Patent ID: 7980701
Filing Date: 2011-07-19
Classification: G02B,H04N

Abstract:
1. A color combining optical system comprising: a first polarization splitting surface having a polarization splitting characteristic for light in a first wavelength range; and a second polarization splitting surface having a polarization splitting characteristic for light in a second and third wavelength range, the first polarization splitting surface being configured to guide illumination light in the first wavelength range to a first liquid crystal display element and guide image light reflected from the first liquid crystal display element in a direction different to the direction of the illumination light, the second polarization splitting surface being configured to separate illumination light in the second wavelength range and illumination light in the third wavelength range from each other, to guide the illumination light in the second wavelength range to a second liquid crystal display element, and to guide the illumination light in the third wavelength range to a third liquid crystal display element, and to combine image light reflected from the second liquid crystal display element with image light reflected from the third liquid crystal display element to guide combined light to the first polarization splitting surface, and wherein the first polarization splitting surface is configured to combine the image light reflected from the first liquid crystal display element with the combined light obtained by the second polarization splitting surface combining the image light reflected from the second liquid crystal display element with the image light reflected from the third liquid crystal display element.