PTO/SB/DB3 (01-10)
`Doc code:
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`df
`A
`h 07/302012. OMB 0651-0031
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`.
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`U_s_ Patent and Tragzggfk O‘:;::eU_§"EfiEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`Doc description: Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) Filed
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it contains a valid OMB control number.
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`1
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`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
`STATEMENT BY APPLICANT
`
`( Not for submission under 37 CFR 1.99)
`
`Application Number
`
`Filing Date
`First Named Inventor
`A“ Unit
`
`Examiner Name
`
`Harold S. Mindlin ll
`|
`
`Attorney Docket Number
`
`| 1520-0013
`
`Examiner Cite
`.
`.
`,,
`Initial
`No
`
`Patent Number
`
`Kind
`Code1
`
`Issue Date
`
`Name of Patentee or Applicant PageS’C°|umn5'Line5 Where
`.
`Relevant Passages or Relevant
`of cited Document
`.
`Figures Appear
`
`U.S.PATENTS
`
`-
`
`1
`
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`Add
`u.s.PATENT APPLIcATIoN PUBLICATIONS -
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`Examiner Cite No Publication
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`
`Publication
`Kind
`Codel Date
`
`Name of Patentee or Applicant
`of cited Document
`
`Pages,Co|umns,Lines where
`Relevant Passages or Relevant
`Figures Appear
`
`1
`
`20050036637
`
`2005-02-17
`
`Janssen
`
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`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`Examiner Cite Foreign Document
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`Publication
`Kind
`Code4 Date
`
`Name of Patentee or
`A “cant of cited
`pp
`Document
`
`Pages,Co|umns,Lines
`where Relevant
`Passages or Relevant
`.
`Figures Appear
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`T5
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`1
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`D
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`NoN-PATENT LITERATURE DOCUMENTS -
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`Include name of the author (in CAPITAL LETTERS), title of the article (when appropriate), title of the item
`T5
`(book, magazine, journal, serial, symposium, catalog, etc}, date, pages(s), volume-issue number(s),
`publisher, city and/or country where published.
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`Application Number
`
`Filing Date
`
`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
`
`First Named Inventor
`
`Harold S. Mindlin ll
`
`STATEMENT BY APPLICANT
`
`( Not for submission under 37 CFR 1.99)
`
`Art Unit
`Examiner Name
`
`|
`
`Attorney Docket Number
`
`| 1520-0013
`
`
`
`If you wish to add additional non-patent literature document citation information please click the Add button
`EXAMINER SIGNATURE
`
`*EXAM|NER: Initial if reference considered, whether or not citation is in conformance with MPEP 609. Draw line through a
`citation if not in conformance and not considered.
`Include copy of this form with next communication to applicant.
`
`2 Enter office that issued the document, by the two-letter code (WIPO
`1 See Kind Codes of USPTO Patent Documents at www.USPTO.GOV or MPEP 901.04.
`Standard ST.3). 3 For Japanese patent documents, the indication of the year of the reign of the Emperor must precede the serial number of the patent document.
`4 Kind of document by the appropriate symbols as indicated on the document under WIPO Standard ST.16 if possible.
`5 Applicant is to place a check mark here if
`English language translation is attached.
`
`EFS Web 2.1.17
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`2
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`

