Appeal No. 1996-2893
Application 08/370,153
justifies the combination of Boning, Dietz and Metz by asserting that both Boning and Dietz
are related to recording signals of light or thermal variations in a combustion chamber, and
Metz’s camera can replace simply the optical evaluation stage or unit in the above
combination for the thermographic image of the combustion process of an internal
combustion engine [answer, pages 7 and 8].
The appellants have made it abundantly clear that the invention is concerned with taking
thermographic or visual images while the engine is operating. A lens is needed to focus
the optical or thermal radiation to yield a coherent image of the radiating body, not just one
point or event. The claimed device provides a field of view within the cylinder and projects
an image of the same onto a camera film. This yields a thermographic image of the
surfaces within the cylinder. It is this interpretation of the claim that we have considered in
our ruling. A knock sensor device which is pretty typical of the prior art is concerned with
an event sensing, or an overall state of combustion in the combustion chamber. Neither
Boning nor Dietz relates to the subject of the invention as interpreted above. Both are
event sensors and record the overall luminosity or combustion. Metz does not cure this
deficiency.
The other independent claims 6 and 11 both have further limitations than claim 1. Since
the above combination does not support the rejection of claim 1, it cannot support the
rejection of claims 6 and 11 either. Claims 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 14 which depend on
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