Author: claimsbot

1. An x-ray imaging system comprising:
an x-ray generator configured to emit an x-ray beam;
a two-dimensional pixelated area radiation detector having a plane arranged perpendicular to an emission direction of the x-ray beam, wherein a first translation stage and a second translation stage carry the radiation detector, wherein the first and second translation stages are configured to move the radiation detector along translation axes parallel to orientation directions of detector pixels of the radiation detector; and
a rotation stage having a rotation axis perpendicular to the emission direction of the x-ray beam, wherein the rotation stage is disposed between the x-ray generator and the radiation detector, wherein the rotation stage is configured to carry and rotate a sample;
a linear stage configured to translate the sample linearly along an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the rotation stage, wherein a motion of the rotation stage and a motion of the linear stage are synchronized such that the x-ray beam traces a spiral pattern on the sample; and
an image acquisition system configured to:
acquire, while the radiation detector is at a first detector position, a first series of radiographs at a plurality of rotation angles of the rotation stage and a plurality of linear stage positions of the linear stage;
after acquiring the first series of radiographs, acquire, while the radiation detector is at a second detector position, a second series of radiographs at the plurality of rotation angles and the plurality of linear stage positions, the second detector position being separated from the first detector position along either or both the translation axes by a distance less than a pixel size of the radiation detector;
generate, based on radiographs in the first series of radiographs and corresponding radiographs in the second series of radiographs, a set of higher-resolution radiographs, wherein the higher-resolution radiographs have higher resolution than the radiographs in the first and second series of radiographs; and
assemble the higher-resolution radiographs into a 3-dimensional radiograph of the sample.
2. The x-ray imaging system of claim 1, wherein the image acquisition system assembles the radiographs in an interlaced fashion to form the higher-resolution radiographs.
3. The x-ray imaging system of claim 1, further comprising:
a first linear position encoder, wherein the first linear position encoder has a resolution finer than one-quarter of the pixel size of the radiation detector, wherein the first linear position encoder is configured to provide a direct measurement of displacement of the first translation stage; and
a second linear position encoder, wherein the second linear position encoder has a resolution finer than one-quarter the pixel size of the radiation detector, wherein the second linear position encoder is configured to provide a direct measurement of displacement of the second translation stage,
wherein the image acquisition system assembles radiographs of the first and second series of radiographs using the measurement of displacement of the first translation stage and the measurement of displacement of the second translation stage.
4. The x-ray imaging system of claim 1, wherein the x-ray generator generates x-rays with an energy range of 20 keV to 600 keV.
5. The x-ray imaging system of claim 1, wherein:
the radiation detector comprises a flat-panel x-ray detector, and
the pixel size of the radiation detector is in a range of 25 micrometers to 250 micrometers.
6. The x-ray imaging system of claim 1, wherein:
the radiation detector comprises a lens-coupled detector, and
the pixel size of the radiation detector is in a range of 0.1 micrometers to 10 micrometers.
7-12. (canceled)
13. An x-ray imaging system comprising:
an x-ray generator configured to emit an x-ray beam;
a two-dimensional pixelated area radiation detector having a plane arranged perpendicular to an emission direction of the x-ray beam, wherein a first translation stage and a second translation stage carry the radiation detector, wherein the first and second translation stages are configured to move the radiation detector along translation axes parallel to orientation directions of detector pixels of the radiation detector;
a rotation stage having a rotation axis perpendicular to the emission direction of the x-ray beam, wherein the rotation stage is disposed between the x-ray generator and the radiation detector, wherein the rotation stage is configured to carry and rotate a sample;
a linear stage configured to translate the sample linearly along an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the rotation stage, wherein a motion of the rotation stage and a motion of the linear stage are synchronized such that the x-ray beam traces a spiral pattern on the sample; and
an image acquisition system configured to:
acquire, while the radiation detector is at a first detector position, a first series of radiographs at a plurality of rotation angles of the rotation stage and a plurality of linear stage positions of the linear stage;
after acquiring the first series of radiographs, acquire, while the radiation detector is at a second detector position, a second series of radiographs at the plurality of rotation angles and the plurality of linear stage positions, wherein the first detector position is separated from the second detector position along one or both the translation axes by a distance less than a linear size of the radiation detector along the respective translation axis;
generate, based on radiographs in the first series of radiographs and corresponding radiographs in the second series of radiographs, a series of composite radiographs with larger fields of view; and
assemble the generated series of composite radiographs into a 3-dimensional radiograph of the sample.
