Patent ID: 7011412

Claim:
A polarization converter, comprising a pair of polarizing conversion element that are in close contact with each other, the polarizing conversion elements comprising: a plurality of polarization separating films inclined relative to incident light beam, the polarization separating films separating the incident light beam into two linearly polarization beams; a plurality of reflecting films alternately disposed in parallel between the polarization separating films, the plurality of reflecting films reflecting one of the linearly polarization beams separated by the polarization separating film; a light-transmissive member provided with the polarization separating film and the reflecting film; and a plurality of retardation plates provided on a light-irradiation side of the light- transmissive member, the retardation plates converting the polarization axis of the one of the polarization beams; wherein the polarizing conversion elements are combined so that the polarization separating films and the reflecting films of the polarizing conversion elements are symmetrically arranged around a contact surface of the polarizing conversion elements, wherein one of the plurality of the retardation plates provided on a position where the pair of polarizing conversion elements are in close contact stretches over the pair of polarizing conversion elements, and wherein a notch is formed on the light-irradiation side along the contact surface of the pair of polarizing conversion elements.