There is disclosed an image processing apparatus developed considering that an embedding or extracting method has not heretofore been changed based on a spatial coordinate on a recording medium or reading device, the apparatus comprising: an input unit for inputting an image, an embedding unit for embedding predetermined information to the inputted image by a predetermined embedding method, an image formation unit for forming the image to which the predetermined information is embedded on the recording medium, and a changeover unit for changing the embedding method by the embedding unit based on the spatial coordinate of the recording medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method.
2. Related Background Art
Researches for multiplexing other information related to an image in image information have heretofore intensively been performed. In resent years, a technique called a digital watermark technique has been standardized. This technique comprises: multiplexing addition information such as an author name and permission/prohibition of use into the image information such as a photograph and picture so that the addition information is not easily visually distinguished; and distributing the information through a network such as Internet.
Moreover, as another application field, with improvement of image quality of image output apparatuses such as a copying machine and printer, for a purpose of preventing illegal counterfeiting of paper money, stamp, and securities, there has been proposed a technique of embedding the addition information into an image in order to specify an output apparatus and apparatus serial number from the image outputted onto paper.
For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-123244, a technique has been proposed which comprises: embedding the additional information in a color-difference component low in visual sensitivity, and a high-frequency range of a chroma component to multiplex the information.
However, the above-described techniques have the following problems. FIG. 18 shows a general embedding of the additional information of the digital watermark technique. Image information A and additional information B are multiplexed via an adder 1801, and changed to multiplexed information C. FIG. 18 shows an example in which the additional information is multiplexed in a real space area of the image information. If it is possible to bring the multiplexed information C into circulation without any image processing such as various types of filtering, or any coding such as nonreversible compression, it is also easy to decode the additional information B from the multiplexed information C even in a conventional technique. For the image information which is brought into circulation on Internet and which has some resistance to noise, it is possible to decode the information even through a digital filter for image quality improvements such as edge emphasizing and smoothing.
However, it is now assumed that the multiplexed image is printed by output apparatuses such as the printer and the additional information is extracted from printed matter. Furthermore, a printer output from the printer for use which only has a representation capability of about two to several gradations per color is assumed. In recent years, an ink jet printer has been brought on the market which uses an ink having a low dye density, or variably controls a dot diameter to output, and can represent several gradations per color. However, unless a pseudo gradation process is used, gradation properties of a photographic image cannot be represented.
That is, on the above-described assumption that the multiplexed image is outputted via the printer using the digital watermark technique of FIG. 18, as shown in FIG. 19, the multiplexed information C changes to quantization information D by a pseudo gradation process unit 1901, is thereafter printed onto paper by a printer output unit 1902, and thereby changes much deteriorated information in paper F (printed matter). Therefore, when the addition information is decoded from the information in paper for the above-described purpose of counterfeit prevention, the addition information B is decoded from the information in paper E after a series of processes of FIG. 19. A change amount of the information by the processes of both units 1901, 1902 is very large, and it is very difficult to multiplex the addition information such that the information cannot visually be distinguished, and to correctly decode the multiplexed addition information on paper.
Moreover, FIG. 20 shows an example of the conventional digital watermark technique. In this example, the real space area is not used, and the image information is converted to a frequency area using Fourier transform and synthesized in a high-frequency range. In FIG. 20 the image information is converted to a frequency area by an orthogonal transformation unit 2001, and the addition information is added to a specific frequency which is not easily visually distinguished by an adder 2002. After the area is returned again to the real space area by a reverse orthogonal transformation unit 2003, similarly as the example of FIG. 18 the information is passed through the filter including large changes such as the pseudo gradation process unit and printer output unit.
FIG. 21 shows a process of separating the addition information from paper. That is, the information of the printed matter is inputted via an image reading unit 2101 such as a scanner of the printed matter. Since the inputted information is the image represented in the gradations by the pseudo gradation process unit, the image is passed through a restoration process unit 2102 as a reverse pseudo gradation process unit. In a restoration process, it is general to use a low pass filter (LPF). After the restored information is subjected to an orthogonal transformation process by a unit 2103, the embedded addition information is separated from a power having a specific frequency in a separation process unit 2104.
It is apparently seen from FIGS. 20, 21 that a large number of complicated process steps are required for multiplexing and separating the addition information. For a color image, this series of process steps also include a color change process of changing to a color peculiar to the printer. In order to realize satisfactory separation even in these complicated process steps, a signal having a very strong resistance has to be inputted. It is difficult to input the signal high in resistance while maintaining a satisfactory image quality. Moreover, with a large number of complicated process steps, a process time required for multiplexing and separating the information becomes very long.
Furthermore, in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-123244, the information is added to the high-frequency area. However, when an error diffusion method is carried out in the subsequent pseudo gradation process, by characteristics of a high pass filter peculiar to the error diffusion method, a band of addition information is buried in a band of texture generated in the error diffusion, and there are possibilities of failure in decoding. Furthermore, a scanner apparatus with a very high precision is required for the decoding. That is, when the pseudo gradation process is a precondition, the method of FIGS. 19, 20 is found to be inappropriate. In other words, a multiplexing method of the addition information is required in which the characteristics of the pseudo gradation process are made heavy use of.
An example of a combination of the multiplexing of the addition information with redundancy of the pseudo gradation process is described in Japanese Patent Nos. 2640939, 2777800.
In the former proposal, for the binarizing in an organized dither method, any one is selected from dither matrices indicating the same gradation, and thereby data is mixed into the image signal.
However, in the organized dither method, unless the printer has a high resolution or very superior in mechanical precision, it is difficult to output an image having a high photographic image quality. Some deviation of the mechanical precision is generated as a low-frequency noise such as transverse streaks, and easily visually recognized on paper. Moreover, when the dither matrices are periodically changed, the band with a specific frequency is disturbed by regularly arranged dithers, and the image quality is adversely influenced.
Furthermore, gradation representation capabilities largely differ with the type of the dither matrix. Particularly on paper, a change of area ratio in an overlap of dots differs with the dither matrix. Therefore, it is also considered that a change of density is made by changing the dither matrix even in an area having a uniform density on the signal. Additionally, in a decode method of presuming the dither matrix used in the binarizing while a pixel value of the image information as an original signal is unclear on a decode (separation) side, there is a very high possibility of an incorrect decoding.
Moreover, the latter proposal relates to a method of using a dither pattern method of color to multiplex the addition information by arrangement of patterns. Even in this method, similarly as the former proposal, image quality deterioration by the changing is unavoidable. Furthermore, as compared with the former proposal, more addition information can be multiplexed, but the arrangement of color components is changed to bring about a change of hue, and the image quality is largely deteriorated particularly in a flat portion. It is also expected that the decoding on paper becomes further difficult.
In any case, both the methods of changing the dither matrix have a problem that the image quality is largely deteriorated but the decoding is difficult.
To solve the problem, the applicant of the present invention has proposed a method of using the texture generated beforehand by the error diffusion method to artificially prepare a combination of quantization values which cannot be generated in a usual pseudo gradation process, and embedding a code.
In this method, since a shape of texture only somewhat changes in a micro manner, the image quality is not visually deteriorated. Moreover, when a method of changing a quantization threshold value of the error diffusion method is used, a density value of area gradation is visually kept. Therefore, the multiplexing of various types of signals can remarkably easily be realized.
However, according to the above-described proposal, it has to be judged whether or not the texture is artificial on the decode side. In the printed matter outputted on paper, it is sometimes impossible to satisfactorily reproduce the texture by deviation from a desired shot spot position because of slippage of dots.
Moreover, in the color image, a method of multiplexing the color image in color components having a lowest visual sensitivity is a mainstream, but the distinction of the texture in the real space area is easily influenced by other color components, and it becomes difficult to separate the multiplexed information.
Furthermore, in order to solve the above-described problem, the present applicant has proposed a method of modulating amplitude of the quantization threshold value of the error diffusion method with a predetermined periodicity, controlling a plurality of types of periodicity of the threshold value modulation by an area unit, thereby controlling generation probability of the quantization value of the pseudo gradation process, and embedding the code based on the periodicity.
In the method, as compared with the above-described method of distinguishing the position and shape of the texture, relative power information in a plurality of predetermined frequency bands is an important decode factor, rather than phase information forming the code. Therefore, satisfactory decoding can be realized even on paper.
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
However, the above-described proposal has the following problem. That is, some printer for preparing the printed matter is not superior in mechanical precision.
When an ink jet printer is assumed, ink is flied and attached to a recording medium, but naturally a flied ink drop frequently deviates from the assumed shot spot position. When the slippage of the dot is generated on one line during conveyance of a recording sheet, the slippage visually becomes excessively conspicuous. Therefore, a method of reducing recoding density on the same line, and printing the information with a plurality of scans by a plurality of nozzles is general.
On the other hand, by the mechanical constitution of the printer, when the recording sheet rushes in each roller for use in conveyance, or the recording sheet comes off the roller in a step of conveying the recording sheet, the image quality is sometimes disturbed by impact vibration of the recording sheet in course of printing. As described above, since the information is printed on the same line with a plurality of divided scans in many cases, disturbance of the printing also influences a plurality of lines, and the image quality is deteriorated with a predetermined width on paper.
Moreover, there is a possibility that even left and right ends of the recording sheet are inferior in printing precision to a recording sheet center portion. That is, the image quality is not uniform on paper, and relatively satisfactory and inferior portions exist by the mechanical constitution peculiar to the printer. The portion inferior in the image quality can be regarded as a portion in which mechanical noise components are superimposed upon the image information.
When the separation of the addition information from the printed matter by the above-described proposal of the present applicant is considered, the decoding (extracting) sometimes becomes difficult in a nonuniform image quality on paper. That is, in the portion in which the image quality is relatively satisfactory, the addition information can easily be separated. However, in the portion in which the image quality is inferior, there is a possibility of failure in the separation because of the superimposed noise.
However, if the whole image is securely multiplexed in order to avoid the failure in separation, the image quality deterioration by the multiplexing becomes conspicuous. Moreover, when a decode method having a high precision is used over the whole surface of paper in order to avoid the failure of separation, a process time increases even on the decode side.


