Optical fiber fanout devices include a housing having a fiber telescoping cavity therein. An optical fiber tubing receiving opening in the housing extends to the fiber telescoping cavity. The optical fiber tubing receiving opening is configured to secure a plurality of optical fiber tubes therein. An optical fiber receiving opening in the housing also extends to the cavity. The optical fiber receiving opening is displaced from the optical fiber tubing receiving opening by a distance selected to define an arc for an optical fiber extending from the optical fiber receiving opening to the optical fiber tubing receiving opening that exceeds a minimum bend radius for the optical fiber.
The present application claims the benefit of and priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/966,300, filed Aug. 27, 2007, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
The present invention relates to optical fiber products and, more particularly, to optical fiber storage transition products and methods for using the same.
Optical fanouts are one of the components that are commonly used in optical fiber telecommunication systems. Optical fanouts are a type of device that provides a physical transition between cabled fibers that, typically, have only a 250 um coating, and individually jacketed and connectorized fibers. Fanouts are typically employed in Central Offices and in outside plant applications where individual fibers need to interface with telecommunications equipment or devices via a fiber optic connector.
Optical fanouts have been commercially available for many years. One common type of fanout design uses 900 um (micron) outer diameter loose buffer furcation tubes that are sleeved over the individual 250 um coated fibers to provide physical protection during handling of the connectorized pigtails. Such fanouts are typically potted. Also, devices originally designed for indoor use have been extended into outside plant environments, which have revealed a cold temperature sensitivity in some designs. The temperature sensitivity is generally due to differential thermal expansion moduli of the materials comprising the fanout. When exposed to typically specified low temperature environments (i.e., −40° C.) the optical loss of some fibers in a fanout can increase to unacceptable levels.
Embodiments of the present invention include optical fiber fanout devices including a housing having a fiber telescoping cavity therein. An optical fiber tubing receiving opening in the housing extends to the fiber telescoping cavity. The optical fiber tubing receiving opening is configured to secure a plurality of optical fiber tubes therein. An optical fiber receiving opening in the housing also extends to the cavity. The optical fiber receiving opening is displaced from the optical fiber tubing receiving opening by a distance selected to define an arc for an optical fiber extending from the optical fiber receiving opening to the optical fiber tubing receiving opening that exceeds a minimum bend radius for the optical fiber.
In other embodiments, the optical fiber tubing receiving opening includes an insertable furcation tube holding block configured to receive a plurality of furcation tubes fixedly therein. The housing may further include a deformable holding block receiving member configured to slidably receive the furcation tube holding block and to limit longitudinal movement of the furcation tube holding block relative to the fiber telescoping cavity. The furcation tube holding block may include a furcation tube receiving passageway extending longitudinally therethrough configured to receive a plurality of furcation tubes and an adhesive receiving passageway therein extending to the furcation tube receiving passageway configured to receive an adhesive for securing the plurality of furcation tubes in the furcation tube holding block. First and second adhesive receiving regions connecting to the furcation tube receiving passageway may be provided proximate longitudinally displaced ends of the furcation tube receiving passageway that are configured to limit wicking of adhesive flowing from the adhesive receiving passageway through the furcation tube receiving passageway.
In further embodiments, the furcation tube holding block is a plastic material that allows light to be transmitted therethrough to cure adhesive in the adhesive receiving passageway and the furcation tube receiving passageway. The furcation tube holding block may include a central member defining a first and second passageway, each configured to receive a plurality of furcation tubes arrayed across a width of the furcation tube holding block at a substantially uniform spacing, with a substantially uniform thickness wall between the first and second passageway defining an offset nested relationship between furcation tubes placed in the first and second passageways. The furcation tube holding block may further include a bottom cover hingedly connected to the central member and having an open position allowing insertion of furcation tubes in the first passageway and a closed position extending over inserted furcation tubes in the first passageway and a top cover hingedly connected to the central member having an open position allowing insertion of furcation tubes in the second passageway and a closed position extending over inserted furcation tubes in the second passageway. A first adhesive passageway opening may be provided in the top cover configured to allow adhesive to flow into the second passageway and a second adhesive passageway opening may be provided in the central member configured to allow adhesive to flow from the second passageway into the first passageway.
In other embodiments the furcation tube holding block includes an angled endface positioned facing the fiber telescoping cavity. The deformable holding block receiving member includes an angled retaining member configured to engage the angled endface of the furcation tube holding block to limit longitudinal movement of the furcation tube holding block into the fiber telescoping cavity.
In further embodiments, the optical fiber receiving opening includes an insertable multi-fiber holding block having a fiber receiving passageway extending therethrough to the fiber telescoping cavity configured to receive a plurality of optical fibers. The multi-fiber holding block may be a ribbon holding block and the fiber receiving passageway may be a longitudinally extending channel having a height exceeding its width configured to receive an optical fiber ribbon cable therein. The multi-fiber holding block may include an adhesive receiving passageway therein extending to the fiber receiving passageway configured to receive an adhesive for securing the plurality of optical fibers in the multi-fiber holding block and first and second adhesive receiving regions connecting to the fiber receiving passageway proximate longitudinally displaced ends of the fiber receiving passageway that are configured to terminate wicking of adhesive flowing from the adhesive receiving passageway through the fiber receiving passageway.
In other embodiments, the multi-fiber holding block is a loose tube holding block and the fiber receiving passageway has a longitudinally extending opening on an upper portion thereof configured to allow passage of a loose tube containing a plurality of optical fibers into the fiber receiving passageway. The housing may further include a second deformable holding block receiving member configured to slidably receive the multi-fiber holding block and to limit longitudinal movement of the multi-fiber holding block relative to the fiber telescoping cavity, wherein the second deformable holding block receiving member is positioned at a distance from the first deformable holding block receiving member to define the arc for an optical fiber extending from the optical fiber receiving opening to the optical fiber tubing receiving opening. The furcation tube holding block and the multi-fiber holding block may have a common footprint and the deformable holding block receiving members may be configured to interchangeably receive either the furcation tube holding block or the multi-fiber holding block.
In further embodiments, the first deformable holding block receiving member is one of a first plurality of deformable holding block receiving members in the housing and the second deformable holding block receiving member is one of a second plurality of deformable holding block receiving members in the housing. Ones of the first plurality of deformable holding block receiving members are positioned at a distance from corresponding ones of the second plurality of deformable holding block receiving members to define respective arcs for optical fibers extending therebetween through the fiber telescoping cavity. The optical fiber fanout device includes a plurality of pairs of furcation tube holding blocks and multi-fiber holding blocks positioned in corresponding ones of the deformable holding block receiving members.
In other embodiments, groups of a plurality of optical fibers are retained in each of the multi-fiber holding blocks and a plurality of furcating tubes are fixedly secured in each of the furcation tube holding blocks. Singulated ones of the optical fibers extend along the respective arcs from each of the multi-fiber holding blocks into corresponding associated ones of the furcation tubes fixedly secured in corresponding ones of the furcation tube holding blocks. The groups of optical fibers may be optical fiber ribbons and/or optical fiber loose tubes including a plurality of optical fibers.
In further embodiments, the optical fiber fanout device includes a plurality of the optical fiber tubing receiving openings and a plurality of the optical fiber receiving openings, ones of which are positioned at a distance from corresponding ones of the plurality of optical fiber tubing receiving openings to define respective arcs for optical fibers extending therebetween through the fiber telescoping cavity. The housing may be configured as a tray and the tray may be to be secured in a stack of optical fiber fanout devices. The deformable holding block receiving member may be in a bottom of the tray and the tray may include standoffs extending from the bottom of the tray in a direction away from the fiber telescoping cavity, the standoffs being positioned to locate the tray at an angle allowing deformation of the deformable holding block receiving member to allow insertion of the furcation tube holding block therein. The tray may include standoff receiving members positioned to receive standoffs extending from another tray stacked thereon.
In some embodiments, the furcation tubes are adhesively secured in the furcation tube holding block and the furcation tube holding block is configured to limit movement of the furcation tubes in a direction causing peeling of the adhesive in the furcation tube holding block. The plurality of optical fibers are adhesively secured in the multi-fiber holding block and the multi-fiber holding block is configured to limit movement of the plurality of optical fibers in a direction causing peeling of the adhesive in the multi-fiber holding block. Where the fibers are contained in a loose tube, movement of the plurality of optical fibers in a direction causing peeling of the adhesive is limited but, as the fibers are not constrained against movement within the tube, such movement is not prevented. However, such movement within the loose tube does not cause peeling of the adhesive.
In further embodiments, the optical fiber tubes are adhesively secured in the optical fiber tubing receiving opening and the optical fiber tubing receiving opening is configured to limit movement of the optical fiber tubes in a direction causing peeling of the adhesive in the optical fiber tubing receiving opening. The optical fiber is adhesively secured in the optical fiber receiving opening and the optical fiber receiving opening is configured to limit movement of the optical fiber in a direction causing peeling of the adhesive in the optical fiber receiving opening.
In yet other embodiments, methods of forming an optical fiber fanout device include providing a housing having a fiber telescoping cavity and a first and second deformable holding block receiving member therein, the second deformable holding block receiving member being positioned at a distance from the first deformable holding block receiving member to define an arc for an optical fiber extending therebetween through the fiber telescoping cavity. A multi-fiber grouping of a plurality of optical fibers is positioned in a multi-fiber holding block configured to be received in the first and/or second deformable holding block receiving member. A plurality of furcation tubes are fixedly secured in a furcation tube holding block configured to be received in the first and/or second deformable holding block receiving member. Ones of a plurality of optical fibers in the multi-fiber grouping are singulated. The singulated ones of the plurality of optical fibers are inserted in corresponding ones of the furcation tubes. The furcation tube holding block is positioned a selected longitudinal distance from the multi-fiber holding block with the singulated optical fibers extending therebetween. The furcation tube holding block is fixedly secured at the selected longitudinal distance from the multi-fiber holding block. In some embodiments, fixedly securing the holding blocks includes terminating the ones of the plurality of optical fibers in the multi-fiber grouping to a connector fixedly secured to corresponding ones of the furcation tubes. After the holding blocks are secured at the selected longitudinal distance from each other, the multi-fiber holding block is inserted in the first deformable holding block receiving member and the furcation tube holding block is inserted in the second deformable holding block receiving member with the singulated optical fibers extending through the fiber telescoping cavity along the defined arc.
In further embodiments, fixedly securing the plurality of furcation tubes and securing the multi-fiber grouping of the plurality of optical fibers includes adhesively securing the furcation tubes and plurality of optical fibers in their respective holding blocks. The multi-fiber grouping may be a loose tube including a plurality of individual optical fibers and singulating ones of the plurality of optical fibers may include removing a selected length of the loose tube to expose the plurality of optical fibers. The multi-fiber grouping may be a ribbon and singulating ones of the plurality of optical fibers may include separating a selected length of the plurality of optical fibers.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating operations for forming an optical fiber fanout according to some embodiments of the present invention.
In some embodiments of the present invention, optical fanout devices are provided that may exhibit superior temperature versus loss performance, may hold up to 72 fibers or more and may use a novel modular design that may simplify factory production operations. The fanout device, in some embodiments, enables a maximum of 72 fibers (6 groups of 12) to enter and exit the housing on a common plane as illustrated, for example, in the embodiments of FIG. 1, where 6 optical fiber ribbons are shown as entering the fanout device, each of which is shown as including 12 fibers, on the right side as viewed in FIG. 1, then arcing in a half loop through a fiber telescoping zone before exiting on the left of FIG. 1 in individual tubes, where one tube may be provided for each fiber. Each fiber experiences a benign loop inside the housing (i.e., at a radius that does not damage the fiber). The fiber inside the housing is free to move a small amount as, unlike the conventional fanouts described above, it is not potted in place. Such flexing may allow differential thermal expansion and contraction while maintaining performance of the fibers. As such, in some embodiments, problems related to tubing shrinkage and the like may be avoided or reduced through the use of slack coils to accommodate tubing shrinkage and annealed tubing may not be required and sensitivity to tubing temperature variations may be reduced in a fanout device for multiple ribbons.
In some embodiments, modular holding blocks are included that are used to secure either a fiber optic ribbon, a loose tube including a plurality of optical fibers or plastic furcation tubes in the fanout housing. In some embodiments, a process is used that employs the use of a "Light-Cure" adhesive in conjunction with specially selected materials, which may provide for a high efficiency manufacturing methodology. In further embodiments, specially designed apparatuses are provided that minimize process variation and establish a safe operator interface. The fanout device may meet industry standards, such as Telcordia GR-2866.
Optical fiber fanout devices according to some embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-8. FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating an optical fiber fanout device 100 according to some embodiments of the present invention. The optical fiber fanout device 100 includes a housing having a base 110 and a cover 120. More particularly, the illustrated base 110 is a tray that is configured to be secured in a stack of optical fiber fanout devices. A plurality of insertable furcation tube holding blocks 130 are shown defining optical fiber tubing receiving openings in the base 110. Also shown is a plurality of multi-fiber holding blocks 128 that define optical fiber receiving openings in the base 110. The holding blocks 130, 128 extend into a fiber telescoping cavity 134 in the base 110.
In the particular embodiments of FIG. 1, six furcation tube holding blocks 130 and a corresponding set of six multi-fiber holding blocks 128 are shown. Each of the multi-fiber holding blocks 128 is displaced from an associated one of the furcation tube holding blocks 130 by a distance selected to define an arc for an optical fiber extending therebetween that exceeds a minimum bend radius for the optical fiber. Thus, as seen in FIG. 1, respective arcs 132 of optical fiber extend through the fiber telescoping cavity 134 between corresponding pairs of the holding blocks 128, 130. As a result, differential thermal expansion and shrinkage characteristics of furcation tubes 125 and the optical fibers extending therein may be accommodated by telescoping of the arcs 132 of optical fiber so as to limit or even prevent degradation of the optical fibers. As a result, lower cost furcation tubes 125 may be used, in some embodiments of the present invention, as shrinkage characteristics thereof are less problematic than with conventional optical fiber fanout devices.
As also seen for the embodiments of FIG. 1, the optical fiber groupings to be separated in the fanout are shown as optical ribbons 124 that are received and secured in the multi-fiber holding blocks 128 and passed therethrough into the fiber telescoping cavity 134. As shown in FIG. 1, the end 122 of the base 110 is fully populated with six associated pairs of holding blocks 128, 130. The ribbons 124 each include a group of twelve optical fibers. Thus, the optical fiber fanout device 100 may enable 72 fibers to enter and exit the device 100 on a common plane. However, it will be understood that lower or higher numbers of fibers may be accommodated in various embodiments of the present invention and, furthermore, that a device 100 configured for a larger number of fibers may be partially populated and used to provide a benign arc allowing telescoping of a smaller number of optical fibers as required.
In the embodiments of FIG. 1, the respective holding blocks 128, 130 are slidably received in respective deformable holding block receiving members having a flexible arm 140. The holding block receiving members are configured to slidably receive the insertable holding blocks 128, 130 and to limit longitudinal movement of the holding blocks 128, 130 relative to the fiber telescoping cavity 134. More particularly, the flexible arm 140 is shown formed integrally with the base 110. The flexible arm 140 includes a retaining member 142 positioned on the arm 140 proximate the fiber telescoping cavity 134 to limit longitudinal movement of the holding blocks 128, 130 into the fiber telescoping cavity 134, for example, when the ribbon 124 or furcation tubes 125 are pushed manually towards the cavity 134. The holding block receiving members further include end-stops 136 and upper retaining tabs 138 configured to limit movement of the holding blocks 128, 130 away from the cavity 134 and away from the base 110, respectively, when the holding block 128, 130 are slidably received in their respective deformable holding block receiving members.
Various features are also provided in the base 110 for receiving the cover (top) 120. In particular, three tab receiving regions 144 are shown configured to receive tabs 148 of the cover 120 therein. In some embodiments, the tabs 148 will be received in the regions 144 so as to lock the cover 120 on the base 110 to limit further operator access to the fiber telescoping cavity 134.
The optical fiber fanout device 100 of the embodiments of FIG. 1 may be attached to an underlying surface (or with a plurality of stacked devices to an underlying surface) using two openings 146 on a back end thereof and one opening 147 centrally located on a front end 122 thereof. The openings 146 are located outside the fiber telescoping cavity 134, with the sidewalls of the base 110 including a thickened portion 160 approximate the angled sidewall portion accommodating the openings 146.
The cover 120 likewise includes angled recesses 150 allowing access to the openings 146. In addition, the cover 120 includes a plurality of openings 154, and cutouts on the end thereof, to accommodate the retaining tabs 138.
Further embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an optical fiber fanout device 200 with the cover removed according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 2 with the cover 365 attached to the base 210. Base 210 includes a bottom with sidewalls extending up therefrom to define a fiber telescoping cavity 234. The cover 365 defines a top of the fiber telescoping cavity 234. A plurality of insertable furcation tube holding blocks 230 are illustrated that define optical fiber tubing receiving openings into the fiber telescoping cavity 234. The furcation tube holding blocks 230 are configured to receive a plurality of furcation tubes 125 (FIG. 1) fixedly therein.
Also shown are a plurality of multi-fiber holding blocks 228 defining optical fiber receiving openings in the base 210 that extend to the fiber telescoping cavity 234. The multi-fiber holding blocks 228 are displaced from corresponding furcation tube holding blocks 230 by a distance selected to define an arc for an optical fiber extending therebetween that exceeds a minimum bend radius for the optical fiber.
In the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3, the base 210 includes a plurality of deformable holding block receiving members, including respective resilient arms 240, retaining tabs 242, end stops 236 and upper retaining tabs 238. The deformable holding block receiving members are configured to slidably receive the holding blocks 228, 230 and to limit longitudinal movement of the holding blocks 228, 230 relative to the fiber telescoping cavity. More particularly, the retaining tab 242 on the resilient arm 240 is configured to limit movement of the holding blocks 228, 230 into the fiber telescoping cavity 234 while the end stop 236 limits longitudinal movement away from the fiber telescoping cavity 234 and the upper retaining tabs 238 limit movement of the holding blocks 228, 230 away from the base 210. The flexible arm 240, in the embodiments of FIG. 2, may be pressed downwardly to allow repeated removal and insertion of a holding block 228, 230 into the base 210.
For the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 2, the furcation tube holding block 230 and the multi-fiber holding block 228 have a common footprint and the deformable holding block receiving members are configured to interchangeably receive either the furcation tube holding block 230 or the multi-fiber holding block 228. Note that the multi-fiber holding block 228 differs from the multi-fiber holding block 128 in that the holding block 228 is a loose tube holding block configured to retain a loose tube including a plurality of optical fibers in the holding block 228, although a common footprint is shown for blocks 128, 228.
The illustrated housing 210 further includes three tab receiving regions 244 configured to receive and engage corresponding tabs 348 of cover 365. The base 210 further includes through holes 246 located outside of the region defining the fiber telescoping cavity 234, with corresponding angled recesses 350 on the cover 365 exposing the openings 246 when the cover 365 is installed on the base 210 as seen in FIG. 3. The embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 differ from the embodiments of FIG. 1 in that three mounting holes 247 are provided on the front end of the housing 210 opposite the holes 246 in the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3. The stop members 236 a proximate the openings 247 are longitudinally extending to provide greater stiffness in the housing 210 proximate the mounting holes 247.
Also shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 are standoffs 269. The standoffs 269 extend from the bottom of the base 210 in a direction away from the fiber telescoping cavity 234. A pair of standoffs 269 (only one visible in FIGS. 2 and 3) are positioned to locate the base (tray) 210 at an angle allowing deformation of the fingers 240 to allow insertion of the holding blocks 228, 230, which may ease assembly of the optical fiber fanout device 200 by an operator. As the optical fiber fanout device 200 is configured for use in a stacked arrangement, standoff receiving members 260 are provided in the base 210 positioned to receive standoffs 269 extending from another base (tray) 210 stacked thereon. As seen in FIG. 3, corresponding openings 367 are provided in the cover 365 to allow for a passage of the standoffs 269 into the standoff receiving members 260. The standoffs 269 may also server as locating features for positioning on a shelf. Also seen in the cover 365 in FIG. 3 are openings 354 positioned and sized to receive the upper retaining tabs 238 and attachment tabs 348 positioned to mate in corresponding tab receiving regions 244 of the base 210.
Referring now to FIG. 4, an exemplary one of the loose tube holding blocks 228 (FIG. 2) according to some embodiments of the present invention will now be described. The loose tube holding block 228 has a fiber (loose tube) receiving passageway 262 extending therethrough that is configured to receive a plurality of optical fibers contained within a loose tube and to pass the same to the fiber telescoping cavity 234 (FIG. 2). As also shown in the embodiments of FIG. 4, the fiber receiving passageway 262 has a longitudinally extending opening 460 in an upper portion thereof configured to allow passage of a plurality of optical fibers into the fiber receiving passageway 262 from above and then sliding the loose tube into place, thus requiring a lesser length of the loose tube to be passed through the passageway 262. Thus, in some embodiments as seen in FIG. 4, the width of the opening 460 is less than an outer diameter of loose tube to be inserted in the holding block 228 so that, after passing the loose tube into the passageway 262, the loose tube will not be expected to slip out through the opening 460.
