The same colors produced by natural sunlight can now be reproduced indoors.
Stable photography, color evaluations, painting work, and other tasks can now be carried out 24 hours a day, in summer and winter, even on rainy or cloudy days.
Colors appear slightly different depending on the type of lighting.
This is a large problem in work which requires accurate color handling, such as design, fashion, color preparation, and photography.
This problem can be resolved by artificial solar lighting. It faithfully reproduces the actual colors of an object, and allows it to be seen with the exact same colors that are seen in natural sunlight even while working indoors.
Incandescent light bulbs turn everything reddish, making a tomato appear orange. Fluorescent lighting contains strong blues and yellows, and although a lemon appears clearly, grapes appear cloudy and strawberries are slightly darker. With artificial solar lighting, a tomato appears in lustrous red, grapes are a translucent green, and the strawberries look delicious. Everything appears in its natural colors.
When performing automobile panel repair work indoors, the edge of the repaired area can be seen clearly when seen outdoors in sunlight. XELIOS artificial solar lighting provides a powerful solution to this problem, and is used as a light source when repairing automobile panels by dealers not only in Japan but also in Europe.
It is also used for a wide range of other purposes by customers who want to see, create, evaluate, or photograph colors accurately in fields including art, printing, photographing charts for digital camera evaluations, and exhibitions where colors are presented accurately.
Requirements for seeing colors accurately
In order to see colors accurately, the following three conditions are required.
(1)The color rendering index must be close to the natural sunlight value of 100.
(2)The color temperature must be close to the sun color temperature of 5000 – 6000 K.
(3)The light must be sufficiently bright (2000 lux or more).
An ordinary incandescent light bulb satisfies conditions (1) and (3), however because its color temperature in (2) is too low, the colors overall appear yellowish.
A fluorescent lamp satisfies conditions (2) and (3), however because its color rendering index in (1) is too low, colors cannot be seen accurately.
Artificial solar lighting fully satisfies all three of these conditions.
Moreover, XELIOS is designed so that colors are not disrupted by light reflecting off of ceilings or walls. Unlike AC fluorescent lamps, because it uses DC current for illumination, there is no flickering and it does not cause eye fatigue when used for long periods.
At present, artificial solar lighting is used in paint and plastics factories, and has been highly rated for allowing smooth work on rainy days and at night.
Used in these kinds of fieldsBoutiques, drapery stores, printing shops, photographic plate manufacturing, photo studios, dyes, design companies, paint color preparation, gemstone appraisal, cosmetics, precious metal working, art museums, galleries, food product inspection, dental clinics, dental laboratories, and other fields where accurate colors are necessary.
<XELIOS Series> Optimal artificial solar lighting for color evaluations
XELIOS products which produce light that is as close as possible to natural sunlight are available in a wide range of variations ranging from compact and portable to large, high-brightness systems.
Click here for a list of products.
Can be used for solar energy application research and for performing outdoor environmental tests indoors.
Stable substitute sunlight simulations are possible indoors and are not affected by the weather, seasons, or other aspects of the natural environment.
Substitute sunlight that is essential for solar energy research and outdoor environmental tests
Sunlight simulators are essential for the development of solar cells, and as a specialized sunlight manufacturer, SERIC also offers artificial solar lighting as a source of substitute sunlight for use in the field of solar energy research. With the technologies for lighting that produces light identical to sunlight which we developed with artificial solar lighting, we support solar cell development through the development and provision of Solar Simulators for solar cell evaluations.
Because the light is extremely similar to sunlight in the long wavelength ranges, it can be used to support a variety of other sunlight-related testing and evaluations in addition to solar cell research and development, These other applications include matching of automobile paint colors; outdoor evaluations of electrical devices, smartphones, and tablets; and evaluating the light resistance of parts and materials.
Adjustable wavelength characteristics and radiant intensity
Adjustable wavelength characteristics
The high fidelity type artificial solar lighting (EF filter) produces light that is extremely similar to sunlight in the ultraviolet, visible light, and infrared ranges. It is used as a source of substitute sunlight by customers in a wide range of industries.
In addition to the high fidelity type, there are also UV-type and visible light-type optional filters that allow the user to select the light wavelength characteristics.
Filters can be changed using just a single screwdriver, allowing the wavelength characteristics to be easily changed for testing on a variety of levels.
Irradiation with 1 SUN light equivalent to direct mid-summer sunshine (1,000 W/m2) and 100,000 lux light are also possible.
Direct mid-summer sunlight is described as “1 SUN”. It has an irradiance (radiative intensity ) of 1,000 W/m2, and the brightness at this time is approximately 100,000 lux. Irradiation with this light is possible with the “light condensing artificial solar lighting (super spotlight type)”.
If you provide data for the desired irradiance in advance, the product can be configured by our company. It is possible to reproduce exactly the sunlight that you want, from mid-summer sunshine to early spring sun or the sunlight around the Golden Week holiday period.
Full spectrum sunlight: Three dependable characteristics of artificial solar lighting
The optical spectrum conforms to the reliable JIS standard.
