Abstract: A projection type color image display apparatus of the present invention includes: a light source section for generating white light beams; a first fly-eye lens array comprising a plurality of lenses for forming a plurality of secondary light source image spots of the light source section; a second fly-eye lens array comprising at least the same number of lenses as the first fly-eye lens array, provided near a position where the plurality of secondary light source image spots are formed by the first fly-eye lens array; a microlens array comprising a plurality of microlenses, wherein the light beams which have passed through the respective lenses of the second fly-eye lens array are superimposed on one another on the microlens array; a single image display device comprising a plurality of color pixels arranged in a predetermined arrangement for modulating the light beams from the microlenses; a color separator provided in a predetermined position in an optical path from the light source section to the microlen

Abstract: A projection type image display apparatus of the present invention includes: a light source; a polarization selective reflection element having a function of reflecting or transmitting a light beam from the light source in accordance with a polarization direction thereof; and an element for modulating a polarization plane of an incident light beam in accordance with an image to be displayed. The polarization selective reflection element is film-like and has an optical transmission axis and an optical reflection axis. The polarization selective reflection element transmits a first linearly polarized light beam, and reflects a second linearly polarized light beam having a polarization plane orthogonal to a polarization plane of the first linearly polarized light beam, regardless of a direction of incidence of a light beam with respect to the polarization selective reflection element.

Abstract: The polarized light illuminator of this invention includes: a light source; a first fly's eye lens and a second fly's eye lens disposed in this order from the light source; a polarization separation element disposed between the light source and the second fly's eye lens for separating unpolarized light into a first polarized light component and a second polarized light component having polarization directions perpendicular to each other, to output the first polarized light component and the second polarized light component in different directions from each other; and a polarization conversion element disposed near the second fly's eye lens for converting the first polarized light component and the second polarized light component output from the polarization separation element into unidirectionally polarized light, wherein the polarization separation element has a first flat plate and a second flat plate, the first flat plate having a polarization separation surface for reflecting the first polarized light co