Patent ID: 11937557
Assignee: RAIN BIRD CORPORATION
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC A  G  Y | IPC A

Claim 10:
11. A method of controlling irrigation, the method comprising:
receiving at a radio module, via a first communication path and from a handheld control device, irrigation parameters, wherein the first communication path is not via a central irrigation controller, and wherein the handheld control device executes program code 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 the 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;
communicating by the radio module 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;
receiving, by a communication unit of a control module, 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 be located within a valve box at least partially buried in the ground and having at least one water conduit passing therethrough and located within 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 the communication unit within the housing;
operating, by the control module, a respective valve driver of the one or more valve drivers based on the received irrigation parameters; and
causing, by the control module, a respective latching solenoid to open or close a valve in response to the respective valve driver being operated.