Patent ID: 7286296

Claim:
A multiwavelength light source comprising: at least one LED that emits light at a dominant wavelength; an optical filter that transmits light about a prescribed wavelength and reflects other wavelengths; an input collimating optical system that directs light from said at least one LED through said optical filter; an output optical system coupled to receive said light throughput from said optical filter, said output optical system configured as a concentrator and having an exit port on the opposite end; a phosphor patch formed on said exit port, said phosphor having a composition that luminesces in response to excitation from light generated by said LEDs, said phosphor patch also being transinissive to light from said LED; and wherein said output optical system has a shape that recycles and approximately collimates backscattered luminescence from said phosphor by directing said backscattered luminescence to said optical filter from which it is reflected back to said exit port.