Patents by Inventor Bob J. Overton

Bob J. Overton has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8041167
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved optical fiber that employs a novel coating system. When combined with a bend-insensitive glass fiber, the novel coating system according to the present invention yields an optical fiber having exceptionally low losses. The coating system features (i) a softer primary coating with excellent low-temperature characteristics to protect against microbending in any environment and in the toughest physical situations and, optionally, (ii) a colored secondary coating possessing enhanced color strength and vividness. The improved coating system provides optical fibers that are useful in buffer tubes and cables having relatively high filling coefficients and fiber counts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Draka Comteq, B.V.
    Inventor: Bob J. Overton
  • Patent number: 8041168
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved optical fiber that employs a novel coating system. When combined with a bend-insensitive glass fiber, the novel coating system according to the present invention yields an optical fiber having exceptionally low losses. The coating system features (i) a softer primary coating with excellent low-temperature characteristics to protect against microbending in any environment and in the toughest physical situations and, optionally, (ii) a colored secondary coating possessing enhanced color strength and vividness. The secondary coating provides improved ribbon characteristics for structures that are robust, yet easily entered (i.e., separated and stripped). The optional dual coating is specifically balanced for superior heat stripping in fiber ribbons, with virtually no residue left behind on the glass. This facilitates fast splicing and terminations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Draka Comteq, B.V.
    Inventor: Bob J. Overton
  • Patent number: 8031997
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved optical fiber that employs a novel coating system. When combined with a bend-insensitive glass fiber, the novel coating system according to the present invention yields an optical fiber having exceptionally low losses. The coating system features (i) a softer primary coating with excellent low-temperature characteristics to protect against microbending in any environment and in the toughest physical situations and, optionally, (ii) a colored secondary coating possessing enhanced color strength and vividness. The improved coating system provides optical fibers that are useful in relatively thin-walled, low-modulus buffer tubes (i.e., “flextubes”) that can be readily accessed without special tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Draka Comteq, B.V.
    Inventor: Bob J. Overton
  • Patent number: 7974507
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fiber-optic cable that possesses a high cable filling coefficient (and/or a high cable fiber density) yet ensures that its enclosed optical fibers demonstrate improved attenuation performance when subjected to temperature variations between about ?40° C. and 70° C. The fiber-optic cable is suitable for efficient installation into ducts, such as via blowing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Draka Comteq, B.V.
    Inventors: Ray Lovie, Jeffrey Scott Barker, William Mark Smartt, Bob J. Overton
  • Publication number: 20110116753
    Abstract: An optical-fiber cable includes an adhesive material that adhesively couples a water-swellable element to a plurality of optical fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: DRAKA COMTEQ B.V.
    Inventors: Bob J. Overton, Wayne Cheatle, Greg DeChristopher
  • Publication number: 20110069932
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved optical fiber possessing a novel coating system. When combined with a bend-insensitive glass fiber, the novel coating system according to the present invention yields an optical fiber having exceptionally low losses. The coating system features (i) a softer primary coating with excellent low-temperature characteristics to protect against microbending in any environment and in the toughest physical situations and, optionally, (ii) a colored secondary coating possessing enhanced color strength and vividness. The secondary coating provides improved ribbon characteristics for structures that are robust, yet easily entered (i.e., separated and stripped). The optical fibers in accordance in the present invention may be incorporated into a reduced-diameter optical-fiber cable that possesses a high fiber count and a high cable fiber density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: DRAKA COMTEQ, B.V.
    Inventors: Bob J. Overton, Olivier Tatat, Jean-Marc Testu
  • Publication number: 20100290781
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved, single-mode optical fiber possessing a novel coating system. When combined with a bend-insensitive glass fiber, the novel coating system according to the present invention yields an optical fiber having exceptionally low losses. The coating system features (i) a softer primary coating with excellent low-temperature characteristics to protect against microbending in any environment and in the toughest physical situations and, optionally, (ii) a colored secondary coating possessing enhanced color strength and vividness. The secondary coating provides improved ribbon characteristics for structures that are robust, yet easily entered (i.e., separated and stripped). The optional dual coating is specifically balanced for superior heat stripping in fiber ribbons, with virtually no residue left behind on the glass. This facilitates fast splicing and terminations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: DRAKA COMTEQ B.V.
