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Some embodiments provide irrigation valve control apparatuses comprising: a solenoid configured to cooperate with a plunger; an input stimulus source coupled with the solenoid and configured to apply an input stimulus while a plunger drive signal is not being applied and that is sufficiently small t

Some embodiments provide irrigation valve control apparatuses comprising: a solenoid configured to cooperate with a plunger; an input stimulus source coupled with the solenoid and configured to apply an input stimulus while a plunger drive signal is not being applied and that is sufficiently small to not cause the plunger to move; sampling circuitry configured to measure one or more voltage measurements corresponding to one or more voltages across the solenoid, wherein the one or more voltage measurements are dependent upon the current position of the plunger relative to the solenoid; and control circuitry cooperated with the sampling circuitry to receive the one or more voltage measurements from the sampling circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine whether the plunger is in one of the open and closed positions based on the one or more voltage measurements.

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1. An irrigation valve control apparatus comprising: a solenoid configured to cooperate with a plunger and to receive a plunger drive signal from plunger activation circuitry, wherein the plunger drive signal is configured to induce a magnetic field relative to the solenoid that causes the plunger t

1. An irrigation valve control apparatus comprising: a solenoid configured to cooperate with a plunger and to receive a plunger drive signal from plunger activation circuitry, wherein the plunger drive signal is configured to induce a magnetic field relative to the solenoid that causes the plunger to change positions between open and closed positions;an input stimulus source coupled with the solenoid and configured to apply an input stimulus into the solenoid at a time while the plunger drive signal is not being applied to the solenoid, wherein the input stimulus is sufficiently small that the input stimulus applied to the solenoid does not cause the plunger to move from a current position;sampling circuitry configured to measure one or more voltage measurements corresponding to one or more voltages across the solenoid, wherein the one or more voltage measurements are dependent upon the current position of the plunger relative to the solenoid in response to applying the input stimulus to the solenoid; andcontrol circuitry cooperated with the sampling circuitry to receive the one or more voltage measurements from the sampling circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: determine whether the plunger is in one of the open and closed positions based on the one or more voltage measurements; anddetermine one of a plurality of positions that are in between the open and closed positions based on a sequential application of multiple input stimulus signals. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: the plunger positioned relative to the solenoid, wherein the plunger is configured to be movable between the open and closed positions in response to the magnetic field generated by the solenoid in response to the plunger drive signal applied to the solenoid by the plunger activation circuitry. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry, in determining whether the plunger is in one of the open and closed positions, is configured to evaluate the one or more voltage measurements relative to a first threshold and determine whether the plunger is in one of the open and closed positions as a result of a relationship between the one or more voltage measurements and the first threshold. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to evaluate the one or more voltage measurements relative to a second threshold, and determine whether the plunger is in the other of the open and closed positions as a function of a second relationship between the one or more voltage measurements and the second threshold. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to identify that the plunger is in an unknown position as the result of the first relationship between the one or more voltage measurements and the first threshold and the second relationship between the one or more voltage measurements and the second threshold. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to evaluate the one or more voltage measurements relative to a third threshold, and to determine whether the plunger is removed from a position cooperated with the solenoid as a result of a relationship between the one or more voltage measurements and the third threshold. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a resistance-capacitance circuit (RC circuit) coupled with the solenoid at a first terminal of the solenoid forming an inductance, resistance and capacitance circuit (LRC circuit), wherein the RC circuit comprises a first resistor and a first capacitor cooperatively coupled with the solenoid. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the sampling circuitry in taking each of the one or more voltage measurements is configured to take multiple measurements over time of the voltage across the solenoid in response to the application of the input stimulus to the LRC circuit. 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the sampling circuitry is coupled with the solenoid at a connection between the first terminal of the solenoid and the RC circuit. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plunger activation circuitry is distinct from the sampling circuitry and the control circuitry. