Appeal 2007-0128
Reexamination Control 90/006,208
Patent 5,573,648
B. Prior Art
i. Dempsey, U.S. Patent 4,227,984
5) Dempsey '984 is directed to a membrane and electrode cell for detecting
gases. Specifically, Dempsey's abstract states:
A compact electrochemical gas sensing cell is described for detecting
gases such as carbon monoxide, NO2, alcohol vapors, etc. The cell is
characterized by temperature stability during zero-air operation so that
background current with no gas flow is eliminated or minimized. This
cell utilizes a hydrated, solid polymer electrolyte having reference,
sensing and counter electrodes mounted on the surface thereof with
one side of the membrane being flooded with distilled water to
provide self-humidification of the cell by water vapor transport across
the membrane.
(Dempsey '984, abstract).
6) Dempsey teaches that the membrane and electrode gas sensor is Abased on
the oxidation or reduction of the constituent to be detected at the catalytic sensing
electrode.@ (Id. at col. 2, ll. 36-40).
7) Dempsey identifies the following reactions when measuring carbon
monoxide:
i. Sensing Electrode: CO + H2O = CO2 + 2H+ = 2e-
6
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