Appeal No. 2001-1874
Application No. 09/072,758
The photodiode 12 in the embodiment of Figure 2 operates in “the photon-flux-
integrating mode.” Col. 6, ll. 10-33. The disclosure at the bottom of column 12,
teaching that the sensor “may provide continuous instantaneous measurement of the
received radiation,” appears to refer to possible alternatives to the embodiments of
Figures 1 through 4, in view of the description preceding the teaching.
In relation to the above-noted disclosure of “continuous instantaneous
measurement,” we also agree with appellant that the claimed continuous time
processing circuit “to receive and process the photocurrent” from the light sensitive
element has not been shown in Brajovic. The rejection relies, in part, on the
reference’s disclosure at column 8, lines 7 through 18 that “[t]he generated data stream
may be at least one analog waveform.” The waveform is generated by global processor
40 (Fig. 6). The section thus describes a generated output, rather than processing of
photocurrent from a light sensitive element.
Figure 5 of Brajovic, on the other hand, appears to shows an analog waveform,
which is an input signal to memory 70 (Fig. 2), but not generated by the photosensitive
element. As described in columns 6 and 7 of the reference, when the voltage of the
photodiode 12 approaches the threshold of inverter 10, the inverter’s output changes
from low to high. Any “continuous time” receiving and processing of photocurrent
appears to be related to the integration of the photocurrent; i.e., the “Sensor Signal”
shown in Figure 5. Instant claim 1, however, requires a separate “integration circuit”
-7-
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