Patent ID: 6667656
Filing Date: 2003-12-23
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A color separating optical system comprising a plurality of prisms different from each other and a plurality of wavelength-selective filters having spectral characteristics different from each other for selectively transmitting or reflecting light in a predetermined wavelength range, said prisms and wavelength-selective filters separating light incident on an entrance face of said color separating optical system into a light component in a short wavelength region including blue light, a light component in an intermediate wavelength region including green light, and a light component in a long wavelength region including red light and emitting thus obtained individual light components from blue, green, and red light exit faces, respectively; said color separating optical system comprising:a first filter, disposed at a prism surface other than said red light exit face in an optical path for guiding said light component in said long wavelength region including said red light, having a first wavelength characteristic adapted to eliminate from light emitted from said red light exit face a light component in a wavelength range longer than a predetermined longer-wavelength-side boundary wavelength of a red visible light wavelength region; and a second filter, disposed at said red light exit face, having a second wavelength characteristic adapted to reflect a light component in a wavelength range longer than a second boundary wavelength which is longer than said longer-wave length-side boundary wavelength by a predetermined wavelength but which transmits therethrough a light component in a wavelength region shorter than said second boundary wavelength.