Abstract: Apparatus and method for endoscopic examination of a tubular conduit are described. The apparatus is provided with an insertion tube fitted at a distal end thereof with an optical head for visualization of the conduit's interior. The insertion tube is coupled with a major inflatable sleeve, which upon inflation is capable of propelling the endoscope within the conduit. The insertion tube is also coupled with the at least one auxiliary inflatable sleeve, which upon inflation thereof provides additional propelling force for advancement of the insertion tube within the conduit. By inflating the major sleeve and the at least one auxiliary sleeve, it is possible to distribute the propulsion force along the insertion tube.

Abstract: A control system for supplying fluid medium to an endoscopic apparatus which comprises an operation handle and an insertion tube provided with an insufflation channel, an irrigation channel and a suction channel extending therealong. The control system is provided with a system control unit with at least one source of a first fluid medium, with a source of a second fluid medium, with a source of vacuum and with a multifunctional connector for bringing the operation handle in fluid and electrical communication with the system control unit. The source of the first fluid medium and the source of the second fluid medium are simultaneously connectable to and disconnectable from the insufflation channel and the irrigation channel.

Abstract: Compositions for use in the manufacture of three-dimensional objects including compositions for use as a support and/or release material in the manufacture of the three-dimensional objects are provided. There is thus provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a composition suitable for building a three-dimensional object. The compositions may include, inter alia, a curable component, having a functional group, wherein if the functional group is a polymerizable reactive functional group, then the functional group is a (meth)acrylic functional group, a photo-initiator, a surface-active agent and a stabilizer; wherein said composition has a first viscosity of about 50-500 cps at a first temperature, wherein said first temperature is ambient temperature, and a second viscosity lower than 20 cps at a second temperature wherein said second temperature is higher than said first temperature, wherein, after curing, the composition results in a solid form.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically extracting a graphical bar code (i.e., an image that contains inconspicuous graphical modulations that encode embedded information) are described. In accordance with this automatic extraction scheme, a graphical bar code may be isolated from a composite image in a way that preserves the information-containing graphical modulations encoding the embedded information and avoids corrupting artifacts, such as markings contained in the composite image. The resulting extracted graphical bar code readily may be processed into a format that is tailored to the requirements of a decoding system that may be particularly sensitive to noise, such as extraneous markings and image corruption. In addition, this automatic extraction scheme robustly handles missed and incorrect detections.

Abstract: Technology is proposed for estimating one or more characteristics of a main signal transmitted via a communication link, wherein the main signal is composed from a number of component signals possibly comprising respective data signals and transmitted via a number of respective communication channels. The technology comprises providing an analyzing circuit independent from the communication link, transmitting a probe data signal in the analyzing circuit, monitoring a bit error rate (BER) parameter associated with the probe data signal and introducing into the analyzing circuit at least a portion of energy of the main signal as an interference signal. The technology allows judging about characteristics of the main signal based on changes in the monitored BER parameter of the probe data signal.

Abstract: Fiducial mark patterns for graphical bar codes (i.e., images that contain inconspicuous graphical modulations that encode embedded information) that are characterized by high detection robustness and good local deformation tracking are described. In one bar coding method, a base image is modulated with a graphical encoding of a message to produce a graphical bar code, and a fiducial mark pattern comprising a plurality of dots arranged to track one or more reference locations and local deformation across the graphical bar code is generated. In another bar coding method, fiducial mark candidates are identified in a fiducial mark pattern, a fiducial mark path is computed based upon one or more of the identified fiducial mark candidates, and one or more reference locations are identified based upon the computed fiducial mark path.

Abstract: Systems and methods of graphically demodulating a graphical bar code (i.e., an image that contains inconspicuous graphical modulations that encode information embedded in an original base image) are described. The graphical bar code may be graphically demodulated automatically without foreknowledge of the original unmodulated base image, but rather based upon a base image that is derived based upon intrinsic features of the graphical bar code.

Abstract: Compositions for use in the manufacture of three-dimensional objects including compositions for use as a support and/or release material in the manufacture of the three-dimensional objects are provided. There is thus provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a composition suitable for building a three-dimensional object. The compositions may include, inter alia, a curable component, having a functional group, wherein if the functional group is a polymerizable reactive functional group, then the functional group is a (meth)acrylic functional group, a photo-initiator, a surface-active agent and a stabilizer; wherein said composition has a first viscosity of about 50-500 cps at a first temperature, wherein said first temperature is ambient temperature, and a second viscosity lower than 20 cps at a second temperature wherein said second temperature is higher than said first temperature, wherein, after curing, the composition results in a solid form.

Abstract: Systems and methods of graphically demodulating a graphical bar code (i.e., an image that contains inconspicuous graphical modulations that encode information embedded in an original base image) are described. The graphical bar code may be graphically demodulated automatically without foreknowledge of the original unmodulated base image, but rather based upon a base image that is derived based upon intrinsic features of the graphical bar code.

Abstract: A PBX-based call center retrofitted to enable the center's agents to handle both conventional telephonic calls via a PBX and data sessions on a computer network, and a method for its use. Each agent is supplied with a telephone, a computer, and an agent identification unit (AIU) for sending network identification details of the computer as outbound telephony signals to the PBX via the telephone. When a server receives an incoming data packet requesting the establishment of a data session with an agent, an incoming call generator (ICG) sends a ring signal to the PBX to request a link to an agent's telephone. When the selected agent answers the designated telephone, the ICG sends to the designated telephone interrogation telephony signals including a request for the network identification details. In response, the AIU sends the network identification details as identification telephony signals.