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input stimulus comprises at least one of a sine wave signal, a periodic square wave signal, and a single square pulse signal. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plunger drive signal is distinct from the input stimulus source. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sampling circuitry in taking each of the one or more voltage measurements is configured to take the one or more voltage measurements after a predefined period of time following the input stimulus being applied to the solenoid. 14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a gain stage coupled between the solenoid and the sampling circuitry, wherein the gain stage is configured to amplify, prior to taking the one or more voltage measurements, an amplitude-modulated pulse induced at least in part by the solenoid in response to the input stimulus producing an amplified, amplitude-modulated pulse corresponding to voltage across the solenoid; andwherein the sampling circuitry in measuring the one or more voltage measurements is configured to measure the one or more voltage measurements of the amplified, amplitude-modulated pulse corresponding to the voltage across the solenoid with a resulting increased dynamic range of the sampling circuitry allowing the utilization of a greater number of bits to digitally represent the sampled signal than available without the gain stage. 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sampling circuitry is configured to take multiple voltage measurements following the application of the input stimulus; wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive the multiple voltage measurements, to cooperate the multiple voltage measurements calculating a cooperative measurement; andwherein the control circuitry is configured, when evaluating the one or more voltage measurements, to evaluate the cooperative measurement relative to a first threshold, and determine whether the plunger is in one of the closed position and the open position as a result of a relationship between the cooperative measurement and the first threshold. 16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: boost circuitry coupled with a multi-wire path comprising at least two wires, wherein the multi-wire path delivers power; andboost control circuitry configured to determine whether a voltage level on the multi-wire path is below a plunger drive signal threshold and activates the boost circuitry;wherein the boost circuitry is configured to increase a voltage of the plunger drive signal applied to the solenoid to induce the movement of the plunger to change positions between the open and closed positions. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the boost control circuitry, in response to determining that the voltage level on the multi-wire path is below the plunger drive signal threshold, is further configured to generate a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal applied to the boost circuitry; wherein the boost circuitry is configured to generate an increased voltage and charge one or more charge storage circuitry, over a period of time, to a voltage at least equal to the plunger drive signal threshold in response to the PWM signal. 18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: temperature sensing circuitry coupled with the control circuitry, wherein the temperature sensing circuitry is configured to provide an indication of a current temperature of an environment in which the solenoid is positioned; andwherein the control circuitry in evaluating the one or more voltage measurements is further configured to adapt the evaluation of the one or more voltage measurements, which are dependent upon the position of the plunger relative to the solenoid, as a function of the indication of the current temperature. 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to activate the plunger activation circuitry to generate the plunger drive signal that is applied to the solenoid and intended to force the plunger to an intended one of the closed position and the open position, and to determine whether the plunger is in a stuck condition by determining whether the plunger is in the intended one of the open position and the closed position after the applying the plunger drive signal to the solenoid. 20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry, when determining whether the plunger is in one of the open and closed positions, is further configured to determine one of a level of how open and a level of how closed, wherein the level of how open and the level of how closed are defined by an estimated proportional position of the plunger relative to a range of motion of the plunger and at least one of a fully open position at a first limit of the range of motion and a fully closed position at a second limit of the range of motion. 21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry, when determining whether the plunger is in one of the open and closed positions, is further configured to determine a proportional location of the plunger relative to one of the open and closed positions and a range of motion of the plunger. 22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the determination of the positions of the plunger is independent of initial receipt of the plunger drive signal by the solenoid. 23. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an H-bridge switching circuitry comprising a first half of the H-bridge switching circuitry and a second half of the H-bridge switching circuitry, wherein the first half is coupled with a first terminal of the solenoid, and wherein the second half is coupled with a second terminal of the solenoid. 