Apparatus and method of using light sources of differing wavelengths in an unitized beam

An apparatus for generating a selected color of light comprising:

• a housing;
• a plurality of light sources disposed in the housing, each radiating a color of light into an aperture of defined radial size;
• and
• a corresponding plurality of reflectors disposed in the housing, each reflector arranged and configured to reflect light from a predetermined one of the plurality of light sources into the aperture, where the plurality of light sources and reflectors are arranged and configured with respect to each other to mix reflected light from the reflectors into a composite beam from the plurality of light sources into the aperture, the housing having a radial size comparable to the radial size of the aperture.
• where the arrangement and configuration of the plurality of light sources and reflectors to mix reflected light from the reflectors comprises a sequenced array of the plurality of light sources and reflectors in an alternating pairs, each reflector being positioned on a common optical axis with an aligned corresponding one of the plurality of light sources to provide a light source and reflector pair, each reflector with the possible exception of the first reflector of the sequenced array having a dichroic filter material which reflects the color of light radiated by the corresponding light source of the pair, and which transmits light radiated by all preceding light sources in the sequenced array.