Also shown in the embodiments of FIG. 4 is an adhesive receiving passageway 461 in the loose tube holding block 228. The adhesive receiving passageway 461 extends to the fiber receiving passageway 262 and is configured to receive an adhesive for securing the loose tube containing the plurality of optical fibers in the loose tube holding block 228. In addition, there are adhesive regions 466 (only one shown in FIG. 4) connecting to the fiber receiving passageway 262 approximate longitudinally displaced front and back ends of the fiber receiving passageway 262. The regions 466 are configured to limit or even terminate wicking of adhesive flowing from the adhesive receiving passageway 461 through the fiber receiving passageway 262.
Note that longitudinally displaced front and back ends are shown as including angled faces 464 in FIG. 4 and oppositely placed side faces 230 b of the holding block 228 are also shown. As used herein, longitudinal movement refers to movement from the front to back end (or vice-versa). Note that, as seen in FIG. 4, the front and back ends may be identical/symmetrical and reference to front versus back as used herein will be relative to the fiber telescoping cavity 234 (FIG. 2).
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary one of the ribbon holding blocks (item 128 of FIG. 1) 528 according to some embodiments of the present invention. Like the loose tube holding block 228, the ribbon holding block 528 is configured to receiving a multi-fiber grouping of a plurality of optical fibers. However, for the ribbon holding block 528 of FIG. 5, an optical fiber ribbon is received in a fiber receiving passageway 562 that is a longitudinally extending channel having a height h exceeding its width (w) that is configured to receive the optical fiber ribbon and orient the same therein.
The channel 562 extends from an angled front end face 564 of the holding block 528 to an angled back end face 564. Similar angled end faces 464 are shown for the loose tube holding block 228 of FIG. 4. As will be further described with reference to FIG. 8, the angled end faces 564, 464 may be positioned with one facing the fiber telescoping cavity 234 and engaging an angled retaining member 242 to engage the angled end face 464, 564 of the holding block 228, 528 to limit longitudinal movement of the holding block 228, 528 into the fiber telescoping cavity 234.
Also shown in the embodiments of FIG. 5 is an adhesive receiving passageway 561 extending to the fiber receiving passageway 562 that is configured to receive an adhesive for securing an optical fiber ribbon cable in the channel 562. In addition, first and second adhesive receiving regions 566 connecting to the channel 562 proximate respective longitudinally displaced ends of the channel 562 near the angled end faces 564 are configured to terminate wicking of adhesive flowing from the adhesive receiving passageway 561 through the channel 562.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary one of the furcation tube holding blocks 230 (FIG. 2) according to some embodiments of the present invention. The furcation tube holding block 230 of FIG. 6 is a single piece design. As seen in FIG. 6, the furcation tube holding block 230 includes a furcation tube receiving passageway 662 extending longitudinally therethrough that is configured to receive a plurality of furcation tubes. More particularly, the furcation tube receiving passageway 662, in the embodiments of FIG. 6, includes dual overlying passageways with a jagged wall having a substantially uniform thickness extending therebetween across the furcation tube holding block 230. In addition, an adhesive receiving passageway 661 extends from a sideface of the holding block 230 to the furcation tube receiving passageway 662 that is configured to receive an adhesive for securing the plurality of furcation tubes in the furcation tube holding block 230.
It will be understood that, as used herein, references to furcation tube refer to a flexible protective tube used to surround a singulated optical fiber exiting the optic fiber fanout device 100, 200, which furcation tubes are typically connectorized at an end thereof displaced from the device 100, 200. For example, an SC connector may be coupled to the furcation tube. As such, the singulated optical fiber terminated to the SC connector would be telescoped back into the fiber telescoping cavity 134, 234 by relative thermal contraction of a furcation tube protecting an optical fiber contained therein and connected to the SC connector rigidly attached to the furcation tube.
As with the holding blocks 228, 528 of FIGS. 4 and 5, angled end faces 230 a are shown on the furcation tube holding block 230 that may be configured to mate with an angled retaining member 242. In addition, mold cavities 670 are shown in the side faces of the holding block 230 of FIG. 6.
The central wall 672 in the furcation tube holding block 230 defines the first and second passageways 662 that are each configured to receive a plurality of furcation tubes arrayed across a width of the furcation tube holding block 230 at a substantially uniform spacing. Furthermore, a substantially uniform thickness of the central wall 672 is provided that defines an offset, nested relationship between furcation tubes placed in the respective first and second portions of the passageway 662. Thus, the arrangement of the central wall 672 may provide for more uniform molding shrinkage characteristics as well as a nesting of furcation tubes allowing a reduced height of the holding block 230 to accommodate the stacked rows of furcation tubes. Such a stacked rows arrangement of furcation tubes may be particularly beneficial for use with known fixtures for feeding optical fibers into such furcation tubes using air pressure or the like.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a furcation tube holding block 730 according to further embodiments of the present invention. The furcation tube holding block 730 may be installed in a base substantially as described with reference to the furcation tube holding block 230 above. Similarly, to the embodiments of FIG. 6, the holding block 730 in the embodiments of FIG. 7 includes a central member 772 defining first and second passageways including respective notches 781 a, 781 b configured to receive a plurality of furcation tubes arrayed across a width of the furcation tube holding block 730 at substantially uniform spacing. In addition, the central member 772 defines a substantially uniform thickness wall between the respective groupings of notches 781 a, 781 b defining an offset nested relationship between furcation tubes placed in the respective notches 781 a, 781 b.
For the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 7, the furcation tube holding block 730 also includes a bottom cover 776 hingedly connected to the central member 772 at a hinge 779 and having an open position, as illustrated in FIG. 7, allowing insertion of furcation tubes in the notches 781 a and a closed position extending over inserted furcation tubes. A top cover 774 is hingedly connected to the central member 772 at a hinge 778 and has an open position, shown in FIG. 7, allowing insertion of furcation tubes in the notches 781 b and a closed position extending over inserted furcation tubes therein. The hinges 778, 779 are shown as living hinges in the embodiments of FIG. 7.
A first adhesive passageway opening 761 b is provided in the top cover 774 that is configured to allow adhesive to flow into the upper passageway including the notches 781 b. A second adhesive passageway opening 761 a in the central member 772 is configured to allow adhesive to flow from the passageway region including the notches 781 a. As such, adhesive input to the opening 761 b may flow into and around furcation tubes in notches 781 a and 781 b. However, in some embodiments, adhesive is first provided through opening 761 a before installing furcation tubes in notches 781 b to facilitate adhesive flow. In contrast, the furcation tube holding block 230 of FIG. 6 uses a side face opening 661 to directly flow adhesive to both portions of the passageway 662. It will further be understood that the furcation tube holding blocks 230, 730, like the loose tube holding block 228 and the ribbon holding block 528, may include respective first and second adhesive receiving regions connected to the furcation tube receiving passageway 662 proximate longitudinally displaced ends of the furcation tube receiving passageway 662 that are configured to limit or even terminate wicking of adhesive flowing from the adhesive receiving passageway 661 through the furcation tube receiving passageway 662.
The holding blocks 228, 528, 230, 730 of FIGS. 4-7 may be a polymeric or plastic material that allows light to be transmitted therethrough. Such a selection of material may facilitate the curing of adhesive in the respective adhesive receiving passageways and optical fiber/furcation tube receiving passageways.
Further embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a loose tube holding block 228 taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 2. As seen in FIG. 8, a loose tube holding block 228 includes an angled end face 230 a facing the fiber telescoping cavity 234. The flexible arm 240 of the deformable holding block receiving member includes an angled retaining member 242 with a face 242 a configured to engage the angled end face 230 a of the loose tube holding block 228 to limit longitudinal movement of the loose tube holding block 228 into the fiber telescoping cavity 234. A reference line 877 in FIG. 8 conceptionally illustrates the flexpoint for the flexible arm 240 while an opening 875 marks the opposite end of the flexible arm 240.
As seen in the embodiments of FIG. 8, the end face 230 a and retaining member 242 are slightly offset, rather than being in contact. As such, a limited amount of longitudinal movement of the loose tube holding block 228 may be allowed within the deformable holding block receiving member. Furthermore, while a loose tube holding block 228 is illustrated in FIG. 8, it will be understood that a ribbon holding block 528 and/or furcation tube holding block 230, 730 may be similarly received in a deformable holding block receiving member.
A method of forming an optical fiber fanout device according to some embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the flowchart illustration of FIG. 9. As illustrated in FIG. 9, operations begin by providing a housing having fiber telescoping cavity and a first and second deformable holding block receiving member therein (block 900). The second deformable holding receiving member is positioned at a distance from the first deformable holding block receiving member selected to define an arc for an optical fiber extending therebetween through the fiber telescoping cavity. For example, such an arc may be selected so that the fiber traveling thereon will exceed a minimum bend radius for the optical fiber so as to limit potential for damage to such a fiber during telescoping movement thereof.
A multi-fiber grouping of a plurality of optical fibers, such as a loose tube or ribbon, is positioned in a multi-fiber holding block that is configured to be received in the first and/or second deformable holding block receiving member (block 905). A plurality of furcation tube are fixedly secured in a furcation tube holding block configured to be received in the first and/or second deformable holding block receiving member (block 910). Ones of a plurality of optical fibers in the multi-fiber grouping are singulated (block 915). For example, for a loose tube grouping a selected length of a loose tube is removed to exposed the plurality of optical fibers. For a ribbon, a selected length of the plurality of optical fibers is separated.
The singulated ones of the plurality of optical fibers are inserted in corresponding ones of the furcation tubes (block 920). The furcation tube holding block is positioned a selected longitudinal distance from the multi-fiber holding block with the singulated optical fibers extending therebetween (block 925). The selected distance may be chosen to provide a desired arc length through the fiber telescoping cavity in the assembled optical fiber fanout device.
The furcation tube holding block is fixedly secured at the selected longitudinal distance from the multi-fiber holding block (block 930). Other optical connector installation may also be completed. In some embodiments, operations at block 905 include fixedly securing the multi-fiber grouping of a plurality of optical fibers in the multi-fiber holding block and operations at block 930 include terminating the ones of the plurality of optical fibers in the multi-fiber grouping to a connector fixedly secured to corresponding ones of the furcation tubes. After the holding blocks are secured at the selected longitudinal distance from each other, the multi-fiber holding block is inserted in the first deformable holding block receiving member (block 935) and the furcation tube holding block is inserted in the second deformable holding block receiving member with the singulated optical fibers extending through the fiber telescoping cavity along the defined arc (block 940). Lastly, a cover may be installed on the housing.
As described with reference to FIG. 1, the embodiments of FIGS. 1-8 may be used to provide, for example, a 72 fiber high fiber count optical fanout device.
As described above, various embodiments of an optical fiber fanout device may be easier to assemble compared to a typical conventional potted fanout device. In addition, the space used by, for example, 6 potted fanouts to support 72 fibers is generally the same as the space occupied by a device such as illustrated in FIG. 1. As further described above, adhesive used for securing tubes and/or fiber groupings in some embodiments of the present invention may use a light cured adhesive and polymer materials allowing transmission of light thereto in an efficient manufacturing process. Embodiments of optical fiber fanout devices as described herein may exhibit significantly better temperature induced loss performance as compared to a conventional potted fanout. In addition, devices as described herein according to some embodiments may accept ribbon and/or loose tube inputs whereas a potted fanout typically is applied to ribbon as it may not be possible to effectively use such an approach with a loose tube. For an optical fiber fanout device according to some embodiments, a modular design is provided that uses blocks to hold ribbons or tubes and may be easily assembled. In addition, respective various holding blocks may be designed to promote adhesive flow along selected regions of a pathway and further the flow of adhesive by migration may be limited through the placement of wells that limit or even prevent flow of adhesive beyond the desired end point of the adhesive filled block portions.
As described above, adhesives may be used for fixedly attaching furcation tubes, loose tubes and/or ribbon cable in respective holding blocks. In general, adhesives may be used in a variety of modes of applied stress including shear, peel, cleave, torsion or tension or even mixtures of these stresses. Adhesives are often effective when used in this way. The present inventors determined that, with a variety of adhesives and loose tubes (or furcation tubes), tension or mixed mode stresses (e.g., combinations of tension and/or peel and/or cleavage) sometimes resulted in adhesive joint failures with an unacceptably low amplitude of applied force. However, the present inventors discovered that, when mixed mode stresses were minimized, effectively leaving only shear stress, bonds with sufficiently high strength could be achieved. Therefore, in some embodiments, of fiber fanout holding blocks, the holding blocks are configured to limit opportunities for the application of any stresses other than shear. Such reliable adhesive coupling of the furcation tubes, loose tubes and/or fiber optic ribbons to the fanout housing base is provided by some embodiments of the present invention. The coupling of these fanout components (tubes & ribbons) to the fanout base with an adhesive in some embodiments may be provided with a shear coupling adhesive joint feature integrated directly into the housing and/or by using a holding block component that can be assembled remotely and later installed in the fanout housing.
wherein the fiber telescoping cavity is sized to accommodate the arc for the optical fiber and differential thermal expansion and contraction of the optical fiber without accommodating additional lengths of the optical fiber and without accommodating any additional lengths of any other optical fibers so that the optical fiber and the optical fibers each define only a single semi-circular arc when installed in the optical fiber fanout device.
2. The optical fiber fanout device of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber tubing receiving opening comprises an insertable furcation tube holding block configured to receive a plurality of furcation tubes fixedly therein.
a plurality of the optical fiber receiving openings, ones of which are positioned at a distance from corresponding ones of the plurality of optical fiber tubing receiving openings to define respective arcs for optical fibers extending therebetween through the fiber telescoping cavity.
4. The optical fiber fanout device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a tray and wherein the tray is configured to be secured in a stack of optical fiber fanout devices.
5. The optical fiber fanout device of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber tubes are adhesively secured in the optical fiber tubing receiving opening and the optical fiber tubing receiving opening is configured to limit movement of the optical fiber tubes in a direction causing peeling of the adhesive in the optical fiber tubing receiving opening and wherein the optical fiber is adhesively secured in the optical fiber receiving opening and the optical fiber receiving opening is configured to limit movement of the optical fiber in a direction causing peeling of the adhesive in the optical fiber receiving opening.
wherein the housing further includes a deformable holding block receiving member configured to slidably receive the furcation tube holding block and to limit longitudinal movement of the furcation tube holding block relative to the fiber telescoping cavity.
7. The optical fiber fanout device of claim 6, wherein the furcation tube holding block includes a furcation tube receiving passageway extending longitudinally therethrough configured to receive a plurality of furcation tubes and an adhesive receiving passageway therein extending to the furcation tube receiving passageway configured to receive an adhesive for securing the plurality of furcation tubes in the furcation tube holding block.
8. The optical fiber fanout device of claim 7, further comprising first and second adhesive receiving regions connecting to the furcation tube receiving passageway proximate longitudinally displaced ends of the furcation tube receiving passageway that are configured to limit wicking of adhesive flowing from the adhesive receiving passageway through the furcation tube receiving passageway.
9. The optical fiber fanout device of claim 7, wherein the furcation tube holding block comprises a plastic material that allows light to be transmitted therethrough to cure adhesive in the adhesive receiving passageway and the furcation tube receiving passageway.
10. The optical fiber fanout device of claim 7, wherein the furcation tube holding block comprises a central member defining a first and second passageway, each configured to receive a plurality of furcation tubes arrayed across a width of the furcation tube holding block at a substantially uniform spacing, with a substantially uniform thickness wall between the first and second passageway defining an offset nested relationship between furcation tubes placed in the first and second passageways.
11. The optical fiber fanout device of claim 6, wherein the furcation tube holding block includes an angled endface positioned facing the fiber telescoping cavity and wherein the deformable holding block receiving member includes an angled retaining member configured to engage the angled endface of the furcation tube holding block to limit longitudinal movement of the furcation tube holding block into the fiber telescoping cavity.
12. The optical fiber fanout device of claim 6, wherein the optical fiber receiving opening comprises an insertable multi-fiber holding block having a fiber receiving passageway extending therethrough to the fiber telescoping cavity configured to receive a plurality of optical fibers.
13. The optical fiber fanout device of claim 12 wherein the multi-fiber holding block comprises a ribbon holding block and the fiber receiving passageway comprises a longitudinally extending channel having a height exceeding its width configured to receive an optical fiber ribbon cable therein.
14. The optical fiber fanout device of claim 12 wherein the multi-fiber holding block includes an adhesive receiving passageway therein extending to the fiber receiving passageway configured to receive an adhesive for securing the plurality of optical fibers in the multi-fiber holding block and first and second adhesive receiving regions connecting to the fiber receiving passageway proximate longitudinally displaced ends of the fiber receiving passageway that are configured to limit wicking of adhesive flowing from the adhesive receiving passageway through the fiber receiving passageway.
15. The optical fiber fanout device of claim 12 wherein the multi-fiber holding block comprises a loose tube holding block and the fiber receiving passageway has a longitudinally extending opening on an upper portion thereof configured to allow passage of a plurality of optical fibers into the fiber receiving passageway.
16. The optical fiber fanout device of claim 12, wherein the housing further includes a second deformable holding block receiving member configured to slidably receive the multi-fiber holding block and to limit longitudinal movement of the multi-fiber holding block relative to the fiber telescoping cavity, wherein the second deformable holding block receiving member is positioned at a distance from the first deformable holding block receiving member to define the arc for an optical fiber extending from the optical fiber receiving opening to the optical fiber tubing receiving opening.
17. The optical fiber fanout device of claim 16, wherein the furcation tube holding block and the multi-fiber holding block have a common footprint and the deformable holding block receiving members are configured to interchangeably receive either the furcation tube holding block or the multi-fiber holding block.
18. The optical fiber fanout device of claim 17, wherein the first deformable holding block receiving member comprises one of a first plurality of deformable holding block receiving members in the housing and the second deformable holding block receiving member comprises one of a second plurality of deformable holding block receiving members in the housing, ones of the first plurality of deformable holding block receiving members being positioned at a distance from corresponding ones of the second plurality of deformable holding block receiving members to define respective arcs for optical fibers extending therebetween through the fiber telescoping cavity, wherein the optical fiber fanout device includes a plurality of pairs of furcation tube holding blocks and multi-fiber holding blocks positioned in corresponding ones of the deformable holding block receiving members.
singulated ones of the optical fibers extending along the respective arcs from each of the multi-fiber holding blocks into corresponding associated ones of the furcation tubes fixedly secured in corresponding ones of the furcation tube holding blocks.
20. The optical fiber fanout device of claim 19, wherein the groups of optical fibers comprise optical fiber ribbons and/or optical fiber loose tubes including a plurality of optical fibers.
21. The optical fiber fanout device of claim 12, wherein the furcation tubes are adhesively secured in the furcation tube holding block and the furcation tube holding block is configured to limit movement of the furcation tubes in a direction causing peeling of the adhesive in the furcation tube holding block and wherein the plurality of optical fibers are adhesively secured in the multi-fiber holding block and the multi-fiber holding block is configured to limit movement of the plurality of optical fibers in a direction causing peeling of the adhesive in the multi-fiber holding block.
22. The optical fiber fanout .device of claim 6, wherein the housing comprises a tray and wherein the tray is configured to be secured in a stack of optical fiber fanout devices and wherein the deformable holding block receiving member is positioned in a bottom of the tray and wherein the tray further comprises standoffs extending from the bottom of the tray in a direction away from the fiber telescoping cavity, the standoffs being positioned to locate the tray at an angle allowing deformation of the deformable holding block receiving member to allow insertion of the furcation tube holding block therein and wherein the tray further comprises standoff receiving members positioned to receive standoffs extending from another tray stacked thereon.
inserting the furcation tube holding block in the second deformable holding block receiving member with the singulated optical fibers extending through the fiber telescoping cavity along the arc.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein positioning a multi-fiber grouping of a plurality of optical fibers in a multi-fiber holding block comprises fixedly securing the multi-fiber grouping of a plurality of optical fibers in the multi-fiber holding block and wherein fixedly securing the furcation tube holding block at the selected longitudinal distance from the multi-fiber holding block comprises terminating the ones of the plurality of optical fibers in the multi-fiber grouping to a connector fixedly secured to corresponding ones of the furcation tubes.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein the multi-fiber grouping comprises a loose tube including a plurality of individual optical fibers and wherein singulating ones of the plurality of optical fibers comprises removing a selected length of the loose tube to expose the plurality of optical fibers and/or wherein the multi-fiber grouping comprises a ribbon and wherein singulating ones of the plurality of optical fibers comprises separating a selected length of the plurality of optical fibers.
ADC, "Challenges of Cold Temperatures on OSP Cable Assemblies for FTTP", 5 pages, 2004.
Corning Cable Systems, Buffer Tube Fan-Out Kits, A LANscape(R) Solutions Product, 2 pages, 2003.
MPO Connector: Optical Fiber Connector: Telecommunications: Furukawa Electric, http://www.furukawa.co.jp/connector/mpo.htm, 2 pages, (admitted prior art).
OFS, "Fiber Optic Mini Fanouts, Quick and Easily Facilitates the Transition of Cable Ribbon", 2 pages, 2002.
Sumitomo's Lightray MPX(TM) Fanout, Multi-fiber Connector to Single-fiber Connectors, 2 pages (admitted prior art).


