Illumination device for simulating neon or similar lighting in various colors

An illumination device for simulating neon lighting comprising:

• a housing comprising a pair of side walls defining a channel;
• a plurality of LEDs contained within said housing, said plurality of LEDs emitting light of a first color;
• a waveguide having both optical waveguide and light scattering properties, said waveguide positioned along said housing;
• and
• a light-transmitting medium composed of a matrix of substantially translucent material doped with a pigment, said light-transmitting medium positioned between said plurality of LEDs and said waveguide such that a portion of said light emitted by said plurality of LEDs passes around said light-transmitting medium and reaches said waveguide directly, and a portion of said light emitted by said LEDs is received by said light-transmitting medium, said pigment changing a portion of said received light to a light of a second color, said light-transmitting medium emitting said light of said second color;
• wherein said waveguide receives said light of said first color and said light of said second color, mixes said light via said light scattering and optical waveguide properties to create light of a combined color that is a combination of said first color and said second color, and emits said light of said combined color.

A method of operating an illumination device having a light source for emitting light of a first color, a waveguide having both optical waveguide and light scattering properties, and a light-transmitting medium composed of a matrix of substantially translucent material doped with a photoluminescent pigment, said light-transmitting medium positioned between said light source and said waveguide such that a portion of any light emitted by said light source will pass around said light-transmitting medium and reach said waveguide directly and a portion of any light emitted by said light source will be received by said light-transmitting medium, said method including the steps of:

• increasing the intensity of light of said first color emitted by said light source, a portion of said emitted light being received by said light-transmitting medium and absorbed by said photoluminescent pigment, wherein said waveguide receives said light of a first color and emits a light substantially of said first color;
• maintaining said intensity of said light source, said photoluminescent pigment converting said absorbed light to a light of a second color, said light-transmitting medium emitting said light of said second color, wherein said waveguide receives said light of said first color and said light of said second color, mixes said light via said light scattering and optical waveguide properties to create light of a combined color that is a combination of said light of said first color and said light of said second color, and emits said light of said combined color;
• and
• reducing said intensity of said light source, said photoluminescent pigment continuing to emit said light of said second color, wherein said waveguide receives said light of said second color and emits light substantially of said second color.