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Copyright © 1999 - 2000 Visual Lighting Technologies . All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1999 - 2000 Visual Lighting Technologies . All rights reserved. Information Provided by: Visual Lighting Technologies
Last Updated: Nov. 01, 2000
Copyright © 1999 - 2000 Visual Lighting Technologies. All rights reserved.
1
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
-A-
Acceptance Angle: The angle of light that can be accepted into an optical fiber from the
light source. The wider the angle of acceptance, the more light can be accepted and
transmitted through the fiber.
Acrylic Fiber: Consists of an inner acrylic plastic core coated with a thin cladding of a
fluorinated resin. This material is more durable, lighter in weight, can be bent to a tighter
radius than other fiber, and can be easily terminated in the field.
Ambient Lighting: A question as to the competing light from other sources.
Amperage Draw: The strength of electrical current being used by the illuminator.
Aperture: The opening of the illuminator through which light passes into the optical fiber.
Axial Mode: Allows the highest light output for fiber optic systems. In this mode
(sometimes referred to as "end light"), the end of the fiber is exposed and delivers all of
the available light.
- B -
Beam Spread: The angle of light that exits the output end of the optical fiber.
Bend Radius: The minimum radius to which a given fiber optic may be bent without
damaging the fiber or disrupting the continuity of the cables core diameter.
Burial Box: Housing for underground burial of an illuminator.
- C -
Candela (CD): International unit (SI) of luminous intensity; term evolved from considering
a standard candle similar to a plumber's candle, as the basis of evaluating the intensity of
other light to describe the relative intensity of a source (see Lumen).
Candlepower: See Candela.
CE Mark: The accepted European electrical standard certification placed on electrical
fixtures. It is based upon safety standards accepted by the European electrical
community.
Clad: The fluropolymer material surrounding the active light transmitting core of optical
fiber that has been designed to enhance the total internal reflection (T.I.R.) of light as it
travels through the core. The cladding also adds a protective barrier for the core.
Color Rendering Index: The method that indicates how colors will look under a given
source. A color rendering index (CRI) number is assigned to a light source based in its
ability to make pigments look as they would under certain test sources when compared to
the sources having the same color temperature.
Color Shift: The color change of light as it transmits along the length of a fiber. As the light
attenuates, the inherent color of the optical fiber will change.
Color Temperature: This refers to the color of light we get from natural or white. The
higher the number, the bluer the color temperature is. The lower the number the warmer
the color temperature.
Color Wheel & Motor: Typically it is 4 or 8 individual dichroic glass pieces assembled
together and mounted in front of the lamp in a fiber optic illuminator. Driven by a small
motor, it can rotate and change the color of the optic, or remain stationary on one color. Information Provided by: Visual Lighting Technologies
Last Updated: Nov. 01, 2000
Copyright © 1999 - 2000 Visual Lighting Technologies. All rights reserved.
2
Conduit: Typically a metal or PVC pipe which provides shielding and protection of
electrical wires. In some installations, optics are inserted inside the conduit, as a method
of hiding or protecting the optic and to meet certain building or electrical standards.
Core Diameter: The outer measurement of the inner most portion of the fiber optic cable.
Core: The inner most portion of the fiber optic cable.
- D -
Daisy Chain: When you connector illuminators in a serial fashion. (i.e. running one cable
from one unit to the next, to the next, etc)
Dichroic Filter: Generally glass or molded plastic, a dichroic filter is attached as a lens to a
lamp for filtering out certain lightwaves. Use of Dichroic filters is another way to transmit
colored light through optical fiber.
DMX512: A high speed digital data system that is capable of transmitting all of the
information required for light dimmers, intelligent lights, scrollers etc. down three wires in a
single cable. DMX is capable of sending 512 different channels through it. DMX512 was
developed by USITT (United States Institute of Theatre Technicians).
Dowser: A part of a color wheel that blacks out the light.
