Abstract: A projector including a non-polarized light source, at least one polarizing beam-splitter receiving light from the non-polarized light source, the polarizing beam splitter including first and second prisms separated by a liquid crystal material, a selectably actuable polarization rotating light valve having impinging thereon light from the polarizing beam splitter and operating in a reflective mode, and a mirror having impinging thereon light from the polarizing beam splitter and reflecting the light via the polarizing beam splitter to the light source.

Abstract: An optical polarizer including a polarizing beam splitter including first and second transparent elements separated by a layer of a birefringent material, the layer of the birefringent material being operative to change the polarity of light passing therethrough, the polarizing beam splitter being operative to receive a beam of unpolarized light at the first transparent element, to cause a first beam of light of a first polarity to undergo total internal reflection at an interface between the first transparent element and the layer of birefringent material and to pass a second beam of light of a second polarity through the layer of birefringent material, thus changing its polarity to the first polarity, a first reflector associated with a quarter wave plate and being arranged to receive the first beam of light of a first polarity reflected from the interface between the first transparent element and the layer of a birefringent material via the first transparent element and to change the polarity of the light

Abstract: A color display including a non-polarized light source, at least one polarizing beam-splitter receiving light from the non-polarized light source, at least one selectably actuable polarization rotating light valve having thereon impinging light from the polarizing beam splitter and operating in a reflective mode, the light valve having a plurality of separately controlled light valve regions which correspond to different colors, a display screen including a plurality of differently colored light impingement regions and imaging optics for directing light reflected from the at least one light valve via the at least one beam-splitter to the display screen such that light from individual ones of the plurality of separately controlled light valve regions which correspond to a given color impinges on correspondingly colored light impingement regions of the display screen.

Abstract: A projector including a non-polarized light source, a polarizing beam-splitter receiving light from the non-polarized light source and a selectably actuable polarization rotating light valve having light polarized in one sense from the polarizing beam-splitter impinging thereon from a first direction and having light polarized in an opposite sense from the polarizing beam-splitter impinging thereon from a second direction.

Abstract: A projector for use with a light source and including a shutter assembly having a multiplicity of pixel light valves and a color separator disposed intermediate the light source and the shutter assembly and spaced therefrom and providing a plurality of spatially separated differently colored light beams, wherein the plurality of spatially separated differently colored light beams are in predetermined registration with the multiplicity of pixel light valves.

Abstract: A projector for use with a light source and including a shutter assembly panel having a multiplicity of pixel light valves overlying an array of interspersed shutter pixels each of which transmits only one of a plurality of colors, and a color filter disposed intermediate the light source and the planar shutter and spaced therefrom and having an array of interspersed filter pixels, each of which only transmits only one of a plurality of colors, wherein the array of interspersed filter pixels is in light and color registration with the array of interspersed shutter pixels, such that generally light of a given color impinges on a shutter area of the same color.