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Difference between revisions of "Terminology"
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;bezel: the front of a flashlight; the part containing/surrounding the lens. | ;bezel: the front of a flashlight; the part containing/surrounding the lens. | ||
;[[ | ;[[LED]]: an LED classification that describes the performance of a particular [[LED]] model - Flux, tint, and Vf. Example: UV1J. [[Cree]] uses bin numbers P4, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, R2, R3, R4, R5, S2 each denoting a roughly 5% increase in output. | ||
;boost: a type of electronic circuit that increases voltage. See article [[Driver]] | ;boost: a type of electronic circuit that increases voltage. See article [[Driver]] | ||
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;CFL: Compact Flourescent | ;CFL: Compact Flourescent | ||
;corona: - the area of transition between a beam's central | ;corona: - the area of transition between a beam's central hotspot and the area of spill. The corona becomes more prominent as the reflector surface is made rougher or more heavily textured, and also as the distance of the light emitting surface from the reflector focal point increases. | ||
; | ;CPF: - [http://candlepowerforums.com/ CandlePower Forums] A large flashlight discussion board with an associated marketplace. | ||
;Cree: a manufacturer of high-power, high-efficiency LEDs; particularly the XR-E, XP-E, XP-G, and MC-E. See article [[Cree]]. | ;Cree: a manufacturer of high-power, high-efficiency LEDs; particularly the XR-E, XP-E, XP-G, and MC-E. See article [[Cree]]. | ||
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;emitter: the actual light-emitting part of an LED assembly. e.g. a Luxeon star comprises a Luxeon emitter mounted to a star circuit board. Also can be used to describe where lumens are measured, for instance whether lumen output is measured at the emitter or OTF (out the front). | ;emitter: the actual light-emitting part of an LED assembly. e.g. a Luxeon star comprises a Luxeon emitter mounted to a star circuit board. Also can be used to describe where lumens are measured, for instance whether lumen output is measured at the emitter or OTF (out the front). | ||
;flood: scattered light emitted from a flashlight. Good for indoor use to light up a room or short-range use outdoors to light up an area. Compare with "throw." | ;flood: scattered light emitted from a flashlight. Good for indoor use to light up a room or short-range use outdoors to light up an area. Compare with "throw." | ||
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;HA: hard anodized. A tough, scratch-resistant treatment applied to aluminum, e.g. for flashlight bodies. See article on [[Materials#Anodizing|Anodizing]] | ;HA: hard anodized. A tough, scratch-resistant treatment applied to aluminum, e.g. for flashlight bodies. See article on [[Materials#Anodizing|Anodizing]] | ||
; | ;HID: High-Intensity Discharge, a type of bright and efficient lighting. | ||
;HOLA: High Output Lamp Assembly, typically a bulb/Light Emitting Diode module that is an upgrade and not standard, providing greater output at the expense of battery life. | ;HOLA: High Output Lamp Assembly, typically a bulb/Light Emitting Diode module that is an upgrade and not standard, providing greater output at the expense of battery life. | ||
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;hotspot: The central and most intense portion of a flashlight beam. Intensity of a hotspot is governed by surface brightness of the light emitter, and the shape, depth, diameter, smoothness and reflective efficiency of the reflector surface. i.e. the hotspot is produced by light coming directly from the emitter, PLUS light reflected by the reflector. The more intense the hotspot, the greater the flashlight's [[throw | throw]]. | ;hotspot: The central and most intense portion of a flashlight beam. Intensity of a hotspot is governed by surface brightness of the light emitter, and the shape, depth, diameter, smoothness and reflective efficiency of the reflector surface. i.e. the hotspot is produced by light coming directly from the emitter, PLUS light reflected by the reflector. The more intense the hotspot, the greater the flashlight's [[throw | throw]]. | ||
;hotwire: Generally, a [[ | ;hotwire: Generally, a [[Maglite]] that has been modified with special bulbs and batteries to be significantly brighter | ||
;IMR: [[Rechargeable#Lithium_Manganese_.28LiMn.29_3.7V.2Fcell|Lithium-Manganese]] batteries sold by AW. | ;IMR: [[Rechargeable#Lithium_Manganese_.28LiMn.29_3.7V.2Fcell|Lithium-Manganese]] batteries sold by AW. | ||
