Abstract: A disclosed optical path switching device includes a polarization bistable VCSEL that emits a beam having a rising polarization plane, a laser light source configured to emit a beam having a polarization plane orthogonal to the rising polarization plane, and an optical path switching unit configured to switch an optical path of the beam emitted from the polarization bistable VCSEL by switching the angle of the rising polarization plane of the beam emitted from the polarization bistable VCSEL. The beam emitted from the polarization bistable VCSEL is incident on an entrance window of the optical path switching unit, and the beam emitted from the laser light source is incident on an exit window of the polarization bistable VCSEL.

Abstract: Disclosed is a projection optical system including a projection surface configured such that an image conjugate to an object is projected, plural optical elements having a refractive power, and a deflecting element having no refractive power configured to deflect an optical path of a light beam and to pass the light beam having a deflected optical path between the plural optical elements, wherein a normal line of the projection surface at a center of the projection surface does not pass through the plural optical elements or between the plural optical elements.

Abstract: An optical element, an optical device, and a display device are disclosed that are able to change a polarization state in time order and to produce polarized light with little wavelength dependence and superior in polarization purity, and able to perform pixel shift easily and accurately to realize high resolution image display. The optical element has a translucent surface parallel to the rotational axis of the optical element, and at least a portion of the translucent surface is formed from an optically anisotropic medium. A polarization state of a light beam transmitting through the translucent surface is switched in time order along with rotation of the optical element.

Abstract: A projection optical system for use in an image projection apparatus illuminating a lightbulb forming an image in accordance with a modulating signal with illumination light from a light source is disclosed. The projection optical system includes first and second optical systems arranged along an optical path defining an upstream-downstream direction in the order described from upstream to downstream on the downstream side of the lightbulb. The first optical system includes at least one dioptric system and has positive power. The second optical system includes at least one reflecting surface having power and has positive power. The image formed by the lightbulb is formed as an intermediate image in the optical path, and the intermediate image is magnified and projected.

Abstract: A projection optical system for use in an image projection apparatus illuminating a lightbulb forming an image in accordance with a modulating signal with illumination light from a light source is disclosed. The projection optical system includes first and second optical systems arranged along an optical path defining an upstream-downstream direction in the order described from upstream to downstream on the downstream side of the lightbulb. The first optical system includes at least one dioptric system and has positive power. The second optical system includes at least one reflecting surface having power and has positive power. The image formed by the lightbulb is formed as an intermediate image in the optical path, and the intermediate image is magnified and projected.

Abstract: A projection optical system for use in an image projection apparatus illuminating a lightbulb forming an image in accordance with a modulating signal with illumination light from a light source is disclosed. The projection optical system includes first and second optical systems arranged along an optical path defining an upstream-downstream direction in the order described from upstream to downstream on the downstream side of the lightbulb. The first optical system includes at least one dioptric system and has positive power. The second optical system includes at least one reflecting surface having power and has positive power. The image formed by the lightbulb is formed as an intermediate image in the optical path, and the intermediate image is magnified and projected.

Abstract: A projection optical system for use in an image projection apparatus illuminating a lightbulb forming an image in accordance with a modulating signal with illumination light from a light source is disclosed. The projection optical system includes first and second optical systems arranged along an optical path defining an upstream-downstream direction in the order described from upstream to downstream on the downstream side of the lightbulb. The first optical system includes at least one dioptric system and has positive power. The second optical system includes at least one reflecting surface having power and has positive power. The image formed by the lightbulb is formed as an intermediate image in the optical path, and the intermediate image is magnified and projected.

Abstract: A disclosed reflective screen is configured to display an image projected from a projection device located within a short distance. The reflective screen comprises a first reflective surface configured to reflect, in a substantially same direction, projection light beams projected from a first position, and a second reflective surface configured to reflect, in the substantially same direction, projection light beams projected from a second position different from the first position.

Abstract: A projection optical system for use in an image projection apparatus illuminating a light valve forming an image in accordance with a modulating signal with illumination light from a light source. The projection optical system includes first and second optical systems arranged along an optical path defining an upstream-downstream direction in the order described from upstream to downstream on the downstream side of the light valve. The first optical system includes at least one dioptric system and has positive power. The second optical system includes at least one reflecting surface having power and has positive power. The image formed by the light valve is formed as an intermediate image in the optical path, and the intermediate image is magnified and projected.

