Scanning collimation of light via flat panel lamp

A system for scanning collimated light, the system comprising:

• an optical wedge comprising:
• a thin end,
• a thick end disposed opposite the thin end,
• a viewing surface extending at least partially between the thin end and the thick end, the viewing surface comprising a first critical angle of reflection relative to a direction normal to the viewing surface,
• a back surface disposed opposite the viewing surface and comprising a second critical angle of reflection relative to a direction normal to the back surface, wherein the second critical angle is less than the first critical angle, and
• an end reflector disposed at the thick end of the optical wedge, the end reflector having a faceted lens structure configured to reflect internally transmitted incident light that travels along an optical path between the thin end and the viewing surface;
• a plurality of light sources arranged along the thin end of the optical wedge, each light source being configured to inject light into the thin end of the optical wedge;
• and
• a controller configured to independently and selectively illuminate each light source of the plurality of light sources according to a mode of the system.

A method of scanning collimating light via an optical waveguide, the optical waveguide comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end and comprising an collimating end reflector, a viewing surface extending between the first end and the second end, and a back surface opposing the viewing surface, the method comprising:

• injecting light into the first end of the optical waveguide;
• delivering the light to the end reflector via total internal reflection;
• internally reflecting the light off of the collimating end reflector;
• emitting a first portion of light from the viewing surface at a critical angle of reflection;
• internally reflecting a second portion of light from the back surface at an angle equal to the critical angle of reflection, and then emitting the second portion of light from the viewing surface after internally reflecting the second portion of light from the back surface;
• and
• varying a location along the first end of the optical waveguide at which light is injected into the optical waveguide.