Patent ID: 7834941

Claim:
An image display device comprising: a first TN liquid crystal modulator for modulating the polarization state of a first colored light; a second TN liquid crystal modulator for modulating the polarization state of a second colored light which has a shorter wavelength than the first colored light; a third TN liquid crystal modulator for modulating the polarization state of a third colored light which has a shorter wavelength than the second colored light; and an optical system for synthesizing the image light which is emitted from the three liquid crystal modulators, wherein in a state wherein the same voltage is applied to the three liquid crystal modulators, the three liquid crystal modulators are configured to apply about the same retardation as to light of the same wavelength, and wherein the amount of retardation at the time there is no voltage applied to the three liquid crystal modulators equates to about a half-wavelength of approximate center wavelength of the first colored light, and wherein the second and third liquid crystal modulators apply retardation equivalent to about a half-wavelength of approximate center wavelength of the second and third colored lights, by applying a predetermined voltage on each of the liquid crystal modulators.