Abstract: An image display device is disclosed that has a simplified structure and is able to display a high quality image of high resolution at low cost. The image display device includes a light separation unit configured to extract a light beam having a predetermined wavelength band from light emitted from a light source; a light valve that controls a light beam incident thereon to form a plurality of sub frames of a target image; and a light path shift unit operable to shift a light path of an output light beam from the light valve having the predetermined wavelength band according to a frame period of the target image to locate one or more sub frame of the target image at different positions from other sub frames of the target image formed by the light valve.

Abstract: A micro-optical device includes a plurality of minute optical elements each having a curved surface operable to condense incident light. The minute optical elements are arranged at constant intervals. The curved surface is expressed by two or more F values.

Abstract: A projection optical system including a first optical system configured to form a second image conjugate to a first image and a second optical system configured to include a reflective optical element which reflects light from the second image and to project a third image conjugate to the second image onto a projection surface is provided, wherein the first optical system has a Petzval sum with a sign opposite to a sign of a Petzval sum of the second optical system.

Abstract: A projection optical system including a first optical system configured to form a second image conjugate to a first image and a second optical system configured to include a reflective optical element which reflects light from the second image and to project a third image conjugate to the second image onto a projection surface is provided, wherein the first optical system includes a stop and at least one optical element with a positive refractive power and at least one optical element with a negative refractive power which are provided between the stop and the second image, and an optical element with a strongest positive refractive power in the at least one optical element with a positive refractive power is provided between the stop and an optical element with a strongest negative refractive power in the at least one optical element with a negative refractive power.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator is disclosed that can be fabricated easily and is able to prevent degradation of a contrast ratio by suppressing a fringe effect. The spatial light modulator includes a light transmission substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a pixel array, and a phase difference generation unit provided between the light transmission substrate and the liquid crystal layer. A lens array is formed on the light transmission substrate, and the lens array has the same pitch as that of the pixel array.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes an indicating element which modulates or emits light as a pixel in accordance with image information. A displacement unit optically displaces a position of the pixel for each of two or more sub-fields constituting an image field corresponding to the image information. A projection unit enlarges the pixel and projects an enlarged pixel on a screen. A pixel-profile deformation unit changes an optical intensity profile of the pixel.

Abstract: An image display apparatus acquires a high-quality image by suppressing positional fluctuation of projected dots due to a positional offset of an optical path deflecting element. A spatial light modulation element (1) displays an image by projecting a light from an illumination light source. A projection optical system (3) enlarges and projects the image formed on the spatial light modulation element (1). An optical path deflecting element (2) is provided between the spatial light modulation element (1) and the image formed on a screen (4) so as to deflect an optical path in accordance with a screen frame period. The optical path deflecting element (2) shifts the optical path for the image projected on the screen (4) at a high rate so as to apparently increase a number of picture elements. The optical path deflecting element (2) is located within the projection optical system.

Abstract: A disclosed projection optical system for projecting and forming an enlarged image of an image displayed in a planar manner as an object includes: a lens system including, from an object side, at least a lens group providing telecentricity to an object space side, a lens group controlling divergence of angles of view, a diaphragm, a lens group converging the angles of view, and a lens group converging and subsequently enlarging the angles of view; and a catoptric system disposed on an image side relative to the lens system and including a mirror having negative power. Each lens group of the lens system and the mirror having negative power share an optical axis and the optical axis is shifted relative to a center of an object surface.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes an indicating element which modulates or emits light as a pixel in accordance with image information. A displacement unit optically displaces a position of the pixel for each of two or more sub-fields constituting an image field corresponding to the image information. A projection unit enlarges the pixel and projects an enlarged pixel on a screen. A pixel-profile deformation unit changes an optical intensity profile of the pixel.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes an indicating element which modulates or emits light as a pixel in accordance with image information. A displacement unit optically displaces a position of the pixel for each of two or more sub-fields constituting an image field corresponding to the image information. A projection unit enlarges the pixel and projects an enlarged pixel on a screen. A pixel-profile deformation unit changes an optical intensity profile of the pixel.

Abstract: A light path shift device is disclosed that is able to divide an effective region of a light path and drive the divided regions independently. The light path shift device includes a liquid crystal layer held between at least two opposite transparent substrates, the liquid crystal layer being homeotropically aligned and being able to form a chiral smectic C phase; and plural electrodes for applying an electric field in the liquid crystal layer in a horizontal direction. An effective region of the liquid crystal layer through which a light path passes is divided into plural sub-regions, plural light path shift elements with the electrodes formed thereon are stacked only at positions corresponding to the sub-regions, and are arranged so that boundary lines of the sub-regions are in agreement when being viewed along the direction of light propagation.