Patent ID: 8317331

Claim:
An apparatus for recycling light to increase the brightness of the light output, comprising: a recycling light pipe comprising an input end and an output end; wherein the input end of said recycling light pipe comprises an input aperture for receiving an input light from a light source and a reflective input surface; wherein the output end of said recycling light pipe comprises an output aperture for outputting light from said recycling light pipe and a reflective output surface for reflecting a portion of light directed towards the output end to the input end of said recycling light pipe; and wherein the input aperture transmits a part of the portion of the light reflected by the reflective output surface to the light source to be recycled and the reflective input surface reflects a remaining part of the portion of the light to the output end of the recycling light pipe, thereby increasing the brightness of the light exiting the output aperture through recycling of the light, further comprising at least two light sources, at least two recycling light pipes and a 6-sided beam combiner for combining outputs of said at least two recycling light pipes to provide a single beam of output; and wherein each six sides of said beam combiner is polished to promote total internal reflection such that said beam combiner functions as a waveguide.