Patent ID: 7663152

Claim:
An illumination device comprising: a light source emitting light having a first wavelength range; a wavelength converting element that receives the emitted light from the light source, the wavelength converting element at least partially converting the emitted light having a first wavelength range into light having a second wavelength range, the wavelength converting element being planar and having a bottom surface, a top surface, and at least one side between the bottom surface and top surface; and a heat sink thermally holding the wavelength converting element so that the wavelength converting element is not in direct contact with the light source, the heat sink holding the wavelength converting element by the at least one side of the wavelength converting element so that neither the bottom surface of the wavelength converting element that receives the emitted light from the light source nor the top surface of the wavelength converting element from which the light having a second wavelength range is emitted by the wavelength converting element are supported by the heat sink; wherein the heat sink covers a portion of the top surface of the wavelength converting element to define an output area of the wavelength converting element.