`

`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
`STATEMENT BY APPLICANT
`
`( Not for submission under 37 CFR 1.99)
`
`Application Nuryber
`
`Filing Date
`First Named Inventor
`Ar, Uni,
`
`Examiner Name
`
`Harold S. Mindlin II
`l
`
`Attorney Docket Number
`
`| 1520-0013
`
`CERTIFICATION STATEMENT
`
`Please see 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 to make the appropriate se|ection(s):
`
`|:I
`
`That each item of information contained in the information disclosure statement was first cited in any communication
`from a foreign patent office in a counterpart foreign application not more than three months prior to the filing of the
`information disclosure statement. See 37 CFR 1.97(e)(1).
`
`OR
`
`That no item of information contained in the information disclosure statement was cited in a communication from a
`
`foreign patent office in a counterpart foreign application, and, to the knowledge of the person signing the certification
`after making reasonable inquiry, no item of information contained in the information disclosure statement was known to
`any individual designated in 37 CFR 1.56(c) more than three months prior to the filing of the information disclosure
`statement. See 37 CFR 1.97(e)(2).
`
`II
`
`|:| See attached certification statement.
`
`|:| Fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17 (p) has been submitted herewith.
`
`None
`
`SIGNATURE
`
`A signature of the applicant or representative is required in accordance with CFR 1.33, 10.18. Please see CFR 1.4(d) for the
`form of the signature.
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`Signature
`NamelPrint
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`Date WW-MM-00>
`Registration Number
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`2°“-04-12
`59,066
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`This collection of information is required by 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98. The information is required to obtain or retain a benefit by the
`public which is to file (and by the USPTO to process) an application. Confidentiality is governed by 35 U.S.C. 122 and 37 CFR
`1.14. This collection is estimated to take 1 hour to complete, including gathering, preparing and submitting the completed
`application form to the USPTO. Time will vary depending upon the individual case. Any comments on the amount of time you
`require to complete this form and/or suggestions for reducing this burden, should be sent to the Chief Information Officer, U.S.
`Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. Department of Commerce, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. DO NOT SEND
`FEES OR COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS. SEND TO: Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria,
`VA 22313-1450.
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`Privacy Act Statement
`
`The Privacy Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-579) requires that you be given certain information in connection with your submission of the
`attached form related to a patent application or patent. Accordingly, pursuant to the requirements of the Act, please be advised
`that:
`(1) the general authority for the collection of this information is 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2); (2) furnishing of the information solicited
`is voluntary; and (3) the principal purpose for which the information is used by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is to
`process and/or examine your submission related to a patent application or patent.
`If you do not furnish the requested
`information, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office may not be able to process and/or examine your submission, which may
`result in termination of proceedings or abandonment of the application or expiration of the patent.
`
`The information provided by you in this form will be subject to the following routine uses:
`
`1.
`
`The information on this form will be treated confidentially to the extent allowed under the Freedom of Information Act
`(5 U.S.C. 552) and the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a). Records from this system of records may be disclosed to the
`Department of Justice to determine whether the Freedom of Information Act requires disclosure of these record s.
`
`A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, in the course of presenting evidence to a
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`negotiations.
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`A record in this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to a Member of Congress submitting a
`request involving an individual, to whom the record pertains, when the individual has requested assistance from the
`Member with respect to the subject matter of the record.
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`A record in this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to a contractor of the Agency having need for
`the information in order to perform a contract. Recipients of information shall be required to comply with the
`requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(m).
`
`A record related to an International Application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty in this system of records
`may be disclosed, as a routine use, to the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization, pursuant
`to the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
`
`A record in this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to another federal agency for purposes of
`National Security review (35 U.S.C. 181) and for review pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act (42 U.S.C. 218(c)).
`
`A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to the Administrator, General Services, or
`his/her designee, during an inspection of records conducted by GSA as part of that agency's responsibility to
`recommend improvements in records management practices and programs, under authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and
`2906. Such disclosure shall be made in accordance with the GSA regulations governing inspection of records for this
`purpose, and any other relevant (i.e., GSA or Commerce) directive. Such disclosure shall not be used to make
`determinations about individuals.
`
`A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to the public after either publication of
`the application pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 122(b) or issuance of a patent pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 151. Further, a record
`may be disclosed, subject to the limitations of 37 CFR 1.14, as a routine use, to the public if the record was filed in
`an application which became abandoned or in which the proceedings were terminated and which application is
`referenced by either a published application, an application open to public inspections or an issued patent.
`
`A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to a Federal, State, or local law
`enforcement agency, if the USPTO becomes aware of a violation or potential violation of law or regulation.
`
`EFS Web 2.1.17
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`4
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`

