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Extract from the Register of European Patents

EP About this file: EP3857912

EP3857912 - BEAMFORMING USING AN IN-EAR AUDIO DEVICE [Right-click to bookmark this link]
StatusThe patent has been granted
Status updated on  28.03.2025
Database last updated on 14.03.2026
FormerGrant of patent is intended
Status updated on  25.11.2024
FormerExamination is in progress
Status updated on  25.05.2024
FormerGrant of patent is intended
Status updated on  23.01.2024
FormerExamination is in progress
Status updated on  22.04.2022
FormerRequest for examination was made
Status updated on  02.07.2021
FormerThe international publication has been made
Status updated on  05.04.2020
Formerunknown
Status updated on  10.09.2019
Most recent event   Tooltip13.02.2026New entry: Communication of a notice of opposition and request to file observations + time limit 
Applicant(s)For all designated states
Amazon Technologies, Inc.
P.O. Box 81226
Seattle, WA 98108-1226 / US
[2025/20]
Former [2021/31]For all designated states
Amazon Technologies Inc.
P.O. Box 81226
Seattle, Washington 98108-1226 / US
Inventor(s)01 / SOLBACH, Ludger
410 Terry Avenue North
Seattle, Washington 98109-5210 / US
 [2024/52]
Former [2021/31]01 / SOLBACH, Ludger
410 Terry Avenue North
Seattle, Washington 98109-5210 / US
Representative(s)D Young & Co LLP
3 Noble Street
London EC2V 7BQ / GB
[2025/18]
Former [2021/31]D Young & Co LLP
120 Holborn
London EC1N 2DY / GB
Application number, filing date19762032.116.08.2019
[2021/31]
WO2019US46749
Priority number, dateUS20181614299226.09.2018         Original published format: US201816142992
[2021/31]
Filing languageEN
Procedural languageEN
PublicationType: A1 Application with search report
No.:WO2020068294
Date:02.04.2020
Language:EN
[2020/14]
Type: A1 Application with search report 
No.:EP3857912
Date:04.08.2021
Language:EN
The application published by WIPO in one of the EPO official languages on 02.04.2020 takes the place of the publication of the European patent application.
[2021/31]
Type: B1 Patent specification 
No.:EP3857912
Date:30.04.2025
Language:EN
[2025/18]
Type: B8 Corrected title page of specification 
No.:EP3857912
Date:11.06.2025
[2025/24]
Search report(s)International search report - published on:EP02.04.2020
ClassificationIPC:H04R3/00, H04R1/10, G10L21/0208, // G10L21/0216
[2024/07]
CPC:
H04R3/005 (EP,US); H04R1/1083 (EP,US); G06F3/167 (US);
G10L21/0208 (EP); G10L21/0232 (US); H04R1/1016 (EP,US);
H04R1/1041 (US); H04R1/406 (US); G10L2021/02165 (EP);
H04R2201/107 (EP); H04R2410/01 (EP); H04R2410/05 (EP);
H04R2420/07 (US); H04R2430/01 (US) (-)
Former IPC [2021/31]H04R3/00, H04R1/10
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 [2021/31]
Extension statesBANot yet paid
MENot yet paid
Validation statesKHNot yet paid
MANot yet paid
MDNot yet paid
TNNot yet paid
TitleGerman:STRAHLFORMUNG UNTER VERWENDUNG EINES IM-OHR-HÖRGERÄTES[2021/31]
English:BEAMFORMING USING AN IN-EAR AUDIO DEVICE[2021/31]
French:FORMATION DE FAISCEAUX À L'AIDE D'UN DISPOSITIF AUDIO INTRA-AURICULAIRE[2021/31]
Entry into regional phase16.04.2021National basic fee paid 
16.04.2021Designation fee(s) paid 
16.04.2021Examination fee paid 
Examination procedure16.04.2021Examination requested  [2021/31]
16.04.2021Date on which the examining division has become responsible
