Appeal No. 1998-2459 Page 2
Application No. 08/566,340
BACKGROUND
The appellant's invention relates to a fiber optic
refractive index monitor. An understanding of the invention
can be derived from a reading of exemplary claim 1, which is
reproduced as follows:
1. A device for detecting a change În in the index of
refraction n of a liquid between the values n and n -În,1 1 1
comprising:
a short length of optical guide having refractive index
n , said guide having a smooth exterior surface along its
g
length covered by the liquid;
means for inputting a light beam into said guide,
the angle of the light beam with respect to said optical
guide being selected so that light impinges on the interface
between said exterior surface and the liquid at the lowest
critical angle N of said guide, where N = sin-1(n -În)/ ; and
c c 1 ng
means for detecting the change in light passing through
said guide.
The prior art references of record relied upon by the
examiner in rejecting the appealed claims are:
Broerman 3,619,068 Nov. 9,
1971
Park 4,764,671 Aug.
16, 1988
Noguchi et al. (Noguchi) 5,546,493 Aug.
13, 1996
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