Polarized lighting apparatus and projection type display device

Claim 2

The polarization luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the polarized light splitting means has a configuration in which a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between a prism substrate and a glass substrate, wherein an interface between the liquid crystal layer and the prism substrate is formed as a multi-stage surface inclined at an angle of less than 90 degrees to an optical axis, wherein polarized light emitted from the light source, whose polarization direction is random, is split by an interface between the prism substrate and the liquid crystal into two kinds of polarized light, whose polarization directions are perpendicular to each other, wherein the two kinds of polarized light are emitted respectively in directions forming an angle of less than 90 degrees.

Claim 3

The polarization luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the polarized light splitting means is a beam splitter that has a polarized light splitting film constituted by a dielectric multilayer film and is adapted to split the polarized light emitted from the light source, whose polarization direction is random, into two kinds of polarized light, whose polarization directions are perpendicular to each other, and is further adapted to emit the two kinds of polarized light respectively in directions forming an angle of less than 90 degrees.

Claim 4

The polarization luminaire according to claim 3, wherein the prism beam splitter serving as the polarized light splitting means has a flat quadrangular prism and a triangular prism whose inclined surface portion is joined to one of opposed side surface portions of the quadrangular prism, wherein in a joint portion between the quadrangular prism and the triangular prism, the polarized light splitting film is formed, wherein a reflection film for reflecting a single kind of polarized light, which is transmitted by the polarized light splitting film, in a predetermined direction is formed on the other of the opposed side surface portions of the quadrangular prism.

Claim 5

The polarization luminaire according to claim 3, wherein the prism beam splitter serving as the polarized light splitting means has a first flat quadrangular prism and a second flat quadrangular prism whose side surface portion is joined to one of opposed side surface portions of the first quadrangular prism, wherein in a joint portion between the first and second quadrangular prisms, the polarized light splitting film is formed, wherein a reflection film for reflecting a single kind of polarized light, which is transmitted by the polarized light splitting film, in a predetermined direction is formed on the other of the opposed side surface portions of the first quadrangular prism.

Claim 6

The polarization luminaire according to claim 3, wherein the prism beam splitter serving as the polarized light splitting means has a flat quadrangular prism and a plurality of triangular prisms whose inclined surface portions are joined to one of opposed side surface portions of the quadrangular prism, wherein in a joint portion between the quadrangular prism and the triangular prisms, the polarized light splitting film is formed, wherein a reflection film for reflecting a single kind of polarized light, which is transmitted by the polarized light splitting film, in a predetermined direction is formed on the other of the opposed side surface portions of the quadrangular prism.

Claim 7

The polarization luminaire according to claim 3, wherein the prism beam splitter serving as the polarized light splitting means has a first triangular prism, on the inclined surface of which the polarized light splitting film is formed, and a second triangular prism, on the inclined surface of which a reflection film for reflecting a single kind of polarized light, which is transmitted by the polarized light splitting film, in a predetermined direction is formed, wherein while the first and second triangular prisms are in a state in which the space therebetween is filled with liquid, the first and second triangular prisms are formed in such a manner as to be integral with each other.

Claim 8

The polarization luminaire according to claim 3, wherein the prism beam splitter serving as the polarized light splitting means has a plurality of quadrangular-prism-like prism composite elements, each of which has: a flat quadrangular prism; a first triangular prism whose inclined surface portion is joined to one of opposed side surface portions of the quadrangular prism; and a second triangular prism whose inclined surface portion is joined to the other of the opposed side surface portions of the quadrangular prism, wherein in each of the prism composite elements, the polarized light splitting film is formed in the joint portion between the quadrangular prism and the first triangular prism, and a reflection film is formed in the joint portion between the quadrangular prism and the second triangular prism, wherein the prism composite elements are aligned in a line in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical integrator system in such a way that the polarized light splitting films become parallel to each other, wherein the reflection film is adapted to output the randomly-polarized light having been emitted from the light source portion and entered one of the prism composite elements, in which the reflection film is formed, to another of the prism composite elements adjoining to one side thereof and is adapted to reflect the polarized light component, which is transmitted by the polarized light splitting film formed in the same prism composite element containing the reflection film, in a predetermined direction among polarized light components which have been incident thereon from another of the prism composite element adjoining to the other side thereof and which have random polarization directions.

