PTO/SB/08a (01-10)
`Doc code: IDS
`Approvedfor use through 07/31/2012. OMB 0651-0031
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`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
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`Application Number
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`1
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`Filing Date
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`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE First Named Inventor|Harold S. Mindlin II
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`STATEMENT BY APPLICANT
`|...
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`( Not for submission under 37 CFR 1.99)
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`Examiner Name
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`Attorney Docket Number
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`| 1520-0013
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`U.S.PATENTS [Remove]
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`2005-02-17
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`Janssen
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`Application Number
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`Filing Date
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`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE First Named Inventor|Harold S. Mindlin II
`
`STATEMENT BY APPLICANT
`|...
`
`( Not for submission under 37 CFR 1.99)
`
`Examiner Name
`
`
`
`
`
`
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` Attorney Docket Number
`
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`| 1520-0013
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`If you wish to add additional non-patentliterature documentcitation information please click the Add button
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`EXAMINER SIGNATURE
`
`*EXAMINER: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.
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`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). * 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.
`° Applicant is to place a check mark here if]
`English language translation is attached.
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`Application Number
`Filing Date
`
`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE First Named Inventor|Harold S. Mindlin II
`STATEMENT BY APPLICANT
`|...
`
`( Not for submission under 37 CFR 1.99)
`
`Examiner Name Attorney Docket Number
`
`
`
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`| 1520-0013
`
`CERTIFICATION STATEMENT
`
`Please see 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 to makethe appropriate selection(s):
`
`[_]
`
`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 thefiling 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).
`
`[-]
`
`[_] See attached certification statement.
`[_] Fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17 (p) has been submitted herewith.
`None
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`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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`Name/Print
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`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 whichis to file (and by the USPTO to process) an application. Confidentiality is governed by 35 U.S.C. 122 and 37 CFR
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`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: Commissionerfor Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria,
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`Privacy Act Statement
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`attached form related to a patent application or patent. Accordingly, pursuant to the requirements of the Act, please be advised
`that:
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`If you do not furnish the requested
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`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
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`PTO/SB/14 (11-08)
`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 ofinformation unless it contains a valid OMB control number.
`
`
`Attorney Docket Number|1520-0013
`
`Application Data Sheet 37 CFR 1.76
`
`Application Number
`
`
`
`Title of Invention|System and Method of Progressive Hearing Device Adjustment
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The application data sheetis part of the provisional or nonprovisional application for whichit 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 orall of the application associated with this Application Data Sheet mayfall under a Secrecy Order pursuantto
`37 CFR 5.2 (Paperfilers only. Applications that fall under Secrecy Order may not befiled electronically.)
`
`Applicant Information:
`
`
`Applicant 1
`Applicant Authority @Inventor | ©)Legal Representative under 35 U.S.C. 117
`
`
`
`|Party ofInterest under 35 U.S.C. 118
`
`
`
`
`(@) US Residency
`©) NonUS Residency
`() Active US Military Service
`Residence Information (Select One)
`
`
`City|Austin State/Province|TX Country of Residencei|US
`Citizenship under 37 CFR 1.41(b)i
`US
`
`
`Prefix) Given Name
`Harold
`
`Middle Name
`
`Family Name
`
`Mailing Address of Applicant:
`
`Address 1
`
`Address 2
`
`3808 Turkey Creek Drive
`
`Suffix
`Il
`
`
`Applicant 2
`
`Applicant Authority @/!nventor|()Legal Representative under 35 U.S.C. 117 ©Party of Interest under 35 U.S.C. 118
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Residence Information (Select One)
`(@) US Residency
`©) NonUSResidency
`() Active US Military Service
`State/Province|Tx|Country of Residencei
`Citizenship under 37 CFR 1.41(b) i
`
`Mailing Address of Applicant:
`
`Address 1
`
`Address 2
`
`815 A Brazos Street Apt. #342
`
`Postal Code
`
`78701
`
`US
`
`
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`Inventors Must Be Listed - Additional
`All
`generated within this form by selecting the Add button.
`
`Add
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`CorrespondenceInformation:
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`Enter either Customer Number or complete the CorrespondenceInformation section below.
`For further information see 37 CFR 1.33{a).
`
`[_] An Addressis being provided for the correspondenceInformation ofthis application.
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`PTO/SB/14 (11-08)
`Approved for use through 06/30/2010. OMB 0651-0032
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`Underthe 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 Data Sheet 37 CFR 1.76
`
`Application Number
`
`
` Title of Invention
`System and Method of Progressive Hearing Device Adjustment
`
`
`Customer Number
`
`89320
`
`Email Address
`
`mreed@patentwerks.net
`
`
`Title of the Invention
`System and Method of Progressive Hearing Device Adjustment
`
`
`Application Information:
`
`
`Attorney Docket Number|
`
`1520-0013
`
`| Small Entity Status Claimed
`
`
`
`
`Application Type
`Nonprovisional
`
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`Subject Matter
`Utility
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`
`
`
`Suggested Class(if any)
`
`
`Suggested Technology Center(if any)
`
`
`
`
`
`Total Numberof Drawing Sheets (if any) PA Suggested Figure for Publication (if any)
`Publication Information:
`
`
`
`
`
`[_] Request Early Publication (Fee required at time of Request 37 CFR 1.219)
`
`Request Not to Publish. | hereby requestthat the attached application not be published under 35 U.S.
`[] ©. 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 ancther country, or under a multilateral international agreement, that requires publication at
`eighteen monthsafterfiling.
`
`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 powerof attorneyin the application (see 37 CFR 1.32).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Enter Representative Name_sectioneither Customer Number or complete the below. If both sections
`
`
`are completed the Customer Numberwill be used for the Representative Information during processing.
`
`
`
`
`
`(e) Customer Number () US Patent Practitioner|() Limited Recognition (37 CFR 11.9)
`Customer Number
`
`Domestic Benefit/National Stage Information:
`
`This section allows for the applicant to either claim benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e), 120, 121, or 365(c) or indicate National Stage
`entry from a PCTapplication. 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.
`
`89320 Please Select One:
`
`
`
`
`
`Prior Application Status|Pending
`
`Application Number
`
`Continuity Type
`
`non provisional of
`
`Prior Application Number
`
`Filing Date (YYYY-MM-DD}
`
`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
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`

