Color interlaced image projection apparatus

Claim 1

A colour image projection apparatus comprising illumination means, image display means comprising a plurality of image display panels each illuminated with a different colour light and each having an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns and operable to produce a display output, means for combining the display outputs from the plurality of display panels, a projection lens for projecting the combined outputs on to a projection screen to produce an image, and electro-optical deflection means which is switchable between two modes in which for each panel the light rays from rows of pixels of the display panel and passing through the deflection means either are or are not shifted so as to displace the projected image of the rows of pixels on the projection screen, and which electro-optical deflection means comprises a birefringent element which follows the combining means and segmented polarisation switch means which precedes the birefringent element, characterised in that the polarisation switch means comprises a respective segmented polarisation switch element situated between each display panel and the combining means.