Patent ID: 8629982

Claim:
A light engine for generating white light for endoscopy or microscopy, the light engine comprising: a first light source, wherein the first light source includes a plurality of first Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and a first concentrator, wherein the first light source emits a first light beam of a first color; wherein said plurality of first Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) of said first light source emit light of an excitation color different than said first color, and wherein said first light source further comprises a luminescent rod comprising a luminescent material which absorbs said light of said excitation color and, in response, emits light of said first color which passes through said first concentrator to generate said first light beam of said first color; a second light source, wherein the second light source includes a second Light Emitting Diode (LED) and a second concentrator, wherein the second light source emits a second light beam of a second color different than the first color; a third light source, wherein the third light source includes a third Light Emitting Diode (LED) and a third concentrator, wherein the third light source emits a third light beam of a third color different than the first color and second color; a plurality of reflective optical components positioned so as to combine the first light beam of the first color, the second light beam of the second color, the third light beam of the third color, on a main optical axis of the light engine to generate a beam of white light; and an output system including one or more lens for focusing the beam of white light into a light guide for transmission to a microscope or endoscope.