Beam Combiner for Scanned Beam Display or the Like

A beam combiner has a first coating on a first side capable of imparting a first polarization rotation, and a second coating on a second side capable of imparting a second polarization rotation. A first beam impinging on the first side passes through the first and second coatings as a first beam component. Second and third beams impinging on the second side partially reflect off the second coating as a second beam component, and partially transmit through the second coating to reflect off the first coating and exit through the second coating as a third beam component. The first, second and third beam components are disposed at selected positions and have respective selected polarizations as a combined beam spot. The positions and polarization of the beams components result in a projected image having increased allowable brightness and/or having reduced speckle.