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《亚洲标识》杂志

标识制作中崭露头角的光纤照明

2017/6/26 15:38:32

摘要:

Fibre optics may be best-known to the public for their broad use in residential Internet and other telecommunications services, as they can transmit more data across longer distances than copper- or wire-based cabling. They are also increasingly being implemented for lighting applications, however, including sign and display illumination.


众所周知,光纤被广泛地应用于电信行业中,比如家用宽带,或其他电信业务。它比铜线或线缆的布线更长,可以在更远的距离上进行数据传输。现在,光纤也逐渐开始应用在标识行业中了。


An optical fibre is a thin and flexible tube, made of either glass or plastic, that can carry light from one end to the other. It may be installed inside a cable jacket or externally from a cable .


光纤是光导纤维的简写,是由玻璃或塑料制成的纤维,可作为光传导工具,材质薄而轻柔,可以将光从一端传送到另一端,一般安装在电缆护套内或电缆的外部。


Fibre optic lighting has proven practical for a wide range of industrial, automotive, military, aerospace, medical and scientific uses, but has also found its way into store display cases, swimming pools and spas, landscaping, offices, casinos, holiday decorations, toys and consumer products. Indeed, research shows the overall value of the worldwide market for fibre optic lighting grew to US$312 million in 2016.


光纤照明适用于广泛的行业,例如工业、汽车、军事、航空航天、医疗行业,同时也已经走进了商店展示柜、游泳池、水疗中心、园林绿化、办公室、赌场、玩具和消费品市场。研究显示,整个2016年,全球光纤照明市场的总体价值比之前增长了3.12亿美元。


While the use of fibre optics in signage is still in its infancy, this could change quickly. The process of assembling, testing and manufacturing fibre optic lighting products already allows for mass production capabilities. Over the next few years, the average prices of these products will be driven lower by these production efficiencies, as well as by quality controls, higher yields, greater competition (in terms of both markets and technologies), improvements in sales, marketing and distribution and other factors. As such, the technology will move on from the ‘development’ and ‘introduction’ stages in the sign industry and into the ‘growth’ stage of its product life cycle (PLC).


虽然,光纤应用在标识行业中仍处于起步阶段,但这个现状将会很快改变。组装、测试和制造光纤照明产品的过程已经可以实现批量生产,在接下来的几年中,这些产品的平均价格将由生产效率和质量所决定,产量越大,在市场和技术方面的竞争就会越强。因此,照明技术将从标识行业的“发展”和“引进”阶段进入产品生命周期的“增长”阶段了。


Opening new applications


开启新的应用程序

Optical fibres can illuminate a sign by emitting light from their sides, providing an effect similar to neon. They are not nearly as heavy as traditional sign lighting technologies, however, so the labour involved in constructing and installing a sign is reduced, as is the cost of transporting it.


光纤可以从它的侧面发出光来照亮标识,类似霓虹灯的效果。然而,在建造和安装标识方面,它并不像传统标识照明技术那样,因此,它能有效地减少相关的劳动力和运输成本。


Further savings are achieved over the long term. Optical fibres are durable and do not degrade under normal conditions. Also, since light—not heat—is being sent along the fibre, typically the only maintenance required is at the source of the light, e.g.changing the lamp.


从长远发展的角度来看,光纤照明能有效地节省成本。正常条件下,光纤耐用,不会轻易降解。此外,由于光不是沿着光纤传送的,所以通常主要维护的是光的源头。


Optical fibre-based signs can display single static or multiple digital messages in more than 256 colours and provide exceptional visual clarity. The main market driver behind their increased adoption, however, is the ability to create and install illuminated displays in entirely new forms and locations, thanks to the attributes of the technology’s unique mix of components:


带有光纤照明的标识可以显示256种颜色的数字信息,并拥有明亮的视觉清晰度,它能广泛采用市场驱动力,以全新的形式创建和安装照明显示屏,这得益于光纤照明的本身属性:


The optical fibres themselves, whether made of glass or of a ‘plastic optical fibre’ (POF) polymer.


光纤本身,不是由玻璃制成,就是由塑料聚合物制成。

The illumination source, whether based on light-emitting diodes (LEDs), halogen or metal halide.


光纤的照明源,基于发光二极管(LED)、卤素灯或金属卤化物灯。

The related hardware and fittings.


拥有相关的五金配件。

By way of example, optical fibre lighting can operate safely in wet installations, allowing signs to be integrated into swimming pools and fountains. Also, POFs can be woven into carpets and other textile-based surfaces, so as to create illuminated fabric graphics.


