Patent ID: 7427167
Filing Date: 2008-09-23
Classification: F21V,F21Y,G02B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus having a common aperture with an axis normal to a plane in which the aperture lies and usable with an optical fiber having a predetermined acceptance angle comprising: a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED) of similar or differing wavelengths; a corresponding plurality of separate reflectors for collecting light radiated from the plurality of LEDs and forming a corresponding plurality of beams directed along a corresponding optical axis of each of the reflectors, each separate reflector defining a separate first space from other ones of the plurality of reflectors, each one of the plurality of LEDs being disposed in the separately defined first space of each corresponding one of the plurality of separate reflectors so that substantially all of the light emitted by the LED is included within the corresponding reflector; and a single combining chamber defining a separate and single second space from the plurality of reflectors and for combining the light of the plurality of beams into a composite beam across the common aperture with most of the light in the composite beam lying within the predetermined acceptance angle of the optical fiber measured from the axis of the common aperture, where the plurality of reflectors and the separate combining chamber have substantially continuous reflective surfaces smoothly extending from the plurality of LEDs to the common aperture