`

`PTO/SB/14 (11-08)
`Approved for use through 06/30/2010. OMB 0651-0032
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`7
`Underthe 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|1520-0013
`
`
`
`Title of Invention
`System and Method of Progressive Hearing Device Adjustment
`
`
`Application Number
`
`Additional Domestic Benefit/National Stage Data may be generated within this form
`Add
`by selecting the Add button.
`
`
`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
`
`
`
`Add
`
`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 assignmentrecorded in the Office.
`
`Assignee 1
`
`If the Assignee is an Organization check here.
`
`Organization Name|AUDIOTONIAQ, Inc.
`
`Mailing Address Information:
`
`206 South Wild Basin Road, Building A, Suite 220
`
`Address 1
`
`Address 2
`
`Email Address
`
`Additional Assignee Data may be generated within this form by selecting the Add
`button.
`
`Acc
`
`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.
`
`
`ParentFiling Date (YYYY-MM-DD}
`Priority Claimed
`vee
`Additional Foreign Priority Data may be generated within this form by selecting the
`Add button.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`|/Ronald Michael Reed/ Date (YYYY-MM-DD}}Signature 2011-04-12
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`First Name|Ronald Last Name|Reed Registration Number|59066
`
`EFS Web 2.2.2
`
`7
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`

`

`PTO/SB/14 (11-08)
`Approved for use through 06/30/2010. OMB 0651-0032
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`Underthe 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 Data Sheet 37 CFR 1.76
`
`— Title 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 3 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 amountof 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: Commissionerfor Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.
`
`EFS Web 2.2.2
`
`8
`
`

`

`Privacy Act Statement
`
`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 cofInformation 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 aspart of that agency's responsibility to recommend improvements in records
`management practices and programs, under authority of 44 U.S.C. 29804 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 aboutindividuals.
`
`(1) the general authority for the collection
`a patent application or patent. Accordingly, pursuant to the requirements of the Act, please be advised that:
`of this information is 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2); (2) furnishing of the information sclicited 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 abandonmentof the application or expiration of the patent.
`
` 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 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 wasfiled in an application which became abandonedorin 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 awareof 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 II
`
`omen
`
`Quantity
`
`Utility under 35 USC 111(a) Filing Fees
`
`Description
`
`Fee Code
`
`Sub-Total in
`USD(S$)
`
`Miscellaneous-Filing:
`
`Patent-Appeals-and-Interference:
`
`10
`
`

