A light source which may be used as part of a dental curing lamp is comprised
of
at least one, and preferably a plurality, of LEDs. To increase the efficiency of
the light output the LEDs are encapsulated in a beam converger including an extractor
portion and a collimator portion. Light rays leaving the collimator portion have
an angle which matches the entrance angle input requirements of an associated light
guide. In another aspect, cooling of LEDs is accomplished by reservoirs located
in a hand piece and in a base station. In another aspect of the invention, cooling
is achieved by use of a heat pipe and a cooling jacket. The cooling jacket may
contain a material having a high latent heat of fusion at a phase change temperature
suitable for cooling the LEDs.