`

`PTOISBI14 (1 1-08)
`Approved for use through 06/30/2010. OMB 0651-0032
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`5
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it contains a valid OMB control number.
`
`Application Data Sheet 37 CFR 1.76
`
`Attorney Docket Number
`_
`_
`Application Number
`
`1520-0013
`
`Title of Invention
`
`System and Method of Progressive Hearing Device Adjustment
`
`The application data sheet is part of the provisional or nonprovisional application for which it is being submitted. The following form contains the
`bibliographic data arranged in a format specified by the United States Patent and Trademark Office as outlined in 37 CFR 1.76.
`This document may be completed electronically and submitted to the Office in electronic format using the Electronic Filing System (EFS) or the
`document may be printed and included in a paper filed application.
`
`Secrecy Order 37 CFR 5.2
`
`|:| Portions or all of the application associated with this Application Data Sheet may fall under a Secrecy Order pursuant to
`37 CFR 5.2 (Paper filers only. Applications that fall under Secrecy Order may not be filed electronically.)
`
`Applicant Information:
`Applicant 1
`Applicant Authority @|nventor | OLegal Representative under 35 U.S.C. 117
`Prefix Given Name
`Middle Name
`
`|OParty of Interest under 35 U.S.C. 118
`
`Family Name
`
`
`
`City
`
`Austin
`
`Citizenship under 37 CFR1.41(b)l
`
`Mailing Address of Applicant:
`
`Address 1
`
`Address 2
`
`3808 Turkey Creek Drive
`
`Applicant 2
`Applicant Authority @|nventor OLegal Representative under 35 U.S.C. 117
`Prefix Middle Name
`Matthew
`Residence Information (Select One) @ US Residency O Non US Residency O Active US Military Service
`StateIProvince
`Country of Residencei
`
`C)Party of Interest under 35 U.S.C. 118
`Family Name
`Suffix
`
`Citizenship under 37 CFR1.41(b)i
`
`
`S
`
`Mailing Address of Applicant:
` Address 1
`815 A Brazos Street Apt. #342
`Address 2
`
`
`
`
`Postal Code
`
`S*a*elPr°vl"ce
`US
`
`Inventor Information blocks may be
`Inventors Must Be Listed - Additional
`All
`generated within this form by selecting the Add button.
`
`Add
`
`Correspondence Information:
`
`Enter either Customer Number or complete the Correspondence Information section below.
`
`For further information see 37 CFR 1.33(a). |:| An Address is being provided for the correspondence Information of this application.
`
`EFS Web 2.2.2
`
`5
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`

