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METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A FLOW GENERATING DEVICE

Publication No. EP4524400

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App No. EP24198654

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Filed by ebm-papst Mulfingen GmbH & Co. KG

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Filed on 2024-09-05

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Issued/Published on 2025-10-29

Official EPO Register

Publication No. EP4524400 A1

Application No. EP24198654 Filed: 2024-09-05

Grant Date 2025-10-29 Mention of grant

Active Oppositions 1 Active EPO Oppositions

Patent Abstract / Summary

[0001] Es werden ein Verfahren (V) und eine Vorrichtung (10) zur Steuerung einer Strömungserzeugungseinrichtung (11), insbesondere eines Kompressors (12), bereitgestellt. Beim Betreiben der Strömungserzeugungseinrichtung (11) wird eine Vibration und/oder eine Schwingung erzeugt, die mittels wenigstens eines Sensors (22, 23) erfasst und durch wenigstens ein Sensorsignal (S1, S2) beschrieben wird. In einer Steuereinrichtung (16, 19) wird basierend auf dem wenigstens einen Sensorsignal (S1, S2) und einem aktuellen Arbeitspunkt (AP) der Strömungserzeugungseinrichtung (11) ein Zusammenhang (F) zwischen Eingangsparametern (PIN) und wenigstens einem Steuerparameter (CO) ermittelt. Der Zusammenhang (F) kann beispielsweise eine Parametermatrix (MX) oder irgendeine andere mathematische und/oder logische Struktur sein, die die Eingangsparameter (PIN) mit dem wenigstens einen Steuerparameter (CO) verknüpft, beispielsweise eine adaptive bzw. durch maschinelles Lernen veränderbare logische Struktur. Dadurch können sich ändernde Umstände, insbesondere Alterungseffekte, berücksichtigt werden. Der basierend auf dem Zusammenhang (F) ermittelte wenigstens eine Steuerparameter (CO) wird für die Steuerung der Strömungserzeugungseinrichtung (11), insbesondere eines Elektromotors (13), verwendet.

IPC Classifications

F04B49/06, F04B51/00, F04D15/00, F04D27/00, F04D27/02, F04D29/66, F04C28/28 F04B49/06, F04B51/00, F04C28/28, F04D27/00, F04D29/66

Priority Claims

DE 202310124932 Date: 2023-09-15

Designated Contracting States (39 EPC States)

AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC ME MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

Parties & Representation

Applicants

ebm-papst Mulfingen GmbH & Co. KG

Bachmühle 2, 74673 Mulfingen

Inventors (1)

Menikheim, Christian

97996 Niederstetten

Representatives / Agents

Rüger Abel IP Legal Solutions GmbH

Webergasse 3, 73728 Esslingen a. N.

Rüger Abel Patentanwälte PartGmbB

Webergasse 3, 73728 Esslingen a. N.

Westphal, Mussgnug & Partner Patentanwälte mbB

Am Riettor 5, 78048 Villingen-Schwenningen

Key Procedural Dates

Request-For-Examination 2025-01-16

Mention Of Grant Published 2025-10-29

First-Examination-Report-Despatched 2025-06-13

Legal Status & Event History

Official European Patent Office legal and procedural status changes recorded for this file.

36 Events Recorded

Date	Code	Event Description	Auth
2025-02-14	PUAI	PUBLIC REFERENCE MADE UNDER ARTICLE 153(3) EPC TO A PUBLISHED INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION THAT HAS ENTERED THE EUROPEAN PHASE	EP
2025-02-14	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2025-03-19	17P	REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION FILED	EP
2025-03-19	AK	DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES	EP
2025-05-12	GRAP	DESPATCH OF COMMUNICATION OF INTENTION TO GRANT A PATENT	EP
2025-05-12	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2025-05-21	RIC1	INFORMATION PROVIDED ON IPC CODE ASSIGNED BEFORE GRANT	EP
2025-05-14	GRAJ	INFORMATION RELATED TO DISAPPROVAL OF COMMUNICATION OF INTENTION TO GRANT BY THE APPLICANT OR RESUMPTION OF EXAMINATION PROCEEDINGS BY THE EPO DELETED	EP
2025-05-14	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2025-06-11	INTG	INTENTION TO GRANT ANNOUNCED	EP
2025-06-18	INTC	INTENTION TO GRANT ANNOUNCED (DELETED)	EP
2025-06-12	GRAP	DESPATCH OF COMMUNICATION OF INTENTION TO GRANT A PATENT	EP
2025-06-12	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2025-07-16	INTG	INTENTION TO GRANT ANNOUNCED	EP
2025-09-19	GRAS	GRANT FEE PAID	EP
2025-09-26	GRAA	(EXPECTED) GRANT	EP
2025-09-26	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2025-10-29	AK	DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES	EP
2025-10-29	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2025-11-20	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2025-12-03	U01	REQUEST FOR UNITARY EFFECT FILED	EP
2025-12-10	U07	UNITARY EFFECT REGISTERED	EP
2025-11-19	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-04-10	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-04-13	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-04-14	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-04-17	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-04-20	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-04-24	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-03	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-17	PLBI	OPPOSITION FILED	EP
2026-07-21	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-22	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-07-25	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-08-10	PLAX	NOTICE OF OPPOSITION AND REQUEST TO FILE OBSERVATION + TIME LIMIT SENT	EP
2026-08-19	26	OPPOSITION FILED	EP

Patent & Non-Patent Citations

Cited documents and prior art referenced in search and examination reports.

11 Citations

Cited Patent Documents

DE60305263

Espacenet

WO2022117615

Espacenet

DE102020201200

Espacenet

DE102019122218

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DE102012104052

Espacenet

DE102020201203

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WO2022117274

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DE102021132969

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DE102022100004

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GB2255421 1992-11-04

Espacenet

US9279431 2016-03-08

Espacenet

Worldwide Patent Family

Related applications and patents in the same INPADOC worldwide family.

4 Family Members

Country	Publication Number	Kind	Publication Date	Action
EP	EP4524400A1	A1	2025-03-19	Espacenet
EP	EP4524400B1	B1	2025-10-29	Espacenet
EP	EP4524400C0	C0	2025-10-29	Espacenet
DE	DE102023124932A1	A1	2025-03-20	Espacenet

Official File Inspection EPC Art. 128 Public Dossier

Complete European Patent Register Dossier (148 Total Documents)

The full inspection file for Application EP24198654 contains 148 total documents, including all notices of opposition, proprietor counter-statements, examination communications, third-party observations, and procedural forms. Below are all major recorded procedural filings and publication specifications.

Open 148-Doc Register Dossier

Dossier Filing

Date: 2025-09-19 Procedure: Grant EPIDOSNIGR3

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METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A FLOW GENERATING DEVICE

Patent Abstract / Summary

IPC Classifications

Priority Claims

Designated Contracting States (39 EPC States)

Parties & Representation

Applicants

Inventors (1)

Representatives / Agents

Key Procedural Dates

Patent Oppositions

Bitzer Kühlmaschinenbau GmbH

Legal Status & Event History

Patent & Non-Patent Citations

Cited Patent Documents

Worldwide Patent Family

Complete European Patent Register Dossier (148 Total Documents)

Recorded Filings & Patent Specifications

European Patent Specification - Granted Patent (B1)

Official European Patent Register Full Dossier

European Patent Application with Search Report (A1)

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