OPTICAL PROJECTION WITH COMBINED BEAMS

Optical assemblies comprise plural spatial light modulators arranged to modulate light in plural light beams. The modulated light is combined in angular space by converging light beams onto a target area of an image plane. Light from the image plane may be received at an inlet pupil of an optical system. A diffuser may be provided to increase utilization of an acceptance angle of the optical system. The optical system may comprise an image projection system comprising an imager that is illuminated by the light from the image plane. An example application of the described technology is cinema projection of scenes which include high luminance highlights.