Optical element, polarization illumination device, and projection display apparatus
First Claim
1. An optical element comprising:
- two polarization conversion element arrays for converting polarized light with random polarization directions to one type of polarized light,wherein each of said two polarization conversion element arrays includes polarization separating surfaces for separating the polarized light with random polarization directions into two types of linearly polarized light and reflecting surfaces for reflecting one of the two types of the linearly polarized light produced by separation by said polarization separating surfaces, said polarization separating surfaces and said reflecting surfaces being alternately arranged between light-transmissive members, andwherein said two polarization conversion element arrays are separated by a predetermined space with no elements disposed between the two polarization conversion element arrays, said polarization separating surfaces of one of said two polarization conversion element arrays are arranged opposite to said polarization separating surfaces of the other of said two polarization conversion element arrays with respect to the predetermined space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Two polarization conversion element arrays are disclosed. Each polarization conversion element array is composed of a plurality of polarization conversion elements for converting light incident upon the polarization conversion element array to a linearly polarized light beam with a predetermined polarization direction. The plurality of polarization conversion elements are disposed opposite to each other with a predetermined space provided between at about the center of the light-outgoing surface of a lens array in the direction of arrangement. Of the light beams (s-polarized+p-polarized light beams) gathered by the lens array, light beam that is not incident upon the polarization conversion element and passes through the predetermined space is a light beam including a predetermined polarized light beam (s-polarized light beam) that is primarily made to leave the array 320a and an ineffective polarized light beam (p-polarized light beam). Of the light passing through and leaving the space, the required polarized light beam alone can be made to leave as an effective light beam by providing a polarization plate or the like at the light-outgoing side of the space.
94 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An optical element comprising:
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two polarization conversion element arrays for converting polarized light with random polarization directions to one type of polarized light, wherein each of said two polarization conversion element arrays includes polarization separating surfaces for separating the polarized light with random polarization directions into two types of linearly polarized light and reflecting surfaces for reflecting one of the two types of the linearly polarized light produced by separation by said polarization separating surfaces, said polarization separating surfaces and said reflecting surfaces being alternately arranged between light-transmissive members, and wherein said two polarization conversion element arrays are separated by a predetermined space with no elements disposed between the two polarization conversion element arrays, said polarization separating surfaces of one of said two polarization conversion element arrays are arranged opposite to said polarization separating surfaces of the other of said two polarization conversion element arrays with respect to the predetermined space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An optical element comprising:
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a lens array composed of a plurality of lenses disposed in a matrix; and two polarization conversion element arrays, affixed to one surface of said lens array, the two polarization conversion element arrays converting polarized light with random polarization directions to one type of polarized light, wherein each of said two polarization conversion element arrays includes polarization separating surfaces for separating the polarized light with random polarization directions into two types of linearly polarized light and reflecting surfaces for reflecting one of the two types of the linearly polarized light produced by separation by said polarization separating surfaces, said polarization separating surfaces and said reflecting surfaces being alternately arranged between light-transmissive members, and wherein said two polarization conversion element arrays are separated by a predetermined space with no elements disposed between the two polarization conversion element arrays, said polarization separating surfaces of one of said two polarization conversion element arrays are arranged opposite to said polarization separating surfaces of the other of said two polarization conversion element arrays with respect to the predetermined space. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A polarization illumination device comprising:
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a light source; and an optical element for converting light from said light source into one type of polarized light, wherein said optical element includes a lens array composed of a plurality of lenses disposed in a matrix; and two polarization conversion element arrays, affixed to one surface of said lens array, for converting polarized light with random polarization directions to one type of polarized light, wherein each of said two polarization conversion element arrays includes polarization separating surfaces for separating the polarized light with random polarization directions into two types of linearly polarized light and reflecting surfaces for reflecting one of the two types of the linearly polarized light produced by separation by said polarization separating surfaces, said polarization separating surfaces and said reflecting surfaces being alternately arranged between light-transmissive members, and wherein said two polarization conversion element arrays are separated by a predetermined space with no elements disposed between the two polarization conversion element arrays, said polarization separating surfaces of one of said two polarization conversion element arrays are arranged opposite to said polarization separating surfaces of the other of said two polarization conversion element arrays with respect to the predetermined space. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A projection display apparatus comprising:
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a polarization illumination device; modulating means for modulating light from said polarization illumination device in accordance with a received image signal; and projection optical means for projecting the light beam modulated by said modulating means, wherein said polarization illumination device includes a light source; and
an optical element for converting light from said light source incident thereupon to light with a predetermined polarization direction that leaves said optical element, andwherein said optical element includes a lens array composed of a plurality of lenses disposed in a matrix; and two polarization conversion element arrays, affixed to one surface of said lens array, for converting polarized light with random polarization directions to one type of polarized light, wherein each of said two polarization conversion element arrays includes polarization separating surfaces for separating the polarized light with random polarization directions into two types of linearly polarized light and reflecting surfaces for reflecting one of the two types of the linearly polarized light produced by separation by said polarization separating surfaces, said polarization separating surfaces and said reflecting surfaces being alternately arranged between light-transmissive members, and wherein said two polarization conversion element arrays are separated by a predetermined space with no elements disposed between the two polarization conversion element arrays, said polarization separating surfaces of one of said two polarization conversion element arrays are arranged opposite to said polarization separating surfaces of the other of said two polarization conversion element arrays with respect to the predetermined space. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification