A plate-like polarizing element, a polarizing conversion unit provided with the element, and a projector provided with the unit

Claim 2

A plate-like polarizing element according to Claim 1, wherein said dividing means is a pair of polarization separation acting surfaces obliquely provided in the optical path of said light so as to face each other and disposed with one end of one of them being in contact with one end of the other, said varying means is a pair of quarter wavelength plates provided on the light incidence side of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces substantially in parallelism to said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces, and said reflecting means is a pair of reflecting surfaces disposed so as to interpose said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces therebetween and reflecting said reflected light from one of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces through said pair of quarter wavelength plates and the other polarization separation acting surface.

Claim 3

A plate-like polarizing element according to Claim 1, wherein said dividing means is a pair of polarization separation acting surfaces obliquely provided in the optical path of said light so as to face each other and disposed with one end of one of them being in contact with one end of the other, said varying means is a half wavelength plate installed between said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces, and said reflecting means is a pair of reflecting surfaces disposed so as to interpose said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces therebetween and reflecting said reflected light from one of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces through said half wavelength plate and the other polarization separation acting surface.

Claim 4

A plate-like polarizing element according to Claim 3, wherein said half wavelength plate is disposed intermediately of the optical path between said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces.

Claim 5

A plate-like polarizing element according to Claim 1, wherein said dividing means is provided obliquely with respect to the optical path of said light, said reflecting means is disposed parallel to said dividing means, and said varying means is a half wavelength plate and is disposed in the optical path of said reflected light.

Claim 6

A plate-like polarizing element according to Claim 5, wherein said half wavelength plate is disposed in the optical path of said reflected light reflected by said reflecting means.

Claim 7

A plate-like polarizing element according to Claim 5, wherein said half wavelength plate is disposed in the optical path between said dividing means and said reflecting means.

Claim 8

A plate-like polarizing element according to Claim 1, wherein said dividing means is provided obliquely with respect to the optical path of said light, said reflecting means is disposed parallel to said dividing means, and said varying means is a half wavelength plate and is disposed in the optical path of said transmitted light.

Claim 9

A polarizing conversion unit having: a plate-like polarizing element for converting light into polarized light, said plate-like polarizing element comprising a plurality of units arranged along a common plane across said light; each of said units being provided with: dividing means for dividing said light into reflected light and transmitted light whose planes of polarization are orthogonal to each other; varying means for varying the plane of polarization of at least one of said reflected light and said transmitted light to thereby make the planes of polarization of said two lights coincident with each other; and reflecting means for reflecting one of said reflected light and said transmitted light and directing it substantially in the same direction as the direction of travel as the other; converting means provided on the light incidence side of said plate-like polarizing element for dividing said light into a plurality of partial lights, condensing each of said partial lights and converting it into light of a lattice-like pattern, each of said partial lights of a lattice-like pattern corresponding to each of said units.

Claim 10

A polarizing conversion unit according to Claim 9, wherein said dividing means is a pair of polarization separation acting surfaces obliquely provided in the optical path of said light so as to face each other and disposed with one end of one of them being in contact with one end of the other, said varying means is a pair of quarter wavelength plate provided on the light incidence sides of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces substantially in parallelism to said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces, and said reflecting means is a pair of reflecting surfaces disposed so as to interpose said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces therebetween and reflecting said reflected light from one of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces through said pair of quarter wavelength plates and the other polarization separation acting surface.

Claim 11

A polarizing conversion unit according to Claim 9, wherein said dividing means is a pair of polarization separation acting surfaces obliquely provided in the optical path of ssaid light so as to face each other and disposed with one end of one of them being in contact with one end of the other, said varying means is a half wavelength plate installed between said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces, and said reflecting means is a pair of reflecting surfaces disposed so as to interpose said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces therebetween and reflecting said reflected light from one of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces through said half wavelength plate and the other polarization separation acting surface.

Claim 12

A polarizing conversion unit according to Claim 11, wherein said half wavelength plate is disposed intermediately of the optical path between said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces.

