Electric arc apparatus for processing an optical fiber, and related systems and methods

Abstract

An electric arc apparatus for processing an optical fiber includes one or more first electrodes and one or more second electrodes. The first electrode(s) each have an end portion that terminates at an opening defined by the first electrode(s). The opening is configured to accommodate the optical fiber extending along a longitudinal axis. The second electrode(s) each have an end portion that terminates at a location spaced from the opening defined by the first electrode(s). The first electrode(s) or second electrode(s) are configured to receive a voltage that generates a plasma field between the first electrode(s) and second electrode(s), which are shaped to focus the plasma field so that the plasma field extends across the longitudinal axis and modifies the end of the optical fiber. Methods of processing an optical fiber with an electric arc apparatus are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electric arc apparatus for processing at least one optical fiber, comprising:
 one or more first electrodes each having an end portion that terminates at an opening defined by the one or more first electrodes, the opening being configured to accommodate the at least one optical fiber extending along a longitudinal axis; and   one or more second electrodes each having an end portion that terminates at a location spaced from the opening defined by the one or more first electrodes;   wherein the one or more first electrodes or one or more second electrodes are configured to receive a voltage that generates a plasma field between the one or more first electrodes and the one or more second electrodes, and further wherein the one or more first electrodes and the one or more second electrodes are shaped to focus the plasma field so that the plasma field extends across the longitudinal axis and modifies the end of the optical fiber.   
     
     
         2 . An electric arc apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the end portion(s) of the one or more first electrodes each at least partially converges before terminating at the opening, and further wherein the end portion(s) of the one or more second electrodes each at least partially converges before terminating at the location spaced from the opening. 
     
     
         3 . An electric arc apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the one or more first electrodes extend parallel to or obliquely toward the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         4 . An electric arc apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first electrodes comprises a single first electrode that is at least partially hollow so that the first electrode is configured to accommodate the optical fiber extending along the longitudinal axis within the first electrode. 
     
     
         5 . An electric arc apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the first electrode includes segments defining the opening such that the opening does not have a continuous periphery. 
     
     
         6 . An electric arc apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first electrodes comprises a plurality of first electrodes having respective end portions circumferentially distributed about the longitudinal axis to define the opening that is configured to accommodate the optical fiber extending along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         7 . An electric arc apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more second electrodes comprises a single second electrode. 
     
     
         8 . An electric arc apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a body defining a space configured to accommodate the optical fiber extending the longitudinal axis, wherein the one or more first electrodes are coupled to or integrally formed with the body.   
     
     
         9 . An electric arc apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the space defined by the body has two or more sections with different widths measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . An electric arc apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the body comprises a sleeve extending along the longitudinal axis, and further wherein at least one of the sections of the space defined by the body has a diameter between about 125 mm and about 275 mm. 
     
     
         11 . An electric arc apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the end portion(s) of the one or more second electrodes each terminate at a location closer to the longitudinal axis than a periphery of the opening defined by the one or more first electrodes. 
     
     
         12 . An electric arc apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis extends through the one or more second electrodes, and further wherein the end portion(s) of the one or more second electrode(s) at least partially converge toward the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         13 . An electric arc apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power source electrically coupled to either the one or more first electrodes or the one or more second electrodes, or both the one or more first electrodes and the one or more second electrodes, wherein the power source is configured to provide the voltage for generating the plasma field.   
     
     
         14 . An electric arc apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening defined by the one or more first electrodes has a diameter or minimum width between about 125 μm and about 250 μm. 
     
     
         15 . An electric arc apparatus for processing at least one optical fiber, comprising:
 a body defining a space configured to accommodate the at least one optical fiber extending along a longitudinal axis;   one or more first electrodes coupled to or integrally formed with the body, wherein the one or more first electrodes each at least partially converges before terminating at a first location spaced from the longitudinal axis; and   one or more second electrodes that each at least partially converges before terminating at a second location spaced from the first location in direction along or parallel to the longitudinal axis;   wherein the one or more first electrodes or the one or more second electrodes are configured to receive a voltage that generates an plasma field between the first and second locations, wherein the first and second locations are positioned so that the plasma field intersects the longitudinal axis when the plasma field is generated.   
     
     
         16 . An electric arc apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the one or more first electrodes define an opening at the first location, the opening being configured to accommodate the at least one optical fiber extending along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         17 . An electric arc apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the space defined by the body has a minimum width greater than a maximum width of the opening defined by the one or more first electrodes. 
     
     
         18 . An electric arc apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the one or more first electrodes are tip-shaped. 
     
     
         19 . An electric arc apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the end portion(s) of the one or more second electrodes are tip-shaped. 
     
     
         20 . A system, comprising:
 at least one optical fiber extending along a longitudinal axis; and   an electric arc apparatus for processing the at least one optical fiber, comprising:
 a body defining a space configured to accommodate the at least one optical fiber extending along the longitudinal axis; 
 one or more first electrodes coupled to or integrally formed with the body, wherein the one or more first electrodes each at least partially converges before terminating at a first location spaced from the longitudinal axis; and 
 one or more second electrodes that each at least partially converges before terminating at a second location spaced from the first location in direction along or parallel to the longitudinal axis; and 
   a power source electrically coupled to either the one or more first electrodes or the one or more second electrodes, or both the one or more first electrodes and the one or more second electrodes;   wherein:
 the power source is configured to provide a voltage to the one or more first electrodes or the one or more second electrodes to generate a plasma field between the first and second locations for modifying the end of the at least one optical fiber; 
 the first and second locations are positioned so that the plasma field intersects the longitudinal axis when the plasma field is generated; 
 an end of the at least one optical fiber is positioned closer to the one or more first electrodes than to the one or more second electrodes.