Patent ID: 7380962

Claim:
A multiwavelength light source comprising: at least one light source that emits light at a dominant wavelength; an optical filter that transmits light of prescribed wavelengths and reflects other wavelengths; an input collimating optical system that directs light from said at least one light source through said optical filter; an output optical system coupled to receive said light throughput from said optical filter, said output optical system configured as a concentrator and having an exit port on the opposite end; a phosphor patch formed on said exit port, said phosphor having a composition that luminesces, emitting light of wavelengths reflected by said filter in response to excitation from light generated by said at least one light source; and said phosphor patch having two surfaces, an inside surface receiving light from said output optical system and an opposing outside surface, wherein said phosphor patch is transmissive to light from said at least one light source and so that said outside surface of said phosphor patch is operable as an emitter of said light source, and wherein said output optical system has a shape that approximately collimates backscattered luminescence from said phosphor patch by directing said backscattered luminescence to said optical filter from which it is reflected back to said exit port.