03.11.2021Amendment by applicant (claims and/or description)
26.04.2022Despatch of a communication from the examining division (Time limit: M04)
26.08.2022Reply to a communication from the examining division
24.01.2024Communication of intention to grant the patent
24.05.2024Disapproval of the communication of intention to grant the patent by the applicant or resumption of examination proceedings by the EPO
18.11.2024Cancellation of oral proceeding that was planned for 04.12.2024
26.11.2024Communication of intention to grant the patent
04.12.2024Date of oral proceedings (cancelled)
25.03.2025Fee for grant paid
25.03.2025Fee for publishing/printing paid
25.03.2025Receipt of the translation of the claim(s)
07.04.2025Request for correction of the decision to grant filed
Opposition(s)Opponent(s)01  30.01.2026  02.02.2026  ADMISSIBLE
K/S HIMPP
Nymøllevej 6
3540 Lynge / DK
Opponent's representative
Meissner Bolte Partnerschaft mbB
Patentanwälte Rechtsanwälte
Postfach 86 06 24
81633 München / DE
 [2026/11]
13.02.2026Invitation to proprietor to file observations on the notice of opposition
Fees paidRenewal fee
16.04.2021Renewal fee patent year 03
29.08.2022Renewal fee patent year 04
28.08.2023Renewal fee patent year 05
27.08.2024Renewal fee patent year 06
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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  TooltipAT30.04.2025
BG30.04.2025
CZ30.04.2025
DK30.04.2025
ES30.04.2025
FI30.04.2025
HR30.04.2025
IT30.04.2025
LV30.04.2025
NL30.04.2025
PL30.04.2025
RO30.04.2025
SK30.04.2025
SM30.04.2025
NO30.07.2025
GR31.07.2025
RS31.07.2025
IS30.08.2025
PT01.09.2025
[2026/10]
Former [2026/09]AT30.04.2025
BG30.04.2025
CZ30.04.2025
DK30.04.2025
ES30.04.2025
FI30.04.2025
HR30.04.2025
LV30.04.2025
NL30.04.2025
PL30.04.2025
SM30.04.2025
NO30.07.2025
GR31.07.2025
RS31.07.2025
IS30.08.2025
PT01.09.2025
Former [2026/08]AT30.04.2025
BG30.04.2025
DK30.04.2025
ES30.04.2025
FI30.04.2025
HR30.04.2025
LV30.04.2025
NL30.04.2025
PL30.04.2025
SM30.04.2025
NO30.07.2025
GR31.07.2025
RS31.07.2025
IS30.08.2025
PT01.09.2025
Former [2025/49]AT30.04.2025
BG30.04.2025
ES30.04.2025
FI30.04.2025
HR30.04.2025
LV30.04.2025
NL30.04.2025
PL30.04.2025
NO30.07.2025
GR31.07.2025
RS31.07.2025
IS30.08.2025
PT01.09.2025
Former [2025/48]AT30.04.2025
BG30.04.2025
ES30.04.2025
FI30.04.2025
HR30.04.2025
NL30.04.2025
PL30.04.2025
NO30.07.2025
GR31.07.2025
RS31.07.2025
PT01.09.2025
Former [2025/47]BG30.04.2025
ES30.04.2025
FI30.04.2025
NL30.04.2025
PL30.04.2025
NO30.07.2025
GR31.07.2025
PT01.09.2025
Former [2025/46]ES30.04.2025
FI30.04.2025
PT01.09.2025
Cited inInternational search[A] KR101149981  (SHIN DOO SIK et al.) [A] 1-15 * paragraphs [0036] - [0039] - [0 53] - [0058]; figures 2,5,6 *
 [A] EP2790416  (SONY CORP et al.) [A] 1-15 * paragraphs [0121] - [0136]; figure 10 *
 [A] US2018270565  (GANESHKUMAR ALAGANANDAN et al.) [A] 1-15 * paragraph [0041] - paragraph [0053]; figures 1-3 *
OppositionKR101149981
 US2018268837
 EP2362677
 US2014086425
   NILS WESTERLUND, DAHL MATTIAS, CLAESSON INGVAR: "In-Ear Microphone Techniques for Severe Noise Situations", RESEARCH REPORT NO. 2005:12, BLEKINGE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, 1 January 2005 (2005-01-01), XP055330914, Retrieved from the Internet
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.