Claim 13

A polarizing conversion unit according to Claim 9, wherein said dividing means is provided obliquely with respect to the optical path of said light, said reflecting means is disposed parallel to said dividing means, and said varying means is a half wavelength plate and is disposed in the optical path of said reflected light.

Claim 14

A polarizing conversion unit according to Claim 13, wherein said half wavelength plate is disposed in the optical path of said reflected light reflected by said reflecting means.

Claim 15

A polarizing conversion unit according to Claim 13, wherein said half wavelength plate is disposed in the optical path between said dividing means and said reflecting means.

Claim 16

A polarizing conversion unit according to Claim 9, wherein said dividing means is provided obliquely with respect to the optical path of said light, said reflecting means is disposed parallel to said dividing means, and said varying means is a half wavelength plate and is disposed in the optical path of said transmitted light.

Claim 17

A polarizing conversion unit according to Claim 9, wherein said plate-like polarizing element is disposed so as to be substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of said light of a lattice-like pattern emerging from said converting means, and transmits said light of a lattice-like pattern therethrough and converts it into substantially dense polarized light.

Claim 18

A polarizing conversion unit according to Claim 17, wherein said converting means is a both-surface fly-eye lens.

Claim 19

A polarizing conversion unit according to Claim 17, wherein said converting means is a both-surface lenticular lens.

Claim 20

A polarizing illuminating apparatus having: illuminating means emitting light; a plate-like polarizing element for converting said light into polarized light, said plate-like polarizing element comprising a plurality of units arranged along a common plane across the light from said illuminating means; each of said units being provided with: dividing means for dividing the light from said illuminating means into reflected light and transmitted light whose planes of polarization are orthogonal to each other; varying means for varying the plane of polarization of at least one of said reflected light and said transmitted light to thereby make the planes of polarization of said two lights coincident with each other; and reflecting means for reflecting one of said reflected light and said transmitted light and directing it substantially in the same direction as the direction of travel of the other; converting means provided on the light incidence side of said plate-like polarizing element for dividing said light into a plurality of partial lights, condensing each of said partial lights and converting it into light of a lattice-like pattern, each of said partial lights of a lattice-like pattern corresponding to each of said units.

Claim 21

A polarizing illuminating apparatus according to Claim 20, wherein said dividing means is a pair of polarization separation acting surfaces obliquely provided in the optical path from said illuminating means so as to face each other and disposed with one end of one of them being in contact with one end of the other, said varying means is a pair of quarter wavelength plates provided on the illuminating means sides of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces in parallelism to said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces, and said reflecting means is a pair of reflecting surfaces disposed so as to interpose said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces therebetween and reflecting said reflected light from one of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces through said pair of quarter wavelength plates and the other polarization separation acting surface.

Claim 22

A polarizing illuminating apparatus according to Claim 20, wherein said dividing means is a pair of polarization separation acting surfaces obliquely provided in the optical path from said illuminating means so as to face each other and disposed with one end of one of them being in contact with one end of the other, said varying means is a half wavelength plate installed between said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces, and said reflecting means is a pair of reflecting surfaces disposed so as to interpose said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces therebetween and reflecting said reflected light from one of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces through said half wavelength plate and the other polarization separation acting surface.

Claim 23

A polarizing illuminating apparatus according to Claim 22, wherein said half wavelength plate is disposed intermediately of the optical path between said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces.

Claim 24

A polarizing illuminating apparatus according to Claim 20, wherein said dividing means is provided obliquely with respect to the optical path from said illuminating means, said reflecting means is disposed parallel to said dividing means, and said varying means is a half wavelength plate and is disposed in the optical path of said reflected light.

Claim 25

A polarizing illuminating apparatus according to Claim 24, wherein said half wavelength plate is disposed in the optical path of said reflected light reflected by said reflecting means.

Claim 26

A polarizing illuminating apparatus according to Claim 24, wherein said half wavelength plate is disposed in the optical path between said dividing means and said reflecting means.