Claim 9

The polarization luminaire according to claim 3, wherein the prism beam splitter serving as the polarized light splitting means has a plurality of quadrangular-prism-like prism composite elements, in each of which the polarized light splitting film is formed, wherein the prism composite elements are aligned in a line in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical integrator system in such a way that the polarized light splitting films extends nearly in the same direction.

Claim 10

The polarization luminaire according to claim 3, wherein the prism beam splitter serving as the polarized light splitting means has a plurality of quadrangular-prism-like prism composite elements, in each of which the polarized light splitting film is formed, wherein the prism composite elements are aligned in a line in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical integrator system, wherein on both sides of the optical axis of the optical integrator system, the polarized light splitting films extend nearly in the opposite directions.

Claim 11

The polarization luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the polarized light splitting means is a beam splitter that has a polarized light splitting film constituted by a dielectric multi-layer film and is adapted to split the polarized light emitted from the light source, whose polarization direction is random, into two kinds of polarized light, whose polarization directions are perpendicular to each other, and is further adapted to emit the two kinds of polarized light respectively in directions forming an angle of less than 90 degrees, and is disposed on the optical path between the first lens plate and the second lens plate, wherein this prism beam splitter has a flat quadrangular prism and a rectangular prism whose inclined surface portion is joined to one of opposed side surface portions of the quadrangular prism, wherein in a joint portion between the quadrangular prism and the rectangular prism, the polarized light splitting film is formed, wherein a reflection film for reflecting a single kind of polarized light, which is transmitted by the polarized light splitting film, in a predetermined direction is formed on the other of the opposed side surface portions of the quadrangular prism, wherein the two orthogonally intersecting surfaces of the rectangular prism are used as a surface of incidence and an exit surface, wherein polarized light is incident on the surface of incidence thereof and is then split by the polarized light splitting film into two kinds of polarized light that are subsequently reflected by the reflection film and are finally outputted from the exit surface thereof in such a manner as to be separated and outputted therefrom, respectively, at angles which are nearly symmetric with the optical axis.

Claim 12

A polarization illumination device comprising: a light source for emitting light, whose polarization direction is random; a polarized light splitting means that has a structure, in which a polarized light splitting film constituted by a dielectric multi-layer film is sandwiched between two rectangular prisms, and is operative to split an output light of the light source into p-polarized light and s-polarized light, whose polarization directions are orthogonal to each other, by means of this polarized light splitting film; a first condensing mirror plate that consists of a plurality of condensing mirrors, each of which has a rectangular shape, and is operative to condense the p-polarized light emitted from the polarized light splitting means and to form a plurality of secondary light source images represented by the p-polarized light; a second condensing mirror plate that has nearly the same size and shape as of the first condensing mirror plate and is operative to condense the s-polarized light emitted from the polarized light splitting means and to form a plurality of secondary light source images, which are represented by the s-polarized light, at positions slightly different from positions where the plurality of secondary light source images represented by the p-polarized light are formed; first and second quarter-wave plates that are disposed between the first condensing mirror plate and the polarized light splitting means and between the second condensing mirror plate and the polarized light splitting means; and a light condenser lens plate, which consists of lenses of the same number as of the condensing mirrors composing the first or second condensing mirror plate and a half-wave plate that are placed in the vicinity of the positions, at which the plurality of secondary light source images represented by the p-polarized light are formed, and the positions at which the plurality of secondary light source images represented by the s-polarized light are formed.

Claim 13

The polarization luminaire according to claim 12, wherein the polarized light splitting means is constituted by a flat polarized light splitting plate.