14. The x-ray imaging system of claim 13, further comprising:
a first linear position encoder, wherein the first linear position encoder has a resolution finer than one-quarter of a pixel size of the radiation detector, wherein the first linear position encoder is configured to provide a direct measurement of displacement of the first translation stage;
a second linear detector, wherein the second linear detector has a resolution finer than one-quarter the pixel size of the radiation detector, wherein the second linear detector is configured to provide a direct measurement of displacement of the second translation stage,
wherein the image acquisition system is configured to generate the series of composite radiographs using the measurement of displacement of the first translation stage and the measurement of displacement of the second translation stage.
15. The x-ray imaging system of claim 13, wherein the x-ray generator generates x-rays with an energy range of 20 keV to 600 keV.
16. The x-ray imaging system of claim 13, wherein:
the radiation detector comprises a flat-panel x-ray detector, and
the pixel size of the radiation detector is in the range of 25 micrometers to 250 micrometers.
17. The x-ray imaging system of claim 13, wherein:
the radiation detector comprises a lens-coupled detector, and
the pixel size of the radiation detector is in the range of 0.1 micrometers to 10 micrometers.
18. The x-ray imaging system of claim 13, wherein the image acquisition system is further configured to use a cross-correlation algorithm to match edges of radiographs in the first and second series of radiographs prior to assembling the radiographs in the first and second series of radiographs into the series of composite radiographs.
19. The x-ray imaging system of claim 13, wherein the image acquisition system is further configured to use an interpolation algorithm to blend intensities of radiographs in the first and second series of radiographs prior to assembling the radiographs in the first and second series of radiographs into the series of composite radiographs.
20-25. (canceled)
26. A method comprising:
rotating a sample on a rotation stage having a rotation axis perpendicular to an emission direction of an x-ray beam emitted by an x-ray generator;
translating, on a linear stage, the sample linearly along an axis parallel to a rotation axis of the rotation stage, wherein a motion of the rotation stage and a motion of the linear stage are synchronized such that the x-ray beam traces a spiral pattern on the sample;
acquiring, while a radiation detector is at a first detector position, a first series of radiographs at a plurality of rotation angles of the rotation stage and a plurality of linear stage positions of the linear stage;
after acquiring the first series of radiographs, acquire, while the radiation detector is at a second detector position, a second series of radiographs at the plurality of rotation angles and the plurality of linear stage positions, the second detector position being separated from the first detector position along either or both a first or a second translation axis parallel to orientation directions of detector pixels of the radiation detector, the first and second detector positions separated by a distance finer than a pixel size of the radiation detector, wherein a first translation stage and a second translation stage carry the radiation detector, wherein the first and second translation stages are configured to move the radiation detector along the first and second translation axes;
generating, based on radiographs in the first series of radiographs and corresponding radiographs in the second series of radiographs, a set of higher-resolution radiographs, wherein the higher-resolution radiographs have higher resolution than the radiographs in the first and second series of radiographs; and
assembling the higher-resolution radiographs into a 3-dimensional radiograph of the sample.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein assembling the radiographs comprises assembling the radiographs in an interlaced fashion to form the higher-resolution radiographs.