    Inventors: Bob J. Overton, Louis-Anne de Montmorillon, Simon Richard, Denis Molin, Marianne Bigot-Astruc, Pierre Sillard, David Boivin
  • Publication number: 20100183821
    Abstract: A UVLED apparatus and method provide efficient curing of an optical-fiber coating onto a drawn glass fiber. The apparatus and method employ one or more UVLEDs that emit electromagnetic radiation into a curing space. An incompletely cured optical-fiber coating, which is formed upon a glass fiber, absorbs emitted and reflected electromagnetic radiation to effect improved curing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: DRAKA COMTEQ, B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Antoon Hartsuiker, Bob J. Overton, Xavier Meersseman
  • Publication number: 20100135623
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved optical fiber that employs a novel coating system. When combined with a bend-insensitive glass fiber, the novel coating system according to the present invention yields an optical fiber having exceptionally low losses. The coating system features (i) a softer primary coating with excellent low-temperature characteristics to protect against microbending in any environment and in the toughest physical situations and, optionally, (ii) a colored secondary coating possessing enhanced color strength and vividness. The improved coating system provides optical fibers that offer significant advantages to single-fiber drop cables, such as those employed for Multiple Dwelling Unit (MDU) applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: DRAKA COMTEQ, B.V.
    Inventor: Bob J. Overton
  • Publication number: 20100135624
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved optical fiber that employs a novel coating system. When combined with a bend-insensitive glass fiber, the novel coating system according to the present invention yields an optical fiber having exceptionally low losses. The coating system features (i) a softer primary coating with excellent low-temperature characteristics to protect against microbending in any environment and in the toughest physical situations and, optionally, (ii) a colored secondary coating possessing enhanced color strength and vividness. The improved coating system provides optical fibers that are useful in reduced-size drop cables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: DRAKA COMTEQ, B.V.
    Inventors: Bob J. Overton, Jeffrey Scott Barker
  • Publication number: 20100135625
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved optical fiber that employs a novel coating system. When combined with a bend-insensitive glass fiber, the novel coating system according to the present invention yields an optical fiber having exceptionally low losses. The coating system features (i) a softer primary coating with excellent low-temperature characteristics to protect against microbending in any environment and in the toughest physical situations and, optionally, (ii) a colored secondary coating possessing enhanced color strength and vividness. The secondary coating provides improved ribbon characteristics for structures that are robust, yet easily entered (i.e., separated and stripped). The optional dual coating is specifically balanced for superior heat stripping in fiber ribbons, with virtually no residue left behind on the glass. This facilitates fast splicing and terminations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: DRAKA COMTEQ, B.V.
    Inventor: Bob J. Overton
  • Publication number: 20100119202
    Abstract: Disclosed is a reduced-diameter optical fiber that employs a novel coating system. When combined with a bend-insensitive glass fiber, the novel coating system according to the present invention yields an optical fiber having exceptionally low losses. The coating system features (i) a softer primary coating with excellent low-temperature characteristics to protect against microbending in any environment and in the toughest physical situations and, optionally, (ii) a colored secondary coating possessing enhanced color strength and vividness. The secondary coating provides improved ribbon characteristics for structures that are robust, yet easily entered (i.e., separated and stripped). The optional dual coating is specifically balanced for superior heat stripping in fiber ribbons, with virtually no residue left behind on the glass. This facilitates fast splicing and terminations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: DRAKA COMTEQ, B.V.
