Projection type color liquid crystal display apparatus capable of enhancing optical utilization efficiency

Claim 2

A projection type color liquid crystal display apparatus comprising: a light source for generating a luminous flux; a polarization conversion section for receiving said luminous flux to convert said luminous flux into a unified luminous flux having a same linearly-polarized light component reflected in a same direction; a color separation section mounted on said polarization conversion section for receiving said unified luminous flux to selectively reflect a plurality of color components of said unified luminous flux individually, said color separation section having at least two light reflection layers at different angles; a microlens array including a plurality of convex lenses, each receiving reflected color components; and a liquid crystal display means receiving said reflected color components and including a liquid crystal display element sandwiched by first and second polarization plates, each of said convex lenses converging said reflected color components into different pixels of said liquid crystal element; wherein said polarization conversion section comprises: a first polarization beam splitter for receiving said luminous flux to reflect an S-polarized component of said luminous flux, and pass a P-polarized component of said luminous flux there through, the S-polarized component of said luminous flux being transmitted to said color separation section, a second polarization beam splitter adjacent said first polarization beam splitter for receiving the polarized component of said luminous flux from said first polarization beam splitter to pass the P-polarized component of said luminous flux; and an optical retardation plate and a mirror for receiving the P-polarized component of said luminous flux from said second polarization beam splitter, so that the polarized component of said luminous flux is converted into an S-polarized component of said luminous flux, said second polarization beam splitter reflecting the converted S-polarized component of said luminous flux and transmitting the converted S-polarized component of said luminous flux to said color separation section, said unified luminous flux being formed by the polarized component of said luminous flux and the converted S-polarized component of said luminous flux.

Claim 3

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said color separation section comprises: a triangular type prism having a sloped surface; at least one wedge type prism mounted on the sloped surface of said triangular type prism; wherein one of said at least two light reflection layers, being between said triangular type prism and said at least one wedge type prism and one of said at least two reflection layers being on said at least one wedge type prism, each said reflection layers being for selectively reflecting one of the color components of said unified luminous flux.

Claim 4

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said microlens array is incorporated into said liquid crystal display means.

Claim 5

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said microlens array is provided between said color separation section and said liquid crystal display means.

Claim 6

A projection type color liquid crystal display apparatus comprising: a light source for generating a luminous flux; a polarization conversion section for receiving said luminous flux to convert said luminous flux into a unified luminous flux having a same linearly-polarized light component reflected in a same direction; a color separation section mounted on said polarization conversion section for receiving said unified luminous flux to selectively reflect a plurality of blue, red and green components of said unified luminous flux individually, said color separation section having at least two light reflection layers at different angles; a microlens array including a plurality of convex lenses, each receiving reflected blue, red and green components; and a liquid crystal display means receiving said reflected color components and including a liquid crystal display element sandwiched by first and second polarization plates, each of said convex lenses converging said reflected blue, red and green components into different pixels of said liquid crystal element, said polarization conversion section comprising: a first polarization beam splitter for receiving said luminous flux to reflect an S-polarized component of said luminous flux and pass a P-polarized component of said luminous flux therethrough, the S-polarized component of said luminous flux being transmitted to said color separation section, a second polarization beam splitter adjacent said first polarization beam splitter for receiving the P-polarized component of said luminous flux from said first polarization beam splitter to pass the P-polarized component of said luminous flux; and an optical retardation plate and a mirror for receiving the P-polarized component of said luminous flux from said second polarization beam splitter, so that the P-polarized component of said luminous flux is converted into an S-polarized component of said luminous flux, said second polarization beam splitter reflecting the converted S-polarized component of said luminous flux and transmitting the converted S-polarized component of said luminous flux to said color separation section, said unified luminous flux being formed by the S-polarized component of said luminous flux and the converted S-polarized component of said luminous flux, said color separation section comprising: a triangular type prism having a sloped surface; a first wedge type prism mounted on the sloped surface of said triangular type prism; a second wedge type prism mounted on said first wedge type prism; a first light reflection layer, formed between said triangular type prism and said first wedge type prism, for selectively reflecting a blue component of said unified luminous flux; a second light reflection layer, formed between said first and second wedge type prisms, for selectively reflecting a red component of said unified luminous flux; and a third light reflection layer, formed on said second wedge type prism, for selectively reflecting a green component of said unified luminous flux.

Claim 7

A projection type color liquid crystal display apparatus comprising: a light source for generating a luminous flux; a polarization conversion section for receiving said luminous flux to convert said luminous flux into a unified luminous flux having a same linearly-polarized light component reflected in a same direction; a color separation section mounted on said polarization conversion section for receiving said unified luminous flux to selectively reflect a plurality of blue, red and green components of said unified luminous flux individually, said color separation section having at least two light reflection layers at different angles; a microlens array including a plurality of convex lenses, each receiving reflected blue, red and green components; and a liquid crystal display means receiving said reflected color components and including a liquid crystal display element sandwiched by first and second polarization plates, each of said convex lenses converging said reflected blue, red and green components into different pixels of said liquid crystal element, said polarization conversion section comprising: a first polarization beam splitter for receiving said luminous flux to reflect an S-polarized component of said luminous flux and pass a P-polarized component of said luminous flux therethrough, the S-polarized component of said luminous flux being transmitted to said color separation section, a second polarization beam splitter adjacent said first polarization beam splitter for receiving the P-polarized component of said luminous flux from said first polarization beam splitter to pass the P-polarized component of said luminous flux; and an optical retardation plate and a mirror for receiving the P-polarized component of said luminous flux from said second polarization beam splitter, so that the P-polarized component of said luminous flux is converted into an S-polarized component of said luminous flux, said second polarization beam splitter reflecting the converted S-polarized component of said luminous flux and transmitting the converted S-polarized component of said luminous flux to said color separation section, said unified luminous flux being formed by the S-polarized component of said luminous flux and the converted S-polarized component of said luminous flux, said color separation section comprising: a triangular type prism having a sloped surface; a first wedge type prism mounted on the sloped surface of said triangular type prism; a second wedge type prism mounted on said first wedge type prism; a first light reflection layer, formed between said triangular type prism and said first wedge type prism, for selectively reflecting a blue component of said unified luminous flux; a second light reflection layer, formed between said first and second wedge type prisms, for selectively reflecting a red component of said unified luminous flux; and a third light reflection layer, formed on said second wedge type prism, for selectively reflecting a green component of said unified luminous flux.