Scanned light display system using array of collimating elements in conjunction with large numerical aperture light emitter array

A viewing system, comprising:

• an image source operable to transmit image signals;
• and
• a scanned beam display coupled to the image source to receive the image signals therefrom, the scanned beam display comprising:
• a light emitter array having a plurality of light sources operable to emit diverging light;
• an array of collimating elements, each of the collimating elements corresponding to at least one of the light sources and positioned to receive at least a portion of the diverging light emitted from the corresponding at least one of the light sources, each of the collimating elements configured to substantially collimate the received diverging light into respective beams;
• and
• an actuator system coupled to at least one of the light emitter array and the array of collimating elements, the actuator system being operable to move at least one of the light emitter array and the array of collimating elements to scan the respective beams to provide an image responsive to the image signals, wherein the image appears substantially fixed to a viewer as the viewer's eye moves relative to the array of collimating elements.

A method of providing an image to a viewer, comprising:

• transmitting image signals from an image source to a scanned beam display including a plurality of light sources and an array of collimating elements;
• emitting light from the plurality of light sources;
• substantially collimating the light emitted from each of the light sources using a corresponding one of the collimating elements to form respective beams;
• and
• scanning the respective beams to provide the image to the viewer, the image appearing substantially fixed to the viewer as a viewer's eye moves relative to the array of collimating elements.