28. The method of claim 26, wherein:
a first linear position encoder has a resolution finer than one-quarter of the pixel size of the radiation detector and is configured to provide a direct measurement of displacement of the first translation stage, wherein a second linear position encoder has a resolution finer than one-quarter the pixel size of the radiation detector and is configured to provide a direct measurement of displacement of the second translation stage; and
generating the set of higher-resolution radiographs comprises assembling the radiographs of the first and second series of radiographs using the measurement of displacement of the first translation stage and the measurement of displacement of the second translation stage.
29. The method of claim 26, wherein the x-ray generator generates x-rays with an energy range of 20 keV to 600 keV.
30. The method of claim 26, wherein:
the radiation detector comprises a flat-panel x-ray detector, and
the pixel size of the radiation detector is in a range of 25 micrometers to 250 micrometers.
31. The method of claim 26, wherein:
the radiation detector comprises a lens-coupled detector, and
the pixel size of the radiation detector is in a range of 0.1 micrometers to 10 micrometers.
32-35. (canceled)
36. A method comprising:
rotating a sample on a rotation stage having a rotation axis perpendicular to an emission direction of an x-ray beam emitted by an x-ray generator;
translating, on a linear stage, the sample linearly along an axis parallel to a rotation axis of the rotation stage, wherein a motion of the rotation stage and a motion of the linear stage are synchronized such that the x-ray beam traces a spiral pattern on the sample;
acquiring, while a radiation detector is at a first detector position, a first series of radiographs at a plurality of rotation angles of the rotation stage and a plurality of linear stage positions of the linear stage;
after acquiring the first series of radiographs, acquiring, while the radiation detector is at a second detector position, a second series of radiographs at the plurality of rotation angles and the plurality of linear stage positions, wherein the first and second detector positions are different detector positions along a first or a second translation axis parallel to orientation directions of detector pixels of the radiation detector, the first and second detector positions separated by a distance less than a linear size of the radiation detector along the first translation axis or the second translation axis, respectively,
wherein the radiation detector has a plane arranged perpendicular to an emission direction of the x-ray beam emitted by the x-ray generator, a first translation stage and a second translation stage carry the radiation detector, and the first and second translation stages are configured to move the radiation detector along the first and second translation axes;
generating, based on radiographs in the first series of radiographs and corresponding radiographs in the second series of radiographs, a series of composite radiographs with larger fields of view; and
assembling the generated series of composite radiographs into a 3-dimensional radiograph of the sample.
37. The method of claim 36, wherein:
a first linear position encoder has a resolution finer than one-quarter of the pixel size of the radiation detector and is configured to provide a direct measurement of displacement of the first translation stage, wherein a second linear position encoder has a resolution finer than one-quarter the pixel size of the radiation detector and is configured to provide a direct measurement of displacement of the second translation stage; and
generating the series of composite radiographs comprises generating the series of composite radiographs using the measurement of displacement of the first translation stage and the measurement of displacement of the second translation stage.
38. The method of claim 36, wherein the x-ray generator generates x-rays with an energy range of 20 keV to 600 keV.
39. The method of claim 36, wherein:
the radiation detector comprises a flat-panel x-ray detector, and
the pixel size of the radiation detector is in the range of 25 micrometers to 250 micrometers.
40. The method of claim 36, wherein:
the radiation detector comprises a lens-coupled detector, and
the pixel size of the radiation detector is in the range of 0.1 micrometers to 10 micrometers.
41. The method of claim 36, further comprising using a cross-correlation algorithm to match edges of radiographs in the first and second series of radiographs prior to generating the series of composite radiographs.
42. The method of claim 36, further comprising using an interpolation algorithm to blend intensities of radiographs in the first and second series of radiographs prior to generating the series of composite radiographs.
