Glossary - optics

A collimator is a optical device that narrows the beam. It provides excellent color mixing properties bringing several benefits like light output efficiency up to 90%, sharp cut off with very narrow beam available, additional versions offer range of angles including Elliptical planned and ZOOM alternative with secondary lens. They are perfect to address stage lighting, entertainment lighting architectural lighting application, and other applications looking for power and intensity with excellent cut-off and light efficiencies.

Diffuser directs the light by diffuse-scattering through its material.The light transmitted throughout the diffuser will be redirected and scattered. Based on diffusion mechanism diffusers are divided into the following types: Opal, Gaussian, and Prismatic diffuser. For example opal glass and plastic, etched glass, fabric and paper shades act as diffusers.

It is the characteristic of a surface to scatter reflected or transmitted light. A white wall is an example of a diffuse surface.

Lens is an optical device with perfect or approximate axial symmetry which transmits and refracts light, converging or diverging the beam. Lenses in standalone versions or lens assemblies in many sizes and with different light patterns are bringing high quality to LED optics of complete light module. Main goal is to achieve better beam control by reduction of glare caused by the ”point source” and a wide angle intensity distribution. It offers now the possibilities to make more uniform light with different beams and cutoffs. This is needed for illumination standards in many applications such as street lights, aviation lights, medical lights and others.

Milky, translucent glass produced by adding ingredients to clear glass. Used for diffusing light.

Various optical parts need various optical materials.Clear polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene, and Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) are used for micro-prismatic diffusers and lenses. Materials for reflective optics – with various characteristics are available in order to achieve different types of reflection. Aluminium with various types of finish and powder-coated metal sheets are used for reflectors. There are three basic types of reflection: mirror, diffuse and mixed reflection. Difference between types of reflection is in the proportion of mirror and diffuse part of reflection.

Reflector is an optical part that regulates luminous flux from the light source by reflection from the reflector material - a mirror reflection, a diffuse reflection, and a mixed reflection.Reflectors are basically divided into two groups: first group includes conic reflectors of four basic geometries – elliptical, zonal, hyperbolic, and parabolic, second group includes non-conic reflectors, such as square or asymmetric ones of the same basic geometries of reflection surfaces.

The bending of light rays.

A translucent fixture covering, such as a lens or diffuser that refracts or bends light rays.