Patent ID: 7547114

Claim:
An illumination device for providing multicolor light, comprising: a light source for generating an excitation light; a plate including two or more segments, wherein one or more of the segments each contains a wavelength conversion material capable of absorbing the excitation light and emitting light having wavelengths different from that of the excitation light, wherein a first segment contains a first wavelength conversion material, and a second segment either contains a different wavelength conversion material or contains no wavelength conversion material, wherein a part of the plate is disposed on an optical path of the excitation light, and wherein the plate and the excitation light are moveable relative to each other so that different segments are exposed to the excitation light at different times; and a dichroic element disposed between the wavelength conversion material and the light source, the dichroic element transmitting the excitation light and reflecting light emitted by the wavelength conversion materials.