43-46. (canceled)
47. A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a computing system to:
rotate a sample on a rotation stage having a rotation axis perpendicular to an emission direction of an x-ray beam emitted by an x-ray generator;
translate, on a linear stage, the sample linearly along an axis parallel to a rotation axis of the rotation stage, wherein a motion of the rotation stage and a motion of the linear stage are synchronized such that the x-ray beam traces a spiral pattern on the sample;
acquire, while a radiation detector is at a first detector position, a first series of radiographs at a plurality of rotation angles of the rotation stage and a plurality linear stage positions of the linear stage;
after acquiring the first series of radiographs, acquire, while the radiation detector is at a second detector position, a second series of radiographs at the plurality of rotation angles of the rotation stage and the plurality of linear stage positions, the second detector position being separated from the first detector position along either or both a first translation axis or a second translation axis parallel to orientation directions of detector pixels of the radiation detector, the first and second detector positions separated by a distance finer than a pixel size of the radiation detector, wherein a first translation stage and a second translation stage carry the radiation detector, wherein the first and second translation stages are configured to move the radiation detector along the first and second translation axes;
generate, based on radiographs in the first series of radiographs and corresponding radiographs in the second series of radiographs, a set of higher-resolution radiographs, wherein the higher-resolution radiographs have higher resolution than the radiographs in the first and second series of radiographs; and
assemble the higher-resolution radiographs into a 3-dimensional radiograph of the sample.
48. A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a computing system to:
rotate a sample on a rotation stage having a rotation axis perpendicular to an emission direction of an x-ray beam emitted by an x-ray generator;
translate, on a linear stage, the sample linearly along an axis parallel to a rotation axis of the rotation stage, wherein a motion of the rotation stage and a motion of the linear stage are synchronized such that the x-ray beam traces a spiral pattern on the sample;
acquire, while a radiation detector is at a first detector position, a first series of radiographs at a plurality of rotation angles of the rotation stage and a plurality of linear stage positions of the linear stage;
after acquiring the first series of radiographs, acquire, while the radiation detector is at a second detector position, a second series of radiographs at the plurality of rotation angles and the plurality of linear stage positions, wherein the second detector position are different detector positions along a first translation axis or a second translation axis parallel to orientation directions of detector pixels of the radiation detector, the first and second detector positions separated by a distance less than a linear size of the radiation detector along the first translation axis or the second translation axis, respectively,
wherein the radiation detector has a plane arranged perpendicular to an emission direction of the x-ray beam emitted by the x-ray generator, a first translation stage and a second translation stage carry the radiation detector, and the first and second translation stages are configured to move the radiation detector along the first and second translation axes; and
generate, based on radiographs in the first series of radiographs and corresponding radiographs in the second series of radiographs, a series of composite radiographs with larger fields of view; and
assemble the generated series of composite radiographs into a 3-dimensional radiograph of the sample.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A vacuum pump having an exhaust portion in which rotating blade portions and stationary blade portions are laminated in multiple stages, wherein
in at least one stage of the stationary blade portion among the plurality of stationary blade portions laminated in the multiple stages,
a plurality of stator blades extended in a radial manner with a predetermined width in the circumferential direction and inclined by a predetermined blade angle with respect to a stationary blade portion main body, and
a plurality of exhaust openings through which a gas current is guided from upstream to downstream by the plurality of stator blades are provided,
each of the plurality of stator blades in one stage of the stationary blade portion is
three-dimensionally connected to the stationary blade portion main body by an inner circumferential side support portion on the inner circumferential end side, and
three-dimensionally connected to the stationary blade portion main body by an outer circumferential side support portion on the outer circumferential end side, and
a cutout is provided in a circumferential front end of the outer circumferential side support portion.
2. The vacuum pump according to claim 1, wherein
each of the plurality of stator blades is formed into a substantial quadrangle elongated in the radial direction in a plan view, and includes
an inner circumferential end extended in the circumferential direction on the inner circumferential end side of the stator blade,
an outer circumferential end extended in the circumferential direction on the outer circumferential end side of the stator blade,
a base end extended in the radial direction for connecting a base part of the inner circumferential end and a base part of the outer circumferential end, and
a side end facing the base end in the circumferential direction and being extended in the radial direction,
the inner circumferential end, the outer circumferential end, and the base end are connected to the stationary blade portion main body, and the side end is separated from the stationary blade portion main body so as to define the exhaust opening, and
the cutout is provided in a front end of the outer circumferential end crossing the side end.