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;LOP: Light Orange Peel - used to describe a type of texture on a reflector | ;LOP: Light Orange Peel - used to describe a type of texture on a reflector | ||
;LOTC: Lock Out Tail Cap, a type of tailcap that when pushed slightly, the light will | ;LOTC: Lock Out Tail Cap, a type of tailcap (primarily on [[SureFire]] lights) that when pushed slightly, the light will momentarily engage until released. When pushed harder, the light will engage to constant on until depressed again. The "Lock Out" feature prevents accidental activation by breaking the electrical circuit by separating the tailcap and the conductive body. | ||
;LSD: Low Self-Discharge - a type of NiMh cell that keeps its charge longer than regular NiMh cells. See article [[rechargeable]]. | ;LSD: Low Self-Discharge - a type of NiMh cell that keeps its charge longer than regular NiMh cells. See article [[rechargeable]]. | ||
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;lumens: (abbrev: lm) a measurement of [[Light Output Measurements|light output]]. Lumens measure all of the light output (compare to lux) | ;lumens: (abbrev: lm) a measurement of [[Light Output Measurements|light output]]. Lumens measure all of the light output (compare to lux) | ||
;Lux: short for Luxeon [[ | ;Lux: short for Luxeon [[LED]], an early high-power LED (also LuxI, LuxIII, Lux3, LuxV for different versions of this LED) | ||
;lux: a measurement of [[Light Output Measurements|light intensity]]. Lux refers to intensity of light at a spot (compare to lumens). | ;lux: a measurement of [[Light Output Measurements|light intensity]]. Lux refers to intensity of light at a spot (compare to lumens). | ||
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;P60 drop-in: an assembly of the reflector, bulb, and driver originally introduced by [[SureFire]], but now an industry standard. See article [[Flashlight Types#P60|P60]] | ;P60 drop-in: an assembly of the reflector, bulb, and driver originally introduced by [[SureFire]], but now an industry standard. See article [[Flashlight Types#P60|P60]] | ||
;Peli: short for Pelican, flashlight and storage equipment manufacturer | ;Peli: short for Pelican, a flashlight and storage equipment manufacturer | ||
;pill: a housing for the driver and a mounting point for the LED. In smaller lights it is threaded on the outside and screws into the throat of the flashlight body. | ;pill: a housing for the driver and a mounting point for the LED. In smaller lights it is threaded on the outside and screws into the throat of the flashlight body. | ||
;potted: when the pill or electronics of a flashlight are filled or coated with epoxy or other hardening material. The advantage is this prevents corrosion and increases impact resistance since parts can't be dislodged. The disadvantage is it makes any modifications much more difficult. | ;potted: when the pill or electronics of a flashlight are filled or coated with epoxy or other hardening material. The advantage is this prevents corrosion and increases impact resistance since parts can't be dislodged. The disadvantage is it makes any modifications much more difficult. | ||
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;ROP: Roar of the Pelican, a flashlight manufactured by Pelican, but currently more often the name of modified maglites using the ROP bulb. | ;ROP: Roar of the Pelican, a flashlight manufactured by Pelican, but currently more often the name of modified maglites using the ROP bulb. | ||
;runtime: a measurement of how long a flashlight will last one a set of batteries of a particular type, usually measured to 50% of the initial output. Multi-mode lights have a different runtime for each mode. | ;runtime: a measurement of how long a flashlight will last one a set of batteries of a particular type, usually measured to 50% of the initial output (10% for [[ANSI/NEMA FL-1]). Multi-mode lights have a different runtime for each mode. | ||
;Seoul: Seoul Semiconductor, a Korean LED manufacturer (see article [[Seoul Semiconductor]]) | ;Seoul: Seoul Semiconductor, a Korean LED manufacturer (see article [[Seoul Semiconductor]]) | ||
;SF: [[SureFire]], | ;SF: [[SureFire]] or sometimes [[Solarforce]], two flashlight manufacturers. | ||
;SMD: Surface Mount Device - most high-power LEDs used in flashlights are mounted this way where legs of a component are soldered to pads on the surface of the circuit board (as opposed to through-hole soldering where the legs of the LED's go into holes on the circuit board which are then soldered on the underside with the excess leg length clipped off). | ;SMD: Surface Mount Device - most high-power LEDs used in flashlights are mounted this way where legs of a component are soldered to pads on the surface of the circuit board (as opposed to through-hole soldering where the legs of the LED's go into holes on the circuit board which are then soldered on the underside with the excess leg length clipped off). | ||