Claim 14

A polarization luminaire comprising: a light source for emitting polarized light, whose polarization directions are random; a first lens plate that consists of a plurality of condenser lenses, each of which has a rectangular shape, and is operative to condense polarized light emitted from the light source and to form a plurality of secondary light source images represented by the polarized light; and a second lens plate that is placed in the vicinity of a position, at which the plurality of secondary light source images are formed, and has a condenser lens array, a polarized light splitting prism array, a half-wave plate and an exit side lens, wherein the condenser lens array consisting of condenser lenses of the same number as of the condenser lenses composing the first lens plate; the polarized light splitting prism array being operative to split polarized light, whose polarization direction is random, into a p-polarized light component and an s-polarized light component and consisting of a plurality of polarizing beam splitters and a plurality of reflecting mirrors, the half-wave plate being placed on the side of the exit surface of the polarized light splitting prism array, and the exit side lens being disposed on the side of the exit surface of the half-wave plate.

Claim 15

A projection display comprising a luminaire, a modulation means having a liquid crystal light valve which is operative to modulate polarized light included in luminous flux outputted from this luminaire and to cause the light to contain image information, and a projection optical system for throwing the modulated luminous flux onto a screen and for displaying an image thereon, wherein the luminaire has a light source for emitting polarized light, whose polarization directions are random, and an optical integrator system that is provided with a first lens plate consisting of a plurality of lenses and with a second lens plate consisting of a plurality of lenses, the polarized light emitted from the light source being projected on the plane of incidence of each of the lenses of the second lens plate through the first lens plate in such a manner as to form a secondary light source image thereon, an object being radiated with light emitted from the second lens plate, the polarization luminaire further comprising: polarized light splitting means for splitting light emitted from the light source into two kinds of polarized light whose polarization directions are perpendicular to each other and whose traveling directions are apart from each other by an angle of less than 90 degrees and polarization conversion means for causing the two kinds of polarized light to have the same polarization direction, wherein the polarized light splitting means is placed on one of an entrance side and an outputting side of the first lens plate of the optical integrator system.

Claim 16

The projection display according to claim 15, further comprising a color light splitting means for splitting luminous flux, which is outputted from the luminaire, into at least two luminous fluxes; and light synthesis means for synthesizing a synthetic luminous flux from the modulated luminous flux having been modulated by the modulation means, wherein the synthetic luminous flux obtained by the light synthesis means is applied to a screen through the projection optical system and a color image is displayed thereon.

Claim 17

The projection display according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the polarized light splitting means has a configuration in which a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between a prism substrate and a glass substrate, wherein an interface between the liquid crystal layer and the prism substrate is formed as a multi-stage surface inclined at an angle of less than 90 degrees to an optical axis.

Claim 18

The projection display according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the polarized light splitting means is a beam splitter that has a polarized light splitting film constituted by a dielectric multi-layer film and is adapted to split polarized light emitted from the light source, whose polarization direction is random, into two kinds of polarized light, whose polarization directions are perpendicular to each other, and is further adapted to emit the two kinds of polarized light respectively in directions forming an angle of less than 90 degrees, and is placed on an entrance side of the first lens plate.

Claim 19

The projection display according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the polarized light splitting means is a beam splitter that has a polarized light splitting film constituted by a dielectric multi-layer film and is adapted to split polarized light emitted from the light source, whose polarization direction is random, into two kinds of polarized light, whose polarization directions are perpendicular to each other, and is further adapted to emit the two kinds of polarized light respectively in directions forming an angle of less than 90 degrees, and is disposed on the optical path between the first lens plate and the second lens plate, wherein this prism beam splitter has a flat quadrangular prism and a rectangular prism whose inclined surface portion is joined to one of opposed side surface portions of the quadrangular prism, wherein in a joint portion between the quadrangular prism and the rectangular prism, the polarized light splitting film is formed, wherein a reflection film for reflecting a single kind of polarized light, which is transmitted by the polarized light splitting film, in a predetermined direction is formed on the other of the opposed side surface portions of the quadrangular prism, wherein the two orthogonally intersecting surfaces of the rectangular prism are used as a surface of incidence and an exit surface, wherein polarized light is incident on the surface of incidence thereof and is then split by the polarized light splitting film into two kinds of polarized light that are subsequently reflected by the reflection film and are finally outputted from the exit surface thereof in such a manner as to be separated and outputted therefrom, respectively, at angles which are nearly symmetric with the optical axis.