`

`11
`
`.
`
`Sub-Total in
`
`Post-Allowance-and-Post-Issuance:
`
`462
`
`sas
`
`Extension-of-Time:
`
`Total in USD (S$)
`
`11
`
`

`

`Application Number:
`
`International Application Number:
`
`9861341
`
`13085016
`
`Confirmation Number:
`
`1249
`
`Title of Invention:
`
`System and Method of Progressive Hearing Device Adjustment
`
`Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt
`
`
`
`First Named Inventor/Applicant Name:
`
`Harold S. Mindlin Il
`
`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 USC 111(a)
`
`Paymentinformation:
`
`Submitted with Payment
`
`Payment Type
`
`Payment was successfully received in RAM
`
`RAM confirmation Number
`
`Pages
`
`Deposit Account
`
`Authorized User
`
`File Listing:
`
`Document
`
`504999
`
`gs
`
`File Size(Bytes)/
`
`Multi
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`12
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`

`13
`1520-0013_Application.pdf
`
`f9eea89d703372dc90366efa7dOddel 93f0al
`0e54
`
`Multipart Description/PDF files in .zip description
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`22
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`:
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`221233
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`Information:
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`Information:
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`Information:
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`Drawings-only black and white line
`drawings
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`1520-0013_Dwgs.pdf
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`Oath or Declaration filed
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`1520-0013_Declaration.pdf
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`.
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`Information Disclosure Statement (IDS)
`Filed (SB/08)
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`Application Data Sheet
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`1520-0013_App_Data_Sheet.
`pdf
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`1104499
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`abf822be1 7671b492abe803c26e380d0adQ}
`A7beb
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`Fee Worksheet (PTO-875)
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`fee-info.pdf
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`62ec53f2a80b1d15a1a5cd8b8002d60a109}
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`13
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`New Applications Under 35 U.S.C. 111
`If a new application is being filed and the application includes the necessary componentsfora 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 shownonthis
`AcknowledgementReceiptwill establish thefiling date of the application.
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`National Stage of an International Application under 35 U.S.C. 371
`If a 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/EO/903indicating acceptanceof 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.
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`This AcknowledgementReceipt evidencesreceipt 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.
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`the application.
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`New International Application Filed with the USPTO as a Receiving Office
`If a 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 of the International Filing Date (Form PCT/RO/105)will be issued in due course, subject to prescriptions concerning
`national security, and the date shownon this AcknowledgementReceiptwill establish the international filing date of
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`1528-0013
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`15
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`System and Method of Progressive Hearing Device Adjustment
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`Harold S. Mindlin 0
`David Matthow Landry
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`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONG)
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`(G001)
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`This application is a non-provisional of and claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent
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`application number 61/350,759, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROVIDING AN
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`INCREMENTAL HEARING ADJUSTMENTFILTER,” and filed on June 2, 2010, which is
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`incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Further, this application is a non-provisional of
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`and claims priority to US. Provisional patent application umber 61/323,841, entitled
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`“SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROGRESSIVE HEARING DEVICE ADJUSTMENT,”and
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`filed on April 13, 2010, which is incorporated herein byreference in tts entirety.
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`FIELD
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`10002] This disclosure relates generally to hearing aid adjustments, and more particularly, to
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`hearmg aids, computer-readable media, and compating devices for imcremental hearing aid
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`adjustment.
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`BACKGROUND
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`{0003} Heanng deficiencies can range from partial hearing impairment to complete hearing loss.
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`Often, an individual's hearing ability varies across the range of audible sound frequencies, and
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`manymdividuais have hearing impairment with respect to only select acoustic frequencies. For
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`example, an individual's hearing loss may be greater at higher frequencies than at lower
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`frequencies.
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`{0004} Hearing aids have been developedto alleviate the effects of hearing losses in individuals.
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`Conventionally, hearing aids range from ear pieces configured to amplify sounds to configurable
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`hearing devices offering adjustable operational parameters that can be configured by a hearing
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`specialist to enhance the performance of the hearing aid. Parameters, such as volumeor tone,
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`often can be easily adjusted, and many hearing aids allowfor the individual users to adjust these
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`1520-0013
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`16
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`5
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`parameters. However, other parameters may only bo adjusted bythe audiologist or by another