`

`PTOISBI14 (11-08)
`Approved for use through 06/30/2010. OMB 0651-0032
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`6
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it contains a valid OMB control number.
`
`
`
`Application Data Sheet 37 CFR 1.76
`
`Attorney Docket Number
`
`Application Number
`
`1520-0013
`
`Title of Invention
`
`System and Method of Progressive Hearing Device Adjustment
`
`
`
`Customer Number
`
`89320
`
`Email Address
`
`mreed@patentwerks.net
`
`Application Information:
`
`
`
`Title of the Invention
`
`System and Method of Progressive Hearing Device Adjustment
`1520-0013
`| Small Entity Status Claimed
`Nonprovisional
`
`Attorney Docket Number
`Application Type
`Subject Matter
`Utility
`
` Suggested Technology Center (if any)
`Suggested Class (if any)
`Sub Class (if any)
`
`
`Total Number of Drawing Sheets (if any) _ Suggested Figure for Publication (if any)
`
`
`
`Publication Information:
`
`|:| Request Early Publication (Fee required at time of Request 37 CFR 1.219)
`
`Request N012 t0 Publish. I hereby request that the attached application not be published under 35 U.S.
`E] C. 122(b) and certify that the invention disclosed in the attached application has not and will not be the subject of
`an application filed in another country, or under a multilateral international agreement, that requires publication at
`eighteen months after filing.
`
`Representative Information:
`
`Representative information should be provided for all practitioners having a power of attorney in the application. Providing
`this information in the Application Data Sheet does not constitute a power of attorney in the application (see 37 CFR 1.32).
`Enter
`either Customer Number
`or
`complete
`the
`Representative Name
`section
`below.
`If
`both
`are completed the Customer Number will be used for the Representative Information during processing.
`
`sections
`
`89320
`
`Please Select One:
`Customer Number
`
`@ Customer Number
`
`0 US Patent Practitioner 0 Limited Recognition (37 CFR 11.9)
`
`Domestic BenefitINational Stage Information:
`
`This section allows for the applicant to either claim benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e), 120, 121, or 365(0) or indicate National Stage
`entry from a PCT application. Providing this information in the application data sheet constitutes the specific reference required by
`35 U.S.C. 119(e) or 120, and 37 CFR 1.78(a)(2) or CFR 1.78(a)(4), and need not otherwise be made part of the specification.
`
`Prior Application Status
`
`Pending
`
`Application Number
`
`Continuity Type
`
`Prior Application Number
`
`Filing Date (YYYY-MM-DD)
`
`non provisional of
`
`61323841
`
`2010-04-13
`
`Prior Application Status
`
`Pending
`
`Application Number
`
`Continuity Type
`
`Prior Application Number
`
`Filing Date (YYYY-MM-DD)
`
`non provisional of
`
`61350759
`
`2010-06-02
`
`EFS Web 2.2.2
`
`6
`
`

`

`PTOISBI14 (1 1-08)
`Approved for use through 06/30/2010. OMB 0651-0032
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`7
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it contains a valid OMB control number.
`
`
`
` Attorney Docket Number
`1520-0013
`
`Application Number
`
`Application Data Sheet 37 CFR 1.76
`
`
`
`System and Method of Progressive Hearing Device Adjustment
`
`
`
`Title of Invention
`
`Additional Domestic Benefit/National Stage Data may be generated within this form
`by selecting the Add button.
`
`Add
`
`Foreign Priority Information:
`
`This section allows for the applicant to claim benefit of foreign priority and to identify any prior foreign application for which priority is
`not claimed. Providing this information in the application data sheet constitutes the claim for priority as required by 35 U_S_C_ 119(b)
`and 37 CFR 1.55(a).
`
`Application Number
`
`
`
`Parent Filing Date (YYYY-MM-DD}
`
`Priority Claimed
`
`Additional Foreign Priority Data may be generated within this form by selecting the
`Add button.
`
`Assignee Information:
`Providing this information in the application data sheet does not substitute for compliance with any requirement of part 3 of Title 37
`of the CFR to have an assignment recorded in the Office.
`
`Assi nee 1
`
`
`If the Assignee is an Organization check here.
`
`Organization Name
`
`AUDIOTONIQ, Inc.
`
`Mailing Address Information:
`
`Address 1
`
`Address 2
`
`206 South Wild Basin Road, Building A, Suite 220
`
`Ph°“eN“mbe' —
`Email Address
`
`Additional Assignee Data may be generated within this form by selecting the Add
`button.
`
`Add
`
`Signature:
`
`A signature of the applicant or representative is required in accordance with 37 CFR 1.33 and 10.18. Please see 37
`CFR 1.4(d) for the form of the signature.
`
`
`
`/Ronald Michael Reedl Date (YYYY-MM-DD)Signature 2011-04-12
`
`
`
`
`
`First Name
`
`Ronald
`
`Last Name
`
`Reed
`
`Registration Number
`
`59066
`
`EFS Web 2.2.2
`
`7
`
`

