Patent ID: 8602577

Claim:
A light-producing module having a base, a top, a longitudinal axis extending from a center of the base to a center of the top, and a lateral edge surrounding the longitudinal axis, comprising: a plurality of solid state light sources disposed at the base of the module emitting excitation light toward the top of the module, the excitation light having at least one excitation wavelength and having an angular distribution centered about the longitudinal axis of the module; a lens defining the lateral edge of the module and extending from the base of the module to the top of the module, the lens reflecting the excitation light; and a phosphor surface receiving and absorbing the excitation light and producing phosphor light, the phosphor surface being shaped as a funnel having a wide end proximate the top of the module and a narrow end proximate the base of the module, the phosphor light having a wavelength greater than the at least one excitation wavelength and having an angular distribution at each point on the phosphor surface centered about a local surface normal with respect to the phosphor surface, the phosphor light exiting the module through the lateral edge defined by the lens, wherein the lens encloses a gas-filled volume between the phosphor surface and the lateral edge of the module, wherein the excitation light and the phosphor light propagate through the gas when inside the module, wherein the phosphor surface is a funnel element, the funnel element having a narrow end proximate the base of the module and a wide end proximate the top of the module, the plurality of solid state light sources being arranged outside the narrow end of the funnel element, the wide end of the funnel element extending radially outward to the lens, and wherein the base of the module includes a heat sink upon which the plurality of solid state light sources are mounted, and wherein the heat sink includes a hole at its center, coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the module, that receives a narrow end of the funnel element.