举个例子,光纤照明可以在湿式安装中安全地进行操作,从而能使标识安装在游泳池和喷泉中。此外,光源可以编织到地毯一些的纺织品表面,以便制造出织物照明图形。

Indeed, the use of optical fibres in signs opens up a whole new range of possibilities, limited only by designers’ and fabricators’ artistic creativity and imagination. Sign shops that are open to including fibre optics in their ‘tool box’ can establish a clear advantage over their competition.


事实上,光纤在标识中的使用开辟了一系列全新的可能性,这得意于制造者的艺术创造力和想象力。使用光纤的标识商店会比竞争对手拥有明显的竞争优势。


Illuminators


照明器


According to Universal Fiber Optic (UFO) Lighting, which manufactures glass fibres, an illuminator—or ‘light engine’—can be thought of as the interface between the electrical supply and the optical fibres. It is a separate unit that contains the lamp or LEDs, ‘feeds’ light through the fibres and, as such, can be set up in a centralized location, a fair distance from the actual sign.


由玻璃纤维制造的通用光纤照明,又被称为“轻型发动机”,被认为是电源和光纤之间的接口。 这个独立的单元,包含灯或LED,通过光纤“馈送”光,可以设置在与实际符号相距很远的集中位置。


This is why fibre optics can, as mentioned, illuminate signs in wet applications. The illuminator is the only component of the system that houses electricity and can become warm to the touch, so it must be kept in a dry location, but then the optic fibres can stretch out into wet environments, even submerged underwater. The illuminator may also include additional control mechanisms for special lighting effects, such as colour changes, pulsing and twinkling.


照明器是系统的唯一部件,可以放置电力,使温度增加,因此必须放在在干燥的位置,而光纤可以伸展到潮湿的环境中,甚至浸没在水里。照明器还可以用于特殊照明效果的控制机关,例如,根据声控进行颜色变化、闪烁等。这就是为什么光纤可以照亮潮湿应用中的标识。


Many illuminators for fibre optic systems use a Digital Multiplex (DMX) controller. Originally designed to control light dimmers, this now-standard technology has supported the rise of ‘intelligent lighting,’ such as Glasbau Hahn’s systems for museums, where the illumination of a particular area is reduced or turned off completely when it is not occupied by visitors or staff.


许多用于光纤系统的照明器使用的是数字复用控制器。起初,这种设计用于控制调光器,同时还促使了“智能照明”的兴起,如Glasbau Hahn的博物馆系统,其中特定区域的照明在游客或工作人员不用时是完全关闭的状态。

Light sources


光源

There are, as mentioned, three main types of light sources for fibre optics: LEDs, metal halide and halogen.


如上所述,光纤的光源包含三种主要类型:LED、金属卤化物灯和卤素灯。


The lifespan for halogen lighting ranges from about 1,500 hours for a 100-W lamp to approximately 3,000 hours for a 20- to 75-W lamp. Metal halide lamps, meanwhile, are rated to last 6,000 hours.


100W卤素灯的平均寿命约1500小时,75W卤素灯的平均寿命约3000小时,金属卤化物灯的平均寿命约6000小时。


LEDs, on the other hand, offer a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours, drastically reducing maintenance costs by maximizing the duration of operation before any bulbs need to be changed. Further, they offer brightness levels equivalent to 100 halogen lamps, save energy, contain no toxic mercury and—thanks to low levels of heat—support the use of plastic fibres instead of glass.


LED能提供长达50,000小时的使用寿命,通过更换灯泡之前,能最大限度地延长操作时间,有效地降低成本。此外,它能达到相当于100个卤素灯的亮度水平,节省能源,不含有毒汞。由于它的散发的热量比较低,能支持塑料纤维的使用。


For these reasons, LEDs are increasingly being adopted as light sources for optical fibre-based signage and display applications.


由于这些原因,LED越来越多地被用作基于光纤标牌的光源。


Fibre cables


光缆

With no heat or electricity running through them, optic fibre cables are very safe and virtually unbreakable. Thanks to these attributes, they can eliminate many typical restrictions when it comes to designing sign lighting systems.


由于光纤电缆中不会有电流穿过,所以非常安全,不容易被损害,因此,它可以不受在设计标识照明系统时的许多限制。


Optical glass fibre for illumination applications is typically available in a variety of standard bore diameters, ranging from 0.75 to 14 mm (0.03 to 0.55 in.), with wider sizes available for more challenging applications. The number of output points that can be generated from a single source will depend on the total combined bore diameters of all of the light guides within a system.


用于照明应用的光学玻璃纤维通常的标准孔径范围为0.75至14 mm(0.03至0.55 in。),不同的尺寸用于不同的应用中,单个源输出点的数量取决于系统内所有光导的孔直径。


Unlike light sources (even LEDs), optical fibres do not lose their light intensity or burn out. So, while an illuminator can experience a reduction of intensity and even a burnout over time, the ability of each individual optic fibre to emit light through its ends or sides will keep on going.


