Optical illuminator device

An illuminator device, comprising:

• a light source for transmitting light rays, the light source including an output surface, having an associated width, from which the light rays are transmitted;
• and
• a light collecting and concentrating element including:
• an input optical aperture having a diffuser optically attached thereto, the input optical aperture formed on a base surface having an associated width that is greater than or equal to the width of the output surface,
• an output aperture formed on an opposing surface to the base surface, and
• at least two tapered sidewall surfaces extending substantially between the input and output apertures,
• wherein the diffuser receives light rays from the light source and distributes light rays as input to the input optical aperture at a range of angles, and wherein a subset of the light rays input to the input optical aperture, corresponding to a sub-range of the range of angles, are trapped between the planar tapered sidewall surfaces by total internal reflection, so as to produce a spatially uniform output optical beam with narrow angular distribution at the output optical aperture.