Despeckling system for projected light

Speckle artifacts as viewed in images projected on a display surface by a projector can be reduced. At least one spatial light modulator, illuminated by one or more light sources, can be imaged to a screen by a projection lens. A deflector subsystem can be provided in image space, proximate to the lens, where the image light emerges. In this location, image light directed to any given field point on the display surface is convergent, but can appear collimated. The deflector subsystem can include a tilted optical plate that is rotated in a plane along an axis. As the deflector subsystem is temporally rotated, the image light to any given field point traverses different optical paths, varying the angular diversity to reduce perceivable speckle by changing at least the angle of incidence to the screen.