3. The vacuum pump according to claim 2, wherein the cutout is formed into a quadrangle in a plan view, and is long in the circumferential direction and short in the radial direction.
4. The vacuum pump according to claim 2, wherein
the inner circumferential side support portion is provided over the entire length of the inner circumferential end, and the outer circumferential side support portion is provided in a region of a part of the entire length from the base part of the outer circumferential end to the side end.
5. The vacuum pump according to claim 2, wherein
a length of the cutout is less than a half of a length of the outer circumferential end.
6. The vacuum pump according to claim 1, wherein
the stator blades are formed by drawing.

1. A gas cook top, comprising:
a burner;
an electronically controlled variable flow gas valve interposed between the burner and an external source of gaseous fuel, the electronically controlled variable flow gas valve comprising:
a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port;
a fluid flow path between said inlet port and said outlet port;
a valve member located in said housing in said fluid flow path, said valve member moveable among a series of indexed positions;
said housing having a plurality of apertures arranged such that a varied selection of said apertures is in said fluid flow path according to the indexed position of said valve member, wherein varied selections of said apertures of each indexed position varies the flow volume permitted through the flow path via the selected one or more apertures, with no said apertures in said flow path for at least one said indexed position of said valve member;
a stepping motor fixedly connected to said valve member, said stepping motor providing for movement between a plurality of predetermined positions, said indexed positions of said valve member corresponding with the predetermined positions of the stepping motor; and
wherein said apertures are provided in an axial array and said stepping motor includes a linear array of magnetic elements operating within a set of axially spaced selectively energized coils;

a capacitive touch user interface; and
a controller operatively coupled to the electronically controlled variable flow gas valve and to the capacitive touch user interface, the controller being programmed to control a flame height of the burner based on input from the capacitive touch user interface.
2. The gas cook top of claim 1, wherein the capacitive touch user interface includes a flame adjust icon, and wherein the controller adjusts the electronically controlled variable flow gas valve to vary an amount of gaseous fuel flowing to the burner to control the flame height in response to a user selection of the flame adjust icon.
3. The gas cook top of claim 2, wherein the flame adjust icon has a length, and wherein the controller adjusts the electronically controlled variable flow gas valve to vary an amount of gaseous fuel flowing to the burner to control the flame height in response to a user selection of the flame adjust icon relative to its length.
4. The gas cook top of claim 1, wherein the capacitive touch user interface includes a burner select icon, and wherein the controller controls the electronically controlled variable flow gas valve to allow gaseous fuel to begin flowing to the burner to turn on the burner in response to a user selection of the burner select icon.
5. The gas cook top of claim 4, wherein the controller controls the electronically controlled variable flow gas valve to stop a flow of gaseous fuel to the burner to turn off the burner in response to a user selection of the burner select icon when the burner is on.
6. The gas cook top of claim 4, wherein the controller provides a visual indication to a user prior to controlling the electronically controlled variable flow gas valve to allow gaseous fuel to begin flowing to the burner to turn on the burner indicating that flame will soon be present.
7. The gas cook top of claim 4, wherein the controller controls the electronically controlled variable flow gas valve to allow gaseous fuel to begin flowing to the burner to turn on the burner at a lowest flame height in response to a user selection of the burner select icon.
8. The gas cook top of claim 4, wherein the controller controls the electronically controlled variable flow gas valve to allow gaseous fuel to begin flowing to the burner to turn on the burner at a previous setting of flame height in response to a user selection of the burner select icon.
9. The gas cook top of claim 1, further comprising a flame sense electrode positioned in proximity to the burner and operatively coupled to the controller, and wherein the controller is programmed to attempt to reignite the burner when the flame sense electrode senses a flame out condition.
