Systems and methods for providing an LGD with a collimated backlight and a non-Lambertian diffuser are described. An LCD 
system includes: an illumination source for producing light; a collimating 
waveguide optically connected to the illumination source, the collimating 
waveguide including a top surface, an incident end and a plurality of substantially parallel optical elements for redirecting light from the incident end to, and through, the top surface by 
total internal reflection (TR), each of the plurality of substantially parallel optical elements including a first 
facet that is nonparallel to the top surface and a mirrored second 
facet that is nonparallel to the top surface; a reflector optically connected to the 
light source and optically connected to the collimating 
waveguide, the reflector (1) at least partially surrounding the illumination source, and (2) reflecting light from said illumination source to said incident end by direct reflection; a 
liquid crystal display optically connected to the collimating waveguide; and a non-Lambertian diffuser optically connected to the 
liquid crystal display for directing light from said 
liquid crystal display. The light from the reflector is directly incident upon the incident end. The systems and methods provide advantages in that the light from the LCD is bright and homogenous.