Optical system and method for use in projection systems

An optical system configured to provide a desired illuminating light pattern, the system comprising a light source system comprising at least one light source element generating at least one light beam, and a light splitting unit for splitting the at least one light beam into an array of spatially separated light beams;

• and a beam shaping arrangement;
• the beam shaping arrangement being configured as a diffractive optical unit configured and operable to carry out at least one of the following:
• (i) combining an array of the spatially separated light beams into a single light beam thereby significantly increasing intensity of the illuminating light;
• (ii) affecting intensity profile of the light beam to provide the illuminating light of a substantially rectangular uniform intensity profile.

An optical system configured to provide a desired illuminating light pattern, the system comprising a light source system configured and operable to produce structured light in the form of a plurality of spatially separated light beams, said light source system comprising at least one pumping light source arrangement and at least one non-linear optical medium to be pumped by light generated by said at least one pumping light source arrangement;

• and a beam shaping arrangement;
• the beam shaping arrangement being configured as a diffractive optical unit configured and operable to carry out at least one of the following:
• (i) combining an array of the spatially separated light beams into a single light beam thereby significantly increasing intensity of the illuminating light;
• (ii) affecting intensity profile of the light beam to provide the illuminating light of a substantially rectangular uniform intensity profile.

An optical system configured to provide a desired illuminating light pattern, the system comprising:

• a light source system configured and operable to produce structured light in the form of a plurality of spatially separated light beams;
• and a beam shaping arrangement;
• the beam shaping arrangement being configured as a diffractive optical unit configured and operable to carry out at least one of the following:
• (i) combining an array of the spatially separated light beams into a single light beam thereby significantly increasing intensity of the illuminating light;
• (ii) affecting intensity profile of the light beam to provide the illuminating light of a substantially rectangular uniform intensity profile;
• and
• a control unit associated with the light source system, said control unit being preprogrammed to carry out a sequencing mechanism to thereby sequentially actuate a plurality of light source elements in accordance with a predetermined pattern.

An optical system configured to provide a desired illuminating light pattern, the system comprising:

• a light source system comprising at least one multi-pixel diffractive optical phase mask configured and operable to produce structured light in the form of a predetermined pattern of spatially separated light beams;
• and a beam shaping arrangement;
• the beam shaping arrangement being configured as a diffractive optical unit configured and operable to carry out at least one of the following:
• (i) combining an array of the spatially separated light beams into a single light beam thereby significantly increasing intensity of the illuminating light;
• (ii) affecting intensity profile of the light beam to provide the illuminating light of a substantially rectangular uniform intensity profile.