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Introduction to Fiber-Optic Lighting - Types The basic construction of a fiber-optic lighting system consists of the illuminator, light source, fibers (sometimes called light guides) and a broad spectrum of fixtures used to control and direct light output. Illuminators The illuminator is the device that houses the light source. A sample illuminator may include reflectors, dimming controls, ballast or transformer, lamp, cooling fan, color wheel, heat and UV filters, color-correcting filter and supporting components. Light is focused by reflector(s) to the illuminator's port(s) so that it can be fed into the fibers. This light output can be dimmed, depending on the lamp used, and its color can be changed kinetically via use of a color wheel accessory. Light Sources Both common light sources and lamps designed specially for fiber-optic lighting can be used with illuminators. Common lamps include low-voltage halogen with built-in dichroic reflectors, higher-wattage quartz halogen lamps and metal halide lamps and xenon metal halide lamps with custom reflectors. Metal halide lamps require a ballast. Low-voltage halogen lamps are typically used for display and accent lighting and to create starry ceilings. Higher-wattage quartz halogen lamps are typically used to gain higher light output in task, accent, landscape, pool and fountain lighting applications; these lamps are dimmable. Metal halide lamps, generally 150 or 400W (up to 1000W), are typically specified for architectural applications such as detailing, cove and downlighting. They are rapidly assuming a major share of the market. New light sources are being introduced for use in fiber-optic lighting systems. Xenon metal halide lamps, manufactured by General Electric, are 60W lamps that produce 2-10 times the brightness of standard metal halide lamps, according to the company. Due to this high brightness, no additional reflectors are needed. Philips Lighting recently introduced a 150W ceramic-tube metal halide reflector lamp that delivers high color rendering with concentrated red spectral content and features a firm mounting flange to help with prefocusing the lamp onto the port. Specialty products utilizing lasers as the light source are also available. High-budget entertainment installations have utilized lasers in "light rope" applications, with the lasers resulting in extraordinarily brilliant and uniform lighting effects and stunningly saturated color effects. The newest light source to be used in fiber-optic lighting, however, may be LEDs, with single LEDs attached to single fibers. Fiber-optics article sections |
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Image courtesy Fiberstars
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