Patent ID: 7192173

Claim:
An optical illumination system comprising: an illuminating source capable of providing light transmissions having a range of angles; a transmissive substrate positioned in proximity to the illuminating source; a thin film coating positioned on a surface of the transmissive substrate, the thin film coating having a design property of a distinct cutoff between striking reflected and transmitted light transmissions at a gate angle (Θ GATE ) such that light transmissions striking the thin film coating at an angle of incidence less than or equal to the gate angle (Θ GATE ) transmits through the thin film, while light transmissions striking the thin film coating at an angle of incidence greater than the gate angle (Θ GATE ) reflects back from the thin film; and an integrating sphere encompassing the thin film coating such that light transmissions reflecting back from the thin film are directed within the integrating sphere and subsequently redirected towards the thin film coating.