Driver: Fiber optic connection that comes out of the illuminator and splices onto another
piece of optic.
- E -
End Glow: The light that comes out the end of a fiber.
End Light: A type of optic that acts as a point source of light.
End Seal: A cap applied to the very end of the optical fiber to protect it from liquids and
dirt, dust etc.
Extrusion: A fixture made of plastic or metal used to mount a linear fiber to a surface. It is
manufactured by forcing a particular material through a die to give it a special shape.
- F -
Fiber Bundle: Refers to the collection of individual fibers that supply light to the fixture.
These fibers are held together and protected by the sheathing.
Fiber Optic: Refers to the conduction of light waves through materials of exceptional clarity
and across long distances. Fiber optics demonstrates total internal reflection by combining
like materials of differing indices of refraction.
Filter: A device for changing, by transmission or reflection, the magnitude or spectral
composition of the flux incidence upon it. They can be colored or neutral, depending on
whether they alter the light distribution
Fixture: The component that attaches to the output end of the fiber to focus or control the
beam pattern of light.
Focal Point: The point where optical fiber is positioned in the illuminator to optimally
transmit the maximum amount of light.
Foot-Candle: A measurement of light on a surface.
- G -
Glare: Visual discomfort caused by excessive brightness; cab be direct or indirect
(Reflected). Information Provided by: Visual Lighting Technologies
Last Updated: Nov. 01, 2000
Copyright © 1999 - 2000 Visual Lighting Technologies. All rights reserved.
3
Glass Fiber: Original fiber optic material, and still the standard in communications
technology. Glass fiber requires a large bend radius and is not easily field-terminated.
- H -
Harness: The device by which fiber is connected to an illuminator.
H.I.D.: High intensity discharge lamps can either be mercury, metal halide, or high-
pressure sodium.
Housing: Outer casing or box for the fiber optic illuminator.
- I -
Illuminance (E): The "quantity" of light (footcandles, lux) at a point on a surface.
Illuminator: An electrical box that contains a lamp, transformer, cooling fan and optional
color wheel or colored diachroic filter. Illuminators can be manufactured either 120 VAC or
240 VAC (50 or 60 Hz). Many different lamps, and housings are designed to meet
specific application requirements.
IR: Light transmitting in the Infrared wavelength, IR is generated as heat and must be
filtered in plastic optical fiber lighting systems.
- J -
Jacket: The outer most portion of the fiber optic cable.
- L -
Lamp Life: The approximate time for which a particular lamp will continue to operate
without failure. Several variables affect lamp life; however, two of these variables are the
most significant: voltage and the number of times the lamp is powered on and off.
Lamp Wattage: Amount of electrical power in a lamp developed in a circuit by a current of
one ampere flowing through a potential difference of one volt.
LCPOF: Large core plastic optical fiber.
Lens Coupler: A transparent or translucent aperture that directs and/or focuses the light
from an end-lit fiber optics cable.
Light Loss Factor: The product of all considered factors that contribute to a lighting
system's depreciated light output over a period of time including dirt and lamp lumen
depreciation.
Light Source: The source of the light, i.e. the illuminator.
Looped: When both ends of the optic are lit by one light source.
Lumens: A unit of continuous light (flux) equal to the light emitted in a unit solid angle by a
uniform point of one candle intensity.
Luminance: Measured on a point of a surface in a direction, is interpreted as the quotient
of the luminous intensity in the given direction produced by an element of the surface
surrounding the point.
Luminous Flux: The radiant power of a source of light; the time rate of flow of radiant
energy.
Lux (LX): A unit of illumination equal to the direct illumination on a surface that is equal to
one lumen per square meter. One lux is equal to 0.0926 foot-candles. Information Provided by: Visual Lighting Technologies
Last Updated: Nov. 01, 2000
Copyright © 1999 - 2000 Visual Lighting Technologies. All rights reserved.
4
- M -
Transmission Distance: Refers to the maximum length that