Horowitz's meta-mystery is a delight! He obviously gets great pleasure out of turning the murder mystery genre upside down, as proven by his last book, Magpie Murders. This one is totally different and even more of a joy to read.
Horowitz knows murder. In addition to writing for various TV murder series, including Foyle's War and Midsomer Murders, he has a string of killer books.
This one is different from any of them, with Horowitz himself as the narrator. It's a novel, alright, but the various Horowitz factoids sprinkled throughout are true. For example, he did write a screen play for a Tintin sequel for Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson. It's a refreshing and amusing approach.
He's not the detective. That would be the opaque and occasionally infuriating Daniel Hawthorne, a consultant to the police. Horowitz fills the Dr. Watson role, only he's exceedingly ambivalent about his part and doesn't really care much for Hawthorne.
The mystery is complex enough to satisfy the most discerning fan but it's the wit in the writing that makes this book so very special. The word is that Horowitz plans to make the pairing of his quasi-fictional self and Hawthorne an odd couple crime series. I certainly hope so.
Ex-cop Daniel Hawthorne was a consultant for Horowitz during his writing of the television series, Injustice. Now Hawthorne wants Horowitz to write a book about him solving a murder case. He already has one to work on: an older woman made her funeral plans and was murdered only six hours later.
That's hard for Horowitz to resist.
To learn more about this prolific writer, click here.
I cut thrillers a lot of slack: the characters and formula are largely predictable and I accept that. However, this book was a huge disappointment. Its concept ticked the right boxes — a group of people searching for a prior lost expedition in a dangerous and mysterious cave. The writing did not.
Do yourself a favor and read Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth instead. It's quoted several times in this book and those were the best parts.
Milo, a Georgetown history professor, becomes part of a team exploring a massive cave in Tanzania. The supposed goal is to find clues regarding the fate of an explorer from a century earlier. What they actually find is much more.
For more about the author, his books, and whatever click here.
Ondaatje had me at his first line: ""In 1945 our parents went away and left us in the care of two men who may have been criminals." What followed did not disappoint. This story of two abandoned teens, their caretakers, what came later, and what happened before alternately beguiles and shocks.
Ondaatje is a poet as well a a novelist, so outstanding prose and thoughtful writing are expected. What's more interesting is the layers he adds and then peels away to reveal (or not reveal) facets of his characters and their actions.
The title refers to the minimal lighting used during WWII in London; only enough to guide vehicles that must travel at night on the roads and Thames as well as mislead Nazi planes looking for bomb sites. That same dim lighting barely illuminates the shadowy activities and motivations of the vanished mother when her son begins to investigate.
Nathaniel, also known as Stitch, provides the first person narration. When his parents leave for Singapore, he and his sister, Rachel, are surrounded by people they've barely known or never met. They engage in activities inappropriate for teens — or most people. They are unsure of everything, not unlike all of London, where rubble and bombed buildings are everywhere.
The author lulls you with delightful prose about activities like fly fishing or greyhound racing, then drops a story-telling bomb. The exploration of these activities provides character insights in clever, unobvious ways. Then those shocks make you realize nothing is quite what you thought.
However, this is not a traditional mystery or spy story. This book is not about the destination or a neat solution, it is about the journey. And, the journey is very rich indeed.
Nathaniel and Rachel are left in the care of a strange man they call The Moth. Their parents went to Singapore for a year, but the teens soon discover this isn't true. The what and where of their parents is a mystery — almost as mysterious as The Moth's friends, who now surround them.
As an adult, Nathaniel strives to solve those mysteries. And, understand why his mother did what she did.
I did not quickly find a website for the author, but for additional information on him and his works, click here.