10. The gas cook top of claim 9, wherein the controller is programmed to shut off the electronically controlled variable flow gas valve if the flame sense electrode continues to sense a flame out condition after the attempt to reignite the burner to stop a flow of gaseous fuel thereto.
11. The gas cook top of claim 1, wherein the capacitive touch user interface includes a child lockout icon, and wherein the controller is programmed to enter a lockout mode of operation to prohibit a flow of gaseous fuel to the burner in response to a user selection of the child lockout icon.
12. The gas cook top of claim 11, wherein the controller is programmed to exit the lockout mode of operation in response to the user selection of the child lockout icon for a predetermined period when the controller is in the lockout mode of operation.
13. The gas cook top of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of burners, and wherein the controller is programmed to control the flame height of each of the plurality of burners based on inputs from the capacitive touch user interface.
14. The gas cook top of claim 13, wherein the capacitive touch user interface includes an emergency burner off icon, and wherein the controller is programmed to stop a flow of gaseous fuel to all of the burners in response to a user selection of the emergency burner off icon.
15. The gas cook top of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of electronically controlled variable flow gas valves associated with the plurality of burners, wherein the capacitive touch user interface includes a plurality of burner select icons corresponding with the plurality of burners, and wherein the controller controls each of the plurality of electronically controlled variable flow gas valves to allow gaseous fuel to begin flowing to its associated burner to turn on the burner in response to a user selection of the associated burner select icon.
16. The gas cook top of claim 1, wherein the capacitive touch user interface is a glass capacitive touch user interface.
17. The gas cook top of claim 1, wherein the capacitive touch user interface includes a program setting icon, and wherein the controller adjusts the electronically controlled variable flow gas valve to vary an amount of gaseous fuel flowing to the burner to control the flame height to a programmed level in response to a user selection of the program setting icon.
18. A gas cook top, comprising:
a plurality of gaseous fuel burners;
a plurality of electronically controlled variable flow gas valves associated with the plurality of gaseous fuel burners to control an amount of gaseous fuel flowing thereto, each of the electronically controlled variable flow gas valves comprising:
a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port;
a fluid flow path between said inlet port and said outlet port;
a valve member located in said housing in said fluid flow path, said valve member moveable among a series of indexed positions;
said housing having a plurality of apertures arranged such that a varied selection of said apertures is in said fluid flow path according to the indexed position of said valve member, wherein varied selections of said apertures of each indexed position varies the flow volume permitted through the flow path via the selected one or more apertures, with no said apertures in said flow path for at least one said indexed position of said valve member;
a stepping motor fixedly connected to said valve member, said stepping motor providing for movement between a plurality of predetermined positions; said indexed positions of said valve member corresponding with the predetermined positions of the stepping motor; and
wherein said apertures are provided in an axial array and said stepping motor includes a linear array of magnetic elements operating within a set of axially spaced selectively energized coils;

a capacitive touch user interface having a plurality of burner select icons and flame height adjust icons associated with each of the plurality of gaseous fuel burners; and
a controller operatively coupled to the plurality of electronically controlled variable flow gas valves and to the capacitive touch user interface, the controller being programmed to control a position of each of the electronically controlled variable flow gas valves to vary the amount of gaseous fuel flowing therethrough based on input from the plurality of burner select icons and flame height adjust icons on the capacitive touch user interface.
19. The gas cook top of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of flame sense electrodes, and wherein the controller is programmed to attempt to re-establish a flame upon indication from the flame sense electrodes that a flame out condition has occurred.
