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A self-powered, wireless sensor assembly is provided for sensing crankshaft position of an engine comprising a rotatable flywheel having a ring gear. The sensor assembly includes an electromagnetic sensor responsive to structural features on the ring gear when the ring gear rotates. A power supply i

A self-powered, wireless sensor assembly is provided for sensing crankshaft position of an engine comprising a rotatable flywheel having a ring gear. The sensor assembly includes an electromagnetic sensor responsive to structural features on the ring gear when the ring gear rotates. A power supply is coupled to generate a direct current in response to the output signal from the electromagnetic sensor. A transceiver is coupled to one of the following sensors: a magnetostatic sensor energized by the power supply and responsive to the structural features on the ring gear to generate an output signal when the ring gear rotates, and the electromagnetic sensor. The transceiver is configured to wirelessly transmit the output signal from that one sensor, wherein the output signal from that one sensor comprises information indicative of the instantaneous speed of said engine.

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What is claimed is: 1. A self-powered, wireless sensor assembly for sensing crankshaft position of an engine comprising a rotatable flywheel having a ring gear, the sensor assembly comprising: an electromagnetic sensor responsive to structural features on said ring gear to generate an output signal

What is claimed is: 1. A self-powered, wireless sensor assembly for sensing crankshaft position of an engine comprising a rotatable flywheel having a ring gear, the sensor assembly comprising: an electromagnetic sensor responsive to structural features on said ring gear to generate an output signal when the ring gear rotates; a power supply coupled to generate a direct current in response to the output signal from the electromagnetic sensor; and a transceiver energized by said power supply and coupled to one of the following sensors: a magnetostatic sensor energized by said power supply and responsive to the structural features on said ring gear to generate an output signal when the ring gear rotates, and said electromagnetic sensor, said transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit the output signal from the one sensor coupled thereto, wherein the output signal from the one sensor coupled to the transceiver comprises information indicative of the crankshaft position of said engine, wherein said sensor assembly is configured to alternatively operate in a continuously-running mode in response to rotation of said ring gear, and in an on-demand mode in response to an externally-derived request signal wirelessly received by the transceiver. 2. The sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic sensor comprises a variable reluctance sensor. 3. The sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein said magnetostatic sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of a Hall sensor and a magnetoresistive sensor. 4. The sensor assembly of claim 1 further comprising a battery cell electrically coupled to the power supply, said battery cell chargeable in response to the output signal from the electromagnetic sensor, said battery cell configured to supply power when engine RPM falls below a threshold limit for appropriately energizing electronic circuits coupled to the power supply. 5. A self-powered, wireless sensor assembly for sensing crankshaft position of an engine comprising a rotatable flywheel having a ring gear, the sensor assembly comprising: an electromagnetic sensor responsive to structural features on said ring gear to generate an output signal when the ring gear rotates; a power supply coupled to generate a direct current in response to the output signal from the electromagnetic sensor; and a transceiver energized by said power supply and coupled to said electromagnetic sensor, said transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit the output signal from the electromagnetic sensor, wherein the output signal from the electromagnetic sensor comprises information indicative of the crankshaft position of said engine, wherein said sensor assembly is configured to alternatively operate in a continuously-running mode in response to rotation of said ring gear, and in an on-demand mode in response to an externally-derived request signal wirelessly received by the transceiver. 6. The sensor assembly of claim 5 wherein said electromagnetic sensor comprises a variable reluctance sensor. 7. The sensor assembly of claim 5 further comprising a battery cell electrically coupled to the power supply, said battery cell chargeable in response to the, output signal from the electromagnetic sensor, said battery cell configured to supply power when engine RPM falls below a threshold limit for appropriately energizing electronic circuits coupled to the power supply. 8. A self-powered, wireless sensor assembly for sensing crankshaft position of an engine comprising a rotatable flywheel having a ring gear, the sensor assembly comprising: an electromagnetic sensor responsive to structural features on said ring gear to generate an output signal when the ring gear rotates; a power supply coupled to generate a direct current in response to the output signal from the electromagnetic sensor; and a transceiver energized by said power supply and coupled to a magnetostatic sensor energized by said power supply and responsive to the structural features on said ring gear to generate an output signal when the ring gear rotates, said transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit the output signal from the magnetostatic sensor, wherein the output signal from the magnetostatic sensor comprises information indicative of the crankshaft position of said engine, wherein said sensor assembly is configured to alternatively operate in a continuously-running mode in response to rotation of said ring gear, and in an on-demand mode in response to an externally-derived request signal wirelessly received by the transceiver. 9. The sensor assembly of claim 8 wherein said electromagnetic sensor comprises a variable reluctance sensor. 10. The sensor assembly of claim 8 wherein said magnetostatic sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of a Hall sensor and a magnetoresistive sensor. 11. The sensor assembly of claim 8 further comprising a battery cell electrically coupled to the power supply, said battery cell chargeable in response to the output signal from the electromagnetic sensor, said battery cell configured to supply power when engine RPM falls below a threshold limit for appropriately energizing electronic circuits coupled to the power supply. 12. A self-powered, wireless sensor assembly for sensing crankshaft position of an engine comprising a rotatable flywheel having a ring gear defining a plurality of circumferentially equi-spaced teeth, the sensor assembly comprising: an electromagnetic sensor disposed to sense the presence or absence of said ring gear teeth in proximity thereto and to generate an output signal as a function of rotation of the ring gear; a power supply coupled to generate a direct current in response to said output signal; and a transceiver energized by said power supply and coupled to said sensor, said transceiver operative to wirelessly receive externally-derived request signals and to selectively wirelessly transmit said output signal to a remote receiver, wherein, said sensor assembly is configured to operate in a continuously-running mode in response to rotation of said ring gear in the absence of said request signals, and in an on-demand mode in response to said request signals.