text:
Voting Starts for MOVEMENT's Final Five
Monday, 28th October 2013 at 9:57 am
Music TV industry MTV's MOVEMENT campaign has announced its final five candidates vying for the role of the inaugural Millennial Leader, the new voice for the generation, who will now face a public vote.
Monday, 28th October 2013
FREE SOCIAL
MOVEMENT, launched by the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka (M.A.D.E), MTV Australia, and Deloitte Digital, highlights the issues that matter to young people and aims to lead social action to improve the future of Australia. As part of the campaign, MOVEMENT also seeks a Millennial Leader who will become the voice of the generation (born 1983-2003).
The five finalists will campaign until November 13 to capture the most public votes at mtvmovement.com.
Finalists are:
Natasha Akib who is passionate about empowering people and communities to use media and turn ideas into positive action. She's worked with socially conscious change organisations including StartSomeGood.com and at the Social Change Film Festival in New Orleans.
Jamie Green who works for a social enterprise that tackles the issue of youth homelessness through training programs in cafés. Green is focused on encouraging investment in youth entrepreneurial activity; believing that if young entrepreneurs were given more support and infrastructure, we would see a much brighter future for Australia.
Sam Lara, an avid filmmaker who knows how to make powerful ideas connect with an audience. She cares about the environment, youth empowerment and political justice. Lara attended both the Bali and Copenhagen Climate Change Conferences, took part in Australian Youth Climate Coalition events and has campaigned in her own community for forest protection and climate action
Jess Miller, a Fellow of the Centre for Sustainability Leadership who, in 2012, co-founded Grow It Local to encourage backyard, balcony and windowsill farming. Miller believes that healthy, organic and Fair Trade food should be accessible to all, not just the wealthy, and that focusing on sustainable living is the key for a better future.
Olly Tripodi, Head of the 2013 Youth Parliament of Victoria for 16 to 25-year-olds, who uses the punchy motto "Stand Up – Talk Hard – Be Heard". Tripodi extensively advocates for the beliefs of younger Australians and says young people are interested in politics and policies but not necessarily politicians. Tripodi also volunteers at the YMCA.
"The calibre of the Millennial Leader candidates is exceptional," M.A.D.E. Director Jane Smith said.
"They are thoughtful, considered, well informed and motivated to represent their generation to the wider world.
"Giving a voice to those who can't be heard has been a constant theme and, with more than 40000 views of the nominations, we know we are reaching an audience."
In choosing the Final Five, the judging panelists considered a range of factors including candidates' breadth of concerns, experience dealing with meaty issues pertinent to Millennials and their leadership potential.
The MOVEMENT panelists are singer-songwriter Missy Higgins; Claire Harman of Oaktree Foundation; MTV Presenters, Kate Peck and Keiynan Lonsdale; Nick Allardice from Change.org Australia; Yassmin Abdel – Magied from Youth Without Borders; Alannah Dugdale of Reach Foundation, April Long from the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence; Dean Delia from High Resolves and Nic Mackay, M.A.D.E representative and founder of Key Change Music.
The elected Millennial Leader will give voice to youth issues and receive things money can't buy such as access to a "Brains Trust" of sports stars, media figures, business people, social justice leaders, entertainment industry figures, entrepreneurs, health specialists, youth and wellbeing experts, innovators and policy specialists who will help the Leader achieve his or her goals.
Along with the search for the Millennial Leader, Movement will also work to gather information and opinions about what young Australians value and their sense of empowerment – encouraging participating in conversations around values and promoting social action.
To do so MOVEMENT has joined OurSay to find out what questions Millennials most want candidates to be asked when the candidates are in a Google Hangout at 6pm (AEST) on November 6.
The House of Representatives at Australian Parliament House in Canberra will also host the Leader so he or she can provide a Millennial perspective to Parliamentary proceedings and meet key movers and shakers. The Leader will have the opportunity to curate content for MTV and create a fortnightly blog and video diaries for MTV.com.au.
MOVEMENT runs from UN International Day of Democracy, September 15, 2013, to November 14, 2013 when the Leader will be voted into office. The Millennial Leader's term lasts until September 15, 2014.
Staff Reporter | Journalist | @ProBonoNews
Got a story to share?
Got a news tip or article idea for Pro Bono News? Or perhaps you would like to write an article and join a growing community of sector leaders sharing their thoughts and analysis with Pro Bono News readers?
Get in touch at news@probonoaustralia.com.au
Tags : Deloitte Digital, M.A.D.E. Director Jane Smith, MTV, MTV Australia, MTV Millennial Leader, MTV Movement, Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka (M.A.D.E), Sponsored, Sponsored Article,
Get more stories like this
Setting your 2020 vision for government engagement – a checklist
Andrew Blyberg
Thursday, 16th January 2020 at 7:30 am
Does volunteering overseas enhance your career?
Monday, 13th January 2020 at 8:00 am
The must do's for 2020 grants success
Thursday, 12th December 2019 at 7:30 am
It's almost the holidays!
Jo Scard
Thursday, 21st November 2019 at 7:00 am
How are Aussie charities helping in the bushfire crisis?
Luke Michael
Tuesday, 7th January 2020 at 3:21 pm
What impact will the bushfire crisis have on homelessness?
Wednesday, 15th January 2020 at 4:28 pm
The rise (and scepticism) of Facebook fundraisers
Maggie Coggan
What about the charities?
Wednesday, 8th January 2020 at 1:26 pm
Get the social sector's most essential news coverage. Delivered free to your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday morning.
Weekly News Service
Corporate Community News
Extra: Not for Profit news and offers
Pro Bono Webinars