Claim 20

A projection display comprising a luminaire, a modulation means having a liquid crystal light valve which is operative to modulate polarized light included in luminous flux outputted from this luminaire and to cause the light to contain image information, and a projection optical system for throwing the modulated luminous flux onto a screen and for displaying an image thereon, wherein the luminaire comprises: a light source for emitting light, whose polarization direction is random; a polarized light splitting means that has a structure, in which a polarized light splitting film constituted by a dielectric multi-layer film is sandwiched between two rectangular prisms, and is operative to split an output light of the light source into p-polarized light and s-polarized light, whose polarization directions are orthogonal to each other, by means of this polarized light splitting film; a first condensing mirror plate that consists of a plurality of condensing mirrors, each of which has a rectangular shape, and is operative to condense the p-polarized light emitted from the polarized light splitting means and to form a plurality of secondary light source images represented by the p-polarized light; a second condensing mirror plate that has nearly the same size and shape as of the first condensing mirror plate and is operative to condense the s-polarized light emitted from the polarized light splitting means and to form a plurality of secondary light source images, which are represented by the s-polarized light, at positions slightly different from positions where the plurality of secondary light source images represented by the p-polarized light are formed; first and second quarter-wave plates that are disposed between the first condensing mirror plate and the polarized light splitting means and between the second condensing mirror plate and the polarized light splitting means; and a light condenser lens plate, which consists of lenses of the same number as of the condensing mirrors composing the first or second condensing mirror plate and a half-wave plate that are placed in the vicinity of the positions, at which the plurality of secondary light source images represented by the p-polarized light are formed, and the positions at which the plurality of secondary light source images represented by the s-polarized light are formed.

Claim 21

The projection display according to claim 20, further comprising a color light splitting means for splitting luminous flux, which is outputted from the luminaire, into at least two luminous fluxes; and light synthesis means for synthesizing a synthetic luminous flux from the modulated luminous flux having been modulated by the modulation means, wherein the synthetic luminous flux obtained by the light synthesis means is applied to a screen through the projection optical system and a color image is displayed thereon.

Claim 22

A projection display comprising a luminaire, a modulation means having a liquid crystal light valve which is operative to modulate polarized light included in luminous flux outputted from this luminaire and to cause the light to contain image information, and a projection optical system for throwing the modulated luminous flux onto a screen and for displaying an image thereon, wherein the luminaire comprises: a light source for emitting polarized light, whose polarization directions are random; a first lens plate that consists of a plurality of condenser lenses, each of which has a rectangular shape, and is operative to condense polarized light emitted from the light source and to form a plurality of secondary light source images represented by the polarized light; and a second lens plate that is placed in the vicinity of a position, at which the plurality of secondary light source images are formed, and has a condenser lens array, a polarized light splitting prism array, a half-wave plate and an exit side lens, wherein the condenser lens array consisting of condenser lenses of the same number as of the condenser lenses composing the first lens plate; the polarized light splitting prism array being operative to split polarized light, whose polarization direction is random, into a p-polarized light component and an s-polarized light component and consisting of a plurality of polarizing beam splitters and a plurality of reflecting mirrors, the half-wave plate being placed on the side of the exit surface of the polarized light splitting prism array, and the exit side lens being disposed on the side of the exit surface of the half-wave plate.

Claim 23

The projection display according to claim 22, further comprising a color light splitting means for splitting luminous flux, which is outputted from the luminaire, into at least two luminous fluxes; and light synthesis means for synthesizing a synthetic luminous flux from the modulated luminous flux having been modulated by the modulation means, wherein the synthetic luminous flux obtained by the light synthesis means is applied to a screen through the projection optical system and a color image is displayed thereon.