Patent ID: 7400805
Filing Date: 2008-07-15
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A light collection system, comprising: a light tunnel having reflective walls for directing light to an exit face of the light tunnel; a light source located at least partially within the light tunnel, for emitting light, wherein the light source includes an electrodeless lamp; a film coating for blocking microwave energy emitted from the electrodeless lamp while passing visible light emitted from the electrodeless lamp; and a collimating plate positioned over at least a portion of the light tunnel's exit face, the collimating plate including: a light input surface in optical communication with the exit face; a light output surface from which collimated light is output from the light collection system; a plurality of hollow micro-tunnels located between the light input and output surfaces and arranged to receive and pass light emitted from the exit face, the hollow micro-tunnels outputting the collimated light wherein the collimated light is more collimated than the light received by the hollow micro-tunnels; and a partially reflective layer between the light input surface and the hollow micro-tunnels, for passing a portion of the light emitted from the exit face of the light tunnel into the hollow micro-tunnels and reflecting a portion of the light emitted from the exit face of the light tunnel back into the light tunnel so that the reflected light is recycled within the light tunnel.