A diffractive optical pattern generator includes a diffractive optical element layer, and a nanostructure layer configured for beam steering an input light applied to the diffractive optical pattern generator to at least one of a polar beam-steering angle that is measured in a plane that is substantially normal to a direction of the input light and an azimuth beam-steering angle measured with respect to the direction of the input light. A dynamic transmission layer may be included in which at least one region of the dynamic transmission layer may be selectively controllable to transmit light through or to block light from passing through the dynamic transmission layer. The nanostructure layer may include nanostructures having a periodicity ranging from 0.75 λ to 3 λ of a target wavelength λ. The nanostructure layer may be configured to beam steer light input to the DOE layer or beam steer light output from the DOE layer.