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Do you want to find a portable phone stand that allows you to enjoy movie with hands free? This item is a lightweight cell phone holder which is made with durable material for long-term and practical use. It is ideal for watching videos, reading, video recording, or simply browsing the web, facetime or handsfree operation.
- Size: 6x4.5cm / 2.4x1.8inch(WxH).
- Widely used on any occation like kitchen, car, school, office, home, indoor and outdoor. Any place if you need it.
- Much easy to use, ideal for yourself, your friend and family.
- Good material with fine workmanship for durable and wide use.
- It is ideal for watching videos, reading, video recording, or simply browsing the web, facetime or handsfree operation.
- Durable base keeps device steady and secure.


text:
Our Yangtze River Cruise Debut
posted by nomadplans
Feb 23, 2018 2373 0 0
Cocktails, magicians and Broadway Shows
Kerry and I love a cruise holiday… storming across the high seas from one stunning city to the next, sampling fine dining and delighting in fabulous entertainment. The perfect recipe for a relaxing holiday combining glimpses of captivating cultures with copious cheeky cocktails. We usually choose an American Company, called Norwegian Cruise Lines. They're huge ocean liners with varied itineraries, including full theatre performances, duelling pianos, magicians, a circus and "The Beatles" in a replica Cavern Club. We've sailed around the Mediterranean, to the Baltics and most recently traversed across the Atlantic from Barcelona to Miami. We've also cruised to Alaska, from Vancouver with Disney. An amazing experience, phenomenal shows and to describe it as "All singing, all dancing," would be an understatement! Disney, in our experience, do everything brilliantly!
So, as you can imagine, on our latest trip to China, it came as a bit of a shock when we learnt that the entertainment, on our Yangtze River Cruise, was in fact, us… Yes, you read correctly, "us" the passengers, were invited to "do a turn" (as Kerry's dad puts it. ) It was announced, during our safety briefing (during which no safety instructions were given…) that the "cruisers" would have the opportunity to show off their talents, in a "Show" for the other guests. We were travelling with a group of 30 from the U.K. The majority of the rest of the passengers were American & Canadian, notoriously confident in their ability to showcase their abilities!
There was much murmuring amongst our group. The menfolk were generally despondent, none committal and far from enthusiastic. As was I. Dancing was mentioned, "everyone" would be joining in, the wise kept quiet, I didn't. I have had far from positive experiences of "dancing." I lack coordination and don't like people looking at me. Miserable memories of disastrous dance classes in "The Topaz," age 8, flooded back. Me, I loved the ballroom dancing component. I was in my elements cha cha charring & waltzing to a classical repertoire in my red corduroy dungaree dress. Hearing Michael Jacksons "Eye of the Tiger" on the other hand, still stresses me out! Complicated manoeuvres, flying ponytails, eyelashes and sparkly sequins – not really me!
Are you dancing?
So… what was I to do about the situation? Well, I could dig my heels in and refuse point blank to join in. I am, after all, my mother's daughter. She and her friend held up a Viking River Cruise, following their decision to "opt out" of attending the compulsory safety briefing. I thought about the numerous occasions I have decided that I'm just not doing something, based predominantly on a gut reaction to an old memory or experience. It struck me that our new "lifestyle" was supposed to be about harnessing new opportunities and trying different things. But what to do about it?
It felt like I'd been transported back to secondary school where I had been known to take umbrage with the "in-crowd." I knew it would have been easier to agree, to conform to fit in – but it's something I still struggle to do! Following my "tiff" with the instigator of the proposed "dance", I considered how I could turn things around. How I could get involved with "The Turn" without re-creating a Topaz or sulky, stubborn "outsider" situation.
Probably not if the Queen was asking…
Our fabulous tour leader, "Mr Lee" inadvertently provided me with a flash of inspiration, he along with "Ginny" mentioning the possibility of a "song." Mr Lee had a unique take on the English language, including the use of the phrase "You will Survive." So, how about I rewrite the words to Gloria Gaynor's, "I will survive" to be performed, by the group, in honour of Mr Lee, using all his little sayings?
I suggested it to a few people, everyone liked the idea. I think the fact It was 1 am and the drinks were flowing probably contributed to their enthusiastic response. So, I "collected" Mr Lee's phrases from the group and set to. No google but lots of helpful gals assisted me in writing up the original words, with a pen… I then spent a hilarious 20 minutes, in the "DJ" hub of the boat, replaying the song to make sure I had the gist of the tune. The staff were lovely… I couldn't imagine any other company allowing an impromptu take over of their tunes!
I left my wife in the bar and retired to our cabin, where until 4 am I faffed about trying to get a song together. As I sat, with umpteen bits of paper, trying to concentrate while we scraped and screeched our way through enormous locks I wondered why on earth I was putting myself through it! We were on holiday, if I didn't want to do a dance, I shouldn't feel coerced into doing it. But upon consideration, it probably would have been easier to just get over myself on the dance front than initiate and take on the pressure of re-writing a song… (Oh and rehearse and conduct it…)
We survived…
But "I survived" and so did "bus 1" … I am delighted to report that we performed brilliantly. Everyone took part, we sang our hearts out and sounded fabulous. We rose to the occasion, gave it plenty of welly and gave the Americans a run for their money. Best of all, Mr Lee was truly delighted. I don't suppose he had ever had a whole tour group perform a song in his honour before…
Bus 1, We will survive!
As for me, I was quite proud of myself. Not because of the song but that I'd managed to turn things around and enjoy being part of something. (Albeit on my terms…) Will 2018 will be the year I try a dance? I'm, after all, not 8 and will not be forced to wear Lycra! Although it definitely won't be happening to 'Eye of the Tiger…" or probably not if someone tells me I've got to do it. We're off to Mexico, Costa Rica and Cuba next, maybe the Cubans will inspire me to take a turn or two.
Thanks for reading! If you are interested in the different types of posts we write, takealookaround our site.
If you are heading to China check out our Top Tips guide.
If you need help in planning your trip to China check out Lonely Planet China (Travel Guide)
AsiaChinaRiver cruiseTravel storyYangtze River
Best Mangrove Tour In Manuel Antonio
Nomadplans Update
Kerry and Claire
Hi, we are Kerry and Claire of Nomadplans. We are an information giving travel and lifestyle blog. Do you want to discover a new destination or embark upon a voyage of self discovery? Nomadplans has something for you!
Paphos food tour
Eco Food Tour In Malta
Rainforest Explorers, The best Combo Tours in La Fortuna
Getting to Stonehenge from Bath
Gozo and Comino Tour
Our Las Vegas Timeshare Experience
Leg Waxing in Vietnam
Mexican Mishaps!
Taking a sleeper train across India
Check out our latest photos
©2020 nomadplans. All Rights Reserved


