Exam (elaborations)
AFO_100_Questions_Answers_1
I N T R O D U C T I O N
Fiber optics lighting is not a revolutionary or new technology, in essence is only about carrying
light, from one point to another by means of a lens, more or less flexible and long.
The problem is the air of mysticism surrounding the industry*.
The result is a stran...
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FIBER OPTICS
100 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Juan Carlos Jiménez Cortés,1999
Depósito Legal: B- 7731- 2000
Registration in Barcelona. Number B- 32448-1999All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or by any means, including photocopying and recording, without the written permis-
sion of the copyright holder. Application for which should be addressed to the publisher.
Such written permission must also be obtained before any part of this publication is sto-
red in a retrieval system of any nature.
Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to
criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
2 INDEX
FIBERS
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
1. What is a fiber optic? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
2. How many kinds of fibers are there? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
3. What are fiber optics made off? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
4. Are there different qualities of fiber optics? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
5. What is a light guide? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
6. What are bare fibers? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
7. What are sheathed fibers? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
8. Is the sheath color important? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
9. What is a harness? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
10. Do fibers have losses? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
11. Why do some fibers change the color of the light? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
12. Is low attenuation a sign of good quality fiber? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
13. What are the advantages of glass fiber optics? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
14. And the disadvantages? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
15. What are the advantages of polymer fiber optics? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
16. And the disadvantages? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
17. Can I light a house with fiber optics? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
18. Are fiber optics efficient as a means to transport light? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
19. What can justify the use of fiber optics? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
20. Are fibers safe? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
21. Who makes fiber optics? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
22. How are fiber optics made? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
23. Are optical fibers fragile? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
24. Can fibers be bent at right angles? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
25. Can lighting fiber optics be spliced or joined? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
26. Will light go any length along a fiber? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
27. How many sizes are there of lighting fiber optics? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
28. Can you put any amount of light into a fiber optic? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
29. Do fiber optics transmit radiation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
30. Glass or polymer? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
31. Can fibers be made any size? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
32. How long will fiber optics last? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
33. Can several fibers give the same amount of light? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
34. What are side-emitting fibers? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
35. Are there different types of side emitting fibers? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
36. What are solid core fibers? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
37. What are multistranded optics? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
38. What are coiled or roped optics? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
39. Solid core or multicore? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
40. Can side emitting optics be as bright or brighter than neon? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
41. With all the limitations, what are the uses of side emitting optics? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
42. What are the design constraints to side emitting optics? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
43. Could the light along a side emitting optic be absolutely homogeneous? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
44. Will we always see a difference in brightness along an optic? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
45. Can light be made to move or chase along a side emitting optic? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
46. Are the side-emitting fibers with reflecting core more luminous? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
47. Is there any way to improve side-emitting viewing? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 9 ILLUMINATORS
48. What is an illuminator? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
49. What makes a good illuminator? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
50. Is bigger better? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
51. How many types of illuminators are there? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
52. Halogen or gas discharge? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
53. Must all illuminators have forced ventilation? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
54. How noisy is an illuminator? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
55. Are certifications important? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
56. Are machines with the CE mark certified? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
57. How then do I recognize a product's quality? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
58. What about ISO 9000? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
59. How does a color change works? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
60. What is a dychroic filter? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
61. Are heat fuses necessary? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
62. Can multiple illuminators change colors simultaneously? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
63. Can illuminators be computer controlled? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
64. What is DMX? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
ENDS, FITTINGS AND TERMINALS
65. What are end terminations? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
66. What are single ends? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
67. Are there many types of single ends? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
68. Is the fiber end important? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
69. How are glass fibers ended? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
70. How are polymer fibers terminated? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
71. How are solid core fibers terminated? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
72. How are coiled, twisted or roped fibers terminated? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
73. What is a common end? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
74. Is the common end important? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
75. What makes a good common end? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
76. How many types of common end are there? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
77. What is a randomized common end? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 0
78. What are end fittings? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
79. How many types of end fittings are there? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
80. Fittings or fixtures? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
81. Who manufactures end fittings? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
82. Are end fittings standard? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
83. What is an optical port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
84. Are there different types of optical port? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
85. Who manufactures optical ports? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
86. Are optical ports compatible? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
SYSTEMS
87. What is a fiber optics system? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
88. What is a fiber optics systems integrator? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
89. What is the difference between a fiber optics manufacturer and
a fiber optics system manufacturer? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
90. Who are the best fiber optics manufacturers? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3
91. Who are the best systems integrators? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
92. How many parts does a fiber optics system have? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
93. Are fiber optics systems expensive? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
94. Will fiber optics systems be cheaper in the future? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
95. Are fiber optics systems difficult to install? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
96. What is a starry sky? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
97. What is an effect wheel? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
98 What is an animation harness? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
99. What are spatial effects? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
100. How would you describe in one word fiber optics lighting systems? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36