`

`PTOISBI14 (11-OB)
`Approved for use through 06/30/2010. OMB 0651-0032
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`8
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it contains a valid OMB control number.
`
`.
`.
`Application Data Sheet 37 CFR 1.76
`
`_
`
`_T T
`
`itle of Invention
`
`System and Method of Progressive Hearing Device Adjustment
`
`This collection of information is required by 37 CFR 1.76. The information is required to obtain or retain a benefit by the public which
`is to file (and by the USPTO to process) an application. Confidentiality is governed by 35 U_S_C_ 122 and 37 CFR 1.14. This
`collection is estimated to take 23 minutes to complete, including gathering, preparing, and submitting the completed application data
`sheet form to the USPTO. Time will vary depending upon the individual case. Any comments on the amount of time you require to
`complete this form and/or suggestions for reducing this burden, should be sent to the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Patent and
`Trademark Office, U.S. Department of Commerce, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. DO NOT SEND FEES OR
`COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS. SEND TO: Commissioner for Patents, P.0. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.
`
`EFS Web 2.2.2
`
`8
`
`

`

`Privacy Act Statement
`
`The Privacy Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-579) requires that you be given certain information in connection with your submission of the attached form related to
`a patent application or patent. Accordingly, pursuant to the requirements of the Act, please be advised that:
`(1) the general authority for the collection
`of this information is 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2); (2) furnishing of the information solicited is voluntary; and (3) the principal purpose for which the information is
`used by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is to process and/or examine your submission related to a patent application or patent.
`If you do not
`furnish the requested information, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office may not be able to process and/or examine your submission, which may
`result in termination of proceedings or abandonment of the application or expiration of the patent.
`
`The information provided by you in this form will be subject to the following routine uses:
`
`1.
`
`The information on this form will be treated confidentially to the extent allowed under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552)
`and the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a). Records from this system of records may be disclosed to the Department of Justice to determine
`whether the Freedom of Information Act requires disclosure of these records.
`
`A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, in the course of presenting evidence to a court, magistrate, or
`administrative tribunal, including disclosures to opposing counsel in the course of settlement negotiations.
`
`A record in this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to a Member of Congress submitting a request involving an
`individual, to whom the record pertains, when the individual has requested assistance from the Member with respect to the subject matter of
`the record.
`
`A record in this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to a contractor of the Agency having need for the information in
`order to perform a contract. Recipients of information shall be required to comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as
`amended, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(m).
`
`A record related to an International Application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty in this system of records may be disclosed,
`as a routine use, to the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization, pursuant to the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
`
`A record in this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to another federal agency for purposes of National Security
`review (35 U.S.C. 181) and for review pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act (42 U.S.C. 218(c)).
`
`A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to the Administrator, General Services, or his/her designee,
`during an inspection of records conducted by GSA as part of that agency's responsibility to recommend improvements in records
`management practices and programs, under authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906. Such disclosure shall be made in accordance with the
`GSA regulations governing inspection of records for this purpose, and any other relevant (i.e., GSA or Commerce) directive. Such
`disclosure shall not be used to make determinations about individuals.
`
`A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to the public after either publication of the application pursuant
`to 35 U.S.C. 122(b) or issuance ofa patent pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 151. Further, a record may be disclosed, subject to the limitations of 37
`CFR 1.14, as a routine use, to the public if the record was filed in an application which became abandoned or in which the proceedings were
`terminated and which application is referenced by either a published application, an application open to public inspections or an issued
`patent.
`
`A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to a Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency, if the
`USPTO becomes aware of a violation or potential violation of law or regulation.
`
`EFS Web 2.2.2
`
`9
`
`

`

`10
`
`Electronic Patent Application Fee Transmittal
`
`—
`
`Title of Invention:
`
`System and Method of Progressive Hearing Device Adjustment
`
`First Named Inventor/Applicant Name:
`
`Harold S. Mindlin ll
`
`Utility under 35 USC111(a) Filing Fees
`
`Description
`
`Fee Code
`
`Quantity
`
`Sub-Total in
`
`USD($)
`
`Miscellaneous-Filing:
`
`Patent-Appeals-and-Interference:
`
`10
`
`

