Patent ID: 8653939

Claim:
A wireless key card sensor unit comprising: a slot into which a key card, programmed with a pattern of punched apertures, can be inserted; and an electronic module having an energy harvesting device that generates electrical power in response to insertion of the key card into and retraction of the key card out of said slot; at least one micro switch, activation of which is determined by a pattern of punched apertures on the key card, upon insertion of the programmed key card into the slot; circuitry, powered by the generated electrical power, that identifies which of said at least one micro switches have been activated by the inserted programmed card and generates a digital information packet identifying which of said at least one micro switches which have been activated; and a wireless transmitter, powered by the generated electrical power which transmits the digital information packet; wherein activation of said at least one micro switch occurs prior to generation of electrical power by said energy harvesting device.