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KEYPAD

Publication No. EP4569403

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App No. EP24787427

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Filed by Gebrüder Frei GmbH & Co. KG

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Filed on 2024-10-08

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Issued/Published on 2025-12-17

Official EPO Register

Publication No. EP4569403 A1

Application No. EP24787427 Filed: 2024-10-08

Grant Date 2025-12-17 Mention of grant

Active Oppositions 1 Active EPO Oppositions

Patent Abstract / Summary

Patent abstract is being processed or was not provided in English by the publishing office.

IPC Classifications

G06F3/04886, G06F3/048, H03K17/965, G06F3/02, G06F3/023, H01H13/702, H01H3/02 G06F3/04886, G06F3/048, H03K17/965

Priority Claims

DE 202310127590 Date: 2023-10-10

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

Gebrüder Frei GmbH & Co. KG

Borsigstrasse 15, 72461 Albstadt-Onstmettingen

Inventors (3)

FREI, Thomas

72458 Albstadt

DUFT, Benjamin

72459 Albstadt

BAUER, Philipp

72379 Hechingen

Representatives / Agents

Patentanwälte Ruff, Wilhelm, Beier, Dauster & Partner mbB

Kronenstraße 30, 70174 Stuttgart

Knöner, Gregor

Kahler Käck Mollekopf, Partnerschaft von Patentanwälten mbB

Key Procedural Dates

Request-For-Examination 2025-03-13

Mention Of Grant Published 2025-12-17

First-Examination-Report-Despatched 2025-07-08

Legal Status & Event History

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

32 Events Recorded

Date	Code	Event Description	Auth
2025-05-12	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2024-10-19	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2025-05-16	PUAI	PUBLIC REFERENCE MADE UNDER ARTICLE 153(3) EPC TO A PUBLISHED INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION THAT HAS ENTERED THE EUROPEAN PHASE	EP
2025-05-16	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2025-06-18	17P	REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION FILED	EP
2025-06-18	AK	DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES	EP
2025-07-08	GRAP	DESPATCH OF COMMUNICATION OF INTENTION TO GRANT A PATENT	EP
2025-07-08	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2025-07-30	RIC1	INFORMATION PROVIDED ON IPC CODE ASSIGNED BEFORE GRANT	EP
2025-08-06	INTG	INTENTION TO GRANT ANNOUNCED	EP
2025-08-06	DAX	REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF THE EUROPEAN PATENT (DELETED)	EP
2025-08-06	DAV	REQUEST FOR VALIDATION OF THE EUROPEAN PATENT (DELETED)	EP
2025-11-08	GRAS	GRANT FEE PAID	EP
2025-11-14	GRAA	(EXPECTED) GRANT	EP
2025-11-14	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2025-12-17	AK	DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES	EP
2025-12-17	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2025-12-24	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-02-18	U01	REQUEST FOR UNITARY EFFECT FILED	EP
2026-02-18	U07	UNITARY EFFECT REGISTERED	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
2026-07-03	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-08	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-09	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-18	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-21	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-25	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-09-25	PLBI	OPPOSITION FILED	EP
2026-09-30	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-10-01	PLAX	NOTICE OF OPPOSITION AND REQUEST TO FILE OBSERVATION + TIME LIMIT SENT	EP

Patent & Non-Patent Citations

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

24 Citations

Cited Patent Documents

EP3995940

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DE202023105848

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US11720176

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DE102019102719

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DE102009036860

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WO2009007859

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US10606401

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DE202012006899

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US2004046746

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EP3731100

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US2013076899

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WO02052525

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JP2000172442

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US2022350437

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GB2516439

Espacenet

JP2005174114

Espacenet

Non-Patent Scientific Literature (NPL)

- ANONYMOUS: "INTELLIGENTE Automatisierungssysteme für Forstmaschinen", BROSCHÜRE AUTOMATISIERUNGSSYSTEME, JOHN DEERE, 1 October 2014 (2014-10-01), pages 1 - 12, XP093438992, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:https://www.nuhn.de/fileadmin/user_upload/nuhn.de/Dateien/Pdf/prospekte_allgemein/2015_automatisierungssysteme.pdf>