An electrophotographic photoreceptor is disclosed, comprising an electrically conductive substrate having thereon a subbing layer and a photosensitive layer, wherein the subbing layer contains (a) an organic chelate compound or an organic alkoxide compound and (b) a hygroscopic compound having at least two carboxyl groups per molecule. The subbing layer does not increase its volume resistance even on repeated use in a low humidity condition so that the photoreceptor has a small residual potential to provide satisfactory images with excellent durability.

Known photoconductive substances to be used in electrophotographic photoreceptors include various organic and inorganic photoconductive substances. Organic photoconductive substances hold advantages, such as satisfactory film-forming properties, capability of providing a transparent and flexible film, and low cost. However, they are inferior to inorganic photoconductive substances in sensitivity and durability. In case of using an organic photoconductive substance, therefore, it has been proposed to improve sensitivity and durability by using a so-called separate function, lamination type electrophotographic photoreceptor composed of a charge generating layer and a charge transporting layer.
In general, the state-of-the-art electrophotographic photoreceptors are known to have any of disadvantages, such as (1) poor stability of image contrast against repeated use or environmental change, (2) liability to image defects called white spot, black spot, coarse image, pinhole, etc., and (3) insufficient durability due to low adhesive strength between a substrate and a photosensitive layer, causing separation of the photosensitive layer during use.
In order to eliminate these disadvantages, it has been proposed to provide a subbing layer comprising a resin between a substrate and a photosensitive layer. Included in known resins for the subbing layer are poly-p-xylene, casein, polyvinyl alcohol, phenolic resins, polyvinyl acetal resins, melamine resins, nitrocellulose, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, polyamide (e.g., nylon 6, nylon 66, nylon 610, copolymer nylon, alkoxymethylated nylon), polyurethane, gelatin, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl pyridine, and polyvinyl methyl ether.
It has also been proposed to form a subbing layer using organozirconium compounds, e.g., zirconium chelate compounds and zirconium alkoxides, or silane coupling agents as disclosed in Japanese patent application No. 2-287232.
What is aimed at by providing a resin layer as a subbing layer is to control volume resistance at such a low level that does not deteriorate electrophotographic characteristics by chiefly using a resin having a relatively large content of a polar group. Since volume resistance of a resin has character of being dependent on ionic conduction, it is considerably influenced by temperature and humidity. That is, when a photoreceptor is exposed to a low temperature and low humidity condition or a high temperature and high humidity condition, the resin layer has markedly increased resistance, leading to deterioration of electrophotographic characteristics of the photosensitive layer, or markedly decreased resistance, leading to loss of functions expected, respectively.
Thus, it was only part of the above-described disadvantages associated with a photoreceptor that has been improved by the conventionally known resin layer. Susceptibility to environmental influences being taken into consideration, the effects of the resin layer are reduced by half. Therefore, the conventional resin layers have been extremely insufficient from the technical consideration.
Where an organozirconium compound (e.g., a zirconium chelate compound or a zirconium alkoxide) or a silane coupling agent is employed either alone or in combination with a binder resin, and particularly where a photoreceptor is under a low temperature and low humidity condition, the volume resistance increases due to evaporation of the water content having been adsorbed into the resin layer, and the development contrast decreases with an increase in residual potential. This easily causes image defects, such as white spot, black spot, coarse image, and pinhole.
In this connection, JP-A-64-44450 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application") teaches incorporation of a wetting agent comprising a polyhydric alcohol into a charge generating layer or a subbing layer so as to prevent the layer from increasing its volume resistance even at a low humidity, and JP-A-3-23464 proposes incorporation of polyethylene glycol into a subbing layer. Nevertheless, the water retaining properties of polyhydric alcohols or polyethylene glycol are not enough to sufficiently prevent an increase of volume resistance of the subbing layer when continuously used under a low humidity condition.
On the other hand, where a photoreceptor is used in a laser printer in which an electrostatic latent image is formed using coherent light, such as a semi-conductor laser, as a light source, an interference fringe appears on the printed image due to the interference between the reflected light on the surface of the photoreceptor and that on the surface of the substrate. This can be avoided by roughening the surface of the substrate to thereby reduce the reflection on the substrate. In this case, if a subbing layer formed on the roughened surface of the substrate has a small thickness, it is very likely that charges are injected through the uneven subbing layer to cause image defects, such as black spots or white spots. Therefore, in using a surface-grained substrate, the thickness of the subbing layer to be formed thereon must have its thickness relatively increased by addition of a resin component.
However, where a subbing layer having a relatively large thickness contains an organic chelate compound as described above, it would have an increased content of a reaction residue resulting from the organic chelate compound (mostly an oxygen bond), which gives rise to the problem that the volume resistance of the subbing layer tends to increase especially under a low humidity condition.
A known countermeasure to overcome the problem associated with the use of an organic chelate compound in a thick subbing layer is to allow a photoreceptor produced to stand at a given humidity for several hours to several days thereby to decrease the reaction residue in the subbing layer and to stabilize the characteristics of the photoreceptor.

Electrophotographic photoreceptor with subbing layer


A device and method for determining the defective vision of an optical system include a controllable optical element. The objective and subjective determination of the correction values are more greatly combined in that a measuring and controlling device forms a control loop with the controllable optical element, and the optical characteristics of the controllable element can be changed manually.

It is known to have the ametropia of the human eye determined subjectively by the patient, e.g. by lens arrangements placed upstream in the beam path of the eye. Myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism can, for example, be corrected by the doctor offering the patient lenses in a spectacles frame, the patient determining the correction of his ametropia subjectively with the help of a sight chart. Instead of suggesting different lenses by means of a trial frame, this can also take place by means of a phoropter. In order to shorten and simplify the method given the large number of parameters to be combined (sphere, cylinder, axis, binocular values, higher aberrations), it is customary to first carry out an objective measurement with an automatic refractometer or aberrometer, which is then subsequently subjectively confirmed or corrected. In general, this requires two steps which may mean a doctor and patient changing places.
A disadvantage of known devices and methods is that the objective determination of correction values and the subjective determination or correction of the objective measurement values takes place in different steps and sometimes also leads to significantly different results.

Device and method for determining the amertopia of an optical system


Key manager systems and methods for a QKD-based network are disclosed. The system includes a QKD layer that generates quantum encryption keys, a persistent storage layer that stores the quantum encryption keys, and a key management layer. The key management layer generates an application registration record that includes a list of multiple applications that use the quantum encryption keys. The key management layer also generates a corresponding key storage layer. The multiple applications reside in an applications layer. The applications in each node remove keys from the key storage layer so that each node can encrypt/decrypt data using quantum encryption keys. The methods also include secure QKD system boot-up and authentication that facilitate implementing a commercial QKD system in real-world environments.

Quantum key distribution involves establishing a key between two QKD stations ("boxes")—typically referred to as a sender named "Alice" and a receiver named "Bob"—by using weak (e.g., 0.1 photon on average) optical signals transmitted over a "quantum channel." The security of the key distribution is based on the quantum mechanical principle that any measurement of a quantum system in unknown state will modify its state. As a consequence, an eavesdropper ("Eve") that attempts to intercept or otherwise measure the quantum signal will introduce errors into the transmitted signals, thereby revealing her presence.
The general principles of quantum cryptography were first set forth by Bennett and Brassard in their article "Quantum Cryptography: Public key distribution and coin tossing," Proceedings of the International Conference on Computers, Systems and Signal Processing, Bangalore, India, 1984, pp. 175-179 (IEEE, New York, 1984). Specific QKD systems are described in the publication by C. H. Bennett et al., entitled "Experimental Quantum Cryptography" J. Cryptology, (1992) 5: 3-28, and in the publication by C. H. Bennett, entitled "Quantum Cryptography Using Any Two Non-Orthogonal States", Phys. Rev. Lett. 68 3121 (1992). The general process for performing QKD is described in the book by Bouwmeester et al., entitled "The Physics of Quantum Information," Springer-Verlag 2001, in Section 2.3, pages 27-33.
The above-mentioned publications each describe a so-called "one-way" QKD system wherein Alice randomly encodes the polarization or phase of single photons, and Bob randomly measures the polarization or phase of the photons. The one-way system described in the Bennett 1992 paper and incorporated by reference herein is based on a shared interferometric system. Respective parts of the interferometric system are accessible by Alice and Bob so that each can control the phase of the interferometer.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,438,234 to Gisin (the '234 patent), which patent is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a so-called "two-way" QKD system that is autocompensated for polarization and thermal variations. Thus, the two-way QKD system of the '234 patent is generally less susceptible to environmental effects than a one-way system.
It will be desirable to one day have multiple QKD links woven into an overall QKD network that connects its QKD endpoints via a mesh of QKD relays or routers. Example QKD networks are discussed in the publication by C. Elliot et al., entitled "Quantum cryptography in practice," New Journal of Physics 4 (2002), 46.1-46.12, and also in PCT Patent Application Publication No. WO 02/05480, which article and Patent Application Publication are incorporated by reference herein.
In a QKD network, the QKD systems that make up the network need to be able to distribute private quantum encryption keys among the participating stations (nodes) of the network. These private keys are to be used by distributed applications such as IPsec, SSL, L2TP, and applications using private security protocols. This requires that the method of acquiring the keys by the applications be node-independent. For example, if application A in one node acquires key K1, the peer application A in another node must also acquire the same key K1. This needs to be done in real time without using frequent communications among the nodes. In addition, since multiple applications "compete" for the keys, there needs to be a way to control the key flow rate from the QKD layer to the application layer. Furthermore, the set of keys distributed from the QKD layer may become inconsistent among the nodes due to the node reset, hardware/software failures, or errors in user administration.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method and architecture to manage and distribute, in real time, QKD-generated quantum encryption keys to all of the nodes in a QKD-based network.