Claim 27

A polarizing illuminating apparatus according to Claim 20, wherein said dividing means is provided obliquely with respect to the optical path from said illuminating means, said reflecting means is disposed parallel to said dividing means, and said varying means is a half wavelength plate and is disposed in the optical path of said transmitted light.

Claim 28

A polarizing illuminating apparatus according to Claim 20, wherein said plate-like polarizing element is disposed so as to be substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of said light of a lattice-like pattern emerging from said converting means, and transmits said light of a lattice-like pattern therethrough and converts it into substantially dense polarized light.

Claim 29

A polarizing illuminating apparatus according to Claim 28, wherein said converting means is a both-surface fly-eye lens.

Claim 30

A polarizing illuminating apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said converting means is a both-surface lenticular lens.

Claim 31

A projector provided with having: illuminating means emitting light; a plate-like polarizing element for converting the light from said illuminating means into polarized light, said plate-like polarizing element comprising a plurality of units arranged along a common plane across the light from said illuminating means; each of said units being provided with: dividing means for dividing the light from said illuminating means into reflected light and transmitted light whose planes of polarization are orthogonal to each other; varying means for varying the plane of polarization of at least one of said reflected light and said transmitted light to thereby make the planes of polarization of said two lights coincident with each other; and reflecting means for reflecting one of said reflected light and said transmitted light and directing it substantially in the same direction as the direction of travel of the other; converting means provided on the light incidence side of said plate-like polarizing element for dividing said light into a plurality of partial lights, condensing each of said partial lights and converting it into light of a lattice-like pattern, each of said partial lights of a lattice-like pattern corresponding to each of said units; an image generator for modulating said polarized light in conformity with a video signal to thereby generate an image; and a projecting optical system for projecting said image.

Claim 32

A projector according to Claim 31, wherein said dividing means is a pair of polarization separation acting surfaces obliquely provided in the optical path from said illuminating means so as to face each other and disposed with one end of one of them being in contact with one end of the other said varying means is a pair of quarter wavelength plates provided on the illuminating means side of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces in parallelism to said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces, and said reflecting means is a pair of reflecting surfaces disposed so as to interpose said pair of polarization separation acting srufaces therebetween and reflecting said reflected light from one of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces through said pair of quarter wavelength plates and the other polarization separation acting surface.

Claim 33

A projector according to Claim 31, wherein said dividing means is a pair of polarization separation acting surfaces obliquely provided in the optical path from said illuminating means so as to face each other and disposed with one end of one of them being in contact with one end of the other, said varying means is a half wavelength plate installed between said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces, and said reflecting means is a pair of reflecting surfaces disposed so as to interpose said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces therebetween and reflecting said reflected light from one of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces through said half wavelength plate and the other polarization separation acting surface.

Claim 34

A projector according to Claim 33, wherein said half wavelength plate is disposed intermediately of the optical path between said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces.

Claim 35

A projector according to Claim 31, wherein said dividing means is provided obliquely with respect to the optical path from said illuminating means, said reflecting means is disposed parallel to said dividing means, and said varying means is a half wavelength plate and is disposed in the optical path of said reflected light.

Claim 36

A projector according to Claim 35, wherein said half wavelength plate is disposed in the optical path of said reflected light reflected by said reflecting means.

Claim 37

A projector according to Claim 35, wherein said half wavelength plate is disposed in the optical path between said dividing means and said reflecting means.

Claim 38

A projector according to Claim 31, wherein said dividing means is provided obliquely with respect to the optical path from said illuminating means, said reflecting means is disposed parallel to said dividing means, and said varying means is a half wavelength plate and is disposed in the optical path of said transmitted light.

Claim 39

A projector according to Claim 31, wherein said plate-like polarizing element is disposed so as to be substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of said light of a lattice-like pattern emerging from said converting means, transmits said light of a lattice-like pattern therethrough and converts it into substantially dense polarized light.

Claim 40

A projector according to Claim 39, wherein said converting means is a both-surface fly-eye lens.

