Patent ID: 7710288

Claim:
A wireless self-powered sensor, comprising: an electrodynamic generator adapted to induce a first electrical signal in response to a substantially planar movement of a carrier, a first magnet, or a second magnet between a first position and a second position that causes a change in a magnetic field direction in the carrier, the substantially planar movement caused by an event in a vehicle; where the carrier comprises a metal core and a wire loop wrapped around the metal core, the first magnet has a first magnetic polarity, and the second magnet has a second magnetic polarity, the second magnet positioned such that the second magnetic polarity is substantially opposite of the first magnetic polarity; a power conditioning circuit electrically coupled to the electrodynamic generator, the power conditioning circuit adapted to rectify and regulate the first electrical signal into a second electrical signal, the second electrical signal comprising a substantially constant voltage; an encryption circuit electrically coupled to the electrodynamic generator and the power conditioning circuit, the encryption circuit sourced by the second electrical signal and adapted to encode a unique message in a data packet; and a radio frequency transmitter electrically coupled to the encryption circuit, the radio frequency transmiffer sourced by the second electrical signal and adapted to transmit the data packet, wherein the substantially planar movement causes a break in contact between the carrier and one of the first magnet or the second magnet.