An exemplary method includes obtaining a training set of code data that includes deprecated code; training a multi-layer neural network on the training set of code data to predict usage events for the deprecated code; predicting usage events for the deprecated code, in a first set of code data, using the trained multi-layer neural network; estimating a value of risk associated with the deprecated code in response to the predicted usage events; comparing the estimated value of risk to a threshold; and, in response to the estimated value of risk exceeding the threshold, implementing an ameliorative action regarding the deprecated code.

The present invention relates to the electrical, electronic, and computer arts, and more specifically, to predictive code clearance by a cognitive computing system.
Today, many developers use open source or licensed software as a first piece of code in their product software (second piece of code), for many reasons including: (i) to fast track development and go-to-market strategy; (ii) to benefit from extensively tested and widely used software packages, a piece of code, tools, etc.; (iii) for easy extendibility, plug-ability, etc.; (iv) to comply with standardization; etc. It is also common to see developers use a proprietary code, package, tool, etc. in their products.
For various reasons, e.g., discovery of software bugs or compliance issues, it may be necessary to deprecate certain code segments or packages that may be in use within an existing application. This can be accomplished by scanning the application code to detect the deprecated code. When the body of the application code has grown large, scanning can consume significant resources.

Predictive code clearance by a cognitive computing system

International Business Machines Corporation


The invention is a laminating process which is directed toward economical production methods for scalable amounts of production which develop properties suitable for a broad based product line. In particular, the product is capable of important key components of commercial properties such as adhesion, scratch resistance, chemical inertness, and bending without failure.

(1). Field of the Invention
This application is directed to laminating films in the solid state onto metal substrates. In particular, applying bi-axially oriented polyester films onto metal substrates to create a commercial bond on an industrial processing line whereby multiple desirable commercial properties are simultaneously developed.
(2). Description of Related Art
Others have described laboratory processing steps related to putting films onto metal surfaces. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,605 describes preheating a metal strip and then laminating a biaxially oriented copolyester resin film. However, a post treating step has been found to be necessary for permanent commercial adhesion in many important markets, and the post treating step is troublesome when used with an oriented polyester film because it can alter crystalline properties. It is difficult to obtain sufficient bonding for demanding stamping applications with additionally demanding chemical resistance requirements. Since crystallinity provides important commercial pencil hardness, toughness, and chemical resistance properties, a high temperature post heating step will change the crystallinity in actual use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,389 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,208 describes a thermal laminating process where a metal strip is preheated, laminated, post heated, and quenched in water. The process targets the creation of non-crystalline polyester coating that is generally useful for can making. Unfortunately, the lack of crystallinity is a distinct disadvantage in creating desirable commercial characteristics such as pencil hardness, chemical resistance, and toughness in bending (i.e. coating continuity).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,648 describes a thermal laminating process where the cooling process is specifically performed to avoid creating crystallinity in the laminate film. This has similar problems with pencil hardness and toughness properties just described.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,679,513 describes a thermal laminating process for a polyethylene. The process does not describe pretreating the metal surface by raising the surface energy nor does it describe methods of creating crystallinity in the finished laminate film to develop pencil hardness or bending toughness. Polyethylene is not known to develop desirable commercial properties and the low melting point of polyethylene is undesirable for many markets when compared to other polymers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,200 describes a thermal laminating process for applying a film to a metal strip where the laminating rolls provide a specific force. The patent is directed toward a specific laminating nip force related to avoiding the pickup of film onto the nip rolls. The process does not describe pretreating the metal surface by raising the surface energy nor does it describe methods of creating crystallinity in the finished laminate film.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,579 describes a thermal laminating process where the polymer coated metal is rapidly and immediately quenched after post treating to ensure that the coating is amorphous. The described process is designed to avoid creating crystallinity in the finished laminate film. The process does not describe pretreating the metal surface by raising the surface energy nor does it describe methods of creating crystallinity in the finished laminate film.
Others have worked on important commercial-technical issues such as the eliminating entrapped air between the film and metal substrate. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,409 describes an improved laminating process which works on eliminating air bubbles by heating the laminating nip rolls and preheating the film prior to laminating. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,358 describes efforts at reducing air entrapment by using a support roll with a projected film angle. In the later disclosure, a commercially acceptable amount is defined as an 8% area covered by entrapped air. Others, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,200, have attempted to handle trapped air through increased nip forces.
Important commercial markets are open to lamination provided that acceptable adhesion, pencil hardness, bending toughness, and corrosion protection can be simultaneously achieved. These markets are currently served by the pre-painted coil coated industry.
Typical products include the following:    1) Building and Construction Products such as: Roofing & Siding, Exterior Accessories, Structural & Mechanical, Interior Components, Manufactured Housing, Garage Doors, and Doors & Windows.    2) Transportation Products such as: Passenger Cars, Vans, & Light Trucks, Trucks & Semi-Trailers, Buses, and Travel Trailers & Recreational Vehicles.    3) Business and Consumer Products such as: Large & Small Appliances, Electronics, Water Heaters & Water Softeners, Heating & Cooling Equipment, Home & Office Furniture, Window Equipment, Toys & Sporting Goods, Fixtures & Shelving, and Lighting.    4) Containers and Packaging Products such as: Cans, Ends, Tabs, Crowns, & Closures, Barrels, Drums, & Pails, Strapping & Seals, and Draw & Ironed can bodies,    5) Other/Miscellaneous Products such as: Machinery & Industrial Equipment, Electrical Equipment, and Signs & Displays.
It is important to note that the referenced patents have not resulted in a commercially viable high production thermal laminating line in the United States. The difficulties in simultaneously scaling up production, creating an economically viable process, and developing suitable commercial properties have been strong barriers to the actual implementation of a laminating process. The previous efforts by others have been lacking in important technical aspects of cooperation between the processing steps, economic viability, and suitable commercial properties.
Current high production laminating methods in the United States address metal substrates, i.e. 0.005″ and above, are primarily directed at utilizing press on adhesives which are applied by a roller onto the metal substrate, and the adhesive is dried in an oven prior to the laminating step. This process is commonly added to, or is a part of, a commercial coil paint line. The application of the film to the metal substrate is generally done close to ambient temperatures. The adhesive is separately applied to the metal substrate and is usually not a part of the film, such as a multilayer film.
It is important that high production thermal laminating methods have little or no entrapped air between the metal substrate and the film. Entrapped air causes thinning of the coating at an unpredictable amount. In particular, when a formed part is bent and the bend occurs where an air bubble exists in the coating, an increased likelihood of failure results. Air entrapment is a serious issue when the air bubble size is significant relative to the coating thickness, and the frequency is high. It is also visually disturbing at an 8 percent level to a customer, on a surface area basis, and raises unnecessary questions about process control.
It is important that the coating has the necessary pencil hardness, that is, surface scratch resistance, and also suitable bending capability. This will allow normal material handling without scratches. Coating hardness must be balanced against brittleness. A hard coating has an increased likelihood of splitting on the bend of a formed part. If the coating splits, the metal is exposed and there is likelihood of a corrosive failure at that spot.
From a commercial standpoint, it is important that the coating also has suitable chemical resistance after forming a finished part, which comes from a stamping or bending operation. In the can-making industry, pack tests are performed that are very demanding on forming and chemical resistance. Formed parts, such as a can, are packed with typical or harsh commercial materials and stored at an elevated temperature to accelerate any corrosive action. Test storage temperatures are 100 to 120° F. for periods of one to twenty four months. More commonly, a one, three, or six month test is sufficient to determine if a coating will fail in a pack test, depending upon the product. The main success/failure criterion is whether there is defect free through a can making (i.e. stamping) operation, visual corrosion, and whether the coating delaminates.
In summary, it has been difficult to develop the necessary simultaneous properties for a commercial thermoplastic coating on a metal substrate at an economical cost. The coating needs the simultaneous capability of: developing suitable bonding to the metal substrate, economical production, having suitable pencil hardness, eliminating air entrapment, obtaining a high level of chemical resistance, and having the ability to withstand part forming without splitting.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Processing improvements in applying polyester onto a metal substrate


