LED with an optical system to increase luminance by recycling emitted light

The amount of usefully captured light in an optical system is increased by concentrating light in a region where it can be collected by the optical system. In one embodiment, a light emitting diode is disposed on a first surface of a transparent member, which includes an exit surface. The transparent member includes a reflective element on a second surface and is shaped such that light emitted from the light emitting diode is directed toward the exit surface. A portion of the first surface of the transparent member between the first light emitting diode and the exit surface of the transparent member first surface is coated with a reflective coating. The portion of the first surface with the reflective coating may be larger than the width of the light emitting diodc. In one embodiment, the transparent member is formed from two separate transparent elements.