Patent ID: 7717578
Filing Date: 2010-05-18
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A light pipe system for use in an illumination system, the light pipe system comprising: at least one pair of collecting light pipes having oppositely directed entrance ends and overlapping terminal ends; a polarizing beam splitter proximate the terminal end of each collecting light pipe directing a preferred polarization of light in a direction perpendicular to the collecting light pipe over a first rectangular area; a mirror adjacent the polarizing beam splitter in each collecting light pipe reflecting light passing through the polarizing beam splitter in the direction perpendicular to the collecting light pipe over a second rectangular area; the pair of collecting light pipes being offset laterally so that the first and second rectangular areas of one of the pair of collecting light pipes is adjacent the second and first rectangular areas, respectively, of the other one of the pair of collecting light pipes; and a combining light pipe perpendicular to the collecting light pipes and having an entrance end overlying the rectangular areas.