Integrated control circuitry and coil assembly for irrigation control

1. An irrigation control device comprising:

a coil configured to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment;

control circuitry coupled to the coil and configured to receive, at input connections, control signals comprising a modulated power signal from an external irrigation control unit of an irrigation control system and configured to control the electromagnetic flux at the coil based on the control signals, wherein the control circuitry is configured to derive data from the modulated power signal and based on the data, output signaling to the coil to cause the coil to develop the flux; and

a housing covering at least a portion of both the coil and the control circuitry, the housing being a one-piece housing and including a threaded end configured to thread the irrigation control device directly to a valve assembly to be actuated by the electromagnetic flux of the coil, the housing including a curable, electrically non-conductive potting material substantially holding the control circuitry in a fixed position relative to the coil within the housing;

a core tube within the housing, the core tube being separated from the control circuitry at least by the potting material;

wherein the housing further comprises an aperture and a valve member within the housing and located relative to the coil and the aperture such that the valve member is configured to move relative to the aperture in response to the electromagnetic flux;

wherein the control circuitry is further configured to communicate to the external irrigation control unit via the input connections;

wherein the control circuitry is further configured to communicate to the external irrigation control unit by selectively shorting a control wire path from the external irrigation control unit at the input connections; and

wherein the control circuitry is further configured to provide feedback to the external irrigation control unit to indicate that the control signals have been received by the control circuitry and that commands were executed based on the received control signals.

2. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the valve member is configured to extend out of the aperture to engage a valve seat external to the housing.

3. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the valve member opens and closes an opening on a valve seat member disposed within the housing.

4. The irrigation control device of claim 1 , wherein the valve member is a plunger configured to move relative to the aperture and within the core tube.

5. The irrigation control device of claim 1 further comprising a spring disposed within the housing to bias the valve member into a closed position against a valve seat.

6. The irrigation control device of claim 1 further comprising a magnet to control the axial position of the plunger within the core tube.

7. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the coil is substantially secured in position relative to the control circuitry within the housing.

8. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the housing and the threaded end define a longitudinal axis, and wherein the housing includes a curved wall facing the circuitry and curving about the longitudinal axis.

9. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the control signals are received at input connections from the external irrigation control unit through a control wire path via a modulated power signal readable by the control circuitry.

10. The irrigation control device of claim 9 wherein the control wire path is configured to connect the external irrigation control unit to a plurality of irrigation control devices each having control circuitry configured to read the control signals transmitted from the external irrigation control unit via the control wire path.

11. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the control circuitry is configured to derive the data from the modulated power signal, the data comprising data bits corresponding to one or more of a plurality of instructions for the control circuitry to execute.

12. The irrigation control device of claim 11 wherein the plurality of instructions comprise instructions to: activate the irrigation equipment, deactivate the irrigation equipment, adjust a parameter stored in the control circuitry, and implement an operation of the control circuitry.

13. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the control circuitry is configured to derive the data from the modulated power signal as logic 1 and logic 0 data bits depending on whether the modulated power signal is clipped.