USRE40927E1 - Optical detection system - Google Patents
Optical detection system Download PDFInfo
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- USRE40927E1 USRE40927E1 US11/197,731 US19773105A USRE40927E US RE40927 E1 USRE40927 E1 US RE40927E1 US 19773105 A US19773105 A US 19773105A US RE40927 E USRE40927 E US RE40927E
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
- G02B5/12—Reflex reflectors
Definitions
- any type of focusing device in combination with a surface, exhibiting any degree of reflectivity and positioned near the focal plane of the device acts as a retro-reflector.
- a retroreflector is defined as a reflector wherein incident rays or radiant energy and reflected rays are parallel for any angle of incidence within the field-of-view.
- a characteristic of a retroreflector is that the energy impinging thereon is reflected in a very narrow beam, herein referred to as the retroreflected beam. This phenomenon is termed retroreflection.
- radiant energy includes light energy, radio frequency, microwave energy, acoustical energy, X-ray energy, heat energy and any other types of energy which are part of the energy spectrum and which are capable of being retroreflected by the device, instrument or system sought to be detected.
- retroreflector One type of optical device which exhibits this phenomenon, and thus is a particular type of retroreflector, is a corner reflector consisting of three mutually perpendicular reflecting planes, However, this type of retroreflector is both difficult and expensive to fabricate.
- any optical instrument which includes a focusing lens and a surface having some degree of reflectivity, no matter how small, positioned near the focal point of the lens, act as a retroreflector, whereby any radiant energy from a radiant energy source directed at these instruments is reflected back towards the source in a substantially collimated narrow beam.
- FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a retroreflection system consisting of a lens and a reflector wherein the source radiation is parallel to the optical axis of the lens.
- FIG. 2 is a diagram of a retroreflection system similar to that of FIG. 1 , wherein the source radiation is not parallel to the optical axis of the lens.
- FIG. 3 is a diagram of a retroreflection system similar to FIG. 1 wherein the lens is imperfect so as to form an image rather than focusing at a single point.
- FIG. 4 is a diagram of a retroreflection system wherein the reflector is obliquely positioned with respect to the optical axis of the lens.
- FIG. 5 is a diagram of a human eye, wherein there is depicted the retroreflection characteristics thereof.
- FIG. 6 is a schematic representation depicting a beam splitting optical system for transmitting and receiving radiant energy.
- FIG. 7 is a schematic representation depicting a concentric optical system for transmitting and receiving radiant energy.
- FIG. 7a is a schematic representation of another embodiment of the concentric optical system depicted in FIG. 7 .
- FIG. 7b is a schematic representation of still another embodiment of the concentric optical system depicted in FIG. 7 .
- FIG. 8 is a schematic representation depicting an ordinary telescope as an image forming system having retroreflection characteristics.
- FIG. 9 is a schematic representation depicting one half of an ordinary binocular as an image forming system having retroreflection.
- FIG. 10 is a schematic representation depicting an ordinary periscope as an image system having retroreflection characteristics.
- FIG. 11 is a schematic representation depicting an ordinary camera as an image forming system having retroreflection characteristics.
- FIG. 12 depicts a system for scanning an area to detect the presence of optical instruments by utilizing the retroreflection characteristics thereof and for neutralizing observers using said optical instruments, and/or rendering the instruments ineffective.
- FIG. 13 is a diagram of a radar system, and more particularly of a radar antenna which is to be detected in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
- FIG. 14 depicts the waveforms obtained during the detection of the radar system shown in FIG. 13 .
- an optical system consisting of a focusing lens and a reflective surface positioned near the focal plane of said lens has radiant energy rays supplied thereto by a radiant energy transmitter.
- the radiant energy rays reflected by the optical system due to its retroreflection characteristics are recovered by a radiant energy receiver to thereby detect the presence and relative position of said optical system.
- the output of the radiant energy receiver may be applied to a utilization means for determining the characteristics of the retroreflector or for directing a weapon means.
- FIG. 1 there is shown an optical system consisting of a lens 20 and a reflective surface 22 , which herein is a mirror, positioned in the focal plane 24 of the lens 20 .