20. A gas appliance, comprising:
a burner;
an electronically controlled variable flow gas valve interposed between the burner and an external source of gaseous fuel, the electronically controlled variable flow gas valve comprising:
a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port;
a fluid flow path between said inlet port and said outlet port;
a valve member located in said housing in said fluid flow path, said valve member moveable among a series of indexed positions;
said housing having a plurality of apertures arranged such that a varied selection of said apertures is in said fluid flow path according to the indexed position of said valve member, wherein varied selections of said apertures of each indexed position varies the flow volume permitted through the flow path via the selected one or more apertures, with no said apertures in said flow path for at least one said indexed position of said valve member;
a stepping motor fixedly connected to said valve member, said stepping motor providing for movement between a plurality of predetermined positions, said indexed positions of said valve member corresponding with the predetermined positions of the stepping motor; and
wherein said apertures are provided in an axial array and said stepping motor includes a linear array of magnetic elements operating within a set of axially spaced selectively energized coils;

a user interface having user selectable heat settings; and
a controller operatively coupled to the electronically controlled variable flow gas valve and to the user interface, the controller being programmed to control a flow of gaseous fuel to the burner based on input from the user interface of a desired heat setting.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A wireless access node comprising:
a primary CPU for controlling wireless data transmission and reception, of the wireless access node with other access nodes;
a secondary controller for providing alternate control of the wireless access node, the secondary controller separately controllable by a system operator, allowing alternate controls of the wireless access node without interaction with primary CPU functions that control wireless data transmission and reception of the wireless access node with other access nodes, wherein system operator control is received by the wireless access node through a separate mode of wireless communication than the data transmission and reception of the wireless access node; and
an access area on an exterior of the wireless access node which provides an infrared path into the wireless access node, and a light indicator out of the wireless access node, wherein the access area is located on a lower side of the wireless access node enabling a system operator located below the wireless access node to couple an infrared signal into the infrared path, and to visually observe the light indicator.
2. The wireless access node of claims 1, wherein the separate mode of communication is out-of-band from the data transmission and reception of the wireless access node.
3. The wireless access node of claims 1, wherein the separate mode of communication comprises at least one of infrared and radio frequency communication.
4. The wireless access node of claims 1, wherein the separate mode of communication requires an access code that is unique to the wireless access node.
5. The wireless access node of claim 1, wherein the secondary controller providing alternate control of the wireless access node comprises a primary CPU reset, a master power control, resetting of factory default settings, resetting a peripheral device.
6. The wireless access node of claim 1, wherein the secondary controller is a watch dog mode program operable on the primary CPU that acts independently from primary CPU software, and is responsive to the system operator.
7. The wireless access node of claims 1, wherein the system operator can use a hand-held device for providing the separate wireless control of the wireless access node through a separate mode of wireless communication.
8. The wireless access node of claim 7, wherein the handheld device is a universal remote control unit.
9. The wireless access node of claims 1, wherein the infrared path provides the system operator with an ability to control the secondary controller.
10. A method of providing secondary control of a wireless access node, comprising:
providing a system operator controllable access to a secondary controller, allowing alternate controls of the wireless access node, without interaction with primary CPU functions that controls wireless data transmission and reception of the wireless access node with other access nodes;
the system operator linking to the second controller through an infrared link provided on a bottom portion of the wireless access node;
providing a status indication of the wireless access node though a light indicator located on the bottom portion of the wireless access node;
the wireless access node executing the alternate controls.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the secondary controller is a watch dog mode program operable on the primary CPU that acts independently from primary CPU software, and is responsive to the system operator.
12. A wireless access node comprising:
a primary CPU for controlling wireless data transmission and reception, of the wireless access node with other access nodes;
a secondary controller for providing alternate control of the wireless access node, the secondary controller separately controllable by a system operator, allowing alternate controls of the wireless access node without interaction with primary CPU functions that controls wireless data transmission and reception of the wireless access node with other access nodes, the alternate control comprising at least a primary CPU reset;
an access area on an exterior of the wireless access node which provides an infrared path into the wireless access node, and a light indicator out of the wireless access node, wherein
the infrared path provides the system operator with an ability to control the secondary controller, and wherein the access area is located on a lower side of the wireless access node enabling a system operator located below the wireless access node to couple an infrared, signal into the infrared path, and to visually observe the light indicator; wherein
the wireless access node is mounted on a streetlight.