Glossary
Explore our curated list of essential terms related to the design, engineering, and production of light pipes, panel mount indicators, and LED displays.
The Ultimate Status Indicator Glossary
Deepen your understanding of the concepts, terminology, and product names we use in the world of VCC. We encourage you to bookmark this page and revisit regularly, as we continually update it with new definitions.
-
Illuminated Communicator Control Panel
AKA: Control Panel, HMI
The illuminated communicator control panel is the interface of a machine or device where the end-user can view the machine’s status. It’s also called a control panel or human-machine interface. Using color, images and icons, the illuminated communicator control panel helps the user operate the machine safely.
-
Illuminated Communicator Control Panel
Also called a control panel or human-machine interface (HMI), the illuminated communicator control panel is the interface of a device where the user can view the machine’s status.
Through the use of color, images and icons, the illuminated communicator control panel helps the user operate the machine safely.
-
Illumination Intensity
The illumination intensity of an LED or PMI is how bright the light shines. Intensity can be measured in many ways – watts, lumens, wavelengths, or even candelas, to name a few.
Several factors contribute to the overall intensity of an LED, from the number of candelas or watts to the viewing angle of the lens.
-
Incandescent Indicator
An incandescent indicator is a status light that uses the same tech used in a traditional light bulb.
While cheaper than LEDs, incandescent indicators require more energy and burn out faster. OEMs often retrofit incandescent indicators with LED technology for enhanced efficiency.
-
Ingress Protection or International Protection Ratings
Ingress Protection or International Protection is a rating system used to indicate how protected a PMI is from both solids and liquids based on a numeric scale. Example: IP54
Solids are rated in the first number on a scale from 1-6. Liquids are rated in the second number on a scale from 1-8 The higher the number, the greater the protection.
-
IP Rating
The IP rating or ingress protection rating is a numerical system used to indicate how protected a component is from particles such as dust or moisture.
The first number indicates the level of protection from solids, and the second indicates the level of protection from liquids. (The higher the number the better.)