与LED不同的是,光纤不会失去它的光照强度,或者被烧坏。随着使用的时间,即使照明器的寿命会降低,但每个单独的光纤通过端部或侧面发光的能力依然会持续下去的。


The fibre optic system for a series of halo-lit channel letters at Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for example, comprises a total of 6,000 m (19,685 ft) of end-emitting optic cabling and 130 illuminators with 150-W metal halide lamps. Each letter in the outdoor sign—which spells out ‘Emirates Engineering’—is 2.7 m (8.9 ft) tall.


例如,在阿拉伯联合酋长国(UAE)迪拜国际机场的一系列槽形发光字的光纤系统中,包括6,000米(19,685英尺)的终端发射光缆、130个照明器和150W金属卤化物灯。槽形发光字中的每个字母——即“阿联酋工程” 的高度达2.7米(8.9英尺)。

Side-emitting cabling provides a lower-maintenance, higher-durability alternative to neon or chain lighting. It is suitable for use in water, icy conditions and other extreme weather. It is available in an ultraviolet-stabilized (UV-stabilized) form and treated with algaecide and fungicide.


侧发光电缆为霓虹灯或链式照明提供有效地维护,使标识可以适用于冰冷的恶劣天气种,以UV稳定的形式,有效地对真菌进行处理。


Non-glass options include polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) solid optical fibres, such as the aerospace-grade products from Nouvir Lighting, which use the same material found in jet fighter’s canopies, reportedly will not yellow and have been measured to lose only 0.7 per cent of light for every 0.3 m (1 ft) of length. Unlike many glass-based fibre optics, acrylic can remain opaque to both infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation and cannot transfer heat to sensitive displays (such as the exhibit cases in museums).


一种非玻璃制作的照明——丙烯酸固体光纤,堪称航空航天级产品,使用的材料与喷气式战斗机檐篷的材料相同。据报道,这种产品不会轻易变黄,在每0.3米长(1英尺)的光线里仅损失0.7%的能量。此外,与许多基于玻璃材质的光纤不同的是,丙烯酸固体光纤可以对红外和紫外线辐射进行有效地抵挡,不会将热量传递到敏感的显示器上。例如,在博物馆中使用这种光纤照明,不会将热量传递到展品上。


 And as optical fibres do not conduct electricity, they can also prevent problems with ground loops and conduction of lightning.


除此之外,由于光纤不会传导电力,可以有效地防止接地回路和雷击传导的问题出现。


Learning from other markets


广泛的学习和研究市场

Given how the use of fibre optics in signage is still relatively new and not yet widely offered in the sign industry, it is fortunate other well-established lighting applications can provide a helpful ‘test bed’ for how signs might be illuminated in the future.


鉴于光纤尚未在标识行业得到广泛应用,但幸运的是,其他已经在标识行业成熟的照明应用可以为新的标识照明提供有用的“测试台”。


One important factor, as mentioned, is weight. In the automotive and aviation industries, the lower weight of materials translates into better mileage. With aircraft, especially, weight is a critically important factor in performance.


如上所述,能长期较好地运用在标识行业的照明,需要拥有的重要因素之一是“重量”。在汽车和航空工业中,材料的重量较低的,能更好的进行转化,重量是特别关键的因素。


With fibre optics, weight savings come not only from the fact the material itself is light, but also because the system as a whole can use less copper wiring and far fewer individual lamps, other than the illuminator(s).


而光纤的重量恰好非常轻薄,除了材料本身很轻的事实以外,整个系统使用的铜布线较少,除了照明器之外,只有少量的一些灯具。


In medical and surgical applications, fibre optics for minimally invasive procedures have brought light into places it was previously impossible. Similarly, the technology allows signs to be illuminated in what were previously difficult environments, such as in the middle of a rushing fountain.


在医疗和外科应用中,用于微创手术的光纤将光线可以引入一些不可能的地方。例如,在冲洗喷泉的中间,该技术允许标识在这种复杂的环境中被照亮。


Museums, meanwhile, have led the way in taking advantage of fibre optic lighting’s colour temperature. Light-based radiation can act as a catalyst for oxidation, which is particularly problematic when illuminating an exhibit of organic artifacts.


同时,基于光纤照明的色温,博物馆也率先利用光纤照明。当照射有机艺术品的时候,光的辐射可以成为氧化催化剂。

The high level of energy in UV radiation—as emitted by the sun and, to a lesser degree, by fluorescent tubes, metal halide lamps and mercury vapour lights—is especially damaging. UV light is not visible to the human eye, however, so it can be removed from museum exhibit illumination to help protect artifacts without causing any change in appearance.


