Payment card and methods

1. A method for controlling a payment card comprising a magnetic stripe emulator, and a set of input regions, the method comprising:

receiving an input on a surface of the payment card;

in response to receiving the input, attempting wireless communication with a mobile computing device associated with a unique wireless communication address;

in response to a predefined number of failed attempts to establish a wireless connection with the mobile computing device at the unique wireless communication address, suppressing a payment function of the magnetic stripe emulator with a magnetic sequence command stored on the payment card;

receiving a series of inputs through the set of input regions;

authenticating the series of inputs as a passcode; and

in response to authenticating the series of inputs as the passcode, enabling the payment function of the magnetic stripe emulator.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the input on the surface of the payment card comprises transitioning from a passive mode to an active mode in response to a voltage output from a piezoelectric transducer arranged within the payment card.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein attempting wireless communication with the mobile computing device comprises transmitting a set of inquiries up to the predefined number to the unique wireless communication address associated with the mobile computing device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein suppressing the payment function of the magnetic stripe emulator comprises maintaining a coil of the magnetic stripe emulator in an unpowered setting.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a selection for a particular input region, in the set of input regions, assigned to a particular payment method, wherein enabling the payment function of the magnetic stripe emulator comprises powering a coil of the magnetic stripe emulator according to a magnetic sequence command associated with the particular payment method.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising transitioning the coil of the magnetic stripe emulator to an unpowered setting after a threshold period of time.

7. A method for controlling a payment card comprising a planar sheet, a magnetic stripe emulator, a first input region, and a second input region, the method comprising:

receiving an input on a surface of the payment card that bends the sheet out of plane;

in response to receiving the input, establishing a wireless connection with a mobile computing device;

receiving a first magnetic sequence command and a second magnetic sequence command from the mobile computing device, the first magnetic sequence command associated with a first payment method, the second magnetic sequence command associated with a second payment method;

assigning the first payment method to the first input region;

assigning the second payment method to the second input region;

receiving a selection for the second payment method through the second input region; and

in response to receiving the selection for the second payment method, driving the magnetic stripe emulator according to the second magnetic sequence command.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein establishing the wireless connection with the mobile computing device comprises transmitting an inquiry for the mobile computing device that is paired to the payment card.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein assigning the first payment method to the first input region and assigning the second payment method to the second input region comprise assigning the first payment method to the first input region and assigning the second payment method to the second input region according to a payment method rank received from the mobile computing device.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein receiving the selection for the second payment method comprises receiving an input on the surface of the payment card proximal the second input region that comprises a capacitive touch sensor and switching from a default payment method specifying the first payment method to a selected payment method specifying the second payment method.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein driving the magnetic stripe emulator comprises detecting a read head of a magnetic stripe reader and powering a coil of the magnetic stripe emulator according to the second magnetic sequence command and a speed of the magnetic stripe emulator relative to the read head.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein receiving the first magnetic sequence command comprises recording a series of audio pulses with a transducer arranged within the payment card and translating the series of audio pulses into the first magnetic sequence command.

13. A method for controlling a payment card comprising a planar sheet, a magnetic stripe emulator, a first input region assigned a first payment method, and a second input region assigned a second payment method, the method comprising:

authorizing use of the payment card;

initiating a timed payment mode comprising a payment timer;

receiving a selection for the first payment method through the first input region, the first payment method associated with a first magnetic sequence command stored in memory;

in response to receiving the selection for the first payment method, enabling a payment function of the magnetic stripe emulator with the first magnetic stripe command;

setting the payment timer for the payment function with the first magnetic stripe command based on a location of the payment card;

locking the payment function of the magnetic stripe emulator with the first magnetic stripe command against a selection for the second payment method entered into the second input region; and

disabling the payment function of the magnetic stripe emulator with the first magnetic stripe command in response to expiration of the payment timer.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein authorizing use of the payment card comprises receiving an input on a surface of the payment card, receiving a series of inputs through the first input region and the second input region, and authenticating the series of inputs as a valid passcode.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein authorizing use of the payment card comprises receiving an input on a surface of the payment card, transmitting an inquiry for a mobile computing device paired to the payment card, and establishing a wireless connection with a mobile computing device.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein initiating the timed payment mode comprises receiving a timed payment mode request from the mobile computing device and initiating the payment timer for a predetermined period of time, wherein disabling the magnetic stripe emulator comprises disconnecting the magnetic stripe emulator from a power source upon expiration of the payment timer.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein initiating the timed payment mode comprises receiving a series of inputs through the first input region and the second input region and identifying the series of inputs as timed payment mode request, and wherein setting the payment timer comprises initiating the payment timer for a period of time corresponding to a location of the mobile computing device within wireless range of the payment card.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein locking the payment function of the magnetic stripe emulator comprises disregarding an input on the second input region prior to expiration of the payment timer.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein disabling the magnetic stripe emulator comprises transitioning the magnetic stripe emulator to a standby setting, wherein the magnetic stripe emulator is unpowered in the standby setting.