A vehicle peripheral monitoring apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a forward monitoring unit for monitoring an obstacle within a predetermined forward area extending in a direction forward of an own vehicle; one or more forward-lateral monitoring units for monitoring an obstacle within a predetermined forward-lateral area extending in a direction lateral of the own vehicle relative to the predetermined forward area; and a traveling environment detecting unit for detecting a traveling environment of the own vehicle, wherein the monitoring with the forward-lateral monitoring units is suppressed when the traveling environment detecting unit detects that the own vehicle is traveling on a predetermined road including a highway, and a level of the suppressing of the monitoring with the forward-lateral monitoring unit is eased when the traveling environment detecting unit detects that the own vehicle is traveling in a predetermined area, including a junction, of the predetermined road.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle peripheral monitoring apparatus for monitoring an obstacle around a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, techniques have been commercialized for using a monitoring measure such as radar or a camera to monitor an obstacle such as a preceding vehicle, a stopped vehicle, or a pedestrian, and to perform vehicle distance control and collision prediction control.
As an exemplary application for such techniques as described above, an invention is disclosed for a peripheral monitoring apparatus for selectively using a long range radar unit and a short range radar unit. (See Patent Document 1, for example.) With the apparatus as described above, the long range radar unit is selected for high speed travel and the short range radar unit for low speed travel.
Patent Document 1
JP2005-165752A
However, with the related-art apparatus as described above, the long range radar unit is likely to be selected when traveling on a highway or a freeway. As a result, detecting a vehicle cutting in from the side at a junction of a highway or a freeway, or at a toll gate may be delayed.


A data processing system includes support for sub-page granular memory tags. The data processing system comprises at least one core, a memory controller responsive to the core, random access memory (RAM) responsive to the memory controller, and a memory protection module in the memory controller. The memory protection module enables the memory controller to use a memory tag value supplied as part of a memory address to protect data stored at a location that is based on a location value supplied as another part of the memory address. The data processing system also comprises an operating system (OS) which, when executed in the data processing system, manages swapping a page of data out of the RAM to non-volatile storage (NVS) by using a memory tag map (MTM) to apply memory tags to respective subpages within the page being swapped out. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A typical data processing system includes random access memory (RAM) of a certain size. However, by using so-called "virtual memory", an operating system (OS) in the data processing system may provide an apparent or virtual memory space that is larger than the actual physical memory.
A conventional OS organizes virtual memory on the basis of fixed-size blocks known as "pages," and the OS uses page tables to map the virtual memory addresses to physical memory addresses. Accordingly, virtual memory allows different applications to use the same virtual address to access different physical addresses. The OS may also swap data from RAM out to a disk (or other mass storage device) when that data has not been accessed lately and the memory space is needed for other data. When the OS swaps data from RAM out to disk, it swaps out a complete page of data at a time.
In December of 2017, Intel Corporation published a document entitled "Intel® Architecture Memory Encryption Technologies Specification," Ref: #336907-001US, Rev: 1.1 (hereinafter the "MET Specification"). The MET Specification discuss "Total Memory Encryption" (TME), which is "a base line capability for memory encryption with a single ephemeral key." The MET Specification also discuss "Multi-Key Total Memory Encryption" (MKTME), which "builds on TME and adds support for multiple encryption keys." Accordingly, MKTME involves "multiple keys for page granular memory encryption." MKTME also involves "additional support for software provisioned keys."
With MKTME, a data processing system may use different keys to encrypt different pages of memory. Thus, compared to TME, MKTME provides for memory protection on a more granular or finely detailed basis, in that different memory pages may be protected with different keys, rather than having all pages protected with a single key.
The present disclosure involves technology for providing memory protection on a more granular basis than MKTME.


A method for preparing a wound dressing including forming a first solution by mixing a zinc solution with a Tragacanth solution, immersing a substrate in the first solution, forming a second solution by adjusting pH of the first solution containing the substrate, forming a modified substrate by synthesizing a plurality of ZnO nanoparticles with a particle size between 55 nm and 70 nm on the substrate by applying ultrasound radiation to the second solution, and forming a plurality of Ammoniacum nanocapsules with a particle size between 20 nm and 80 nm on the modified substrate.

The wound is a physical injury of living tissues which is caused by a break in the epithelial integrity of the skin. The skin protects internal organs from the external environment and prevents body dehydration. Therefore, the presence of a wound may compromise the health of the patient in numerous ways. Accordingly, the healing of wounds is of great importance and using wound dressings may aid in speeding up the wound healing process.
Utilization of certain herbal products such as plant extracts and essential oils in wound dressings can lead to a rapid wound healing process with no side effect. Despite the benefits of essential oils and plant extract, their application is difficult due to their uncontrollable release.
One of the methods for incorporating essential oils and plant extract to the wound dressings is an encapsulation of the herbal products in a matrix which can control their release and increase the durability of the herbal products in the wound dressings. Natural polysaccharides such as alginate, chitin, and chitosan can speed up wound healing process and can be used as the matrix for encapsulation of herbal products. However, using herbal products individually in wound dressings may cause some side effects on the physical properties of the wound dressing substrates. The side effects may include changing the stiffness and the softness of the wound dressing substrates.
Therefore, there is a need for a wound dressing with a high antibacterial activity, high durability, no cytotoxicity, and high efficiency for wound healing. Moreover, there is a need for a simple and low-cost manufacturing process for preparation of a wound dressing with the desired characteristics.


A semiconductor device includes plural memory cell blocks, each having a memory array of plural memory cells. Plural control circuits are provided in correspondence with each of the memory cell blocks, for writing information to the memory cell blocks and for reading information written in the memory cell blocks. Plural input/output terminals are for inputting the information to be written and for outputting the information to be read. Plural multiplexers are provided in correspondence with each of the input/output terminals, for conveying the information to be written from the input/output terminals and for conveying the information to be read to the input/.output terminals. A bidirectional transfer type buffer is connected to each connection line between the control circuits and the multiplexers, for selectively conveying information from the control circuits to each of the multiplexers and for selectively conveying information from the multiplexers to each of the control circuits.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and in particular, to the field of data transfer technology in memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are increasing demands for a semiconductor memory with improved integration density and speed as well as enhanced capacity. For example, a pseudo static RAM (PSRAM) for use in mobile phones is expected to reach the 256- to 512-Mbit size from the currently used 128-Mbit size. Conventionally, in order to meet the demands for enhanced capacity, improving the integration density enables reduction of memory chip area as well as improved speed in memory chips.
However, as the recent increase in integration density, wiring resistance also increases in chips, which has prohibited improvements in chip speed.
Therefore, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3222545) discloses an invention for improving speed of memory in chips. In the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, plural memory cell brocks as sub-arrays are formed, and each system between each of the memory cell blocks and I/O terminals is independent from one another. That is, memory cell blocks A and B are formed and input/output terminals A and B are provided corresponding to each memory cell block. One system ranging from memory cell block A to an input/output terminal A, and another system ranging from memory cell block B to an input/output terminal B, are completely independent from each other. Only data input from the input/output terminal A can be written in the memory cell block A for writing data to the memory cell block A, and data can only be output to the input/output terminal A for reading data from the memory cell block A. Similarly, only data input from the input/output terminal B can be written in the memory cell block B for writing data to the memory cell block B, and data can only be output to the input/output terminal B for reading data from the memory cell block B.
As such, in the system of the invention described in Patent Document 1 has a following problem. Specifically, the system may be formed as a multi-chip package of a combination of a controller and memory. In this case, a pad used in memory may be changed depending on the type of controller. However, it is extremely difficult to change the pad being used due to the one-to-one correspondence between each memory cell block and each input/output terminal.


A radiation solid-state detecting device includes a cooling panel disposed on a surface of a sensor substrate that is irradiated with radiation, or on a rear surface of the sensor substrate opposite to the irradiated surface thereof. The cooling panel comprises a plurality of cooling units. Cooling units, which face (pixels depending on) the recording areas in which radiation image information is recorded in the sensor substrate, are energized to cool the recording areas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image detecting device for outputting image information representative of an image recorded in a given recording area, as well as to an image capturing system, which incorporates such an image detecting device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the medical field, there have widely been used image capturing apparatuses, which apply radiation from a radiation source to a subject (patient) and detect the radiation that has passed through the subject with an image detector, to thereby acquire radiation image information of the subject.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-256613 discloses a Peltier cooling device comprising a photodetector such as a CCD or the like, a Peltier device held closely against the entire rear surface of the photodetector, and heat radiating fins disposed on the rear surface of the Peltier device. The Peltier device cools the photodetector for improving the S/N ratio of the signal output from the photodetector.
When a surface of an image detector, such as a photodetector, is irradiated with radiation, the image detector outputs image information representing an image that is recorded in a given area (recording area) of the image detector. According to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-256613, since the entire rear surface of the photodetector is cooled by the Peltier device, areas of the photodetector where the image is not recorded also are cooled by the Peltier device. Therefore, the Peltier device wastefully consumes energy for cooling the photodetector, because it cools unnecessary areas of the photodetector.

