Programmable irrigation controller having user interface

Abstract

An irrigation controller, includes a housing, a microcontroller within the housing and configured to store and execute an irrigation schedule, a valve driver coupled to the microcontroller and configured to output a zone activation signal to an actuatable zone valve in response to signaling from the microcontroller, and a user interface. The user interface includes a plurality of user input devices coupled to the microcontroller and configured to provide signaling to the microcontroller based upon a user's engagement therewith, the plurality of user input devices configured to allow the user to create an irrigation schedule; and a user display coupled to the microcontroller and configured to display irrigation parameters associated with the irrigation schedule. The microcontroller is configured to cause the user display to display at least one of a next irrigation start day, a next irrigation start time, and a next zone to irrigate associated with the irrigation schedule.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An irrigation controller, comprising:
 a housing;   a microcontroller within the housing and configured to store and execute an irrigation schedule;   a valve driver coupled to the microcontroller and configured to output a zone activation signal to an actuatable zone valve in response to signaling from the microcontroller; and   a user interface comprising:
 a plurality of user input devices coupled to the microcontroller and configured to provide signaling to the microcontroller based upon a user's engagement therewith, the plurality of user input devices configured to allow the user to create an irrigation schedule; and 
 a user display coupled to the microcontroller and configured to display irrigation parameters associated with the irrigation schedule, wherein 
 the microcontroller is configured to cause the user display to display at least one of a next irrigation start day, a next irrigation start time, and a next zone to irrigate associated with the irrigation schedule.