Maxim Integrated Products filed seven separate suits against Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Target, US Bancorp, Wal-Mart, and Wells Fargo, alleging that the defendants’ mobile banking applications infringe four patents related to electronic modules used for secure transactions.  Maxim has filed 10 prior suits since January 2012 against defendants including Expedia and Groupon, and has also been subject to eight separate actions for declaratory judgment over the same time period.  Maxim acquired the four patents-in-suit through an assignment executed in June 2008 from Dallas Semiconductor.  10/1, Eastern District of Texas, no judge yet assigned, 4:2012cv00617; 4:2012cv00618; 4:2012cv00619; 4:2012cv00620; 4:2012cv00621; 4:2012cv00622; 4:2012cv00623.