Patent ID: 7540616

Claim:
An illumination source, comprising: an arrangement of one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) comprising LEDs capable of generating light at a first wavelength; phosphor material disposed proximate the one or more LEDs, the phosphor material emitting light at a second wavelength when illuminated by the light at the first wavelength; a light collecting unit comprising at least a tapered optical element, light at the first and second wavelengths passing through the light collecting unit; and a reflective polarizer disposed to transmit light at the first and second wavelengths in a first polarization state and to reflect light at the first and second wavelengths in a second polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state, light at the first and second wavelengths reflected by the reflective polarizer being directed back towards the phosphor material without any substantial increase in angular range, the illumination source producing an output light beam containing polarized light at the first and second wavelengths.