Patent ID: 8727537

Claim:
An image projection apparatus configured to guide light from a light source to a first and a second image modulation elements and to project light modulated by the first and second image modulation elements towards an image plane, the image projection apparatus comprising: a first color separation element configured to reflect first linearly polarized light of a first color light so as to guide the first linearly polarized light to the first image modulation element side, transmit second linearly polarized light of the first color light so as to guide the second linearly polarized light to the second image modulation element side, and to reflect or transmit both of the first and second linearly polarized light of a second color light so as to guide both of the first and second linearly polarized light of the second color light to the second image modulation element side, wherein, in either a light path from the first color separation element to the first image modulation element or a light path from the first color separation element to the second image modulation element, a polarizing plate is arranged which absorbs or reflects unnecessary polarized light of either the first linearly polarized light or the second linearly polarized light, and in the other light path, a polarizing plate is not arranged.