A lot of times a fight will fall apart and the replacement bout is maybe as good as the original, or maybe not. In the case of the UFC Hamburg main event, I've got a feeling Rua vs Smith will be better than Rua vs Oezdemir. Simply put, Smith is going to be chasing Rua from start to finish, and he won't have to look too far because Shogun is Shogun. And while Rua may be looking at a shot at regaining his 205-pound title with a win this Sunday, Smith is not going to be a willing pawn in the game. "Lionheart" showed no mercy against another former world champion in Rashad Evans last time out, and expect that same attitude against Rua.
Another quality replacement fight is in the co-main event slot, as Corey Anderson steps in for Ilir Latifi to face perennial light heavyweight contender Glover Teixeira. Teixeira is one of those guys I feel will always be dangerous, even if he was 75 and using a walker to get to the Octagon. He's just a hard-nosed, old school guy with bricks in his gloves. But after a stellar effort in his last bout against Pat Cummins, Anderson has the confidence and the still evolving game to give anyone trouble. Very interesting matchup here, and if Anderson gets it to the mat, he can pull off the upset.
German newcomer Abu Azaitar gets a nice main card slot for his UFC debut, and his aggressive style should get the fans in Hamburg roaring and also put his opponent, Vitor Miranda, in a tough position from the start. "Lex Luthor" has been out of action for over a year, so if ring rust is an issue, Azaitar will find out immediately. If not, Miranda has the ability and chin to weather the storm and take Azaitar into deep waters.
An important heavyweight bout pits Marcin Tybura and Stefan Struve. Both European big men have been on the verge of entering the title picture, but key losses have put them on the outside looking in. And considering that they're a combined 0-4 in their most recent bouts, a win on Sunday is a must if they want to get back in the mix. Luckily for them, in the heavyweight division, one win can do that trick, so expect to see both charging hard for the victory.
Danny Roberts put the blood and guts stuff aside in his last bout against Oliver Enkamp and the result was a clean and neat first-round knockout win. He's got the talent to do that again this weekend, but can he stick to the game plan against late replacement David Zawada, who has ended 11 of his 16 pro wins by knockout? If not, it could be the Fight of the Night in Hamburg.
Speaking of Fight of the Night candidates, Nasrat Haqparast and Marc Diakiese are former training partners with fight-ending power, and if the fists start flying, the winner may simply come down to who has the better chin.
Nick Hein gets a home game against Damir Hadzovic, and while Hadzovic is vastly underrated, past history has shown that putting him on the mat is a key to victory, and Hein's strong suit is his grappling. So if Hein makes it ugly, it will likely be an ugly night for Hadzovic.
Popular Norwegian battler Emil Meek returns against Poland's Bartosz Fabinski, and it's a similar bout to Hein-Hadzovic in that the fight will likely be decided by where it takes place. And while Fabinski is no Kamaru Usman, he does have the kind of wrestling that can dictate pace and place.
It's been over a year since Nad Narimani beat highly touted Paddy Pimblett to win the Cage Warriors featherweight belt, so ring rust could be a concern when he takes on Germany's own Khalid Taha, an Octagon newcomer who has finished 10 of his 12 pro wins, eight by knockout.
Making the drop from heavyweight to light heavyweight, Justin Ledet was a top prospect among the big boys, but he could be a contender at 205 pounds even sooner. Aleksandar Rakic is a tough assignment for Ledet's first go in his new weight class, but that's good news for the fans, as this could potentially be a barnburner.
Manny Bermudez came to the UFC with a lot of hype and he lived up to it in submitting Albert Morales, but he didn't just walk over the Californian. That adversity will serve to make Bermudez stronger, but it should also give Davey Grant confidence that the kid from New England isn't invincible. The key may be Grant's aggression, because it could be his downfall against a slick ground wizard like Bermudez.
In his three-fight UFC stint, Jeremy Kimball has been one of those "feast or famine" kind of guys. He's either gonna get you or you're gonna get him, and either way, it's not going three rounds. That's great for the fans, but not great for Kimball unless he finds consistency, and he'll have the chance to get back on track against Serbian newcomer Darko Stosic, a protégé of Mirko Cro Cop who brings an eight-fight winning streak into the Octagon this weekend.
Damian Stasiak is always a fun fighter to watch, and while he's had his ups and downs, you've got to make him a heavy favorite over Chinese newcomer Liu Pingyuan, who will not just be giving up a huge UFC experience advantage, but who will be coming off a long trip from China to Germany for his debut. Then again, after an 0-4 start to his career, Liu is 11-1, so the kid can fight.