- Rays of radiation 26 and 28 are directed towards the system, and more particularly towards the lens 20 , from a radiation source (not shown); the incident rays in the present illustration being parallel to the optical axis 30 of the lens.
- the incident rays are herein shown as being confined to the top half of the lens 20 .
- the incident rays 26 and 28 are refracted by the lens 20 and focused at the focal point 32 of the lens, which focal point lies on the mirror 22 .
- the rays are then reflected by the mirror so that the angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence, and are returned to the lower half of the lens where they are again refracted and emerge therefrom as retroreflected rays 26 R and 28 R.
- the rays 26 R and 28 R are returned to the radiation source parallel to the incident rays 26 and 28 thereof. However, as shown in the drawing, the relative positions of the rays 26 and 28 are inverted so that the image returned to the radiation source is also inverted.
- the rays 34 and 36 are not parallel to the optical axis 30 A of both the lens 20 A and the mirror 22 A, the mirror 22 A being positioned in the focal plane 24 A of the lens.
- the rays 34 and 36 are refracted by the lens 20 A and focused at a point 37 removed from the optical axis but still on the focal plane.
- the rays 34 and 36 are reflected by the mirror. Both of the rays 34 and 36 would normally emerge from the lens as retroreflected rays 34 R and 36 R, after refraction by the lens, and would be returned to the source of the rays 34 and 36 in a direction parallel thereto.
- the reflected ray 34 R will miss the lens and will not be retroreflected. The loss of reflected rays in this manner is called “vignetting”.
- the lens 20 B is assumed to be imperfect; i.e., it has aberrations.
- the rays 38 and 40 are parallel to the optical axis 30 B but are not focused at a single point on the focal plane 24 B, and instead form an image on the mirror 22 B, which image is referred to as the circle of confusion.
- the mirror is normally positioned at the plane of least circle of confusion, herein depicted by the reference numeral 42 .
- the image formed on the mirror by means of the rays 38 and 40 can be considered to be a radiant source, and the retroreflected rays 38 R and 40 R exit from the lens 20 B substantially parallel to each other. This is possible since each emerging ray can be paired with a parallel incident ray which radiates from a common point of the image source located at the mirror 22 B.
- the reflecting surface or mirror 22 C, and its axis 44 is tilted with respect to the optical axis 30 C of lens 20 C.
- the ray 48 is again retroreflected by the system and the retroreflected ray 48 R is returned parallel to the incident ray 48 .
- the retroreflected ray 46 R, due to the ray 46 is lost because of vignetting.
- the rays retroreflected by the optical systems depicted in FIGS. 1 to 4 are in the form of a narrow, substantially collimated beam having a high radiant flux density. It is to be noted that there is an actual increase in the radiant flux density of the retroreflected beam due to the narrowing thereof. This increase in radiant flux density is herein termed optical gain.
- the radiant flux at the image or focal plane is 100 ⁇ ⁇ watts cm 2 ⁇ 100 ⁇ ⁇ cm 2 . ⁇ or ⁇ ⁇ 10 4 ⁇ ⁇ watts .
- the dimensions of the retroreflected beam is a function of the angular resolution of the retroreflector which includes the lens and the reflecting surface.
- the solid angle into which the incident radiant flux will be retroreflected is determined by the square of the angular resolution of the retroreflector. If, for example, the resoltuion of the optical system is 10 ⁇ 4 radians, the solid angle into which the retroreflected beam will be returned is 10 ⁇ 8 steradians. One steradian being the solid angle subtended at the center of a sphere by a portion of the surface of area equal to the square of the radius of the sphere. Thus at a distance of 10 4 cm from the focal plane the area of the retroreflected beam is only 1.0 cm 2 .
- the retroreflector by radiating into such a small solid angle, has radiant intensity of 10 4 ⁇ ⁇ watts 10 - 4 ⁇ ⁇ steradian , ⁇ ⁇ or ⁇ ⁇ 10 12 ⁇ ⁇ watts ⁇ / ⁇ steradian .
