Appeal No. 98-0174
Application 08/545,162
[this is done by sensing an absolute frequency shift in the
oscillating frequency of an antibody-coated oscillator]. Vali
utilizes a quartz crystal resonator upon which specific
antibodies are deposited. The crystal is certainly capable of
being excited along two modes simultaneously. Note the use of a
fundamental frequency and a higher frequency (column 5, lines 47-
50 of Vali) by Vali, which appears to correspond to appellants’
alternative mode described from the bottom of page 4 to the top
of page 5 of the instant specification. Also, EerNisse
discloses, at column 2, lines 1-8, the capability of these
crystals to be excited along two modes. Vali also teaches the
measuring of changes in two different frequencies of the
resonator and using a ratio of these changes for detecting a
change in mass.
Alternatively, the teaching by Vali, at column 5, lines 57-
63, of using the ratio of a frequency harmonic to a fundamental
frequency for change of mass detection along with the teaching of
this ratio being independent of temperature and pressure would
appear to have been a strong suggestion to the artisan to so
employ the frequencies of EerNisse to calculate change in mass in
addition to the force and temperature calculated by EerNisse.
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