Video display apparatus

A video display apparatus for directing light forming a video image in an X, Y, Z coordinate system wherein the X and Y axis form the XY plane that contains the cross section of the dispersed light pattern, and the Z axis is in the direction of the propagation of light and is through the center of the light pattern in the XY plane, comprising:

• a. a housing;
• b. a plurality of pixels mounted in the housing for generation of pixels of light to make up the video image to be viewed by an observer or observers, each pixel representing the smallest increment of the image, each pixel comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes and each light emitting diode arranged to emit light outwardly from the housing;
• and
• c. a diffractive optical element mounted on the housing in front of each pixel, the diffractive optical element being arranged to receive the light emitted by the pixels and disperse the light in a substantially elliptical pattern directly to an observer(s) without using any light emitted modulating guide such that the dispersed light is centered along the Z axis and the pattern is greater along the X axis than along the Y axis.