- the retroreflector In order to obtain a measure of the optical gain we must compare the retroreflector to a standard or reference. This reference has been taken to be a diffuse surface known in the art as a Lambertian radiator. If the 10 4 watts of incident radiant flux were simply re-radiated in a Lambertian manner; i.e., into a solid angle of 3.14 ( ⁇ ) steradians, the radiant intensity would be 10 4 ⁇ ⁇ watts 3.14 ⁇ ⁇ steradians , ⁇ ⁇ or ⁇ ⁇ 3.1 ⁇ 10 3 ⁇ ⁇ watts ⁇ / ⁇ steradian .
- the retroreflector has an overall optical gain equal to 10 12 ⁇ ⁇ watts ⁇ / ⁇ steradian 3.1 ⁇ 10 3 ⁇ ⁇ watts ⁇ / ⁇ steradian , ⁇ ⁇ or ⁇ ⁇ 3.14 ⁇ 10 8
- the retroreflector has a radiant intensity which is 3.14 ⁇ 10 8 greater than that of a Lambertain radiator which emits the same radiant flux.
- a telescope having a collecting area of 100 cm 2 and an angular resolution of 0.1 milliradian would appear similar in size to about 3.5 ⁇ 10 8 cm 2 of a diffuse or Lambertain radiator.
- the retroreflector will be disposed within an environment that produces background radiation in a Lambertain manner.
- the radiant intensity of the retroreflector is so much greater than that of a Lambertain radiator that it is easily discernible from the background, even when, (as shown in FIG. 2 ) a large percentage of the retroreflected radiant flux is lost due to vignetting.
- the radiant intensity of the retroreflected beam is dependent upon the characteristics of the optical system employed. If an optical system of the type shown in FIGS. 1 , 2 , and 4 were possible and there were no loss of energy (power) entering the system, then the radiant intensity gain would be almost infinite since the energy would be retroreflected in an almost perfectly collimated beam, i.e. a retroreflected beam whose divergence angle is almost zero. However, almost all optical systems resemble that shown in FIG. 3 and the factor which determined the divergence angle of the retroreflected beam is the size of the circle of confusion and more particularly, the least circle of confusion. The size of the least circle of confusion is dependent upon the resolution of the system and in particular upon the resolution of focusing lens. Thus, the less aberrations in the lens, the better the resolution, the smaller the circle of least confusion, the smaller the divergence angle of the retroreflected beam, and thus the greater the optical gain.
- FIG. 5 there is shown a magnified cross-sectional view of a human eye denoted generally by the reference numeral 50 .
- the eye includes a cornea 52 , an anterior chamber 54 , a lens 56 , and a retina 58 .
- the retina has a small portion or point 60 thereon termed the yellow spot or macula lutea, which is approximately 2 mm in diameter.
- the fovea centralis 62 At the center of the macula lutea is the fovea centralis 62 whose diameter is approximately 0.25 m.
- the acuity of vision is greatest at the macula lutea and more particularly at the fovea centralis.
- the eye is always rotated so that the image being examined or the rays entering thereon fall on the fovea 62 .
- rays 64 and 66 enter the eye and pass through the cornea 52 and the anterior chamber 54 and are refracted by the lens 56 and focused on the fovea centralis portion 62 of the retina 58 .
- the rays are then reflected, passing through the lens 56 , anterior chamber 54 and cornea 52 and emerge therefrom as retroreflected rays 64 R and 66 R which are parallel to the rays 64 and 66 .
- retroreflected rays 64 R and 66 R which are parallel to the rays 64 and 66 .
- FIG. 6 there is shown an optical system for transmitting and receiving radiant energy, the more particularly a beam splitter for transmitting radiant energy and for receiving or recovering a portion of said radiant energy.
- the beam splitter includes an optical bench 70 having an optical system consisting of a lens 72 and a rotating pattern or reticle 74 , which may also be a modulator, said system being placed on said bench.
- the beam splitter also includes a radiant energy source 76 , a collimator 78 , a thin plate of glass 80 having a semi-reflective coating thereon, a detector 82 .
- the radiant energy from the source 76 is collimated to form a beam by the collimator 78 and the beam is directed upon the glass plate 80 , a portion of the energy in the beam being reflected and a portion of the energy in the beam being transmitted by the glass plate.
