET
   Lea-Cox et al., Wireless Sensor Networks to Precisely Monitor Substrate Moisture and Electrical Conductivity Dynamics in a Cut-Flower Greenhouse Operation
   Part 1 Introduction In Sensor Networks Handbook of Sensor Networks -Compact Wireless and Wired Sensing Systems
   Lea-Cox, J. D. 2012. Using Wireless Sensor Networks for Precision Irrigation Scheduling. Chapter 12. In: Problems, Perspectives and Challenges of Agricultural Water Management. M. Kumar (Ed)
   Hydroponics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.pdf
   Elmaloglou et al.pdf
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