Abstract: Audio connectors are provided within a card. The audio connectors may be provided having a height that is compatible with a card (e.g., less than 1 mm or less than 0.5 mm). Communications to and from the card may be provided using the audio connectors within the card.

Abstract: A flexible card may include a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device having multiple layers, such as an electromagnetic generator, a magnet, and a shield. A shield may form a non-flexible layer within the stack and may bend, but the shield may not be able to stretch or compress. Flexible layers may surround and adhere to the shield such that when the card is flexed, the flexible layers may stretch and compress with the movement of the shield. The dynamic magnetic stripe communications device may include one or more coils. Each coil may contain a material that may be beveled, such that a width at an end portion of the material may be smaller than a width at a middle portion of the material.

Abstract: A programming device is provided that programs cards, such as payment cards, with data, such as personal data, using light transmitters and receivers. For example, an infrared transmitter may be provided to program personal data (e.g., a customer's credit card number) into a card wirelessly. In doing so, the card may be, for example, completely laminated such that there are no exposed electronic components on the exterior surface of the card and be programmed via light. The programming device may shield the programming components to block ambient light from interacting with those programming components during programming. A conveyor may be utilized to align multiple cards with a programming device to allow assembly-line style programming of the cards.

Abstract: A processor of a card may detect variations (e.g., position, velocity, acceleration and direction) of a read head in relation to the card. Based on certain parameters (e.g., card length, initially detected read head position, and read head velocity) a processor of a card may adjust synchronization bit patterns that may synchronize communications between the card and a read head of a magnetic stripe reader. A processor of a card may generate a number of leading synchronization bits that is different than a number of trailing synchronization bits.

Abstract: A detection activity of a card may be sensitive to capacitance changes in adjacent and non-adjacent pads on the card. Accordingly, the detection activity may remain sensitive to faster-moving devices and/or reduced detection sampling rates. A second detection activity may follow a first detection activity, which may increase a probability of a successful communication sequence subsequent to the first detection activity. A card may, therefore, immediately transition to a low-power mode of operation after verification to reduce power consumption.

Abstract: An UV-C device may include several UV-C light sources (e.g., UV-C LEDs) and such UV-C LEDs may have UV-C reflecting structures arranged to direct UV-C in a particular direction and at a particular size and shape. Doing so may, for example, increase the UV-C in a particular direction or working area. A UV-C generating device may be utilized in an air stream, such as an air duct, to sterilize air from that air stream. Sound suppression compartments may be placed around a UV-C generating device inlet and/or a device outlet to reduce sound from the UV-C generating device. Human perceivable (e.g., audible, tactile, and/or visual) notifications may be utilized to provide notification of different modes of operation and/or different efficacy levels (e.g., percent ranges of inactivation of a particular or multiple particular viruses, bacteria, spores, etc.

Abstract: A user is provided with a GUI that may allow the user to change functionality associated with a non-powered card, a powered card or other device (e.g., a mobile telephonic device). The functionality associated with the device may be displayed by the GUI as a list of third-party applications that may be executed when the user's powered card or other device is used to complete a purchase transaction. The GUI allows the user to rate the user's experience with the executed application and then propagate the user's rating to a ratings database. The ratings database is accessible so that other users may view the rating of each user.

Abstract: Advanced payment applications are provided to improve the functionality of cards and devices. For example, a user interface may be placed on a card (e.g., a physical button) or a telephonic device (e.g., a virtual button on a capacitive touch screen). Manual input provided to this user interface may, for example, cause a purchase to be paid by credit and points may be earned for the purchase. A different manual input may, for example, cause a purchase to be paid by credit and points not be earned for the purchase in exchange for one or more chances to win a prize in a random lottery. An instant winner functionality may be provided on a card. For example, a card may randomly become an instant winner based on, for example, time and/or use.

Abstract: A user is provided with a GUI that may allow the user to change functionality associated with a non-powered card, a powered card or other device (e.g., a mobile telephonic device). The functionality associated with the device may be displayed by the GUI as a list of third-party applications that are currently featured third-party applications or as a list of third-party applications that have been previously featured applications.

Abstract: A kiosk may be provided that contains a number of blank cards. A graphical user interface of the kiosk may allow a user to define products that may be associated with a blank card contained within the kiosk. Aesthetic and functional features may be applied to a blank card by a kiosk and dispensed to a user of the kiosk as a fully functional card. An interrogation device of a kiosk may retrieve products associated with a current card and may associate the retrieved products with a new card to be dispensed from the kiosk. A kiosk may access a network to preauthorize any products that may be associated with a card dispensed from or programmed by the kiosk.

