Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and systems for providing illumination for projectors. One or more beam combiners are used to combine multiple light beams to provide a combined light beam toward to a pupil of an imaging device in a projector. Solid state light sources, such as diode lasers and light-emitting diodes (LEDs), may be used as light sources at relatively low cost and low power, and with long lifetime. In one embodiment, an optical beam combiner comprises a first reflective surface, a second reflective surface, and a transparent region disposed between the first reflector surface and the second reflective surface. In another embodiment, an optical device comprising an array of optical beam combiners is provided. In a further embodiment, light sources comprising a plurality of light-emitting devices mounted on curved surfaces are utilized in conjunction with an optical beam combiner to provide illumination for a projector.