Patent ID: 6594042
Filing Date: 2003-07-15
Classification: G02B,G11B

Abstract:
An optical element that receives a first incident light and a second incident light through a main surface and allowing the first and second incident lights to be transmitted therethrough, the first and second incident lights being linearly polarized lights having substantially orthogonal polarizing directions and having different wavelengths &lgr;1 and &lgr;2 respectively, the optical element receiving a first reflected light and a second reflected light generated when said first and second incident lights are reflected from a reflector through the other face, and allowing the first and second reflected lights to be transmitted therethrough again, the optical element comprising:a polarizing hologram that allows said first incident light, said second incident light, and said second reflected light to be transmitted therethrough upon receiving these lights and that diffracts said first reflected light upon receiving this light; and at least one wavelength plate that varies at least one of polarizing states of all of said first incident light and reflected light and polarizing states of all or part of said second incident light and reflected light.