Collimating illumination systems employing planar waveguide

An illumination apparatus, comprising:

• a planar waveguide defined by a first planar surface and an opposing second planar surface extending substantially parallel to said first planar surface;
• said planar waveguide having a light input edge disposed between said first and second planar surfaces;
• a light source positioned adjacent to said light input edge and optically coupled to said planar waveguide;
• said planar waveguide is configured to receive light on said light input edge, and to propagate the received light through said planar waveguide in response to optical transmission and total internal reflection;
• a plurality of light deflecting elements formed in said planar waveguide;
• and
• a plurality of light collimating elements within a planar collimating array disposed in an energy receiving relationship with respect to said plurality of light deflecting elements;
• wherein each of said plurality of light deflecting elements is in a predetermined alignment with respect to at least one of said light collimating elements, and wherein each of said plurality of light deflecting elements is configured to receive light propagating in said planar waveguide and redirect at least a substantial portion of the received light toward said at least one of said collimating elements.