`

`Post-AIIowance-and-Post-Issuance:
`
`462
`
`Extension-of-Time:
`
`Total in USD ($)
`
`11
`
`

`

`Electronic Ackno\lI1edgement Receipt
`
`Application Number:
`
`International Application Number:
`
`9861341
`
`13085016
`
`Confirmation Number:
`
`1249
`
`Title of Invention:
`
`System and Method of Progressive Hearing Device Adjustment
`
`First Named Inventor/Applicant Name:
`
`Harold S. Mindlin II
`
`Customer Number:
`
`89320
`
`Filer Authorized By:
`
`Attorney Docket Number:
`
`Receipt Date:
`
`Filing Date:
`
`Time Stamp:
`
`Ronald Michael Reed
`
`1520-0013
`
`12-APR-2011
`
`15:44:36
`
`Application Type:
`
`Utility under 35 USC111(a)
`
`Payment information:
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`Submitted with Payment
`
`Payment Type
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`Payment was successfully received in RAM
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`RAM confirmation Number
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`Part /.zip (if appl.)
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`Deposit Account
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`Authorized User
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`File Listing:
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`
`12
`
`

`

`‘I3
`1520-0013_App|ication.pdf
`
`f9eea89d703372dc90366efa7d0dde193f0a
`
`Multipart Description/PDF files in .zip description
`
`Drawings-only black and white line
`d rawi n g s
`
`_
`_
`Information Disclosure Statement (IDS)
`Filed (SB/08)
`
`221233
`
`6f1c3a46477917be15374b8ac44e7b11eb2
`cbc93
`
`0d1b963c19f8db4af15bc98135ed387b569
`581e9
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`611544
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`93aa9b813:16a534dee93e9226ea664dcfc
`01aa5
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`abf822be17671b492abe803c26e380d0ad0
`47beb
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`Fee Worksheet (PTO-875)
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`fee-info.pdf
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`62ec53f2a80b1d15a1a5cd8b8002d60a109
`a62bc
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`13
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`This Acknowledgement Receipt evidences receipt on the nbfed date by the USPTO ofthe indicated documents,
`characterized by the applicant, and including page counts, where applicable. It serves as evidence of receipt similar to a
`Post Card, as described in MPEP 503.
`
`New Applications Under 35 U.S.C. 111
`lfa new application is being filed and the application includes the necessary components for a filing date (see 37 CFR
`1.53(b)-(d) and MPEP 506), a Filing Receipt (37 CFR 1.54) will be issued in due course and the date shown on this
`Acknowledgement Receipt will establish the filing date of the application.
`
`National Stage of an International Application under 35 U.S.C. 371
`lfa timely submission to enter the national stage of an international application is compliant with the conditions of 35
`U.S.C. 371 and other applicable requirements a Form PCT/DO/E0/903 indicating acceptance of the application as a
`national stage submission under 35 U.S.C. 371 will be issued in addition to the Filing Receipt, in due course.
`
`New International Application Filed with the USPTO as a Receiving Office
`lfa new international application is being filed and the international application includes the necessary components for
`an international filing date (see PCT Article 11 and MPEP 1810), a Notification of the International Application Number
`and ofthe International Filing Date (Form PCT/R0/105) will be issued in due course, subject to prescriptions concerning
`national security, and the date shown on this Acknowledgement Receipt will establish the international filing date of
`the application.
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`1529-0013
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`1 5
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`System and Method of Progressive Hearing Deviee Adjtistirieiit
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`Harold S. Miridlin ll
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`David l\/lattliew Landry
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`CROSS REFERENCE TO P;ELATE,D Al?’PLlCA’l'lON(Si)
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`llllltlll
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`Tliis application is at i1ori—preVisiei1al of and claims priority to US. Provisional patent
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`application 1lE.lI'1‘ll3f3t' 6l/350,759, entitled “‘SYST El\/l AND lV’lETl%l{)D OF PROVlDlNG
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`lNCREl\/lEN'lLAL l'lEARll\lG ADJUS'l‘l\.«lEN"l" FlL'7l‘ER,” and filed on June 2, Zillll, ‘Nlllcll is
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`iiicorporatecl lierein by rel’ei'ei'ice in its entirety. Furtlier, this applieatiori is a uori—prot/isioiial of
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`and claims priority to U Provisional patent applioatiori ii1.iriil“:ei' (ii /323,84} , entitled
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`“SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROGRESSEVE HEARING DEVICE ADRlSTl\/EENTQ’ and
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`filed on April l3, Zlll G, which is incorporated il€l”6l1’ll‘.ty refererioe in its eritirety.
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`FEELD
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`§:lll}€l2iE
