Patent ID: 7158306

Claim:
A light separator for splitting a polychromatic light into a longer wavelength spectral band light above a predetermined wavelength and a shorter wavelength spectral band light below the predetermined wavelength, the light separator defined between opposing side surfaces that are each reflective to incident light over a range of angles and further having an input side for accepting the polychromatic light and an output side for providing the separated longer and shorter wavelength spectral band light, the light separator comprising: (a) a first light guiding channel, narrowing as it extends from the input side to the output side and defined between: (i) a first dichroic surface for reflecting wavelengths longer than the predetermined wavelength and transmitting wavelengths shorter than the predetermined wavelength; and (ii) a first outer surface that is reflective to incident light over a range of angles; and (b) a second light guiding channel, narrowing as it extends from the input side to the output side and defined between: (i) a second dichroic surface for reflecting wavelengths shorter than the predetermined wavelength and transmitting wavelengths longer than the predetermined wavelength; and (ii) a second outer surface that is reflective to incident light over a range of angles; further including a common portion of the light separator that is part of both first and second light guiding channels, the common portion lying between the first and second dichroic surfaces and narrowing as it extends from the input side toward the output side.