Color-splitting optical element and an optical system utilizing the color-splitting optical element

An optical system for use with a source of light including first and second colors, comprising:

• a color-splitting optical element comprising
• a first prism having a first transmissive curved outer side, a second transmissive curved outer side and an inner side, a second prism having a first transmissive curved outer side, a second side and an inner side, and a dichroic element disposed between the inner side of the first prism and the inner side of the second prism, wherein the first transmissive curved outer side of the first prism is disposed generally opposite the first transmissive curved outer side of the second prism along a first direction and the second transmissive curved outer side of the first prism is disposed generally opposite the second side of the second prism along a second direction,
• wherein the first transmissive curved outer side of the first prism is a light entrance side operable to receive a light beam originating from the source of light for a first pass through the first prism, the second transmissive curved outer side of the first prism is a second light exit side, and the first transmissive curved outer side of the second prism is a first light exit side;
• a first illumination target disposed to receive light from the first light exit side of the color-splitting optical element;
• and
• a second illumination target disposed to receive light from the second light exit side of the color-splitting optical element.

An optical system comprising:

• a source of light comprising first, second and third colors;
• a dichroic splitter configured to split light of the first and second colors from light of the third color;
• a color-splitting optical element comprising
• a first prism having a first transmissive curved outer side, a second transmissive curved outer side and an inner side, a second prism having a first transmissive curved outer side, a second side and an inner side, and a dichroic element disposed between the inner side of the first prism and the inner side of the second prism, wherein the first transmissive curved outer side of the first prism is disposed generally opposite the first transmissive curved outer side of the second prism along a first direction and the second transmissive curved outer side of the first prism is disposed generally opposite the second side of the second prism along a second direction,
• the color-splitting optical element configured and disposed such that the first transmissive curved outer side receives light comprising first and second colors from the source of light for a first pass through the first prism and such that the dichroic element transmits light of the first color toward the first transmissive curved outer side of the second prism and reflects light of the second color toward the second transmissive curved outer side of the first prism;
• a first illumination target disposed to receive light of the first color transmitted through the first transmissive curved outer side of the second prism;
• a second illumination target disposed to receive light of the second color transmitted through the second transmissive curved outer side of the first prism;
• and
• a third illumination target disposed to receive light of the third color from the dichroic splitter.