Appeal No. 95-3273
Application 08/136,856
mode, the sound which affects the electrical output can
be effectively limited to that within a pressure field
or in which the microphone is in direct contact with
some physical body (more substantial than open air)
through which the sound is being carried.
Geil's piezoelectric device is likewise designed to operate
essentially in the compression mode. Unwanted signals due to
lateral elongation of the piezoelectric polymer film are reduced
by using a steel substrate having a Young's modulus at least an
order of magnitude greater than that of the piezoelectric polymer
material (col. 6, lines 10-25). Unwanted signals due to bending
and acceleration are reduced by appropriate selection of the
polarities of the piezoelectric layers and the interconnections
between the electrodes (col. 6, line 26 et seq.; Figs. 12A-C,
13A-C, 14A-C, and 15A-C). Moreover, the bending motion of the
piezoelectric sandwich members may be reduced by using a
viscoelastic material in the substrate (col. 7, lines 58-63).
Consequently, although the individual piezoelectric sandwich
members 22 and 23 experience some bending, they are substantially
prevented from experiencing diaphragm-like vibration and thus
satisfy the requirement of claim 1 for a "substantially
inflexible" substrate. Accordingly, we are affirming the
rejection of claim 1 under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) as anticipated by
Geil.
-6-
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007