Image detecting device and image capturing system


A magnetically operated display unit includes a frame of a color, a plate pivotably mounted on the frame which includes a first surface of a color different from that of the frame and a second surface of a color identical to that of the frame, a magnet embedded in the plate, a U-shaped ferromagnetic element mounted on the frame so that two tips of the magnet are located between two tips of the U-shaped ferromagnetic element, a solenoid mounted on the U-shaped ferromagnetic element and a light emitting diode mounted on the frame. The plate contains a cutout designed for receiving the light emitting diode and one of the tips of the U-shaped ferromagnetic element. The tip of the light emitting diode is located on a level between the plate and the tips of the U-shaped ferromagnetic element. The light emitting diode is visible sufficiently above the surface of the plate so that its light can shine on that surface. Two opposite currents are selectively directed through the solenoid.

This invention relates to a magnetically operated display.
Eye-catching displays are becoming more and more popular due to increasing consumerism and the desire for public awareness of products, public announcements, etc.
A first conventional display includes a matrix of light emitting diodes (LEDs) wherein various groups of the LEDS in the matrix can be selectively turned on simultaneously to present various images. The first conventional display performs well in an environment with a low level of light. However, the efficiency of the first conventional display is considerably reduced if the level of light is increased, for example, a sunny day, and the noticeability of the display is impaired.
A second conventional display includes a matrix of magnetically operated display units each including a magnet embedded in a pivotable plate including a first surface with a color different from that of the remaining portion thereof and a second surface with a color identical to that of the remaining portion thereof. The second surfaces of different groups of the pivotable plates in the matrix are selectively exposed to view so as to show different images. The second conventional display shows clear images in a bright environment, however, visibility of the first surfaces of the pivotable plates is greatly reduced in the dark as the first surfaces of the plates do not produce light.


The invention relates to a coated article having enhanced reversible thermal properties. The coated article comprises a substrate having a surface and a coating covering a portion of the surface and comprising a polymeric material and a temperature regulating material dispersed in the polymeric material. The coating is formed with a plurality of regions of discontinuity that are separated from one another and expose a remaining portion of the surface to provide improved flexibility, softness, air permeability, or water vapor transport properties. The coated article may be used in apparel, footwear, medical products, containers and packagings, building materials, appliances, and other products.

Continuous coatings containing a phase change material have been applied to fabrics to provide enhanced reversible thermal properties to the fabrics themselves as well as to apparel or other products made therefrom. Typically, microcapsules containing a phase change material are mixed with a polymeric material to form a blend, and this blend is subsequently cured on a fabric to form a continuous coating covering the fabric. While providing desired thermal regulating properties, the continuous coating may lead to undesirable reductions in flexibility, softness, air permeability, and water vapor transport properties. A continuously coated fabric tends to be stiff and "boardy", and the relatively impermeable nature of the continuous coating may substantially diminish the ability of the continuously coated fabric to transport air or water vapor. When incorporated in apparel, such reduced properties of the continuously coated fabric can lead to an inadequate level of comfort for an individual wearing the apparel.
It is against this background that a need arose to develop the coated articles described herein.

Coated articles having enhanced reversible thermal properties and exhibiting improved flexibility, softness, air permeability, or water vapor transport properties


A method of fabricating an integrated circuit can include forming a barrier layer along lateral side walls and a bottom of a via aperture, forming a seed layer proximate and conformal to the barrier layer, and ion implanting elements into the seed layer. The via aperture is configured to receive a via material that electrically connects a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer.

Semiconductor devices or integrated circuits (ICs) can include millions of devices, such as, transistors. Ultra-large scale integrated (ULSI) circuits can include complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) field effect transistors (FET). Despite the ability of conventional systems and processes to fabricate millions of IC devices on an IC, there is still a need to decrease the size of IC device features, and, thus, increase the number of devices on an IC. Nevertheless, there are many factors that make the continued miniaturization of ICs difficult. For example, as the size of vias (or pathways between integrated circuit layers used to electrically connect separate conductive layers) decreases, electrical resistance increases.
Conventional integrated circuits utilize vias to connect structures (e.g., gates, drain regions, source regions) and conductive lines. For example, a via can connect a gate above the substrate to a conductor line in the metal 1 layer. Vias can also interconnect conductive lines. For example, a via can connect a conductive line in a metal 1 layer to a conductor line in a metal 2 layer. A via is typically a metal plug which extends through an insulative layer in a multilayer integrated circuit. Vias and barrier layers are discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,646,448; 5,770,519; and 5,639,691; each of which are assigned to the assignee of the present application.
A barrier layer is used to protect the via and insulative layer from metal diffusion and the via and conductive line from electromigration (EM). The barrier layer can contribute significantly to resistance associated with the via metal. Electromigration is the mass transport due to momentum exchange between conducting electrons and diffusing metal atoms. Electromigration causes progressive damage to the metal conductors in an integrated circuit. In general, metals are most susceptible to electromigration at very high current density and temperatures of 100° C. or more.
Integrated circuit manufacturers have attempted to reduce via resistance as the via size decreases by reducing the thickness of the barrier material. According to a conventional physical vapor deposition (PVD) process, IC manufacturers deposit a very thin barrier material at the bottom of the via due to non-conformal deposition. The thickness of the barrier material is reduced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes. These advanced deposition processes form highly conformal barrier metal films of relatively small thickness. However, reducing the barrier thickness causes the barrier to become more permeable to copper (Cu) diffusion, which can adversely affect resistance to electromigration.
Electromigration failures have been described by Stanley Wolf, Ph.D. in Silicon Processing for the VLSI Era, Lattice Press, Sunset Beach, Calif., Vol. 2, pp. 264–65 (1990). Dr. Wolf explains that a positive divergence of the motion of the ions of a conductor leads to an accumulation of vacancies, forming a void in the metal. Such voids may ultimately grow to a size that results in open-circuit failure of the conductor line.
A seed layer can be used to help electroplate Cu from an electrolyte solution onto vias and trenches with full Cu fill without voids. Generally, the Cu seed can be sputtered from a manufactured solid Cu targets. However, the manufacture of some Cu-alloy solid targets can be difficult due to poor metallurgical and mechanical properties of the resulting solid target. The alloying elements may not be uniformly incorporated or may be in a non-pure form which results in poor target erosion and insufficient concentration in the seed layer.
Thus, there is a need for a method of ion implantation to form alloy layers in copper. Further, there is a need for a method of forming a seed layer without manufacturing copper alloy targets. Even further, there is a need for implanting elements into seed layer using a low energy ion implantation process.

