Patent ID: 6926411

Claim:
An image display device having three reflective image display elements for red, green and blue to form an optical image according to a video signal from light output from a light source, and an optical system to supply the light onto the reflective image display elements and to combine and output the light reflected from the reflective image display elements, comprising: a first polarity converting unit to convert luminous flux from the light source to S polarized light; a first polarized beam splitter; and a second polarized beam splitter; wherein the reflective image display element for green is installed in a vicinity of the first polarized beam splitter; wherein the light reflected by the first polarized beam splitter and input to the reflective image display element for green is S polarized light; wherein the light output from the reflective image display element for green permeates the first and the second polarized beam splitters; wherein the second polarized bean splitter combines the light reflected by the three reflective image display elements; and wherein a λ/4 wavelength plate is provided between the first polarized beam splitter and the reflective image display element for green.