Abstract: A light converging optical system (1) includes a surface-emission light source (11) that emits light from a light emitting surface (12), a collimator lens (13) as a collimator optical system that converts the light emitted from the light emitting surface (12) into approximately parallel light, a condenser lens (4) as a converging lens as a light converging element that converges the light converted into the approximately parallel light, and an integrator rod (7) as a light-intensity-distribution equalizing element that has an incident surface (8) on which the light converged by the condenser lens (4) is incident, equalizes light intensity distribution of incident light, and emits the light from an emission surface (9). Among the light converged on the incident surface (7) of the integrator rod (7), a converging angle of the light converged on a center portion of the incident surface (8) is smaller than a converging angle of the light converged on a corner portion of the incident surface (8).

Abstract: A projection-type image display apparatus includes a display device and a projection optical system. The projection optical system includes a first lens group having a positive power as a whole, and a second lens group having a negative power as a whole. The second lens group includes a first lens and a second lens in an order from the display device side, both of which have negative powers. When the first lens is moved toward the display device and the second lens is moved away from the display device with reference to positions of the first lens and the second lens in a direction of an optical axis when an image surface is planar, a focal position of the peripheral light becomes closer to the projection optical system in the direction of the optical axis than a focal position of the on-axis light, and the image surface is made concave to the projection optical system side.

Abstract: A vehicle headlight device 100 according to the present invention includes a first lamp 92 that has a light source 211, an optical system 21, a rolling mechanism 50, and a control circuit 60. The optical system 21 includes a first wedge prism 30 and a second wedge prism 40 in which an incident ray from the light source 211 is deflected and projected. The rolling mechanism 50 rotates the first wedge prism 30 about a rotation axis. The control circuit 60 controls the rolling mechanism 50 so that the first wedge prism 30 is rotated in a direction opposite to a vehicle bank direction in accordance with a vehicle bank angle d. The first wedge prism 30 and the second wedge prism 40 are disposed so that their surfaces perpendicular to the rotation axis face each other. The first wedge prism 30 is disposed so that a wedge angle a1 directs in a road surface direction. The first wedge prism 30 is disposed so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis.

Abstract: An angular intensity distribution shaping member includes a first surface for receiving a light beam emitted from a light source, the first surface having a length in a width direction that is longer than that in a thickness direction; second surfaces forming a plate-shaped light path on which the light beam incident from the first surface propagates by total reflection, the second surfaces including at least one adjustment surface for spreading a full angle of an angular intensity distribution, in the width direction, of the light beam incident from the first surface so that the full angle becomes wider than that of the angular intensity distribution of the light beam just after emission from the light source; and a third surface through which the light beam exits, the full angle of its angular intensity distribution in the width direction having been widened by the at least one adjustment surface.

Abstract: A vehicle headlight device 100 includes a light source 11, a Dove prism 40, and a rotation mechanism 50. The light source 11 emits light. The Dove prism 40 changes a propagation direction of light received at an incidence surface 401 to bring the light to a reflecting surface 402, and changes a propagation direction of light reflected at the reflecting surface 402 to output the light from an exit surface 403. The rotation mechanism 50 rotatably supports the Dove prism 40 about a line which passes through the incidence surface 401 and the exit surface 403 as an axis of rotation R, and rotates the Dove prism 40 in a direction opposite to a bank direction of a vehicle body in accordance with a bank angle k of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A surface light source device includes a surface light-emitting light-guiding unit; an LED light source disposed at an outside position on a side of a direction of the light incident surface; a plurality of laser light sources disposed at an outside position on a side of a direction of a rear surface of the surface light-emitting light-guiding unit; and a laser-light-ray guiding unit arranged on a side of a rear surface of the surface light-emitting light-guiding unit. The laser-light-ray guiding unit guides the laser light rays emitted from the laser light sources so that the laser light rays enter through a light incident end surface, travel in a direction opposite to a direction in which the LED light source emits the LED light ray, and thereafter are reflected by a light bending part to enter through the light incident surface of the surface light-emitting light-guiding unit.

Abstract: A light converging optical system (1) includes a surface-emission light source (11) that emits light from a light emitting surface (12), a collimator lens (13) as a collimator optical system that converts the light emitted from the light emitting surface (12) into approximately parallel light, a condenser lens (4) as a converging lens as a light converging element that converges the light converted into the approximately parallel light, and an integrator rod (7) as a light-intensity-distribution equalizing element that has an incident surface (8) on which the light converged by the condenser lens (4) is incident, equalizes light intensity distribution of incident light, and emits the light from an emission surface (9). Among the light converged on the incident surface (7) of the integrator rod (7), a converging angle of the light converged on a center portion of the incident surface (8) is smaller than a converging angle of the light converged on a corner portion of the incident surface (8).

Abstract: A light intensity distribution conversion element has a light incident surface, a light emission surface, and total reflection surfaces. Light having directivity enters the light incident surface. The light emission surface has a curved surface portion of a concave shape with respect to an emitting direction of the light, for broadening an angular intensity distribution of the light. The total reflection surfaces are near or are adjacent to the curved surface portion, are slanted against the emitting direction of the light, and totally reflect the light. The light reflected by the total reflection surfaces is emitted from the curved surface portion.

Abstract: A projection-type image display apparatus includes a display device and a projection optical system. The projection optical system includes a first lens group having a positive power as a whole, and a second lens group having a negative power as a whole. The second lens group includes a first lens and a second lens in an order from the display device side, both of which have negative powers. When the first lens is moved toward the display device and the second lens is moved away from the display device with reference to positions of the first lens and the second lens in a direction of an optical axis when an image surface is planar, a focal position of the peripheral light becomes closer to the projection optical system in the direction of the optical axis than a focal position of the on-axis light, and the image surface is made concave to the projection optical system side.

