Patent ID: 8098375

Claim:
An illumination system, comprising: a first light emitting diode (LED) light source, which emits a first light in a first selected color; a luminescent rod light source, which includes a second LED light source, which emits a second light in a second selected color, and a luminescent rod, which can be excited along its length such that it generates luminescent light within the luminescent rod itself, and which is positioned to receive and absorb the second light, and wherein the luminescent rod then generates by luminescence and emits, at an outlet aperture, a third light in a third selected color; and wherein one or more of the first, second and third lights are combined and used to provide illumination; and wherein the luminescent rod includes the outlet aperture and wherein the third light generated by luminescence exits the luminescent rod at the outlet aperture; and an optical element to increase the light emitted at the outlet aperture.