Patent ID: 7808582

Claim:
An illuminating apparatus providing polarized color light, the apparatus comprising: a light source; a polarization light guide plate unit which converts a polarization direction of light emitted from the light source into linearly polarized light and collimates the linearly polarized light; and a cholesteric liquid crystal color filter, disposed on an upper portion of the polarization light guide plate unit, which selectively reflects light incident thereon from the polarization light guide plate unit according to a polarized status and a wavelength of the light from the polarization light guide plate unit; wherein the polarization light guide plate unit comprises: a light guide plate which guides light emitted from the light source; a collimating member which is disposed on an upper portion of the light guide plate, the collimating member comprising a plurality of reflective patterns, each of the reflective patterns comprising an inclined surface, which reflects upward light emitted from the light guide plate; and a plurality of polarization separating layers, each disposed between one of the plurality of reflective patterns and the light guide plate, which receive light incident thereon from the light guide plate and transmit light having a first polarization and reflect light having a second polarization, orthogonal to the first polarization, wherein the plurality of polarization separating layers are disposed on only those portions of the upper surface of the light guide plate which directly face the plurality of reflective patterns and are not disposed on the portions of the upper surface of the light guide plate between the reflective patterns.