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`"Ellis disclosure relates germrally to liearirig aid atljustriieiits, and more particularly, to
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`liearirig aids, eorripiitei'~readable media, arid CGl'Tl[)U.li,'(l,g devices for lllC1'f3l'Tl€3Tll.i€:.l
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`lrieaiiiig aid
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`adjustment.
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`BACKGROUND
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`{G893} Heariiig delieierioies can rarige trorn partial hearing irrrpaii'i1ier1t to complete liearirig loss.
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`Often, an iiidiVidual‘s hearing ability Varies across tlie range of audible sourid freq1.ieiieies, and
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`inaiiy individuals have liearirig impaiiiiierit with respect to only select acoustic frequeiieies. For
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`example, air iridivirluals liearirig loss may lie greater at higher frequeiieies tliau at lower
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`frequencies.
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`lfltlilél-l Hearing aids have been developed to alleviate the effects ofliearing losses in individuals‘
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`Coiweiitiorially, heariiig aids range froin ear pieces oorifigured to ariiplify seurirls to eoiifigmalile
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`l£1f3Iil"lI1g devices tille1'ing a,djllSlal3li? operational pai'amete1‘s tliiat can be eoiifigured by a hearing
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`specialist to eiiliaiiee tlie perfoiiriarioe of tlie hearing aid. Parariieters, such as Veluiiie or tone,
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`often can be easily adjusted, arid mariy hearing aids allow for the iridivitltial users to adjust these
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`15
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`l52{Ml€3l3
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`1 6
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`=3
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`parameters. However, other parameters may only be adjusted by the audinlogist or by anotlier
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`health prefessionail.
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`lllllllfil
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`in instances Where the individnal’s hearing less varies across frequencies, such hearing
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`aids ean be tuned by an audielogist, for example, tn compensate fer the unique variations of the
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`individual ’s hearing less. The amlielngist er ll§32l.lll'1 prefessieria.l typically takes measurements
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`using eatlibrated and specialized equipment to assess an individual‘s hearing eapabilities in a
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`variety of seund envireninents, and th en adjusts the hearing aid based on the calibrate
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`measurements to compensate for the individual's hearing loss. Subsequent adjustments to the
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`hearing aid can require additional measurements and further ealibratieii, which ean be costly and
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`time intensive.
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`lllllllfil However, for same users, tlie transition from not wearing a hearing aid to Wearing a
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`hearing aid can he traurn attire.
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`ln particular, sounds that the user is net accustomed to hearing can
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`suddenly be made audible to the user by the hearing aid. Some individuals, such as those
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`Wearing hearing aids for the first time, can experience psyelielegieal distress when hearing is
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`restored te a normal level after years et‘si.il7l7ering freni hearing loss. Due tn such distress, the
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`first time user may have at diflieult time adjustiiig to the hearing aid, and may give up on hearing
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`aids altegetlier.
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`Bllllili‘ li)l3ISCRll-"’l'l‘l{:lN OF Tl-lli l)RA‘vVll\lGS
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`§:ll0€l7iE HG. l is a graph illustrating a representative example ef decibel level (in dB) versus
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`irequeiiey (in Hertz) fer a
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`‘esentative hearing sensitivity tl'ii'eslieltl, a representative user’s
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`nearing detieit, arid a series otinereniental adjnstinents tn advance the user’s hearing frorn the
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`user’s hearing cletieit level to an adjusted hearing level associated with a hearing aid profile.
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`lllfilllll MG. 2 is a l)lOCl( diagram ol’a.n einbediment olia. hearing aid system for providing
