# US 11,071,263 B2 · Expandable irrigation controller > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,071,263 B2 - Document ID: US11071263B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/787,948 - Filed: 2020-02-11 - Published: 2020-06-04 - Granted: 2021-07-27 - Earliest claimed: 2002-10-15 - Assignees: Rain Bird Corporation - Applicants: Rain Bird Corporation - Inventors: Harvey J. Nickerson; Russel D. Leatherman; Jose Macias Galarza; Bill Merkt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11071263B2 ## CPC - A01G 25/16: Control of watering - A01G 25/167: {Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors} - G05B 15/02: electric - G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) - G05B 19/0426: {Programming the control sequence} - G05B 2219/23043: Remote and local control panel, programming unit, switch - G05B 2219/23051: Remote control, enter program remote, detachable programmer - G05B 2219/23297: Remote load of program with cellular, wireless, satellite connection - G05B 2219/23406: Programmer device, portable, handheld detachable programmer - G05B 2219/25085: Several function expansion units for leader, main unit, universal system - G05B 2219/2625: Sprinkler, irrigation, watering - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## Abstract Described herein are several embodiments relating to irrigation controllers. In many implementations, the irrigation controllers includes a housing; a control unit within the housing and comprising a first microcontroller configured to execute stored irrigation programs, wherein the control unit includes an interface connector port; a driver circuitry within the housing configured to actuate irrigation valves based on control signals received from the first microcontroller; and a removable plug-in device removably coupled to the interface connector port, the removable plug-in device comprising a second microcontroller configured to send and receive data communications to and from the first microcontroller, such that the first microcontroller and the second microcontroller function together during use of the irrigation controller, wherein the removable plug-in device does not include any driver circuitry configured to actuate any irrigation valves based on any control signals received from the first microcontroller. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An irrigation controller comprising: a housing; a control unit within the housing and comprising a first microcontroller configured to execute stored irrigation programs, wherein the control unit includes an interface connector port that is electrically and communicationally coupled directly to the first microcontroller; driver circuitry within the housing, separate from and coupled to the control unit, the driver circuitry configured to actuate irrigation valves based on control signals received from the first microcontroller; and a removable plug-in device removably coupled to the interface connector port, the removable plug-in device comprising a second microcontroller configured to send and receive data communications to and from the first microcontroller, such that the first microcontroller and the second microcontroller function together during use of the irrigation controller, wherein the removable plug-in device does not include any driver circuitry configured to actuate any irrigation valves based on any control signals received from the first microcontroller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a recess formed on the control unit with the interface connector port, and wherein the removable plug-in device removably couples to the interface connector port in the recess. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the removable plug-in device comprises a memory storing firmware that is transferred to the first microcontroller via the interface connector port to replace at least a portion of control unit firmware stored in the control unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein replacement firmware is transferred from the second microcontroller to the first microcontroller via the interface connector port to replace at least a portion of control unit firmware stored in the control unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the removable plug-in device is configured to communicatively couple to an external device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The irrigation controller of claim 5, wherein the removable plug-in device comprises a wireless modem. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the removable plug-in device is coupled to a wireless network. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the data communications comprises irrigation schedules. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the removable plug-in device is configured to upload and download irrigation schedules to and from the control unit and an external computer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The irrigation controller of claim 1, wherein the data communications comprise various commands for irrigation control. ### Claim 11 A method for use in controlling irrigation by an irrigation controller comprising: removably coupling a removable plug-in device to an interface connector port of a control unit of the irrigation controller, the irrigation controller comprising a housing, the control unit within the housing, and driver circuitry in the housing; wherein the control unit comprises a first microcontroller configured to execute stored irrigation programs, and wherein the interface connector port that is electrically and communicatively coupled directly to the first microcontroller; wherein the driver circuitry is separate from and coupled to the control unit and is configured to actuate irrigation valves based on control signals received from the first microcontroller; and wherein the removable plug-in device comprises a second microcontroller, and does not include any driver circuitry configured to actuate any irrigation valves based on any control signals received from the first microcontroller; and sending and receiving, by the second microcontroller, data communications to and from the first microcontroller, such that the first microcontroller and the second microcontroller function together during use of the irrigation controller. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the control unit includes a recess formed on the control unit with the interface connector port, and wherein the removable plug-in device removably couples to the interface connector port in the recess. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising transferring firmware stored in a memory of the removable plug-in device to the first microcontroller via the interface connector port to replace at least a portion of control unit firmware stored in the control unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising transferring replacement firmware from the second microcontroller to the first microcontroller via the interface connector port to replace at least a portion of control unit firmware stored in the control unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising communicatively coupling the removable plug-in device to an external device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the removable plug-in device comprises a wireless modem. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising coupling the removable plug-in device to a wireless network. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the data communications comprise irrigation schedules. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising uploading and downloading, by the removable plug-in device, irrigation schedules to and from the control unit and an external computer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the data communications comprise various commands for irrigation control.