Patent ID: 7364303

Claim:
An image display apparatus comprising: a first light modulating element configured to modulate light in a first wavelength band; a second light modulating element configured to modulate light in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band; a third light modulating element configured to modulate light in a third wavelength band different from both the first wavelength band and the second wavelength band; a first color combining element configured to combine a first image light exiting from the first light modulating element and a second image light exiting from the second light modulating element; a second color combining element configured to combine a third image light modulated by the third light modulating element with the first image light and the second image light combined by the first combining element to form color combined image light; and a projection optical system configured to project the color combined image light formed by the second color combining element onto a projected surface, wherein the first image light enters the second color combining element in the form of a substantially linearly-polarized first beam having a first polarization component, wherein the second image light enters the second color combining element in the form of a substantially linearly-polarized second beam having a second polarization component, wherein a polarization direction of the first polarization component and a polarization direction of the second polarization component are substantially perpendicular to each other, and wherein the second color combining element is configured to guide a linearly-polarized light having the first polarization component in the first wavelength band to the projection optical system and blocking a linearly-polarized light having the second polarization component in the first wavelength band from entering the projection optical system, and of guiding a linearly-polarized light having the first polarization component and a linearly-polarized light having the second polarization component in the second wavelength band to the projection optical system.