Abstract: A user is provided with a GUI that may allow the user to change functionality associated with a non-battery-powered card, a battery-powered card, a payment sticker, or another device (e.g., a mobile telephonic device). The GUI may be provided by a website so that a user views the GUI from a web-browser. At any time, for example, a user may change additional functionality performed at a point-of-sale purchase. A user may change the additional functionality for a card or a button of a card. A user may switch to associate a game of chance or skill to the purchase.

Abstract: A payment card or other device (e.g., mobile telephone) is provided with a magnetic emulator operable to communicate data to a magnetic stripe read-head. A user can utilize buttons located on the card to perform activities that would otherwise be performed at an ATM, payment card reader, or by a waitress. A user can provide instructions on a card to accelerate a transaction. The information a user enters can be communicated to a point-of-sale device. For example, a user can enter into his/her card that the user desires $100 withdrawal from a checking account. The user can also enter his/her PIN into the card. The user can swipe his/her card into an ATM and instantly be provided with the desired $100.

Abstract: An electronic card (e.g., an electronic payment card) or another device (e.g., a wireless telephonic device) is provided that may communicate dynamic magnetic stripe data to a magnetic stripe reader. Information may be embedded into a magnetic track of data representative of additional information such as, for example, a unique identification number or an additional track of magnetic stripe data.

Abstract: A flexible device, such as a powered card or processor based system, may include a connector array. The connector array may be a contact connector such as an EMV connector. The connector array may include discrete connectors connected to landing pads of a circuit board. The discrete connectors may be exposed on a surface of the flexible device, and may be arranged in rows and columns. The discrete connectors may be formed using vias and by introducing material into the vias. A mask may be used to extend a level of the discrete connectors above an outer layer of the flexible device. A personalization layer may be applied to the flexible device to about a level of an outer surface of the connector. The flexible device may be programmed and tested during the application of the personalization layer.

Abstract: Programming fixtures are provided that program cards, such as payment cards, with data, such as personal data, using light transmitters and receivers. For example, an infrared transmitter may be provided to program personal data (e.g., a customer's credit card number) into a card wirelessly. In doing so, the card may be, for example, completely laminated such that there are no exposed electronic components on the exterior surface of the card and be programmed via light.

Abstract: A card exhibiting multiple linear arrays of sensors are provided to detect a presence and movement of an external object (e.g., a read-head of a magnetic stripe reader). Each sensor of each array of sensors may be independently connected to a dual port of a processor so that the processor may determine a direction in which the card is swiped through a magnetic stripe reader. A portion of sensors of each array of sensors may be shared by a portion of inputs and/or outputs of a single port of a processor. Sensors may be cross-coupled to a single processor port so that forward and reverse directions of a card swipe may nevertheless be detected by a single-port processor of a card.

Abstract: A system may include a payment card that includes one or more chips that are operable to utilize information in a payment transaction to enact different functions. For example, a payment applet in a contact chip transaction (e.g., contact EMV transaction) or contactless chip transaction (e.g., contactless EMV transaction) may utilize information that flows through the chip (e.g., country, time, date, transaction amount, approval status) to trigger pre-stored messages or functions (e.g., switch to a payment option or account). Information may be introduced into the chip during a transaction as a result of manual input from the cardholder on the cardholder's phone or other device. Thus, transaction scripting (e.g., EMV scripting) may be utilized to let a card (e.g., static or powered) know that a function (e.g., change of account) is desired by a cardholder and the chip may, if not in the proper account, reset and restart the chip in a mode associated with the desired function (e.g., in the desired account).

Abstract: One or more detection activities of a card may allow calculation of rolling speed in motorized readers. Accordingly, the detection activity may result in a data transmission speed with greater accuracy after a determination of position, velocity and/or acceleration of the faster-moving device in relation to the card. Such detection activities may increase a probability of a successful communication sequence.

Abstract: Advanced payment applications are provided to improve the functionality of cards and devices. For example, a user interface may be placed on a card (e.g., a physical button) or a telephonic device (e.g., a virtual button on a capacitive touch screen). A code may be manually or wirelessly communicated to a card. The code may be presented on a search results page of a web search. The code may then be communicated to a card reader, such as a magnetic stripe reader. In doing so, a merchant may determine what online search results resulted in an in-store sale.

Abstract: A dynamic code may be validated by comparing the dynamic code to a verification code. The card may generate the dynamic code using a random object and a function. The random object may be generated using a random object generator. The function may be determinable using a function determination object and a look-up-table (LUT), the function determination object associable to exponents and operators, listed in the LUT, that may be combined with base variables to determine the function. The dynamic code may be determined by substituting portions of the random object for the base variables in the function. The card may communicate the dynamic code, the random object and an identifier to a remote processing facility. The remote processing facility may use the identifier to determine the function, use the random object to determine a verification code and compare the verification code to the dynamic code.