Illumination device

1. An illumination device comprising:

a light source including a substantially planar light-emitting surface,

an optical taper including a light receiving end and a second end, the light receiving end having a smaller surface area than the second end and the light receiving end matching an area of the substantially planar light-emitting surface; and

a light post taper;

wherein the light receiving end of the optical taper is disposed proximate to the substantially planar light-emitting surface to optically couple the optical taper and the substantially planar light-emitting surface, and the second end of the optical taper is proximate to the light post taper.

2. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein the substantially planar light-emitting surface comprises an emitting surface of a light-emitting diode chip.

3. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein the substantially planar light-emitting surface comprises a transparent substantially planar window disposed over an emitting surface of a light-emitting diode chip.

4. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein the light receiving end is in direct contact with the substantially planar light-emitting surface of the light source.

5. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein the second end is in direct contact with the substantially planar light-emitting surface of the light source.

6. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein an adhesive or an index matching material is disposed between the optical taper and the substantially planar light-emitting surface.

7. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein a gas is disposed between the optical taper and the substantially planar light-emitting surface.

8. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein the optical taper comprises a glass optical taper.

9. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein the optical taper comprises a plastic optical taper.

10. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein the light receiving end of the optical taper is proximate to the substantially planar light-emitting surface of the light source and the second end of the optical taper is proximate to a light guide.

11. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein a light receiving end of the light post taper is proximate to the optical taper and a light transmitting end of the light post taper is attached to a light guide.

12. The illumination device of claim 1 disposed within an endoscope.

13. The illumination device of claim 1 disposed within a lamp.

14. The illumination device of claim 1 , further comprising a substance that emits light when the light source is activated, the substance being positioned between the substantially planar light-emitting surface and the optical taper.