Patent ID: 7234820

Claim:
A light system comprising: a light source comprising: at least one light emitting element; a collection optic comprising a reflector with reflective walls for receiving light from the at least one light emitting element, the walls being at an angle with respect to the at least one light emitting element to generally collimate light emitted by the at least one light emitting element, the collection optic having an end with a first cross-sectional area; a partially reflective element at the end of the collection optic, the partially reflective element for transmitting light that meets certain criteria to an application system and for reflecting light that does not meet the certain criteria back towards the at least one light emitting element for re-reflection by the collection optic back towards the partially reflective element; and an application system optically coupled to the light source for employing the light transmitted by the partially reflective element, the partially reflective element reflecting light that would not be effectively employed in the application system had the light not been reflected.