Abstract: Devices and methods for optically scanning an in-vivo lumen, and for determining contact between an in-vivo device and an in-vivo lumen wall. The device may include an elongated housing having a cylindrical portion. At least one illuminating body may provide illumination at the circumference of the cylindrical portion, and at least one light sensor may sense light that penetrated and was scattered from the tissue of the in vivo lumen. The device may include a barrier for preventing direct illumination from the illuminating body from reaching the light sensor and for decreasing the amount of direct light reflection from the outer surface of the in vivo lumen onto the light sensor.

Abstract: Devices and methods for optically scanning an in-vivo lumen, and for determining contact between an in-vivo device and an in-vivo lumen wall. The device may include an elongated housing having a cylindrical portion. At least one illuminating body may provide illumination at the circumference of the cylindrical portion, and at least one light sensor may sense light that penetrated and was scattered from the tissue of the in vivo lumen. The device may include means for preventing direct illumination from the illuminating body from reaching the light sensor and for decreasing the amount of direct light reflection from the outer surface of the in vivo lumen onto the light sensor.

Abstract: An optical resonator supporting two sets of simultaneously co-existent oscillation modes (30 and 31), having polarizations orthogonal to each other. Mode control elements (28 and 29), such as apertures and phase elements, are introduced into the resonator to allow only preferred modes to exist. The placement and orientation of the sets are designed such that the high intensity zones of one set fall on the nodes or low intensity zones of the other set in an interlaced pattern. Thus, in a laser resonator, better utilization of the gain medium (24) is achieved and the beam quality and brightness over multimode lasing are improved. This configuration improves the performance of high Fresnel number resonators, in both pulsed and continuous lasers, for applications such as scribing, drilling, cutting, target designation and rangefinding. An application of the intra-cavity coherent summation of orthogonally polarized modes is described, whereby azimuthally or radially polarized beams may be obtained.

Abstract: A transaction system and method for conducting financial transactions, cooperating with a mobile telephony network adapted to provide telephony services to a plurality of mobile phones is disclosed.

Abstract: An optical resonator supporting two sets of simultaneously co-existent oscillation modes (30 and 31), having polarizations orthogonal to each other. Mode control elements (28 and 29), such as apertures and phase elements, are introduced into the resonator to allow only preferred modes to exist. The placement and orientation of the sets are designed such that the high intensity zones of one set fall on the nodes or low intensity zones of the other set in an interlaced pattern. Thus, in a laser resonator, better utilization of the gain medium (24) is achieved and the beam quality and brightness over multimode lasing are improved. This configuration improves the performance of high Fresnel number resonators, in both pulsed and continuous lasers, for applications such as scribing, drilling, cutting, target designation and rangefinding. An application of the intra-cavity coherent summation of orthogonally polarized modes is described, whereby azimuthally or radially polarized beams may be obtained.

Abstract: A complete sorting system is provided herein including a sequence of interlacing cable conveyors for conveying objects to be sorted, such as apples or other agricultural produce, from bulk storage at the input to the system, through the system, and along to drops at the output of the system. The cable conveyors are configured and arranged to handle even delicate agricultural produce without damage and at high speed. The produce or objects which are conveyed typically do not roll along the conveyors. Preferably, objects of substantially any shape can be conveyed along the system.

Abstract: An infrared detector including a sensor which provides an output signal responsive to infrared radiation incident on a face thereof, and a diffractive optical element which directs a substantial portion of incident visible radiation away from the sensor and which has substantially no diffractive effect on incident infrared radiation.

Abstract: A complete sorting system is provided herein including a sequence of interlacing cable conveyors for conveying objects to be sorted, such as apples or other agricultural produce, from bulk storage at the input to the system, through the system, and along to drops at the output of the system. The cable conveyors are configured and arranged to handle even delicate agricultural produce without damage and at high speed. The produce or objects which are conveyed typically do not roll along the conveyors. Preferably, objects of substantially any shape can be conveyed along the system.