Appeal 2007-1704
Application 09/942,131
Appellants’ claimed invention relates to an infrared imaging
microscope including a detector having an array of individual detector
elements. The outputs of the detector elements are fed in parallel to
processing circuitry for image processing of the detector element outputs.
According to Appellants, the relatively small amount of detector elements
used (approximately 3 to 100 individual detector elements) enables output
processing to be performed without complex multiplexing circuitry and thus
avoids the reduction in signal to noise ratio associated with large scale
multiplexing. (Specification 3-5).
Claim 1 is illustrative of the invention and reads as follows:
1. An IR microscope comprising a sample stage,
optical components for guiding analyzing radiation so that it is
incident on a sample to be analyzed which is carried on said stage, and
for guiding radiation from the sample to a detector,
said detector comprises an array of individual detector
elements, the outputs of the detector elements being directly fed in
parallel to processing circuitry for image processing of the detector
element outputs, each detector element having its own associated
detection circuitry;
said array of detectors comprising from approximately 3 to 100
individual detector elements.
The Examiner relies on the following prior art references to show
unpatentability:
Taylor US 5,091,646 Feb. 25, 1992
Harris US 5,120,953 Jun. 9, 1992
Iddan US 5,512,749 Apr. 30, 1996
Dumas US 5,712,685 Jan. 27, 1998
Dukor US 6,274,871 B1 Aug. 14, 2001
(filed Oct. 22, 1998)
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