Claim 41

A projector according to Claim 39, wherein said converting means is a both-surface lenticular lens.

Claim 42

A projector provided with having: illuminating means emitting light; a color resolving system for resolving said light from said illuminating means into red, green and blue lights; plate-like polarizing elements provided in the optical paths of said red, green and blue lights, respectively, for converting said lights into polarized lights, each of said plate-like polarizing elements comprising a plurality of units arranged along a common plane across the light from said illuminating means; each of said units being provided with: dividing means for dividing the light from said illuminating means into reflected light and transmitted light whose planes of polarization are orthogonal to each other; varying means for varying the plane of polarization of at least one of said reflected light and said transmitted light to thereby make the planes of polarization of said two lights coincident with each other; and reflecting means for reflecting one of said reflected light and said transmitted light and directing it substantially in the same direction as the direction of travel of the other; converting means provided on the light incidence side of each of said plate-like polarizing elements for dividing said light into a plurality of partial lights, condensing each of said partial lights and converting it into light of a lattice-like pattern, each of said lights of a lattice-like pattern corresponding to each of said units; three image generators for modulating said red, green and blue polarized lights in conformity with a video signal to thereby generate red, green and blue images, respectively; and a projecting optical system for projecting said images.

Claim 43

A projector according to Claim 42, wherein said dividing means is a pair of polarization separation acting surfaces obliquely provided in the optical path from said illuminating means so as to face each other and disposed with one end of one of them being in contact with one end of the other, said varying means is a pair of quarter wavelength plates provided on the illuminating means side of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces in parallelism to said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces, and said reflecting means is a pair of reflecting surfaces disposed so as to interpose said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces therebetween and reflecting said reflected light from one of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces through said pair of quarter wavelength plates and the other polarization separation acting surface.

Claim 44

A projector according to Claim 42, wherein said dividing means is a pair of polarization separation acting surfaces obliquely provided in the optical path from said illuminating means so as to face each other and disposed with one end of one of them being in contact with one end of the other, said varying means is a half wavelength plate installed between said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces, and said reflecting means is a pair of reflecting surfaces disposed so as to interpose said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces therebetween and reflecting said reflected light from one of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces through said half wavelength plate and the other polarization separation acting surface.

Claim 45

A projector according to Claim 44, wherein said half wavelength plate is disposed intermediately of the optical path between said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces.

Claim 46

A projector according to Claim 42, wherein said dividing means is provided obliquely with respect to the optical path from said illuminating means, said reflecting means is disposed parallel to said dividing means, and said varying means is a half wavelength plate and is disposed in the optical path of said reflected light.

Claim 47

A projector according to Claim 46, wherein said half wavelength plate is disposed in the optical path of said reflected light reflected by said reflecting means.

Claim 48

A projector according to Claim 46, wherein said half wavelength plate is disposed in the optical path between said dividing means and said reflecting means.

Claim 49

A projector according to Claim 42, wherein said dividing means is provided obliquely with respect to the optical path from said illuminating means, said reflecting means is disposed parallel to said dividing means, and said varying means is a half wavelength plate and is disposed in the optical path of said transmitted light.

Claim 50

A projector according to Claim 42, wherein said plate-like polarizing elements are disposed so as to be substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of said light of a lattice-like pattern emerging from said converting means, transmit said light of a lattice-like pattern therethrough and convert it into substantially dense polarized light.

Claim 51

A projector according to Claim 50, wherein said converting means is a both-surface fly-eye lens.

Claim 52

A projector according to Claim 50, wherein said converting means is a both-surface lenticular lens.

