Appeal No. 2004-1675
Application No. 09/638,214
indicating an amount of deterioration of the self-
luminous display element based on the detected voltage
[in claim 16]...
a deterioration information generating circuit for
generating deterioration information indicating an amount
of deterioration of the self-luminous display element
based on elapsed time [in claim 24]...
a voltage detecting circuit for detecting a voltage drop
across the self-luminous display element that is driven
by the constant-current driving circuit [in claim 32]...
What Yuyama teaches is using a photosensor for detecting “the
luminance of the corresponding LED, and produces a signal the
voltage of which depends on the detected luminance.” See column 3,
lines 30-33. In other words, Yuyama operates a voltage driving
circuit to depends the deterioration of the LED determined by the
photosensor measuring luminance.
The dispositive question here is whether the above limitations
recited in claims 16, 24 and 32 embrace the photosensor of Yuyama.
On this record, we answer this question in the negative.
The appellants, like Yuyama, recognize that the luminance of
the LED decreases with time and the current and voltage flowing
through the LED affect the luminance of the LED. Compare the
specification, page 3, with Yuyama, column 1, lines 56-65 and
column 3, lines 45-50. The appellants, therefore, disclose four
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