With our experience in producing Solar Simulators for solar cell evaluations, SERIC is able to reproduce sunlight with a high level of fidelity. The level of consistency with outdoor testing can also be measured. Moreover by changing the optional filters, it is possible to change the light level in four patterns: UV only, visible light only, UV – visible light, and visible light – IR.
<Corresponding standard> JIS C 8912 Spectral Coincidence – Class A
<Data> Upon request, spectral data from 300 – 2500 nm can be provided.
Perform the same test with identical light stable intensity every time.
Because the lights are illuminated with a SERIC original ballast (stabilizer), there is almost no deterioration in lighting performance.
Tests can be performed with a reliable constant level of light regardless of the time of day or weather.
<Stability> Temporal fluctuations: 5% or less
An ordinary AC 100V outlet is used, and no installation work is required.
Because a 100V outlet can be used, there is no concern of additional work for existing equipment. The light is turned ON and OFF with a switch, and there is no complex operation manual.
<Power supply capacity>
100W Series: 2 A/100V
500W Series: 9 A/100V
Artificial solar lighting Solar Simulators that are essential for solar energy research
Special order systems can be produced to provide the required irradiation conditions.
In addition to the XELIOS artificial solar lighting, we also provide a variety of light source systems including combination light source systems, products using the XC-500EF artificial solar lighting or XC-500EFSS super spotlight type, and products using a 1 kW or larger xenon lamp or metal halide lamp. Please consult with us regarding your testing details and subject for irradiation.
Light identical to sunlight is used for biology, environmental science, and pharmaceutical R&D.
Artificial solar lighting is used as light sources at a broad range of research institutions and universities in fields including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and biotechnology.
Pharmaceutical, cosmetic, biological, and environmental science research
SERIC artificial solar lighting systems for phototoxicity testing allow stable exposure of cells to ultraviolet light that is extremely close to natural sunlight. The first system produced was used by a government testing agency. The test results were highly evaluated, and subsequent systems have been used in the safety research divisions of many pharmaceutical manufacturers. In addition, they are also ideal for use in phototoxicity testing and ROS assays (chemical reactivity testing) at food product manufacturers, cosmetics manufacturers, and other safety research.
With conventional animal testing, many negative substances produced positive results in phototoxicity tests using cells, raising questions about the validity of previous cell toxicity tests. Guidelines now recommend a method which does not use cells, and which detects active oxygen when a reagent solution is exposed to UV rays.
The SERIC SXL-2500V2 Sunlight Irradiation System is being used in the process of creating phototoxicity test procedures based on these guidelines.
Same light (UV rays) as sunlight
Artificial solar lighting was developed to faithfully reproduce natural sunlight. It is continuous light with a spectral distribution that includes the near-UV rays (300 nm – 380 nm) which are said to be beneficial to human health. Although halogen lamps and ordinary light bulbs also produce continuous light, the light contains no near-UV at all and therefore does not function as sunlight. Because fluorescent lights and metal halide lamps contain more bright line spectra than sunlight, it is reported that they cause fatigue at a rate several times higher than sunlight. In Northern Europe where sunlight is precious, people enjoy sunbathing in the brief summer sun. This is because exposure to sunlight on the skin produces vitamin D inside the body, providing health benefits that include helping to prevent rickets, improving weak constitutions, and boosting resistance to colds. Sunlight has the power to protect and benefit people and other animals – benefits that are now possible with artificial solar lighting.
Pressure ulcers (bedsores)
Clinical trials were carried out to verify the treatment effects on pressure ulcers, and were reported by the Japan Society of Pressure Ulcers.
For a summary, please refer to “Results from Treatment of Bedsore Lesions”.
Other results include benefits for raising orchids, mushrooms, and other plants, and improved behavior of fish which were constantly restless under fluorescent light. The wonderful power of sunlight is also widely used in healthcare and biotechnology applications.
XELIOS artificial solar lighting produces the same light as natural sunlight, boosting the brain’s alpha waves, relieving stress and stabilizing moods, and improving cognitive abilities. Some test results have suggested that it may be beneficial as lighting when studying. (Test conducted by the NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) program “Try and Try”.)
Used in these kinds of fields
Phototoxicity testing, chemical photoreactivity testing, ROS assays, biotechnology industry, plant growing, wellness facilities, medical research, study rooms for exam students, nursing homes, pig and chicken farming, and other fields where the effects of sunlight are needed.
The ideal artificial solar lighting for use in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, biology, and environmental science research
Sunlight Irradiation Systems for phtotoxicity testing and ROS assays
Providing high power and accurate sunlight reproduction
Ideal for conducting phototoxicity testing and chemical photoreactivity testing (ROS assays).
XELIOS 500W Series
These are the basic models of artificial solar lighting that produce light which is as close as possible to natural sunlight. They can be used with 100V power, and include a light control function.
XELIOS 100W Series
These models were developed in response to requests for smaller sizes and reduced power consumption. They are compact artificial solar lighting that feature low running costs.
