Patent ID: 8459798

Claim:
An illumination apparatus comprising: a light source, a polarization splitter disposed facing the light source at about 45 degrees with respect to its light emission direction, a first reflector reflecting and condensing one of the polarization light components polarized and split by the polarization splitter, a first quarter wave plate disposed between the polarization splitter and the first reflector, a second reflector reflecting and condensing the other of the polarization light components polarized and split by the polarization splitter, a third reflector disposed around the light source and reflecting the other polarization light reflected by the second reflector and the polarization splitter, proceeding in the light source direction, and a second quarter wave plate disposed between the polarization splitter and the third reflector and around the light source, the light reflected at the first reflector and reflected at the polarization splitter being used to illuminate a predetermined surface.