US Patent 8988779 System and method for combining light beams

An optical system and method for combining multiple beams along a single light path is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of bandpass filters are arranged about the sides of a regular pentagon, the band pass filters being reflective of light wavelengths outside of the bandpass range. A plurality of light sources are positioned such that light from a source passes through an associated bandpass filter, preferably at an angle of about 18°. Light from the first light source passes out of the pentagonal housing after passing through the filter. Light from the other light sources are reflected off of the interior surfaces filters so as to combine with the light from the first light source.