Modular and expandable irrigation controller

A modular irrigation controller comprising:

• a housing:
• a control unit within the housing, the control unit including a main microcontroller for executing stored irrigation programs;
• a plurality of expansion module mounting locations within the housing adapted to removably receive expansion modules, each expansion mounting location electrically coupled to the main microcontroller;
• and
• a first expansion module removably mounted to a first expansion module mounting location and electrically coupled to the main microcontroller, the first expansion module including a first microcontroller, the first microcontroller adapted to operate with the main microcontroller and provide additional functionality not present in the capabilities of the main microcontroller;
• wherein the first expansion module includes an input connector coupled to the first microcontroller, the first microcontroller responsive to input signals received at the input connector and adapted to transmit control signals to the main microcontroller based on the input signals, the control signals causing the main microcontroller to alter its operation.

An expansion module for a modular irrigation controller comprising:

• a housing;
• an electrical connector adapted to removably connect to one of a plurality of expansion module mounting locations of a modular irrigation controller;
• a microcontroller within the housing and coupled to the electrical connector, the microcontroller adapted to operate with a control unit of the modular irrigation controller and provide additional control functionality not present in the capabilities of the control unit;
• and
• an input connector coupled to the microcontroller, the microcontroller responsive to input signals received at the input connector and adapted to transmit control signals to a main microprocessor of the control unit based on the input signals, the control signals causing the main microprocessor to alter its operation.

An expansion module for a modular irrigation controller comprising:

• a housing;
• an electrical connector adapted to removably connect to one of a plurality of expansion module mounting locations of a modular irrigation controller;
• and
• a microcontroller within the housing and coupled to the electrical connector, the microcontroller adapted to:
• receive irrigation program parameters stored in a memory of a control unit of the modular irrigation controller via the electrical connector;
• alter the irrigation program parameters;
• and
• transmit the altered irrigation program parameters to the memory of the control unit.

A modular irrigation controller comprising:

• a housing:
• a control unit within the housing, the control unit including a first microcontroller for executing stored irrigation programs;
• a plurality of expansion module mounting locations within the housing adapted to removably receive expansion modules, each expansion mounting location electrically coupled to the first microcontroller;
• an expansion module removably mounted to a first expansion module mounting location and electrically coupled to the first microcontroller, the expansion module including a second microcontroller, the second microcontroller adapted to operate with the first microcontroller;
• wherein the first microcontroller is adapted to send data corresponding to the stored irrigation programs to the second microcontroller upon request by the second microcontroller;
• wherein the first microcontroller is adapted to send at least a portion of an irrigation program to the second microcontroller upon request by the second microcontroller.