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;SMO: a reflector with a smooth finish. Designed for better throw, but also shows imperfections in the LED (e.g. rings). Compare to OP. | ;SMO: a reflector with a smooth finish. Designed for better throw, but also shows imperfections in the LED (e.g. rings). Compare to OP. | ||
;spill: the area of a flashlight beam outside of the | ;spill: the area of a flashlight beam outside of the hotspot and corona. Light intensity in the spill area is typically low and even, and comes directly from the light emitting surface with little or no contribution from the reflector. | ||
;spot: see | ;spot: see hotspot | ||
;SSC: Seoul Semiconductor, a Korean LED manufacturer. (see article [[Seoul Semiconductor]]) | ;SSC: Seoul Semiconductor, a Korean LED manufacturer. (see article [[Seoul Semiconductor]]) | ||
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;star: a star-shaped circuit board that an LED emitter is often mounted to. The star board provides easy-to-access solder pads, and some degree of heat-sinking. | ;star: a star-shaped circuit board that an LED emitter is often mounted to. The star board provides easy-to-access solder pads, and some degree of heat-sinking. | ||
;tactical: more of a marketing term than anything. Often refers to a light with fewer modes and a forward clicky, designed to take some abuse. See [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=147215 CPF discussion]. | ;tactical: more of a marketing term than anything. Often refers to a light with fewer modes and a forward clicky, designed to take some abuse and possibly be mounted to a weapon. See [http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=147215 CPF discussion]. | ||
;throw: the ability of a flashlight to place light onto a distant defined area of surface, i.e how well the light is collimated. The throw of a light source of fixed power will be defined by the surface brightness of the light emitter, and the shape, diameter, depth, smoothness, and reflective efficiency of the reflector surface. A flashlight with good throw characteristics is called a "thrower" and generally has a narrow beam that is best for illuminating objects at a distance (hundreds of feet). Compare with "flood." | ;throw: the ability of a flashlight to place light onto a distant defined area of surface, i.e how well the light is collimated. The throw of a light source of fixed power will be defined by the surface brightness of the light emitter, and the shape, diameter, depth, smoothness, and reflective efficiency of the reflector surface. A flashlight with good throw characteristics is called a "thrower" and generally has a narrow beam that is best for illuminating objects at a distance (hundreds of feet). Compare with "flood." | ||
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;TIR: total internal reflection. A glass or plastic "lens" that collimates light rays from the light emitter, both by reflecting them and by refracting them. Theoretically, ALL of the light produced by the emitter is gathered by the TIR optic. (See optic). | ;TIR: total internal reflection. A glass or plastic "lens" that collimates light rays from the light emitter, both by reflecting them and by refracting them. Theoretically, ALL of the light produced by the emitter is gathered by the TIR optic. (See optic). | ||
;trit: tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen which emits light. Packed in small vials or cubes, it can be attached to a flashlight so that you can find it in the dark | ;trit: tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen which emits light. Packed in small vials or cubes, it can be attached to a flashlight so that you can find it in the dark. | ||
;twisty: a method of controlling a flashlight - loosening or tightening the head, control ring, or tailcap turns the light on or off or changes its level or mode. Many lights turn on with the head tightened, but some turn on with the head loosened. | ;twisty: a method of controlling a flashlight - loosening or tightening the head, control ring, or tailcap turns the light on or off or changes its level or mode. Many lights turn on with the head tightened, but some turn on with the head loosened. | ||
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;unprotected: see protected. | ;unprotected: see protected. | ||
;Vf: Forward Voltage (a property of [[LED | ;Vf: Forward Voltage (a property of [[LED]]). The amount of voltage it takes to make the LED light up. | ||