Optical manifold for light-emitting diodes

A multiwavelength light source comprising:

• a plurality of LEDs that emit light at and about a dominant wavelength;
• a plurality of nonimaging input collimators comprising a dielectric material, each input collimator connected respectively to one of said plurality of LEDs;
• a nonimaging output concentrator, said output concentrator coupled to collectively receive the light output from each of said input collimators on one end, said output concentrator having an exit port on the opposite end;
• a shortpass filter at the interface between said input collimators and said output concentrator, said shortpass filter transmitting light of wavelengths less than a prescribed wavelength and reflecting light of wavelengths greater than a prescribed wavelength;
• and
• a phosphor patch formed on said exit port, the material of said phosphor patch having a composition that luminesces in response to excitation from light generated by said LEDs,
• wherein said phosphor patch has an inside surface receiving light from said output optical system and an opposing outside surface, and
• wherein said phosphor patch is also partially transmissive to light from said LEDs, so that said outside surface of said phosphor patch comprises the emitter of said light source.

A multiwavelength light source comprising:

• at least one LED that emits light at a dominant wavelength;
• an input optical system coupled to said at least one LED and collimating its light;
• one or more mirrors that direct a first part of the collimated light from the input optical system to an output port, and directs a second part of the collimated light from the input optical system to an intermediate optical system, said intermediate optical system configured as a concentrator and having an exit port on the opposite end;
• and
• a phosphor patch formed on said exit port, the material of said phosphor patch having a composition that luminesces in response to excitation from light generated by said LEDs, light emitted by said phosphor patch being returned back through and out of said intermediate optical system, to an output port.