- K. BLANKENBACH ET AL.: "Handbook of Visual Display Technology", vol. 2, 24 October 2016, SPRINGER INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING , Cham , ISBN: 978-3-319-14346-0, article PHARES ROBERT: "Resistive Touchscreen Technology", pages: 1439 - 1464, XP009568966, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-14346-0_203

- VAVRA CHRIS, KATHY WELLS: "OEM Off-Highway's Top New Products of 2024", OEM OFF-HIGHWAY, 12 September 2024 (2024-09-12), pages 1 - 7, XP093439000, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:https://www.oemoffhighway.com/awards/top-new-products/article/22916315/oem-offhighways-top-new-products-of-2024>

- ANONYMOUS: "FLEXSCAPE HAPTIK TRIFFT TOUCH", FLEXSCAPE – HAPTISCHE BEDIENELEMENTE VON RAFI, RAFI GMBH & CO. KG, 26 March 2023 (2023-03-26), pages 1 - 3, XP093439005, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:https://web.archive.org/web/20230326214439/https://www.rafi-group.com/flexscape/>

- FLEISCHER FRANK: "Der kapazitive Touchscreen wertet Berührung und Kraft aus", ELEKTRONIK-PRAXIS, VOGEL, WUERZBURG, DE, vol. 2019, no. 17, 19 September 2019 (2019-09-19), DE , pages 40 - 41, XP093439002, ISSN: 0341-5589

- AXMANN BENJAMIN, LANGNER FRANK, BLANKENBACH KARLHEINZ, VOGELMANN MATTHAEUS, VON GAISBERG ADRIAN, STROBEL LUKAS, BAUER JAN: "Advanced methods for safe visualization on automotive displays", JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION DISPLAY - SID, SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION DISPLAY., US, vol. 28, no. 6, 1 June 2020 (2020-06-01), US , pages 483 - 498, XP093439007, ISSN: 1071-0922, DOI: 10.1002/jsid.909

- BLANKENBACH KARLHEINZ, VOGELMANN MATTHAEUS, SCHMITZ NORBERT: "Advanced optical methods for safe image reproduction on automotive displays", JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION DISPLAY - SID, SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION DISPLAY., US, vol. 30, no. 1, 1 January 2022 (2022-01-01), US , pages 33 - 53, XP093439010, ISSN: 1071-0922, DOI: 10.1002/jsid.1079

- K. BLANKENBACH ET AL.: "Handbook of Visual Display Technology, Living Edition", 24 May 2023, SPRINGER, Berlin, Heidelberg, ISBN: 978-3-642-35947-7, article JAN BAUER, ANDREAS HUDAK: "Automotive Display Interfaces", pages: 1 - 14, XP009568968, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-35947-7_216-2

Worldwide Patent Family

Related applications and patents in the same INPADOC worldwide family.

6 Family Members

Country	Publication Number	Kind	Publication Date	Action
EP	EP4569403A1	A1	2025-06-18	Espacenet
EP	EP4569403B1	B1	2025-12-17	Espacenet
EP	EP4569403C0	C0	2025-12-17	Espacenet
DE	DE102023127590A1	A1	2025-04-10	Espacenet
DE	DE102023127590B4	B4	2025-12-24	Espacenet
WO	WO2025078343A1	A1	2025-04-17	Espacenet

Official File Inspection EPC Art. 128 Public Dossier

Complete European Patent Register Dossier (148 Total Documents)

The full inspection file for Application EP24787427 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

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Date: 2025-11-08 Procedure: Examination EPIDOSNIGR7

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KEYPAD

Patent Abstract / Summary

IPC Classifications

Priority Claims

Designated Contracting States (39 EPC States)

Parties & Representation

Applicants

Inventors (3)

Representatives / Agents

Key Procedural Dates

Patent Oppositions

elobau GmbH & Co. KG

Legal Status & Event History

Patent & Non-Patent Citations

Cited Patent Documents

Non-Patent Scientific Literature (NPL)

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)

New entry: Communication of a notice of opposition and request to file observations + time limit

Invitation to proprietor to file observations on the notice of opposition

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Lapse of the patent in a contracting state

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Request for examination filed

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Payment of national basic fee

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Payment of the fee for examination

Date on which the examining division has become responsible

PCT data prior to European publication

Validation of the patent

Extension of the patent

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