Method of ultra-low energy ion implantation to form alloy layers in copper


A liquid crystal device having a first substrate, a second substrate, and liquid crystal provided between the first substrate and the second substrate includes: a plurality of scanning lines provided in the first substrate; a plurality of data lines provided in the first substrate; a plurality of switching elements provided in correspondence with intersections of the plurality of scanning lines and the plurality of data lines; a plurality of pixel electrodes connected to the plurality of switching elements; a common electrode provided in correspondence with the pixel electrodes; a control circuit that alternately supplies a first voltage and a second voltage higher than the first voltage to the common electrode; and a data line driving circuit that alternately supplies a positive-polarity image signal, of which an electric potential is higher than the first voltage, and a negative-polarity image signal, of which an electric potential is lower than the second voltage, to the plurality of data lines.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device, a driving circuit of a liquid crystal device, a method of driving a liquid crystal device, and an electronic apparatus.
2. Related Art
Liquid crystal devices are known examples of display devices. For example, such a liquid crystal device may include a liquid crystal panel and a backlight that supplies light to the liquid crystal panel.
A liquid crystal panel is configured to include an element substrate, a counter substrate disposed opposite the element substrate, and liquid crystal provided between the element substrate and the counter substrate.
The element substrate includes a plurality of scanning lines and a plurality of capacitive lines provided alternately with predetermined gaps therebetween, a plurality of data lines that cross the plurality of scanning lines and the plurality of capacitive lines and are provided with predetermined gaps therebetween, a scanning line driving circuit connected to the plurality of scanning lines, a data line driving circuit connected to the plurality of data lines, and a capacitive line driving circuit connected to the plurality of capacitive lines.
Pixels are provided at intersections of the scanning lines and the data lines. A pixel is configured to include a pixel capacitor having a pixel electrode and a common electrode, a thin film transistor (hereinafter, referred to as 'TFT') serving as a switching element, and a storage capacitor having one electrode connected to a capacitive line another electrode connected to a pixel electrode. A plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix to form a display area. In each of the pixels, the scanning line is connected to a gate of the TFT, the data line is connected to a source of the TFT, and the pixel electrode and the other electrode of the storage capacitor are connected to a drain of the TFT.
The capacitive line driving circuit supplies a predetermined voltage to each capacitive line.
The scanning line driving circuit supplies a selection voltage for selecting scanning lines to each of the scanning lines in a predetermined order. When a selection voltage is supplied to a scanning line, a TFT connected to the scanning line is turned on.
The data line driving circuit supplies an image signal to each of the data lines and writes an image voltage based on the image signal into a pixel electrode through the TFT that is in the ON state. In this case, the data line driving circuit alternately performs positive-polarity writing and negative-polarity writing. Specifically, the data line driving circuit supplies an image signal, which has a higher voltage (hereinafter, referred to as 'positive polarity') than a voltage of a common electrode, to a data line so as to write an image voltage based on the positive-polarity image signal into a pixel electrode (positive-polarity writing) and supplies an image signal, which has a lower voltage (hereinafter, referred to as 'negative polarity') than the voltage of the common electrode, to a data line so as to write an image voltage based on the negative-polarity image signal into a pixel electrode (negative-polarity writing) in an alternate manner.
The counter substrate has R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color filters provided for each pixel.
The liquid crystal device described above operates as follows.
That is, a selection voltage is sequentially supplied to scanning lines to turn on all TFTs connected to predetermined scanning lines, such that all pixels corresponding to the scanning lines are selected. Then, an image signal is supplied to data lines in synchronization with selection of the pixels. Then, the image signal is supplied to all of the selected pixels through the TFTs that are in the ON state and an image voltage based on the image signal is written into pixel electrodes.
When the image voltage is written into the pixel electrodes, a driving voltage is applied to liquid crystal due to a potential difference between each pixel electrode and a common electrode. When the driving voltage is applied to liquid crystal, the alignment or ordering of molecules of the liquid crystal changes, and accordingly, light that is transmitted through the liquid crystal and is emitted from a backlight changes. When the changed light is transmitted through color filters, gray-scale display is performed. In addition, due to the storage capacitors, the driving voltage applied to liquid crystal is retained for a period of time that is three orders of magnitude longer than a period of time for which the image voltage is written.
The liquid crystal device described above is used for a portable apparatus, for example, and reduction of power consumption has been recently demanded in portable apparatuses. Therefore, JP-A-2002-196358 proposes a liquid crystal device capable of having a reduced power consumption by turning off TFTs and varying a voltage of a capacitive line after writing an image voltage into a pixel electrode.
Hereinafter, an operation of a liquid crystal device for varying a voltage of a capacitive line as disclosed in JP-A-2002-196358 will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. FIG. 12 is a timing chart illustrating the positive-polarity writing of a liquid crystal device in the related art. FIG. 13 is a timing chart illustrating the negative-polarity writing of a liquid crystal device in the related art. Here, the liquid crystal device in the related art has 320 rows of scanning lines and 240 columns of data lines, for example. In FIGS. 12 and 13, GATE(m) indicates a voltage of an m-th (where, 'm' is an integer satisfying 1≦m≦320) row scanning line out of 320 rows of scanning lines, and VST(m) indicates a voltage of an m-th row capacitive line out of 320 rows of capacitive lines. In addition, SOURCE(n) indicates a voltage of an n-th (where, 'n' is an integer satisfying 1≦n≦240) column data line out of 240 columns of data lines. In addition, PIX(m, n) indicates a voltage of a pixel electrode included in a pixel, which corresponds to an m-th row and an n-th column, provided at an intersection of an m-th row scanning line and an n-th column data line, and VCOM(m) indicates a voltage of a common electrode included in the pixel corresponding to the m-th row and the n-th column.
First, the positive-polarity writing of a liquid crystal device in the related art will now be described with reference to FIG. 12. At time t51, a scanning line driving circuit supplies a selection voltage to an m-th row scanning line. Accordingly, a voltage GATE(m) of the m-th row scanning line rises and then reaches a voltage VGH at time t52. As a result, all TFTs connected to the m-th row scanning line are turned on.
At time t53, a data line driving circuit supplies a positive-polarity image signal to an n-th column data line. Accordingly, a voltage SOURCE(n) of the n-th column data line rises gradually and then reaches a voltage VP8 at time t54. The voltage SOURCE(n) of the n-th column data line is written, as an image voltage based on the positive-polarity image signal, into the pixel electrode included in the pixel corresponding to the m-th row and the n-th column through a TFT 51 that is in the ON state and is connected to the m-th row scanning line. Accordingly, a voltage PIX(m, n) of the pixel electrode included in the pixel corresponding to the m-th row and the n-th column rises gradually and then reaches a voltage VP8, which is at the same potential level as the voltage SOURCE(n) of the n-th column data line, at time t54.
At time t55, the scanning line driving circuit stops supplying the selection voltage to the m-th row scanning line. Accordingly, the voltage GATE(m) of the m-th row scanning line drops and then reaches a voltage VGL at time t56. As a result, all TFTs 51 connected to the m-th row scanning line are turned off. At the same time, a capacitive line driving circuit supplies a voltage for increasing a voltage of a capacitive line to the m-th row capacitive line. Accordingly, a voltage VST(m) of the m-th row capacitive line rises gradually and then reaches a voltage VSTH at time t57. If the voltage VST(m) of the m-th row capacitive line rises, electric charges equivalent to the amount of voltage increase are distributed between a storage capacitor and a pixel capacitor in all pixels related to the m-th row capacitive line. Accordingly, a voltage PIX(m, n) of the pixel electrode included in the pixel corresponding to the m-th row and the n-th column rises gradually and then reaches a voltage VP9 at time t57.
Next, the negative-polarity writing of a liquid crystal device in the related art will be described with reference to FIG. 13. At time t61, a scanning line driving circuit supplies a selection voltage to an m-th row scanning line. Accordingly, a voltage GATE(m) of the m-th row scanning line rises and then reaches a voltage VGH at time t62. As a result, all TFTs connected to the m-th row scanning line are turned on.
At time t63, a data line driving circuit supplies a negative-polarity image signal to an n-th column data line. Accordingly, a voltage SOURCE(n) of the n-th column data line drops gradually and then reaches a voltage VP11 at time t64. The voltage SOURCE(n) of the n-th column data line is written, as an image voltage based on the negative-polarity image signal, into the pixel electrode included in the pixel corresponding to the m-th row and the n-th column through a TFT that is in the ON state and is connected to the m-th row scanning line. Accordingly, a voltage PIX(m, n) of the pixel electrode included in the pixel corresponding to the m-th row and the n-th column drops gradually and then reaches a voltage VP11, which is at the same potential level as the voltage SOURCE(n) of the n-th column data line, at time t64.
At time t65, the scanning line driving circuit stops supplying the selection voltage to the m-th row scanning line. Accordingly, the voltage GATE(m) of the m-th row scanning line drops and then reaches a voltage VGL at time t66. As a result, all TFTs connected to the m-th row scanning line are turned off. At the same time, a capacitive line driving circuit supplies a voltage for decreasing a voltage of a capacitive line to the m-th row capacitive line. Accordingly, a voltage VST(m) of the m-th row capacitive line drops gradually and then reaches a voltage VSTL at time t67. If the voltage VST(m) of the m-th row capacitive line drops, electric charges equivalent to the amount of voltage drop are distributed between a storage capacitor and a pixel capacitor in all pixels related to the m-th row capacitive line. Accordingly, a voltage PIX(m, n) of the pixel electrode included in the pixel corresponding to the m-th row and the n-th column drops gradually and then reaches a voltage VP10 at time t67.
As described above, in the liquid crystal device according to the related art, a voltage of a capacitive line rises after writing a positive-polarity image voltage into a pixel electrode at the time of the positive polarity writing. For this reason, the voltage of the pixel electrode rises by an amount obtained by adding a voltage, which is increased due to the positive-polarity image voltage, and a voltage increased due to electric charges by which a voltage of a capacitive line rises. Furthermore, in the liquid crystal device according to the related art, a voltage of a capacitive line drops after writing a negative-polarity image voltage into a pixel electrode at the time of the negative polarity writing. For this reason, the voltage of the pixel electrode drops by an amount obtained by adding a voltage, which is decreased due to the negative-polarity image voltage, and a voltage decreased due to electric charges by which a voltage of a capacitive line drops.
Therefore, by varying a voltage of the capacitive line to change a voltage of the pixel electrode with a voltage of the common electrode as a reference, it is possible to increase the amplitude of the driving voltage applied to liquid crystal. Thus, the amplitude of the driving voltage applied to liquid crystal is secured even if the amplitude of an image voltage is small. As a result, the power consumption may be reduced by making the amplitude of the image voltage small.
In the above liquid crystal device according to the related art, electric charges are made to move between a storage capacitor and a pixel capacitor by varying the voltage of a capacitive line, such that the voltage of a pixel electrode is varied. For this reason, in the case when variation in characteristics of the storage capacitor occurs, the electric charges moving between the storage capacitor and the pixel capacitor are affected. Accordingly, even if the same image voltage is written into the pixel electrode, variation occurs in the voltage of the pixel electrode, which causes the display quality to be degraded.
Further, in the case of an IPS (In-plane switching) liquid crystal device or FFS (fringe-field switching) liquid crystal device having a pixel electrode and a common electrode, which form a pixel capacitor, formed on one of a pair of substrates having liquid crystal interposed therebetween, a pixel capacitor and a storage capacitor are integrally formed. However, in the above liquid crystal device according to the related art, the voltage of the capacitive line is varied using a voltage different from the pixel electrode or the common electrode. Accordingly, it is necessary to form an electrode of the storage capacitor connected to the capacitive line separately from the pixel electrode or the common electrode. For this reason, the pixel capacitor and the storage capacitor need to be separately formed. Accordingly, in the case of the IPS liquid crystal device or the FFS liquid crystal device in which the pixel capacitor and the storage capacitor are integrally formed, to date, it has been difficult to form the above-described liquid crystal device according to the related art.