太阳所散发出的高能量和紫外线辐射对及荧光灯管、金属卤化物灯和汞蒸气灯在一定程度上都是有害的。然而,紫外光对人眼是不可见的,应用在博物馆的照明可以有效地去除这种辐射,保护这些有机艺术品不会发生任何外观变化。


At the other far end of the spectrum, IR radiation can also prove problematic by causing a rise in temperature when it is absorbed. Fortunately, it too is invisible to the human eye and, thus, can be removed. As mentioned earlier, acrylic fibre optic cabling is opaque to both of these types of radiation.


除此之外,在光谱的另一端,IR辐射也能引起温度升高而带来一些问题。幸运的是,这种丙烯酸固体光纤对这两种类型的辐射都能有效地抵挡。


Even LEDs can cause colour temperature problems. The viewing of classic Impressionist paintings by Vincent Van Gogh and Pau Cézanne, for example, has been negatively affected by LED lamps in museums. Investigators explain these masters’ yellow paint work has instead appeared olive green and brown, due to the high quantity of blue light routinely emitted by the LEDs.


如果在博物馆或者展览馆使用LED,就会导致一些色温问题出现。例如,Vincent Van Gogh和PauCézanne两位大师的经典印象派作品曾受到博物馆LED灯泡带来的不利影响,后来,有关调查人员解释说:“这些大师的作品上已经出现橄榄绿色和褐色的变色,这些问题主要是来自于LED常常发出大量的蓝光所导致。”


As a result, many museum curators and directors have been rethinking how they illuminate their exhibits. Luxam, a company that specializes in lighting for museums, has turned to fibre optics both to improve light intensity and to deliver a more favourable colour temperature compared to other systems.


因此,许多博物馆馆长一直在思考用何种照明系统来照亮他们的展品。Luxam是一家专门从事博物馆照明的公司,他们已将光纤照明用作博物馆的主光了,不仅提高了光的强度,还能提供比其他照明系统更加好的色温。


The controllable nature of optical fibres via an illuminator is especially helpful for museum exhibits—not merely to turn the lights on or off, but also to showcase differences in colours in artifacts. Further, since fibre optic cables allow an entire object in a display case to be illuminated from a single light engine, the overall presentation allows for more accurate colour comparisons than are possible with individual lights that may not perform exactly the same as each other.


光纤中照明器的可控性质对博物馆展品也特别有帮助,不仅仅是可以自动打开或关闭灯,而且还能展示不同艺术品之间的颜色差异。此外,由于光纤电缆允许显示器壳体中的整个物体从单个引擎照亮,所以整体呈现允会比单个光呈现的效果会更好。

In everyday lighting, all of this precision may not seem like a big deal, but frequent museum visitors appreciate being able to view relics and pieces of art worth millions of dollars under truly balanced lighting. And colour temperature is certainly important in the sign industry, with respect to ensuring accurate colour management for today’s highly brand-sensitive clients.


在日常照明中,光纤照明所反应出的色温并不明显,但在博物馆的运用中,访客只有在这种照明下,才能真正欣赏这些拥有本质色温的高额艺术品。所以说,色温在标识行业也是非常重要的,成为了当今高端品牌展示色彩的标准照明。


Experimenting with components


进行实验将要考察的问题

While fibre optic technology can offer many benefits, some experimentation may be needed. Even the Fiber Optic Association (FOA) itself admits the industry is lacking in standardization. With a broad variety of proprietary products available, it can be hard to generalize about how best to design systems.


虽然光纤照明可以为各种行业提供许多好处,但仍需要进行一些考察。即使是光纤协会也承认,行业还存在一些问题,很难概括如何最好地设计这种照明系统。


That said, every design project will start with some questions in common:

也就是说,每个设计项目都将从一些共同的问题开始反思:


What is to be illuminated?


什么是照明?


What kind of light is desired (in terms of intensity, pattern, colour and variety)?

需要什么样的光(在强度,图案,颜色和品种方面)?


Where and how will the light be output?


光的输出方式是怎样的?


Where will the light engine be placed?


光引擎放在哪个位置?


And finally, there is the matter of lensing. By combining optical fibres with lenses, light can be carefully focused on extremely specific points. This capability has already proven popular for jewellery displays and museum exhibits, among other applications.


最后,是一个有关镜头的问题,通过将光纤与透镜相结合,可以将光精心集中在特定的点上。 该功能已经应用在珠宝展示和博物馆展览上了。


Stephen Montgomery is president of international business expansion for ElectroniCast Consultants, which forecasts technology trends in the fibre optic, light-emitting diode (LED) and photonics markets.


Stephen Montgomery是ElectroniCast咨询公司国际业务扩张的总裁,该公司预测了光纤照明技术的发展趋势——光纤照明在标识制作中只是刚刚崭露头角而已。


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