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.