Patent ID: 7111942

Claim:
A reflection-type image projection device comprising: an optics module arranged to receive a selectively polarized incident beam of light comprising a first light component, a second light component, and a third light component, the first light component having a polarization that is different from the second light component and the third light component, the optics module comprising a plurality of prism-like polarization beam splitters, the optics module configured to separate the first, second, and third light components of the incident beam of light into three separate light components, the optics module having only a single dichroic element upon which the polarized incident beam of light is incident, the single dichroic element configured to reflect the first and second light components of the polarized incident beam of light to one of the prism-like beam splitters and to transmit the third light component of the polarized incident beam of light to another of the prism-like beam splitters; and a plurality of reflection-type light modulators, wherein the separate light components are modulated thereby and reflected therefrom to produce three modulated light components, the reflection-type light modulators having an arrangement in relation to the prism-like polarization beam splitters, wherein a first modulated light component from a first reflection-type light modulator propagates through two of the prism-like polarization beam splitters without reflection by any of the prism-like polarization beam splitters to produce a first imaged light component emitted from the optics module, wherein a second modulated light component from a second reflection-type light modulator is first reflected by one of the prism-like polarization beam splitters and then propagates through one other of the prism-like polarization beam splitters to produce a second imaged light component emitted from the optics module, wherein a third modulated light component from a third reflection-type light modulator first propagates through one of the prism-like polarization beam splitters and then is reflected by one other of the prism-like polarization beam splitters to produce a third imaged light component emitted from the optics module, wherein the first modulated light component is a green-color light.