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`incremental hearing correction adjustments.
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`{$399} HG‘ 3 is at flew diagram of an enibodiment of a method for iiierementally adjustiiig the
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`hearing correction of a hearing aid,
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`lllllllll l’ EG. 4 is a llew diagram of a second ernbediment of a inetlied fer incrementally adjusting
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`the hearing eorreetien ef a hearing aids
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`16
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`1529-0013
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`1 7
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`r-\
`m3-
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`ltllllll in the following description, the use of the same reference numerals in ditmerent drawings
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`indicates similar or identical iterns.
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`li)l3i.'l”Alll_il3i.l) l)lEiSCRlP'l‘lON till?‘ ILLUS'Ti‘RA'l'lVE l3Mt?»ti)t)lMt3N’t‘S
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`lll0l2lE Embodiments of a hearing aid and rnetliods are described l“.tt3l0‘W that provide an
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`incremental or progressive hearing a,djustment for at user particularly for easing the transition
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`from not wearing a hearing aid to wearing a hearing aid.
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`ln particular, rather than abruptly
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`0%
`inipleineriting the hearin correction for the user iininediately, the hearing aid progressively
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`applies incrernental adjustinents to progressively or gradually adjust the user’s experience froin
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`an uncompensated hearing level to a fully compensated hearing level. Such increniental
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`ad_iustments allow the user to become axccustonied to the hearing cornpensation in small
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`increments over time, therehy reducing the psycliological and/or physical distress associated with
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`an ahrtipt transition froiii uncornpen sated to corrected hearing.
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`{$013} As used herein, the term “‘l'1earing aid profile” ret‘ei's to a collectiori of acoustic
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`contiguration settings for a hearing aid, such as hearing aid 20?; depicted in FIG. 2, which are
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`used by a processor 2l (3 (in FEG, 2) to shape a,(7(lllSll(? signals to correct for a user’s heai'ing loss.
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`The shaped acoustic signals (or modulated output signals) are provided to at spealrer or bone
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`conduction elenient for reproduction for at user. Each of the hearing aid profiles are designed to
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`conipens-ate for the hearing loss of the user hased on the user’s particular hearing clraracteristics
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`(iiiipairrnent) in particular, processor Zlfi can apply a particular hearing aid profile that is
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`custorni;:ed for the particular user to compensate for hearing deficits otthe user or otherwise
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`enhance the sound—related signals. The hearing aid profile includes parameters that configure the
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`hearing aid 202. For example, such parameters can include signal anipliitude and
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`characteristics, signal processing algorithms, frequency response characteristics, coeficients
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`associated with one or more signal processing a.lgoritlnris, or any cornbiniation thei'eof.
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`ltllllélsl
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` ln some instances, one or more of the hearing aid protiles may also include lilters and/or
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`further adiustnients configured to compensate the user’s hearing iinpairnient for a particular
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`sound f3i'Wll‘0t1I“1‘1€-1'11.
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`lri such ii'istaiices, the hea:i'ing aid protile may be conligured based on the
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`user°'s hearing impairnient and hased on a particular environmental niodel.
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`17
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`1529-0013
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`1 8
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`,4.
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`{@315} As used herein, the term “hearing correction filter” refers to a collection of filters for
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`hearing aid 202, which are applied by processor 2l (3 within hiearing aid 202 to a hearing