US 11,937,557 B2
Irrigation control systems and methods
Ingrid Olive-Chahinian, Cadolive (FR); Myriam Vialleton, Clapiers (FR); and Guillaume Barbe, Clapiers (FR)
Assigned to Rain Bird Corporation, Azusa, CA (US)
Filed by Rain Bird Corporation, Azusa, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 3, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/105,528.
Application 18/105,528 is a continuation of application No. 16/405,762, filed on May 7, 2019, granted, now 11,570,956.
Application 16/405,762 is a continuation of application No. 14/073,619, filed on Nov. 6, 2013, granted, now 10,327,397, issued on Jun. 5, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 12306370 (EP), filed on Nov. 7, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2023/0180684 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
Int. Cl. A01G 25/16 (2006.01)
CPC A01G 25/16 (2013.01) [G05B 2219/2625 (2013.01); Y02A 40/22 (2018.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An irrigation system, the system comprising:
a radio module configured to communicate with a handheld control device via a first communication path, the first communication path not via a central irrigation controller, and wherein the radio module is configured to communicate using an unlicensed ISM frequency band and spread spectrum modulation with at least one wireless device located within about 3000 feet of the radio module;
program code configured to be executed by the handheld control device such that the handheld control device is configured to cause a touch sensitive display of the handheld control device to display different user interface programming options to allow a user to assign a name to a control module configured to implement irrigation, and configured to define an irrigation schedule including watering days, start times and durations, and configured to transmit irrigation parameters to the radio module, wherein the irrigation parameters comprise one or more of a water command, an irrigation schedule, a watering program, a rain delay command, and a water budget command;
a control module configured to be located within a valve box at least partially buried in the ground and having at least one water conduit passing therethrough and about 3000 feet from the radio module, wherein the control module comprises:
a watertight housing;
a processor within the housing;
one or more valve drivers within the housing and coupled with the processor, wherein the control module is positioned separate from the radio module, wherein the control module is configured to implement irrigation such that the one or more valve drivers are each configured to control a different irrigation valve;
a battery within the housing, wherein the battery provides the only power to the control module; and
a communication unit within the housing wherein the communication unit is configured to:
receive communications from the radio module via a second communication path between the radio module and the control module using the unlicensed ISM frequency band and the spread spectrum modulation, wherein the communications comprise the irrigation parameters;
wherein the control module is configured to:
operate a respective valve driver of the one or more valve drivers based on the received irrigation parameters; and
cause a respective latching solenoid to open or close a valve in response to the respective valve driver being operated.