SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MIXING AND COLLIMATING LIGHT EMITTED FROM AN ARRAY HAVING DIFFERENT COLOR LIGHT EMITTING DIODES

1 . A collimated light source comprising:

an electronic circuitry to drive light emitting diodes (LEDs);

a plurality of LEDs coupled to the electronic circuitry, the LEDs with more than one color type;

a light pipe on the plurality of LEDs to provide total internal reflection of light rays from the plurality of LEDs for light ray angles larger than a critical angle with respect to a normal vector of a surface of the light pipe; and

a light collimator over the light pipe to provide an uniform beam wave front exiting through the light pipe from the plurality of LEDs, the light collimator being an optics overhanging over and centered on an exit aperture of the light pipe.

2 . The collimated light source of claim 1 , wherein a reflective wall is formed around the light pipe and the light collimator.

3 . The collimated light source of claim 1 , wherein the light collimator is optically bonded to the light pipe.

4 . The collimated light source of claim 1 , wherein the light collimator is air-gapped from a reflective wall.

5 . The collimated light source of claim 1 , wherein the light pipe has a narrowing throat region ending in the exit aperture that is optically bonded to the light collimator to create a wide beam angle for light rays exiting the narrowing throat region.

6 . The collimated light source of claim 1 , further comprising a lenslet beam re-shaper attached over the light collimator.

7 . The collimated light source of claim 1 , further comprising a first diameter of the light collimator is greater than or equal to 10 times of a second diameter of the exit aperture of the light pipe interfacing the light collimator.

8 . The collimated light source of claim 1 , further comprising a chamber wall around the plurality of LEDs expanding away from the plurality of LEDs to support the light collimator.

9 . The collimated light source of claim 1 , further comprising a detachable Fresnel optics attached over the light collimator.

10 . The collimated light source of claim 1 , wherein the light collimator has radial grooves on a surface overhanging over the plurality of LEDs from an attachment to the light pipe.

11 . The collimated light source of claim 1 , wherein the light collimator has a reflective, underside surface overhanging over the plurality of LEDs from an attachment to the light pipe.

12 . The collimated light source of claim 1 , wherein the light collimator has a vortex dent on a surface facing away from the plurality of LEDs.

13 . The collimated light source of claim 1 , wherein the light collimator has a hemispherical bump on a surface facing away from the plurality of LEDs.

14 . The collimated light source of claim 1 , wherein the light collimator has an annular reflective region around the hemispherical bump.

15 . The collimated light source of claim 14 , wherein the annular reflective region includes a reflective coating.

16 . The collimated light source of claim 14 , wherein the annular reflective region includes radial micro-grooves.

17 . A flat collimated light source comprising:

a plurality of LEDs;

a light mixing pipe optically bonded over the plurality of LEDs;

a hemispherical lens optically bonded to the light mixing pipe with a convex side facing the light mixing pipe;

a bowl shaped shell over and around the plurality of LEDs and the light pipe with a reflective inner surface facing the light pipe; and

a clear plate covering a concave opening of the bowl shaped shell;

wherein the hemispherical lens includes a flat surface attached to the clear plate.

18 . A method of manufacturing a linear light source comprising:

providing a light emitting diode (LED) array, the LED array including multiple color types of LED;

coupling an electronic circuit to the LED array for driving the LED array;

optically bonding a light pipe over the LED array with a pipe axis of the light pipe extending away from the LED array, the light pipe providing total internal reflection (TIR) of light rays from the LED array for light ray angles larger than a critical angle with respect to a normal vector of a surface of the light pipe; and

optically bonding a light collimator on an exit aperture of the light pipe with a center of the light collimator aligned on the exit aperture.

19 . The method of claim 17 further comprising molding the light collimator to include radial micro-grooves on an underside surface of the light collimator.

20 . The method of claim 17 further comprising over-molding the light collimator to form radial micro-grooves on an underside surface of the light collimator.