Abstract: The present invention lies in the field of 3D surveying, mapping, and imaging. In particular, the present invention relates to the rotational alignment of 3D datasets. Embodiments include an apparatus method and program for rotational and optionally also translational alignment of 3D datasets. The 3D datasets being stored as point clouds, transformed into vector sets, and the vector sets being represented as a unit sphere or Gaussian sphere and compared for best alignment. The found best alignment is used to rotate the two 3D datasets into rotational and translational alignment with one another.

Abstract: The present invention lies in the field of 3D surveying, mapping, and imaging. In particular, the present invention relates to the rotational alignment of 3D datasets. Embodiments include an apparatus method and program for rotational and optionally also translational alignment of 3D datasets. The 3D datasets being stored as point clouds, transformed into vector sets, and the vector sets being represented as a unit sphere or Gaussian sphere and compared for best alignment. The found best alignment is used to rotate the two 3D datasets into rotational and translational alignment with one another.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical mux/demux for an optical printed circuit board. The mux/demux comprises: a first waveguide formed on a support layer for carrying a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal; a separator/combiner for separating the wavelength division multiplexed signal into component signals of corresponding wavelengths or for combining component signals into the said wavelength division multiplexed signal; and plural second waveguides, each for receiving or providing one or more of the said component signals, wherein the separator/combiner is at a predetermined location relative to the waveguides.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of manufacturing an optical printed circuit board and an optical printed circuit board. The method comprises providing a support layer; on the support layer, providing an optical core layer; forming optical channels from the optical core layer and surrounding the optical channels with cladding thereby forming optical waveguides; and during said step of forming the optical channels, forming one or more alignment features, e.g. projections, on the optical printed circuit board.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical mux/demux for an optical printed circuit board. The mux/demux comprises: a first waveguide formed on a support layer for carrying a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal; a separator/combiner for separating the wavelength division multiplexed signal into component signals of corresponding wavelengths or for combining component signals into the said wavelength division multiplexed signal; and plural second waveguides, each for receiving or providing one or more of the said component signals, wherein the separator/combiner is at a predetermined location relative to the waveguides.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical mux/demux for an optical printed circuit board. The mux/demux comprises: a first waveguide formed on a support layer for carrying a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal; a separator/combiner for separating the wavelength division multiplexed signal into component signals of corresponding wavelengths or for combining component signals into the said wavelength division multiplexed signal; and plural second waveguides, each for receiving or providing one or more of the said component signals, wherein the separator/combiner is at a predetermined location relative to the waveguides.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of manufacturing an optical printed circuit board and an optical printed circuit board. The method comprises providing a support layer; on the support layer, providing an optical core layer; forming optical channels from the optical core layer and surrounding the optical channels with cladding thereby forming optical waveguides; and during said step of forming the optical channels, forming one or more alignment features, e.g. projections, on the optical printed circuit board.