As we mentioned in our last tutorial Game Development in Android using Libgdx Part I, we would be making buttons here which appear in our main menu, taking reference from our game Polar.
They are bitmaps which contain array of glyphs in form of pixels. So when writing some text we actually draw bitmaps of each character one after the other. The good point about bitmap font is that they are faster to render than normal fonts but they do not look good if scaled. For different resolutions we need different fonts. But for our case we made one font and scaled it for different resolutions.
In LIBGDX we get a class BitmapFont which handles everything for us.
To make a bitmapfont we used the tool called Hiero provided in their google code page.
We implemented this class as a wrapper for the text we show in the menu.
This is a simple wrapper to draw texts on the screen. In the constructor we pass the Text and its Position on the screen. In Draw function we pass SpriteBatch instance and BitmapFont instance. SpriteBatch was explained in the last tutorial so you can have a look there. The draw function provided in BitmapFont class has two overloads. We used one with four arguments where we pass the spritebatch, the text we want to draw, the left position of the text and the bottom position of the text. Thing to note is that in Libgdx coordinate system, the origin is the left bottom corner and y value increases as we go in the upward direction rather than downward as is the usual case in graphic systems. The x value increases, as usual, from left to right.
The buttons we implemented in Polar were simple. They had two texture wrapper objects one for idle event and other for click event and we had a textwrapper object to show text in the buttons.
So for rendering we call the Draw function and for checking if it is clicked or not we call the Update function with the coordinates of tap position. We checked our backtexture to check if tap was inside that area. You can use any one of the textures or use a collection of textures used in the button object to check the click. You can also put padding to the limits we are checking within, in the IsInside function to check with the tap position if the texture is too small and not easily clickable.
In the next tutorial we would finish the menu screen by finding how to calculate the tap position and also handle the tap events on the button.
Hi! First, big thanks for the tutorial series,it seems that you are the only ones trying to really explain it step by step, especially thank you for box2d tutorials, i hope you continue.
and in previous tutorial, when you defined TextureWrapper class there was no such field as width, only srcWidth and destWidth. Did you mean destWidth?
1. We updated the button constructor which now creates a textWrapper object inside the constructor from "text" argument which is String type. You can always do the other way round creating the textwrapper object and sending it as argument while instantiating the Button object.
2. Yes we meant destWidth. Updated that in the post now.


