Patent ID: 7613546

Claim:
An irrigation controller comprising: a controller housing; a microprocessor located within said controller housing for storing and executing a watering program for controlling a plurality of irrigation stations; an auxiliary port in communication with said microprocessor and disposed in said controller housing; a modular rain sensor receiver removably located within said controller housing, said modular rain sensor receiver comprising: an enclosure; a data port disposed on an external surface of said enclosure and removably coupled to said auxiliary port; and a wireless receiver disposed within said enclosure; a local rain sensor adapted to measure rain, including a wireless transmitter configured to communicate rain moisture data to said modular rain sensor receiver; wherein said auxiliary port provides power to said modular rain sensor receiver; wherein said data port communicates said rain moisture data to said microprocessor; and wherein said microprocessor selectively interrupts said watering program from irrigation based on said rain moisture data.