The present invention provides an optical sensor having one or more filter-photodetector pairs and feedback to monitor the intensity and chromaticity of the white light generated by an illumination system. According to the present invention, filter-photodetectors are configured into pairs thereof, wherein a first filter-photodetector of a pair is configured and arranged so as to be sensitive to a predetermined region of the electromagnetic spectrum, while a second filter-photodetector of the pair is configured and arranged to be sensitive to a substantially complementary region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The spectral responsivity of the first filter-photodetector and the second filter-photodetector overlap in a predetermined region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Furthermore, the spectral responsivity of the first filter-photodetector is configured to substantially monotonically increase with respect to wavelength within said predetermined region, while the spectral responsivity of the second filter-photodetector is configured to substantially monotonically decrease with respect to wavelength within said predetermined region.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/683,436, filed May 20, 2005, which is incorporated herein, in its entirety, by reference.