Claim 53

A projector provided with having: illuminating means emitting light; a color resolving system for resolving said light from said illuminating means into red, green and blue lights; two plate-like polarizing elements provided in the common optical path of two of said lights of three colors and the other optical path, respectively, for converting said lights into polarized lights, each of said plate-like polarizing elements comprising a plurality of units arranged along a common plane across the light from said illuminating means; each of said units being provided with: dividing means for dividing the light from said illuminating means into reflected light and transmitted light whose planes of polarization are orthogonal to each other; varying means for varying the plane of polarization of at least one of said reflected light and said transmitted light to thereby make the planes of polarization of said two lights coincident with each other; and reflecting means for reflecting one of said reflected light and said transmitted light and directing it substantially in the same direction as the direction of travel of the other; converting means provided on the light incidence side of each of said plate-like polarizing elements for dividing said light into a plurality of partial lights, condensing each of said partial lights and converting it into light of a lattice-like pattern, each of said partial lights of a lattice-like pattern corresponding to each of said units; three image generators for modulating said red, green and blue polarized lights in conformity with a video signal to thereby generate red, green and blue images, respectively; and a projecting optical system for projecting said images.

Claim 54

A polarizing element for converting light into polarized light, having: a pair of polarization separation acting surfaces obliquely provided in the optical path of said light so as to face each other and disposed with one end of one of them being in contact with one end of the other, each of said polarization separation acting surfaces dividing said light into reflected light and transmitted light whose polarized states differ from each other; A pair of quarter wavelength plates provided on the light incidence side of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces substantially in parallelism to the vicinity of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces and making the polarized state of said reflected light coincident with the polarized state of said transmitted light; and a pair of reflecting surfaces disposed so as to interpose said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces therebetween and reflecting said reflected light from one of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces through said pair of quarter wavelength plates and the other polarization separation acting surface and directing it substantially in the same direction as said transmitted light.

Claim 55

A polarizing illuminating apparatus having: illuminating means emitting light; a pair of polarization separation acting surfaces obliquely provided in the optical path of said light so as to face each other and disposed with one end of one of them being in contact with one end of the other, each of said polarization separation acting surfaces dividing said light into reflected light and transmitted light whose polarized states differ from each other; a pair of quarter wavelength plates provided on the light incidence side of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces substantially in parallelism to the vicinity of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces and making the polarized state of said reflected light coincident with the polarized state of said transmitted light; and a pair of reflecting surfaces disposed so as to interpose said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces therebetween and reflecting said reflected light from one of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces through said pair of quarter wavelength plates and the other polarization separation acting surface and directing it substantially in the same direction as said transmitted light.

Claim 56

A projector provided with having: illuminating means emitting light; a pair of polarization separation acting surfaces obliquely provided in the optical path of said light so as to face each other and disposed with one end of one of them being in contact with one end of the other, each of said polarization separation acting surfaces dividing said light into reflected light and transmitted light whose polarized states differ from each other; a pair of quarter wavelength plates provided on the light incidence side of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces substantially in parallelism to the vicinity of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces and making the polarized state of said reflected light coincident with the polarized state of said transmitted light; a pair of reflecting surfaces disposed so as to interpose said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces therebetween and reflecting said reflected light from one of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces through said pair of quarter wavelength plate and the other polarization separation acting surface and directing it substantially in the same direction as said transmitted light; an image generator for modulating said reflected light and said transmitted light in conformity with a video signal to thereby generate an image; and a projecting optical system for projecting said image.

Claim 57

A polarizing illuminating apparatus having: illuminating means emitting an illuminating light beam; first and second optical means which are arranged in said illuminating light beam along a common plane across said illuminating light beam and from which light beams substantially parallel to each other emerge; means for substantially eliminating the light beam of said illuminating light beam which enters said second optical means; and means for making the polarized states of the light beam emerging through said first and second optical means and the light beam emerging through only said first optical means substantially identical to each other.

Claim 58

A polarizing illuminating apparatus according to Claim 57, wherein said means for substantially eliminating is provided with a light absorbing member provided on the illuminating means side of said second optical means.

Claim 59

A polarizing illuminating apparatus according to Claim 57, wherein said means for substantially eliminating is provided with a light reflecting member provided on the illuminating means side of said second optical means.

Claim 60

A polarizing illuminating apparatus according to Claim 57, wherein said means for substantially eliminating is provided with light condensing means for causing said illuminating light beam to enter said first optical means.