    Inventor: Bob J. Overton
  • Publication number: 20100092140
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved optical fiber that employs a novel coating system. When combined with a bend-insensitive glass fiber, the novel coating system according to the present invention yields an optical fiber having exceptionally low losses. The coating system features (i) a softer primary coating with excellent low-temperature characteristics to protect against microbending in any environment and in the toughest physical situations and, optionally, (ii) a colored secondary coating possessing enhanced color strength and vividness. The improved coating system provides optical fibers that are useful in buffer tubes and cables having relatively high filling coefficients and fiber counts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: DRAKA COMTEQ, B.V.
    Inventor: Bob J. Overton
  • Publication number: 20100092139
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved optical fiber that employs a novel coating system. When combined with a bend-insensitive glass fiber, the novel coating system according to the present invention yields an optical fiber having exceptionally low losses. The coating system features (i) a softer primary coating with excellent low-temperature characteristics to protect against microbending in any environment and in the toughest physical situations and, optionally, (ii) a colored secondary coating possessing enhanced color strength and vividness. The improved coating system provides optical fibers that are useful in relatively thin-walled, low-modulus buffer tubes (i.e., “flextubes”) that can be readily accessed without special tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: Draka Comteq, B.V.
    Inventor: Bob J. Overton
  • Publication number: 20100092138
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved optical fiber that employs a novel coating system. When combined with a bend-insensitive glass fiber, the novel coating system according to the present invention yields an optical fiber having exceptionally low losses. The coating system features (i) a softer primary coating with excellent low-temperature characteristics to protect against microbending in any environment and in the toughest physical situations and, optionally, (ii) a colored secondary coating possessing enhanced color strength and vividness. The improved coating system provides optical fibers that are useful in all-dielectric self-supporting (ADSS) cables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: DRAKA COMTEQ, B.V.
    Inventor: Bob J. Overton
  • Publication number: 20100067857
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fiber-optic cable that possesses a high cable filling coefficient (and/or a high cable fiber density) yet ensures that its enclosed optical fibers demonstrate improved attenuation performance when subjected to temperature variations between about ?40° C. and 70° C. The fiber-optic cable is suitable for efficient installation into ducts, such as via blowing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: DRAKA COMTEQ B.V.
    Inventors: Ray Lovie, Jeffrey Scott Barker, William Mark Smartt, Bob J. Overton
  • Publication number: 20090279833
    Abstract: A buffer tube arrangement includes an adhesive material to adhesively bond a water-swellable element to a plurality of optical fibers and/or a buffer tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: DRAKA COMTEQ B.V.
    Inventors: Bob J. Overton, Wayne Cheatle, Greg DeChristopher
  • Patent number: 7599589
    Abstract: In a buffer tube arrangement, discrete domains of adhesive material provide adhesive coupling of a water-swellable element and an optical fiber bundle that includes a plurality of optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Draka Comteq B.V.
    Inventors: Bob J. Overton, Greg DeChristopher, Wayne Cheatle
  • Patent number: 7567739
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fiber optic cable that includes optical fibers and a water-swellable element, such as a powder-free fabric tape, that are enclosed within a buffer tube. Adhesive material, such as discrete domains of adhesive foam, may be optionally employed to provide adhesive coupling of the optical fibers and the water-swellable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Draka Comteq B.V.
    Inventors: Bob J. Overton, Wayne Cheatle, Greg DeChristopher
  • Publication number: 20090175583
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved, single-mode optical fiber possessing a novel coating system. When combined with a bend-insensitive glass fiber, the novel coating system according to the present invention yields an optical fiber having exceptionally low losses. The coating system features (i) a softer primary coating with excellent low-temperature characteristics to protect against microbending in any environment and in the toughest physical situations and, optionally, (ii) a colored secondary coating possessing enhanced color strength and vividness. The secondary coating provides improved ribbon characteristics for structures that are robust, yet easily entered (i.e., separated and stripped). The optional dual coating is specifically balanced for superior heat stripping in fiber ribbons, with virtually no residue left behind on the glass. This facilitates fast splicing and terminations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventor: Bob J. Overton