- the energy is then transmitted down the optical bench 70 where the lens refracts the transmitted energy and focuses the beam upon the reticle 74 from whence is is retroreflected back to the glass plate.
- a portion of the retroreflected energy passes through the glass plate and is lost, and a portion thereof is reflected by the glass plate and detected by means of the detector and the output thereof is then fed to the utilization means 83 .
- the detector 82 is thus effectively positioned within or concentric with the retroreflected energy beam without affecting the transmission of radiant energy from the source to the optical system.
- the energy obtained by the utilization means can be used to obtain the spectral and temporal characteristics of the retroreflected beam, and may the be compared with the transmitted beam to determine various characteristics of the optical system being investigated. It will be apparent that the use of this test instrument makes possible the investigation and characterization of optical systems in terms of recording the retroreflective characteristics thereof.
- the rotating pattern or reticle 74 can be replaced with a reflective surface and a modulator placed on the light incident side of the lens 72 .
- the modulator can then be tilted so that none of the light reflected from its surface returns to the beam splitter 80 to be reflected to the detector 82 .
- the only light then returning to the detector 82 will be that modulated by the modulator and reflected back from the reflective surface replacing the reticle 74 .
- FIG. 7 depicts a folded concentric optical system for transmitting and receiving radiant energy—also known as an optical transceiver.
- the optical transceiver 84 includes a primary mirror 86 having a substantially parabolic shape, a secondary mirror 88 having a planar configuration, a radiant energy source 90 , a detector 92 and a utilization means 94 .
- the primary mirror has an aperture 96 concentric with its principal axis and the principal axis of the secondary mirror is aligned so as to be coaxial therewith.
- the light source and detector are also aligned with the mirrors so that all of the aforesaid elements are concentrically disposed with respect to each other.
- the light source is positioned adjacent to the nonreflecting surface of the primary mirror while the detector is positioned adjacent to the nonreflecting surface of the secondary mirror.
- rays 98 and 100 are emitted by the radiant energy source 90 , and impinge upon the secondary mirror 88 , from whence they are reflected and impinge upon the primary mirror 86 .
- the rays are then reflected by the primary mirror and directed towards an optical instrument 102 which exhibits retroreflective characteristics.
- the incident rays are retroreflected by the optical instrument 102 and are returned as retroreflected rays 98 R and 100 R.
- the rays 98 R and 100 R return in a direction parallel to the rays 98 and 100 and impinge upon the primary mirror 86 and are reflected thereby towards the detector 92 where they are detected, and the detector output signal is then fed to the utilization means 94 .
- optical instruments exhibiting retroreflective characteristics include the eyes of animals and humans.
- FIG. 7a A second embodiment of a folded concentric optical transceiver is shown in FIG. 7a , wherein similar parts are denoted by similar reference numerals.
- the light source 90 A is positioned adjacent to the nonreflecting surface of the secondary mirror 88 A and the detector 92 A is positioned adjacent to the nonreflecting surface of the primary mirror 86 A.
- rays 104 and 106 are emitted by the radiant energy source 90 A, and impinge upon the primary mirror 86 A, from whence they are reflected towards the optical instrument 102 A.
- the rays are retroreflected by the optical instrument and are returned as retroreflected rays 104 R and 106 R.
- the rays 104 R and 106 R return in a direction parallel to the rays 104 and 106 and impinge upon the primary mirror and are reflected thereby towards the secondary mirror through the aperture 96 A to the detector 92 A, and the output signal of the detector is then fed to the utilization means 94 A.
- FIG. 7b A third embodiment of a folded concentric optical transceiver is depicted in FIG. 7b , wherein similar parts are denoted by similar reference numerals.
- the detector 92 B is once more positioned adjacent to the nonreflecting surface of the secondary mirror 88 B and the radiant energy source 90 B is positioned between the reflecting surfaces of the primary mirror 86 B and the secondary mirror 88 B.
- a collector 108 which may be an elliptically shaped mirror for collecting the spurious radiation rays from the source 90 B and reflecting back upon the source, wherefrom they are directed upon the secondary mirror and ultimatel directed toward the optical instrument 102 B.