Liquid crystal device, method of driving liquid crystal device, and electronic apparatus


A torsion damper for a clutch disc is disposed in window holes provided in power input and output rotating elements of the clutch disc, for elastically coupling the power input and output rotating elements in a direction of their rotation. The torsion damper includes a pair of seat elements 11 and a rubber element 12 therebetween. In one embodiment, the rubber element 12 is positioned between both the seat elements 11 and is capable of expanding and contracting. The rubber element includes a projection 20 and a through-hole 16 is provided in each of the seat elements 11.

a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a torsion damper for a clutch disc, and more particularly, it relates to a torsion damper for a clutch disc for elastically coupling at least two portions of a clutch disk.
b) Description of the Related Art
A clutch disc is used, for example, in a clutch disc assembly which is positioned between an engine and a transmission in an automobile. The clutch disc has a clutch plate and a retaining plate working as a power input rotating element, a spline hub working as a power output rotating element, and an elastic element for elastically coupling both of them.
For the elastic element, generally, a coil spring (torsion spring) is used, and is usually disposed in window holes formed in each of the power input and output rotating elements. Torque from the clutch plate and the retaining plate is transmitted from end surfaces of the window holes in the plates via the torsion spring to the spline hub. During power transmission, the torsion spring is compressed and may expand in a direction of the rotation absorbing vibrations and fluctuations in the power transmitted in response to relative rotary displacement between the clutch plate and the retaining plate.
Alternatively, in some clutch discs, a single block of torsion rubber is used with the coil spring, serving as an additional elastic element to optimize torque transmission and vibration dampening. The torsion rubber is positioned concentric with the torsion spring and is comprised of a rubber element capable of expanding and contracting in a direction of rotation in response to relative rotary displacement between the power input and output rotating elements. In some clutch discs, seat elements are provided at opposite ends of the rubber element and made of hard material such as resin. One end surface of each seat element works as a contact surface in contact with either the clutch plate or the retaining plate while the other end surface is coupled to an end of the rubber element.
The torsion rubber is compressed similar to the torsion spring, and in this situation, the rubber element tends to expand outward in radial directions. The seat element and the rubber element sometimes distort relative to each other in radial directions in the clutch disc corresponding to relative torsional movement between the power input and output rotating elements. In such a case in the prior art arrangement, since shearing force works in an adhesion surface where an end surface of the rubber element adheres to the seat element, the rubber element may crack or the adhesion surface may be broken off. Especially after a long term of use, fatigue failure due to repetitive compression may arise in the vicinity of the contact surface.
In the prior art arrangement, an adhesion step is required in a fabricating process, and this leads to an increase in fabrication cost. Moreover, since adhesion strength must be attained to a specified extent, this results in materials of the rubber element and seat element being restricted, and a material cost may increase.

Resilient element having an elastic portion and seat portions for use in a vibration damping device


During periods of vehicle inactivity, a vehicle-based APU electric generating system may be coupled into a regional electric grid to send electricity into the grid. A currently-preferred APU is a solid oxide fuel cell system. When a large number of vehicles are thus equipped and connected, substantial electric buffering can be effected to the grid load. A vehicle-based APU can also function as a back-up generator to a docking facility in the event of power failure of the grid. Gaseous hydrocarbon is readily supplied by pipe in many locations as a commercial and residential heating fuel source, and a hydrocarbon reformer on the vehicle can be attached to the fuel source, enabling an APU to operate as a stationary power source indefinitely. An optional storage tank on the vehicle may be refueled with gaseous fuel, for example, while the battery is being electrically recharged by the grid.

Specialty electric vehicles (EVs) of various types are well known for indoor applications (for example, forklifts, wheelchairs, and airport people-movers for the elderly) and for short-trip outdoor use (golf carts, neighborhood electric vehicles, and handicapped scooters). Such vehicles typically are purely electric, having a motive electric motor powered by a battery storage system that is recharged by being connected to a regional electric grid or other electric source during periods of non-use of the vehicle.
Purely electric vehicles for use on open roads and highways have been shown to have credible niche markets in the USA and Europe only when the cost to the consumer is subsidized in some fashion. A key issue for future mass viability is whether technical maturity and higher volume production can meet the market-demanded price level.
EVs are well suited to short trip, low speed duty cycles in temperate climates. They are not well suited to higher mileage, higher speed, and longer trip patterns of driving in the USA, nor to operation in cold weather; however, land use, climate, and population density in many parts of the world are well-suited to EV use. For example, average vehicle speed and trip length are dramatically lower in Tokyo or Beijing, or even in London, Paris, or Mexico City, than in Detroit or Los Angeles. Vehicle attributes like top speed and peak horsepower are not likely to be so important in those foreign markets.
Electric road vehicles are highly desirable for meeting ZEV and PZEV standards, as witnessed by the success of recent trials in California. However, battery technology has been and continues to be the limiting factor in terms of cost, functionality (range), and durability of EV systems. Battery systems required to provide purely electric vehicles with a reasonable range and speed are still excessively bulky and costly. Therefore, the automotive industry has largely moved on to research and development of other approaches to provide continuous electric power to vehicles and to thereby gain the benefits of extremely low emissions and reduced fossil fuel consumption.
Because prior art road EVs, even those having very large capacity batteries, have limited range, it is of interest to provide onboard electric recharging capability. Such EVs are known in the prior art as "range extender" EVs or "hybrid" EVs. In a so-called "first generation" hybrid EV, typified by the Toyota Prius, all of the electric power used to charge the battery is generated onboard through a combination of regenerative braking and an internal combustion engine (ICE) driving an electric generator. The battery required is much smaller than in a purely electric EV. Fuel efficiency gains come from downsizing the ICE, operating the ICE at a more efficient operating point (when running), and shutting off the ICE during periods of low power demand.
One approach for a "second generation" EV, which is an evolution of the current series/parallel hybrid electric vehicle, is to increase the capacity of the battery and to allow the battery to operate in a charge-depleting mode without simultaneous recharge for a period of time, permitting short trips at low speed in pure electric mode. The battery may be recharged afterward when the vehicle is parked by being plugged into a source of power such as a regional electric grid. This then becomes a "plug-in" hybrid electric vehicle, where low speed and short trips can be substantially grid fueled and an onboard internal combustion engine (ICE) provides increased peak power and extended range for higher speed and longer trip operation. Thus the electric energy stored in the battery initially is complemented by the chemical energy stored in the ICE hydrocarbon fuel tank, typically a gasoline tank, providing a greatly extended driving range and full utility to the driver.
A disadvantage of any ICE hybrid system, however, is the level of combustion emissions characteristic of an ICE, requiring expensive and complex emission controls. Despite advances in emissions control technology, an ICE still produces gaseous emissions, including some level of carbon monoxide, and cannot be operated safely for extended periods in a structure with limited ventilation such as a closed garage. Another non-toxic but undesirable ICE emission is carbon dioxide which contributes to global warming.
Another disadvantage of an ICE hybrid system is its relatively low efficiency in terms of fuel-to-electric conversion and fuel-to-thermal conversion. This lowers the efficiency of the vehicle when the ICE is running, especially in cold weather conditions.
Another approach in a range extender EV is to use a fuel cell assembly (FC) in place of an ICE and generator. In the prior art, such a vehicle is known as a fuel cell EV (FCEV). As in the ICE/generator configuration, the FC reduces the weight and size of battery required. Significant advantages of a fuel cell assembly over an ICE/generator are that a fuel cell is essentially silent, high in efficiency, and inherently low in toxic emissions.
An example of an FCEV is the Toyota FINE-N H2 FCEV, shown at the 2003 Toyota Motor Show, which uses hydrogen directly rather than reformed hydrocarbon as the chemical fuel for the FC, thus obviating the need for a reformer and post-FC combustion. All FCEVs are series hybrids and all require some amount of battery storage for system start-up and transient response reasons.
Some developers of FCEVs use proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells and are focused on fuel cell dominant systems. This requires a fuel cell of 50-100 kW peak power for a typical car or light truck and places severe demands on fuel cell start-up and transient response. Such a large fuel cell is clearly a substantial cost challenge using present-day technology. Also, expectations of 15 year battery life for Ni metal hydride (NiMH) batteries in Toyota's existing hybrid vehicles suggest that a more battery-dominant FCEV is practical. The Toyota FINE-N H2 FCEV concept vehicle appears to be battery-dominant which, due to regenerative braking and operating the fuel cell in a high efficiency window, explains the very high range of 500 km on a tank full of compressed H2.
Extending the range of a PEM FCEV requires onboard generation and storage of hydrogen. A serious problem in the art is that PEM fuel cells are intolerant of CO in the hydrogen fuel stream, such as is generated by a typical hydrocarbon catalytic reformer. Thus, generating hydrogen onboard by reforming hydrocarbons requires a large, complex, multistage reformer and gas cleanup system to make the H2 of sufficient purity to run the PEM fuel cell. Further, the cost, size, transient response, and start-up time realities of such a PEM reformer make a buffer of stored H2 essential, adding further cost and complexity. For these reasons, a PEM hybrid vehicle is ill-suited for range-extended operation by reforming hydrocarbons onboard.
A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is another known class of fuel cell capable of utilizing a mixed fuel containing both hydrogen and carbon monoxide generated by a simple hydrocarbon reforming process. At the high temperature conditions pertaining within an SOFC, not only H2 but also CO and residual light hydrocarbons may be consumed in the fuel cell anode. Further, the exhaust of an SOFC is hot and still rich in hydrogen (known in the art as "syngas") whereas the exhaust of a PEMFC is relatively cold and of little additional use. Syngas can be used for a variety of purposes, for example, for enhanced combustion and aftertreatment in an ICE; for recirculation into the reformer to permit highly efficient endothermic reforming; or for combustion directly to yield additional high-quality (high-temperature) heat for other uses. The heat can be used for premium vehicle heating and accelerated engine and catalyst warm-up and/or to drive a bottoming cycle such as a gas turbine (GT) or expander to recover additional power.
As an auxiliary power unit (APU) in a vehicle, an SOFC APU can extend the operating range up to 400-650 km or greater, depending upon the size of the fuel tank. Because "waste" heat is readily available, an SOFC EV may operate in cold climates without the compromise to range and efficiency typical of PEM EVs. Further, an SOFC is especially attractive as a range extender because of the efficiency of heat recovery for HVAC functions.
An especial advantage of SOFC system in a vehicle is that it represents an independent source of electricity, syngas, and high-quality heat, all of which may be used for non-vehicular purposes during periods when the vehicle is parked and out of service. What is needed in the art is a method and apparatus for utilizing those properties to advantage during vehicle shutdown periods after the vehicle battery is fully recharged by the SOFC and/or is plugged into a regional electric grid for recharging. Such usage can substantially increase the cash flow rate of return of the automotive investment in an SOFC system.
It is a principal object of the present invention to utilize a vehicle-based APU system, and preferably an SOFC APU system, for non-vehicular uses during periods of shutdown of the vehicle.

