Patent ID: 8031288
Filing Date: 2011-10-04
Classification: G02B,G02F,G03B,H04N

Abstract:
1. A polarization conversion element that rotates a polarization direction of first linear polarized light of incident light by 90 degrees so as to convert the first linear polarized light component into second linear polarized light component and emits the second linear polarized light component, the first and second linear polarized light having polarization directions perpendicular to each other, the polarization conversion element comprising a prism sheet including a plurality of rectangular prism elements arranged in such a manner that edge lines of the rectangular prism elements are aligned in parallel and in a plane, the prism sheet being disposed so that the edge lines are inclined at 45 degrees relative to the polarization direction of the first linear polarized light component, wherein the first linear polarized light component incident through a bottom face of the prism sheet undergoes inner surface total reflection on each of a pair of oblique faces in each of the rectangular prism elements so as to be converted into the second linear polarized light component, and the converted second linear polarized light component exits from the bottom face of the prism sheet in a direction opposite to an incident direction of the first polarized light component.