- energy from the radiant energy source 90 B impinges upon the secondary mirror 88 B, and more particularly rays 110 and 112 so impinge. These rays are reflected by the secondary mirror towards the primary mirror, from where they are once more reflected towards the optical instrument 102 B.
- the incident rays 110 and 112 are then retroreflected by the optical instrument and returned as retroreflected rays 110 R and 112 R.
- the rays 110 R and 112 R return in a direction parallel to the rays 110 and 112 and impinge upon the primary mirror and are reflected thereby towards the detector 92 B where they are detected and the output thereof is then fed to the utilization means 94 B.
- FIG. 8 is an optical schematic representation of a telescope having an objective lens 116 , a reticle 118 , a pair of erector lenses 120 and 122 , a field lens 124 , and an eyelens 126 .
- rays 128 and 129 are directed towards the objective 20 lens 116 , they are focused on the reticle 118 and retroreflected thereby to produce retroreflected rays 128 R and 129 R respectively, whose direction is opposite and parallel to that of the incident rays 128 and 129 .
- the combination of the objective lens 116 , and the reticle 118 form a retroreflective optical instrument, in and of themselves.
- the reticle 118 is merely plain glass, as in most cases it is, it still exhibits some degree of reflectivity, which reflectivity gives rise to the retroreflected rays 128 R and 129 R.
- FIG. 9 is an optical schematic representation of one half of a binocular and comprises an objective lens 132 , a first porro prism 134 , a second porro prism 136 , a reticle 138 , a field lens 140 , and an eyelens 142 .
- a ray such as 144
- it is focused thereby on the reticle 138 , after passing through the porro prisms 134 and 136 .
- the ray 144 is directed along a path which is not straight; i.e., there are several right angle bends therein, the entire path is still part of the focal path of the instrument.
- the ray 144 is focused on the reticle 138 , causing the same to be retroreflected as ray 144 R which then goes through a path similar to that of ray 144 and emerges from the objective lens 132 in a direction which is opposite and parallel to that of the incident ray 144 . It is to be noted that the description herein above describing a single ray is for purposes of simplicity of explanation.
- FIG. 10 is an optical schematic representation of a periscope.
- the periscope includes a window 146 , an objective prism 148 , an objective lens 149 , an amici prism 150 , an erecting prism assembly 152 , a reticle 154 , a field lens 156 , an eyelens 158 , and a filter 160 .
- An incident ray 162 enters the periscope through the window 146 , then passes through the prism 148 , objective lens 149 , amici prism 150 , and erecting prism assembly 152 to the reticle 154 whereon the incident ray is reflected and emerges from the periscope as retroreflected ray 162 R whose direction is opposite and parallel to the incident ray 162 .
- the description above describing a single ray is merely for the purpose of simplicity of explanation.
- FIG. 11 is an optical schematic representation of a camera.
- the camera includes a lens 164 , a shutter 166 , and film 168 .
- the shutter opens and incident rays 170 and 171 are focused on the film 168 through an aperture 172 in the shutter, by means of the lens 164 . These rays are then reflected by the film and emerge from the lens as retroreflected rays 170 R and 171 R.
- optical systems will have a reflecting surface such as a reticle, a lens, or a prism in the focal plane, and the incident radiation will be retroreflected by any such surface.
- FIG. 12 there is shown one embodiment of a system for detecting the presence of an optical instrument, for tracking said instrument, and for neutralizing observers utilizing said instrument and/or rendering the instrument ineffective.
- the system includes a scanner 180 , including an optical searching means 182 , such as a source of infrared light, a detector 184 , and a laser 186 . It is herein to be noted that the search means 182 and the detector 184 may be combined in the form of a transceiver as described hereinbefore in conjunction with FIGS. 7 , 7 a, and 7 b.
- the scanner 182 is controlled by a scanning and positioning means 188 , which includes a servo motor (not shown).
- the scanning and positioning means 188 is powered by a power and control means 190 , which means also supplies power for the scanner 180 , and a utilization system 192 .
- the scanner 180 is caused to scan a preselected area by means of the scanning and positioning means 188 , the means 188 being programmed by the utilization system 192 .
