Neon Lighting Terms

Chase:1) The illusion of movement in neon tubes or incandescent bulbs created by turning the light sources on and off in sequence. Chasing is more closely related to animated signs than to flashing. It is achieved by using a "chaser", and electrical component which can be programmed to provide the on and off sequence.
2) To decorate metal, typically by engraving or cutting.

• Column(B): Vertical rows of lamps in a lamp bank, or a vertical row of light emitting diodes in an LED matrix.
  
• Cove lighting: A type of indirect decorative illumination that is created by placing either neon or fluorescent tubes inside a light box to produce a halo effect.
  
• Double Neon: Each letter is formed with two lines of tubing, to give the appearance of varying strokes of letters.
  
• Exterior illumination: Illumination that is provided from a source separate from the sign
  
• Fiber optic display: A type of sign that transmits its message utilizing light directed through thread-like fibers of glass or plastic.
  
• Flash: to shine (a light) suddenly and usually brightly, but only for a short time
  
• Flasher: A mechanical device designed to interrupt the electrical current in a sign at regular intervals, turning the light source on and off.
  
• Halo: A ring of light. In sign making, the effect achieved by reverse channel letters, which appear to be ringed by light because the light source is reflecting on the background from which the letters are pegged out.
  
• Incandescent bulb: An electric lamp consisting essentially of a glass or quartz bulb, evacuated or filled with an inert gas in which a filament, commonly of tungsten, gives off light when it is heated to incandescence by electric current.
  
• Intensity: The density or opaqueness of a color. Also, the amount of light put out by a lamp.
  
• Internally illuminated: A sign which is lighted through the use of internal electric fixtures or lamp banks.
  
• LCD (liquid crystal display): A type of electronic changeable copy sign utilizing liquid crystals that become opaque or clear when exposed to a controlled voltage. They are sometimes used in time and temperature displays.
  
• LED (light-emitting diode): A type of electronic changeable copy sign that utilizes hundreds of light-emitting diodes - electronic ship and colored lens assemblies - in single and tri-color matrixes. LEDs are physically flexible and inexpensive to operate when compared with other message centers.
  
• Matrix: The number and amount of lighting units in a changeable message sign.
  
• Neon: A tasteless, colorless, inert gas. When an electric current is discharged through it, neon produces a reddish-orange glow. Neon is also used synonymously with a type of luminous tube sign where a glass tube is bent to a desired shape, fitted with an electrode at each end, the atmosphere is pumped and burned out, and the resulting vacuum is filled with a rare gas, such as neon, helium, argon, mercury vapor or a combination of gases.
  
• Oscilation: To move repeatedly from one position to another. A wave or an electric current which oscillates changes regularly in strength or direction.
  
• Pulse: A pulse is also a short burst of energy which is repeated regularly, such as a brief loud sound or a brief flash of light.
  
• Radiate: to produce (heat and/or light), or (of heat or light) to be produced. to spread out in all directions (from a central point). itself, such as a spotlight. Indirectly illuminated.