Intelligent wire connectors

Abstract

An intelligent wire connector carrying a microprocessor for transmitting information and/or sensing conditions proximate the wire connector wherein information from the microprocessor may be transmitted to a remote location in either a wireless mode or indirectly through an electrical wire, which is secured in the wire connector.

I claim: 
     
         1 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The method of remotely obtaining dynamic information proximate an electrical wire connector comprising:
 placing a microprocessor in or on an electrically insulated housing of an electrical wire connector;   forming an electrical junction within the electrical wire connector without interfering with the microprocessor;   placing the wire connector with the microprocessor in an area where the wire connector may be concealed from view;   using the microprocessor to sense conditions proximate the wire connector to obtain dynamic information; and   using the microprocessor to transmit the dynamic information to a remote location.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the microprocessor is placed in the electrically insulated housing of a twist-on electrical wire connector and a set of electrical wires are twisted into electrical engagement in the twist-on wire connector. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  including incorporating an environmental sensor in the twist-on electrical wire connector. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  including the step of incorporating the environmental sensor in the microprocessor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of incorporating an environmental sensor includes incorporating one or all of a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor or a moisture sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  including monitoring conditions proximate the twist-on electrical wire connector with one or more of a location sensor, an environmental sensor or a motion sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  including incorporating a wireless transmitter into the microprocessor to transfer information to a remote location either on demand or in response to a condition proximate the wire connector. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  including inductively supplying power to the microprocessor in said electrical wire connector wherein the power is tapped from an ac signal flowing through an electrical wire secured in the wire connector; and communication to and from the microprocessor is via an electrical wire secured in the wire connector wherein the communication is a different frequency then the frequency of ac current flowing through the electrical wire. 
     
     
         18 . An intelligent electrical wire connector for joining electrical wires into an electrical connection comprising:
 an electrically insulated housing for eclectically isolating an electrical junction therein;   a member located in said electrically insulated housing for holding electrical wires in electrical contact with each other; and   a microprocessor carried by said electrically insulated housing, said microprocessor responsive to a condition proximate the electrical wire connector with said microprocessor operable for transmitting dynamic information to a location remote from the electrical wire connector either periodically, continually or in response to a signal external to the electrical wire connector.   
     
     
         19 . The electrical wire connector of  claim 18  wherein the electrical wire connector includes a waterproof sealant therein and the member for holding electrical wires in electrical contact comprises a spiral coil with the microprocessor including wireless transmission capability. 
     
     
         20 . The electrical wire connector of  claim 18  wherein the electrical wire connector includes a looped coil therein for tapping a portion of power from an electromagnetic field generated by an ac current flowing through the electrical wire connector.