Patent ID: 8204630

Claim:
A sprinkler controller module, comprising: a base unit having a housing, a microcontroller unit (“MCU”), and a triac group in electrical communication with valve terminals that enable control of coupled sprinkler valves, and only a single communication connection point for receiving an add-on module; and at least one add-on module, each add-on module including a housing that is separate from the housing of the base unit, an MCU that receives and interprets signals from the base unit, and a triac group in electrical communication with valve terminals for each add-on module that enable control of coupled sprinkler valves, and two communication connection points for communication with an adjacent add-on module or the base unit, the two communication connection points being positioned on opposing sides of each add-on module, wherein a first add-on module is connectable to the base unit and a second add-on module is connectable to the first add-on module in a piggyback configuration, wherein if the first add-on module is connected to the base unit, at least half of a side of the housing of the base unit physically abuts at least half of a side of the housing of the first add-on module.