Appeal No. 1998-2465
Application No. 08/599,192
source toward a photodetector, but when the fluid does contact
the prism, no internal reflection takes place, and the optical
signal does not reach the photodetector. Claim 16 is
illustrative of the claimed invention, and it reads as
follows:
16. A fluid overfill detection probe comprising:
a light source which emits an optical signal having a
center wavelength in the infrared range;
a photodetector which detects the optical signal; and
a prism into which the optical signal is coupled by the
light source, the prism material comprising a fluoropolymer
and providing internal reflection of the optical signal from
the light source toward the photodetector when a surface of
the prism at which said reflection occurs is not contacted by
a fluid being detected, the prism not providing said internal
reflection when said prism surface is contacted by said fluid.
The prior art references of record relied upon by the
examiner in rejecting the appealed claims are:
Beauvais et al. (Beauvais) 4,840,137 Jun. 20,
1989
Tregay 4,998,022 Mar. 05,
1991
Claims 1, 3, 4, 7, 13 through 19, 21 through 23, and 28
stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable
over Tregay in view of Beauvais.
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