Compact biocular viewing system for an electronic display

A biocular viewing system comprising:

• a single display device having a substantially planar display surface;
• a first optical channel comprising:
• a first light source configured to generate a first illumination beam having an axis, said first light source comprising a light mixing cavity including:
• a plurality of light emitting diodes generating light beams of differing color;
• and
• a diochroic mirror positioned in said light beams of differing color, whereby said first illumination beam is emitted at said dichroic mirror, such that said first illumination beam illuminates said display surface at an oblique angle;
• and
• a second optical channel configured substantially similarly to said first optical channel comprising a second light source configured to generate a second illumination beam, said second illumination beam illuminating said display surface at an oblique angle;
• wherein said second optical channel and said first optical channel are mutually disposed such that said first illumination beam and said second illumination beam are angularly displaced from one another and intersect with one another at said display surface.

A biocular viewing system comprising:

• a single display device having a substantially planar display surface;
• a first optical channel comprising:
• a first light source configured to generate a first illumination beam having an axis, such that said first illumination beam illuminates said display surface at an oblique angle;
• and
• an aspheric shaping optical element positioned in said first illumination beam between said first light source and said display surface, said aspheric shaping optical element being configured to redistribute optical energy density radially away from said axis within said first illumination beam;
• a second optical channel configured substantially similarly to said first optical channel comprising a second light source configured to generate a second illumination beam, said second illumination beam illuminating said display surface at an oblique angle;
• wherein said second optical channel and said first optical channel are mutually disposed such that said first illumination beam and said second illumination beam are angularly displaced from one another and intersect with one another at said display surface.

A method of producing a biocular video display, comprising:

• generating a first illumination beam of light having an axis from a first light source in a first optical channel;
• illuminating a display surface at an oblique angle relative to said first illumination beam;
• collimating said first illumination beam at a display field lens proximate to said display surface such that the collimated volume of said first illumination beam is minimized;
• spatially modulating said first illumination beam at said display surface, thereby originating a first imaging beam;
• generating a second illumination beam of light from a second light source in a second optical channel;
• illuminating said video display surface at an oblique angle with said second illumination beam;
• spatially modulating said second illumination beam at said display surface, thereby originating a second imaging beam;
• wherein said first and second illumination beams are mutually disposed such that said first illumination beam and said second illumination beam are angularly displaced from one another and intersect with one another at said display surface;
• and
• wherein said first and second optical channels are configured substantially similarly.