Ophthalmic endoillumination with light collector for white phosphor

1. An illuminator configured to emit light into an optical fiber, comprising:

a baseplate;

a first mount coupled to the baseplate and configured to support at least one pump light source configured to emit short-wavelength light;

a second mount coupled to the baseplate and comprising a substrate having a layer of white phosphor disposed to receive the short-wavelength light and to emit white light in response; and

a light collector disposed between the first mount and the second mount configured to collect the short-wavelength light at the white phosphor such that a brightness of the white light is greater than a brightness of the short wavelength light, wherein the at least one pump light source comprises a plurality of pump light sources arranged to illuminate the white phosphor from a plurality of respective directions; and the light collector comprises a plurality of collecting lenses, each collecting lens connected to a respective one of the pump light sources.

2. The illuminator of claim 1 , wherein the light collector is a condensing lens.

3. The illuminator of claim 1 , wherein the light collector is a compound parabolic concentrator.

4. The illuminator of claim 1 , wherein the light collector collects the short-wavelength light using total internal reflection.

5. The illuminator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of respective directions subtends an angle greater than 180 degrees.

6. The illuminator of claim 1 , wherein the white phosphor is shaped to emit the white light in a narrower angle than an angle over which the white phosphor is illuminated by the short-wavelength light.

7. An illuminator configured to emit light into an optical fiber, comprising:

a white phosphor;

a plurality of pump light sources spatially arranged around the white phosphor and defining an opening with a collection angle, the collection angle formed from a first pump light source to the white phosphor to a second pump light source, the first and second pump light sources at opposite edges of the opening, the pump light sources configured to direct short-wavelength light at the white phosphor from a plurality of respective directions, the plurality of respective directions subtending a first angle greater than 180 degrees such that the collection angle is less than 180 degrees; and

a plurality of lenses, each of the lenses coupled to a respective one of the pump light sources to focus the short-wavelength light from the respective pump light source onto the white phosphor, wherein the white phosphor comprises a shaped back surface formed to allow direct incidence of the short-wavelength light from the plurality of respective directions behind the white phosphor.

8. The illuminator of claim 7 , wherein the pump light sources are substantially equal distance from the white phosphor.

9. The illuminator of claim 7 , wherein the lenses are substantially equal distance from the white phosphor.