Abstract: A screen includes a light diffusion layer in which microcapsules, each having therein a light diffusion liquid that scatters light for displaying a video image, are planarly arranged. The light diffusion layer is fixed to a supporting sheet by a binder material. On a surface of the supporting sheet, a Fresnel lens is formed. A light diffusion plate is made up of the light diffusion layer and the supporting sheet. The screen is made up of the light diffusion plate and a light diffusion plate. Scattering distribution of a scattered wave of light that passes through the light diffusion layer temporally changes.

Abstract: A light collecting optical system includes surface-emitting light sources, collimate lenses, and a condenser lens. Light emitting surfaces of the surface-emitting light sources have a rectangular shape of the same size as each other, and have a similar figure to an incident surface of an integrator rod, the collimate lenses are disposed so that the optical distances from the collimate lenses to the condenser lens are approximately the same, and the surface-emitting light sources are disposed so that the optical distances Lr, Lg and Lb from the light emitting surfaces to the collimate lenses satisfy Lb<Lg<Lr and so that images of the light emitting surfaces, which are formed on the incident surface of the integrator rod by the collimate lenses and the condenser lens, have approximately the same size.

Abstract: An objective is to obtain a backlight in which a decrease in brightness at a peripheral portion associated with the change of viewing distance is reduced.

Abstract: A surface light source device includes a surface light-emitting light-guiding unit; an LED light source disposed at an outside position on a side of a direction of the light incident surface; a plurality of laser light sources disposed at an outside position on a side of a direction of a rear surface of the surface light-emitting light-guiding unit; and a laser-light-ray guiding unit arranged on a side of a rear surface of the surface light-emitting light-guiding unit. The laser-light-ray guiding unit guides the laser light rays emitted from the laser light sources so that the laser light rays enter through a light incident end surface, travel in a direction opposite to a direction in which the LED light source emits the LED light ray, and thereafter are reflected by a light bending part to enter through the light incident surface of the surface light-emitting light-guiding unit.

Abstract: An angular intensity distribution shaping member includes a first surface for receiving a light beam emitted from a light source, the first surface having a length in a width direction that is longer than that in a thickness direction; second surfaces forming a plate-shaped light path on which the light beam incident from the first surface propagates by total reflection, the second surfaces including at least one adjustment surface for spreading a full angle of an angular intensity distribution, in the width direction, of the light beam incident from the first surface so that the full angle becomes wider than that of the angular intensity distribution of the light beam just after emission from the light source; and a third surface through which the light beam exits, the full angle of its angular intensity distribution in the width direction having been widened by the at least one adjustment surface.

Abstract: A projection optical system for enlarging and projecting a light flux from an image display panel modulating an irradiation light, onto a screen in an oblique direction, the projection optical system includes: a lens system including a plurality of lenses, the lens system refracting the light flux from the image display panel; a single convex mirror reflecting the light flux from the lens system, the lens system and the convex mirror being arranged in an order from the image display panel; and a stop disposed in an optical path after an emission from the lens system to an incidence on the convex mirror.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device has a first backlight unit and a second backlight unit. The first backlight unit includes a first optical member that transmits light incident from the second backlight unit, converts light output from a light source to light having a narrow-angle directional distribution, and radiates the converted light toward the rear surface of the liquid crystal display panel. The second backlight unit includes a second optical member that converts light output from a light source to light having a wide-angle directional distribution, and radiates the converted light toward the rear surface of the liquid crystal display panel.

Abstract: A screen includes a light diffusion layer in which microcapsules, each having therein a light diffusion liquid that scatters light for displaying a video image, are planarly arranged. The light diffusion layer is fixed to a supporting sheet by a binder material. On a surface of the supporting sheet, a Fresnel lens is formed. A light diffusion plate is made up of the light diffusion layer and the supporting sheet. The screen is made up of the light diffusion plate and a light diffusion plate. Scattering distribution of a scattered wave of light that passes through the light diffusion layer temporally changes.

Abstract: A light collecting optical system includes surface-emitting light sources, collimate lenses, and a condenser lens. Light emitting surfaces of the surface-emitting light sources have a rectangular shape of the same size as each other, and have a similar figure to an incident surface of an integrator rod, the collimate lenses are disposed so that the optical distances from the collimate lenses to the condenser lens are approximately the same, and the surface-emitting light sources are disposed so that the optical distances Lr, Lg and Lb from the light emitting surfaces to the collimate lenses satisfy Lb<Lg<Lr and so that images of the light emitting surfaces, which are formed on the incident surface of the integrator rod by the collimate lenses and the condenser lens, have approximately the same size.

Abstract: An image projection apparatus includes an image processing device, an illuminating device, a light valve, and a projection optical system; wherein the projection optical system is formed in such a way that at least one of a first deviation corresponding to an amount of the magnification chromatic aberration of a light having a central wavelength of the red light relative to the green light and a second deviation corresponding to an amount of the magnification chromatic aberration of the blue light relative to the green light is larger than a fixed-pixel pitch, and a third deviation corresponding to an amount of the magnification chromatic aberration of a light having a maximum wavelength of the red light relative to a light having a minimum wavelength of the red light is not larger than the fixed-pixel pitch; wherein the first deviation and/or the second deviation is eliminated by supplying the compensated video signal to the light valve.

Abstract: A light diffusion element includes a light diffusion layer that contains at least two types of liquid crystal molecules each having a different light scattering characteristic defined by a voltage and a refractive index. A pair of electrodes sandwiches the light diffusion layer, an applying unit generates and applies a variable voltage to the pair of electrodes, and a voltage changing unit varies the voltage generated by the applying unit. The voltage changing unit varies the voltage such that each of the refractive indexes of the liquid crystal molecules in the light diffusion layer changes temporally.