- the optical searching means emits rays 194 and 195 , when these rays impinge upon an optical instrument 196 exhibiting retroreflective characteristics, as hereinbefore described, they are retroreflected as retroreflected rays 194 R and 195 R respectively, and detected by the detector 184 and the detector output is then fed to the utilization system 192 .
- the utilization system may be programmed to merely track the instrument 196 , in which case, this information would be fed to the scanning and positioning means 188 and thence to the scanner 180 causing it to track said instrument.
- the utilization system 192 will feed a signal to the laser 186 activating the same and causing a high intensity laser beam to be directed at the instrument, thereby accomplishing the aforementioned objects.
- the aberrations in almost all optical instruments cause a small divergence of the retroreflected rays, the amount of said divergence being governed by the resolution of the retroreflector.
- the angular resolution of optical systems such as binoculars, periscopes, telescopes, cameras, and optical systems carried by missiles will be between about 10 ⁇ 3 and 10 ⁇ 5 radians which produce retroreflected beams of 10 ⁇ 6 to 10 ⁇ 10 steradians. At a range of 1,000 feet the area of these beams would be 1.0 and 10 ⁇ 4 ft 2 respectively. This divergence is so small so that the retroreflected rays are substantially collimated.
- corner reflectors have been utilized for retroreflecting purposes.
- the present invention enables the detection of microwave apparatus, such as antennas and the like which do not have a corner reflector as an integral part thereof, by utilizing the inherent retroreflection characteristics of the apparatus as hereinbefore discussed.
- this apparatus and systems exhibiting the retroreflection phenomenon can be similarly detected by the use of radio frequency, microwave, X-ray, acoustical or any similar types of energy directed thereat.
- microwave lenses are utilized in place of reflectors for the purposes of obtaining wide angle scanning as compared with the system bandwidth. These microwave lenses exhibit characteristics which are equivalent to the optical lenses hereinbefore discussed, and thus a detailed explanation of the retroreflection of microwave and similar types of energy by these lenses, in conjunction with a reflective surface, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.
- FIG. 13 is an illustration of a radar system which is to be detected by means of the retroreflection principles of the present invention.
- the radar system is generally indicated by the reference numeral 200 and includes a parabolic disk antenna 202 having a feed 204 whose impedance mismatch is lowest at the operating frequency of the radar system 200 .
- the resonant frequency of the antenna feed 206 can be detected by beaming swept frequency microwave energy at the system such as by utilizing a variable frequency klystron (not shown) or the like.
- the pulses produced by the klystron are indicated as 210 in the waveforms shown in FIG. 14 .
- the wave energy 210 is retroreflected by the parabolic disk antenna 202 because the parabola focuses the energy at the feed horn which in turn is mismatched. Hence, the energy reflected from it is recollimated by the parabola similar to the optical system described heretofore.
- the energy is detected in a suitable manner and produces the waveforms indicated at 212 in FIG. 14 , until such time that the frequency of the klystron is equal to the operating frequency of the feed 206 . When this occurs, the energy beamed to the radar system is focused on the feed horn, absorbed by the feed 206 and is therefore not retroreflected.
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Abstract
Description
Thus, the retroreflector has an overall optical gain equal to
Claims (71)
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US11/197,731 USRE40927E1 (en) | 1967-03-10 | 2005-08-05 | Optical detection system |
US12/471,058 USRE42913E1 (en) | 1967-03-10 | 2009-05-22 | Optical detection system |
US13/274,627 USRE43681E1 (en) | 1967-03-10 | 2011-10-17 | Optical detection system |
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US04/623,186 US6603134B1 (en) | 1967-03-10 | 1967-03-10 | Optical detection system |
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US04/623,186 Reissue US6603134B1 (en) | 1967-03-10 | 1967-03-10 | Optical detection system |
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US12/471,058 Expired - Lifetime USRE42913E1 (en) | 1967-03-10 | 2009-05-22 | Optical detection system |
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US11022421B2 (en) | 2016-01-20 | 2021-06-01 | Lucent Medical Systems, Inc. | Low-frequency electromagnetic tracking |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
USRE42913E1 (en) | 2011-11-15 |
USRE43681E1 (en) | 2012-09-25 |
US6603134B1 (en) | 2003-08-05 |
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