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to dictate direction of current flow through the solenoid via the H-bridge switching circuitry. 25. An irrigation apparatus, comprising: a solenoid configured to cooperate with a plunger and to receive a plunger drive signal from plunger activation circuitry wherein the plunger drive signal is configured to induce a magnetic field relative to the solenoid that causes the plunger to change positions between open and closed positions causing an opening and closing of an irrigation valve;first switching circuitry cooperated with the solenoid, wherein the first switching circuitry is configured, upon activation, to dictate a direction of electrical current flow through the solenoid, wherein the direction of current flow while the plunger drive signal is applied controls a direction of movement of the plunger in response to the application of the plunger drive signal;an input stimulus source cooperated with the solenoid, wherein the input stimulus source is configured to generate an input stimulus that is applied to a first terminal of the solenoid at a time while the plunger drive signal is not being applied to the solenoid, and wherein the input stimulus does not cause the plunger to change from a current position;a resistive load cooperated with a second terminal of the solenoid;sampling circuitry coupled with the resistive load, wherein the sampling circuitry is configured to measure one or more voltage measurements across the resistive load in response to the input stimulus; andcontrol circuitry coupled with the sampling circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive the one or more voltage measurements, determine a current passing through the resistive load as a function of the one or more voltage measurements, calculate an estimated inductance of the solenoid as a function of the determined current and a timing of the input stimulus, determine whether the plunger is in one of the open position and the closed position as a function of the estimated inductance of the solenoid, and determine one of a plurality of positions that are in between the open and closed positions based on a sequential application of multiple input stimulus signals. 26. An irrigation valve control apparatus comprising: a solenoid configured to cooperate with a plunger and to receive a plunger drive signal from plunger activation circuitry, wherein the plunger drive signal is configured to induce a magnetic field relative to the solenoid that causes the plunger to change positions between open and closed positions resulting in opening or closing a valve such that water is allowed to pass through the valve when the plunger is in the open position and water is prevented from passing the valve when the plunger is in the closed position;control circuitry cooperated with the solenoid and configured to direct the plunger drive signal into the solenoid to induce movement of the plunger;an input stimulus source cooperated with the solenoid and configured to apply an input stimulus into the solenoid at a time while the plunger drive signal is not being applied to the solenoid, wherein the input stimulus that is sufficiently small that the input stimulus does not cause the plunger to move from a current position; anda resonant circuit comprising the solenoid, wherein the resonant circuit is coupled with the input stimulus source and configured to be excited by the input stimulus to generate a resonant response that resonates when the plunger is in one of the open position and the closed position;wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine whether the resonant response is generated in response to the input stimulus, and to determine whether the plunger is in one of the open and closed positions in response to whether the resonant response is generated, andwherein the input stimulus comprises a first resonant frequency of a plurality of resonant frequencies, and wherein the input stimulus source is further configured to apply into the solenoid a second input stimulus comprising a second resonant frequency of the plurality of resonant frequencies at a second time. 27. An irrigation valve control apparatus comprising: a solenoid configured to cooperate with a plunger and to receive a plunger drive signal from plunger activation circuitry, wherein the plunger drive signal is configured to induce a magnetic field relative to the solenoid that causes the plunger to change positions between open and closed positions;an input stimulus source coupled with the solenoid and configured to apply a first input stimulus into the solenoid at a time while the plunger drive signal is not being applied to the solenoid, wherein the first input stimulus is sufficiently small that the first input stimulus applied to the solenoid does not cause the plunger to move from a current position, and wherein the first input stimulus comprises a first resonant frequency of a plurality of resonant frequencies, and wherein the input stimulus source is further configured to apply into the solenoid a second input stimulus comprising a second resonant frequency of the plurality of resonant frequencies at a second time;sampling circuitry configured to measure one or more voltage measurements corresponding to one or more voltages across the solenoid, wherein the one or more voltage measurements are dependent upon the current position of the plunger relative to the solenoid in response to applying the first input stimulus to the solenoid; andcontrol circuitry cooperated with the sampling circuitry to receive the one or more voltage measurements from the sampling circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine whether the plunger is in one of the open and closed positions based on the one or more voltage measurements.