Electric vehicle having multiple-use APU system


Nucleic acid molecules encoding human neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha and beta subunits, mammalian and amphibian cells containing the nucleic acid molecules, and methods for producing alpha and beta subunits are provided. In particular, nucleic acid molecules encoding α6 subunits and molecules encoding β3 subunits of human neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are provided. In addition, combinations of a plurality of subunits, such as one or more of α1, α2, α3, α4, α5, α6 and/or α7 subunits in combination with one or more of β3 subunits or such as one or more of β2, β3 and/or β4 subunits in combination with an α6 subunit are provided.

Ligand-gated ion channels provide a means for communication between cells of the central nervous system. These channels convert a signal (e., a chemical referred to as a neurotransmitter) that is released by one cell into an electrical signal that propagates along a target cell membrane. A variety of neurotransmitters and neurotransmitter receptors exist in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Five families of ligand-gated receptors, including the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) of neuromuscular and neuronal origins, have been identified (Stroud et al. 1990 Biochemistry 29:11009–11023). There is, however, little understanding of the manner in which the variety of receptors generates different responses to neurotransmitters or to other modulating ligands in different regions of the nervous system.
The nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are multisubunit proteins of neuromuscular and neuronal origins. These receptors form ligand-gated ion channels that mediate synaptic transmission between nerve and muscle and between neurons upon interaction with the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). Since various neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits exist, a variety of nAChR compositions (i.e., combinations of subunits) exist. The different nAChR compositions exhibit different specificities for various ligands and are thereby pharmacologically distinguishable. Thus, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors expressed at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction, in vertebrate sympathetic ganglia and in the vertebrate central nervous system have been distinguished on the basis of the effects of various ligands that bind to different nAChR compositions. For example, the elapid α-neurotoxins that block activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction do not block activation of some neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors that are expressed on several different neuron-derived cell lines.
Muscle nAChR is a glycoprotein composed of five subunits with the stoichimetry (α) 2β (γ or ε)δ. Each of the subunits has a mass of about 50–60 kilodaltons (kd) and is encoded by a different gene. The (α)2β (γ or ε)δ complex forms functional receptors containing two ligand binding sites and a ligand-gated transmembrane channel. Upon interaction with a cholinergic agonist, muscle nicotinic nAChRs conduct sodium ions. The influx of sodium ions rapidly short-circuits the normal ionic gradient maintained across the plasma membrane, thereby depolarizing the membrane. By reducing the potential difference across the membrane, a chemical signal is transduced into an electrical signal at the neuromuscular junction that induces muscle contraction.
Functional muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have been formed with αβδγ subunits, αβγ subunits, αβδ subunits, αδγ subunits, but not only with one subunit (see, e.g., Kurosaki et al. (1987) FEBS Lett. 214 253–258; Comacho et al. (1993) J. Neuroscience 13:605–613). In contrast, functional neuronal nAChRs can be formed from α subunits alone or combinations of α and β subunits. The larger α subunit is generally believed to be a ACh-binding subunit and the lower molecular weight β subunit is generally believed to be the structural subunit, although it has not been definitely demonstrated that the β subunit does not have the ability to bind ACh or participate in the formation of the ACh binding site. Each of the subunits which participate in the formation of a functional ion channel are, to the extent they contribute to the structure of the resulting channel, "structural" subunits, regardless of their ability (or inability) to bind ACh. Neuronal nAChRs, which are also ligand-gated ion channels, are expressed in ganglia of the autonomic nervous system and in the central nervous system (where they mediate signal transmission), and in pre- and extra-synaptic locations (where they modulate neurotransmission and may have additional functions; Wonnacott et al. (1990) In: progress in Brain Research, A. Nordberg et al., Eds., Elsevier, Amsterdam) 157–163.
DNA encoding nAChRs has been isolated from several sources. Based on the information available from such work, it has been evident for some time that nAChRs expressed in muscle, in autonomic ganglia, and in the central nervous system are functionally diverse. This functional diversity could be due, at least in part, to the large number of different nAChR subunits which exist. There is an incomplete understanding, however, of how (and which) nAChR subunits combine to generate unique nAChR subtypes, particularly in neuronal cells. Indeed, there is evidence that only certain nAChR subtypes may be involved in disease such as Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, it is not clear whether nAChRs from analogous tissues or cell types are similar across species.
Accordingly, there is a need for the isolation and characterization of DNAs encoding each human neuronal nAChR subunit, recombinant cells containing such subunits and receptors prepared therefrom. In order to study the function of human neuronal nAChRs and to obtain disease-specific pharmacologically active agents, there is also a need to obtain isolated (preferably purified) human neuronal nAChRs, and isolated (preferably purified) human neuronal nAChR subunits. In addition, there is also a need to develop assays to identify such pharmacologically active agents.
The availability of such nucleic acids, cells, receptor subunits and receptor compositions will eliminate the uncertainty of speculating as to human neuronal nAChR structure and function based on predictions drawn from non-human nAChR data, or human or non-human muscle or ganglia nAChR data.
Therefore, it is an object herein to isolate and characterize DNA encoding subunits of human neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. It is also an object herein to provide methods for recombinant production of human neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits. It is also an object herein to provide purified receptor subunits and to provide methods for screening compounds to identify compounds that modulate the activity of human neuronal nAChRs.
These and other objects will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon further study of the specification and claims.

Human neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor compositions and methods employing same


A computer-implemented method includes receiving an indicator that a consumer stored account details associated with an account with a resource provider computer of a resource provider in an add-account event. The transaction details associated with the add-account event are displayed to the consumer at a display interface of a computer device if the consumer is enrolled in an account-on-file tracking system configured to track add-account events for the account. The method may further include providing the consumer with one or more transaction control selections at the display interface that allow the consumer to place transaction controls on the account stored with the resource provider computer.

The amount of commercial transactions that consumers conduct electronically over the internet is increasing rapidly. Many merchants host e-commerce websites or applications that allow consumers to purchase goods and services, set up subscriptions, or set up recurring transactions from a computer device. Additionally, consumer use of mobile wallet applications provided by mobile wallet providers is on the rise as well. Mobile payment applications allow consumers to establish a mobile wallet on a mobile device, and make payments with the mobile device in place of a physical payment card (e.g., a credit card, a debit card, etc.). A consumer may select a desired account (e.g., a credit card account, a debit card account, etc.) from their mobile wallet for making a purchase, and tap his or her mobile device at a merchant terminal when checking out.
Although e-commerce websites/applications and mobile wallet applications offer consumers with a number of conveniences, many require consumers to store details associated with one or more accounts when registering for the service. A consumer may struggle to keep track of which account details are stored with which merchants and/or mobile wallet providers, particularly if the consumer has multiple accounts stored with several different merchants and/or mobile wallet providers. Furthermore, consumers may struggle to regulate their spending with the accounts that are stored with the merchants and/or mobile wallet providers.
WO 2018/034912 A1 describes a computer-implemented system that looks for recurring transactions or other patterns between a consumer and resource provider computers associated with resource providing entities, and automatically updates the consumer's account information stored with the resource provider computers when the consumer's account information has changed.
However, there is still a need for systems that allow consumers to keep track of which merchants and/or mobile wallet providers are holding their account details on file. There is also a need for systems that allow consumers to control spending with their accounts held on file with different merchants and/or mobile wallet providers.

Systems and methods for tracking stored accounts