A shortage of food and water continue in Japan. Read eyewitness accounts about the tsunami's devastation. Read article on RI website.
This woudl be a great quote to have on the "big screen" at the auction.
Good idea. I will try and see if we can work this in. I wish we could get all Rotarians involved in the new website the way you are.
Phil be patient, it takes time!
I also think the picture of Chatham by the well in Ghana would be great for the auction show!


text:
Champagne Showers ist ein Lied des US-amerikanischen Electro-/Hip-Hop-Duos LMFAO und die zweite Singleauskopplung des Albums Sorry for Party Rocking.

Das Stück wurde in Deutschland am 27. Mai 2011 veröffentlicht und entstand als Zusammenarbeit LMFAOs mit der Sängerin Natalia Kills. Der Text wurde vom Duo selbst geschrieben, ebenfalls beteiligt daran waren D.J. Listenbee und K. Oliver. Die Musik wurde von dem Bandmitglied Redfoo zusammen mit GoonRock und Audiobot komponiert.

Das Musikvideo zu Champagne Showers stand unter der choreographischen Leitung von Quest Crew. Die Handlung hat Ähnlichkeit mit dem Film From Dusk Till Dawn.

Rezeption
Das Lied war nicht ganz so erfolgreich wie der Vorgänger Party Rock Anthem. Es debütierte in den britischen Charts auf Platz 32; in Deutschland erreichte das Lied Platz 41, in Österreich Platz 18, in Irland Platz 15, in Frankreich Platz 12, in Australien Platz neun und in Neuseeland Platz acht.

Chartplatzierungen

Auszeichnungen für Musikverkäufe

Einzelnachweise

Popsong
Lied 2011
LMFAO

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia