Compact, high-efficiency illumination system for video-imaging devices

An illumination system for a video-imaging device, comprising:

• a) a light source;
• b) a collector of light from the light source;
• the collector being formed according to the principles of non-imaging optics and receiving a portion of the light from the light source;
• c) the collector being configured to reduce the angular distribution of the light collected from the light source to match the requirements of a digital pixelation device;
• and
• d) a spatial distribution-averaging device with an input end and an output end, the input end receiving light from the collector and improving the spatial distribution of light projected from the output end.

An illumination system for video-imaging devices, comprising:

• a) a light source;
• b) a first collector of light from the light source;
• the collector being formed according to the principles of non-imaging optics and receiving a portion of the light from the light source;
• and
• c) a second collector of light from the light source;
• the collector being formed according to the principles of non-imaging optics and receiving a portion of the light from the light source;
• d) a first part of the lamp protruding into the first collector, and a second part of the lamp protruding into the second collector;
• and
• e) the collectors being designed to reduce the angular distribution of the light collected from the light source to match the requirements of a digital pixelation device.

An illumination system for video-imaging devices, comprising:

• a) a light source;
• b) a first collector of light from the light source;
• the collector being formed according to the principles of non-imaging optics and receiving a portion of light from the light source;
• c) a second collector of light from the light source;
• the collector being formed according to the principles of non-imaging optics and receiving a portion of light from the light source;
• and
• d) a third collector of light from the light source;
• the collector being formed according to the principles of non-imaging optics and receiving a portion of the light from the light source;
• e) said collectors being designed to set the angular distribution of the light to match the requirements of a digital pixelation device.

An illumination system for video-imaging devices, comprising:

• a) a first light source to produce red light;
• b) a first collector of light from the light source;
• the collector being formed according to the principles of non-imaging optics and receiving a portion of light from the first light source;
• c) a second light source to produce green light;
• d) a second collector of light from the light source;
• the collector being formed according to the principles of non-imaging optics and receiving a portion of light from the second light source;
• e) a third light source to produce blue light;
• and
• f) a third collector of light from the light source;
• the collector being formed according to the principles of non-imaging optics and receiving a portion of light from the third light source;
• g) the first, second and third light sources having respective portions protruding into the first, second and third collectors, respectively;
• h) each of the collectors being designed to set the angular distribution of the light they pass to match the requirements of a digital pixelation device.