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`health professional.
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`i005]
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`In instances where the individual’s hearing loss varies across frequencies, such hearing
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`aids can be tunedby an audiologist, for exarnple, to compensate for the uniquevariations of the
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`individual’s hearing loss. The audiologist or health professional typically takes measurements
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`using calibrated and specialized equipment to assess an individual's hearing capabilities in a
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`variety of sound environments, and then adjusts the hearing aid based onthe 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 calibration, which can be costly and
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`time intensive.
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`{(1}06] However, for some users, the transition from not wearing a hearing aid to wearing a
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`hearing aid can be traumatic, In particular, sounds that the user is not 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 psychological distress when hearing is
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`restored to a normal level after years of suffering from hearing loss. Due to such distress, the
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`first time user may have adifficult time adjusting to the hearing aid, and may give up on hearing
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`aids aHogether.
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`BRIEP DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`10007] FIG. | is a graph illustrating a representative example of decibel level (in dB) versus
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`frequency (in Hertz) for a representative hearing sensitivity threshold, a representative user’s
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`hearing deficit, and a series of incremental adpustments to advance the user’s hearing fromthe
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`user’s hearing deficit level to an adjusted hearing level associated with a hearing aid profile.
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`i9008] FIG. 2 is a block diagram ofan embodiment of a hearing aid systemfor providing
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`incremental hearmg correction adjustments.
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`i0009] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method for incrementally adjusting the
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`hearing correction of a hearing aid,
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`fGG1D) FIG. 4 is a flow diagram ofa second embodiment of a method for incrementally adjusting
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`the hearing correction of a hearing aid.
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`1528-0013
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`17
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`x
`= j=
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`{0014} In the following description, the use of the samo reference numerais in different drawings
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`tidicates similar or identical items.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
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`{Q0012] Embodiments of a hearing aid and methods are described belowthat provide an
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`incremental or progressive hearing adjustment for auser particularly for casing the transition
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`from not wearing a hearing aid to wearing a hearing aid. In particular, rather than abruptly
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`implementing the hearing correction tor the user immecdiatcly, the hearing aid progressively
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`applies incrernental adjustments to progressively or gradually adjust the user’s experience from
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`an uncompensated hearing level to a fully compensated hearing level. Such incremental
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`adfustments allowthe user to become accustomedto the hearing compensation in small
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`increments overtime, thereby reducing the psychological and/or physical distress associated with
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`an abrupt transition from uncompensated to corrected hearing.
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`iM013] As used herein, the term “hearing aid profile” refers to a collection of acoustic
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`configuration settings for a hearing aid, such as hearing aid 202 depicted in FIG. 2, which are
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`used by a processor 210 Gn FIG, 2} to shape acouste signals to correct for a user’s hearing loss.
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`The shaped acoustic signals (or modulated output signals} are provided to a speaker or bone
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`conduction element for reproduction for a user. Each of the hearing aid profiles are designedto
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`compensate for the hearing loss of the user based on the user’s particular hearing characteristics
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`(ampairment). In particular, processor 210 can applya particular hearing aid profile that is
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`customized for the particular user to compensate for hearing deficits of the user or otherwise
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`enhance the sound-related signals. The hearing aid profile mcludes parameters that configure the
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`hearing aid 202. For example, such parameters can include signal amplitude and gain
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`characteristics, signal processing algorithms, frequency response characteristics, coefficients
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`associated with one or more signal processing algorithms, or any combination thereof,
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`iGG14]
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`In some instances, one or more of the hearing aid profiles mayalso include filters and/or
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`further adjustments configured to compensate the user’s hearing impairment for a particular
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`sound environment. In such instances, the hearing aid profile may be configured based onthe
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`user's hearing impairment and based on a particular environmental model.
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`1520-0013
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`18
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`-4.
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`{0015} As used herein, the ter