Abstract: Apparatus for simulating a solid fuel flame includes a frame within which is mounted a screen. An enclosure is provided below the screen having a transparent glass refractor member forming a top wall of the enclosure. The refractor member comprises a number of juxtaposed shaped refractor bodies arranged in an edge to edge array on a carrier plate. A cylindrical container is rotatably mounted within the enclosure. A motor rotates the container on a support. The container is partially filled with a red or brown coloured liquid. Lamps within the enclosure are operable to shine light through the coloured liquid in the container and through the refractor member onto the screen. Movement of the coloured liquid, which may be enhanced by internal projections in the container, causes flickering of the light projected onto the screen to give a flame effect simulating a solid fuel fire.

Abstract: A rear projection type image display apparatus having a larger half-power angle and being capable of properly blocking a direct light from a projector for an observer is provided. The rear projection type image display apparatus includes a projector and a transmission type screen installed at an image formation plane of a projection light and made of a texture. The screen made of the texture is a diffusing material having a large half-power angle except for the direct light, and can prevent a gain from being decreased even at an angle of 60 degrees or larger. Also, a first polarizing plate is arranged in front of an exit pupil of the projector, and a second polarizing plate is arranged near a rear surface of the transmission type screen. Polarization axes of these polarizing plates are configured to be substantially orthogonal to each other, to eliminate the direct light.

Abstract: An optical system is disclosed which is capable of improving of its contrast characteristic and displaying of images which have a brightness according to the brightness of the use environment. The optical system comprises an optical integrator which divides and recombines the illumination luminous flux in a first axis direction and a light intensity distribution converter which converts the light intensity distribution of the illumination luminous flux in a second axis direction. The optical system further comprises a luminous flux limiting unit which has an aperture. The size of the aperture is changeable in the second axis direction and unchangeable in the first axis direction.

Abstract: Provided are an illumination system capable of eliminating laser speckle and a projection system employing the illumination system. The illumination system includes a laser light source having at least one laser, and a first diffractive optical element to divide a laser beam emitted from the laser light source into a plurality of partial beams and to time-average the partial beams through a periodical movement to eliminate speckle. Accordingly, the illumination system can eliminate speckle of the beams emitted from the laser light source and the projection system employing the illumination system can achieve a high quality image.

Abstract: An illumination optical system for illuminating a surface to be illuminated with a light beam from a light source, in a first plane which is parallel with the optical axis of the illumination optical system, the light beam from the light source is split, and a plurality of first light source images are formed in a first light source image zone with the use of the thus split light beams; light beams from the plurality of first light source images being led to the surface to be illuminated, in a second plane which is parallel with the optical axis of the illumination optical system and which is perpendicular to the first plane, the light beam from the light source is split, and a plurality of second light source images are formed in a second light source image zone, with the use of the thus split light beams, light beams from the plurality of second light source images being led to the surface to be illuminated, where the width of the first light source image zone in the first plane is greater than that of the

Abstract: An illumination optical system for illuminating a surface to be illuminated with a light beam from a light source, in a first plane which is parallel with the optical axis of the illumination optical system, the light beam from the light source is split, and a plurality of first light source images are formed in a first light source image zone with the use of the thus split light beams; light beams from the plurality of first light source images being led to the surface to be illuminated, in a second plane which is parallel with the optical axis of the illumination optical system and which is perpendicular to the first plane, the light beam from the light source is split, and a plurality of second light source images are formed in a second light source image zone, with the use of the thus split light beams, light beams from the plurality of second light source images being led to the surface to be illuminated, where the width of the first light source image zone in the first plane is greater than that of the

Abstract: A pattern projection light source is disclosed in which a light source (2a); a plurality of mask regions (5) in each of which a light-transmitting portion that transmits light from the light source therethrough is formed in a predetermined pattern; and a plurality of lenses (7) that each form an image of the predetermined pattern of the light-transmitting portion at a predetermined distance are arranged in this order. Since the pattern projection light source includes a plurality of projection optical systems each including a mask region and a lens, a compact and thin pattern projection light source can be realized. Moreover, provision of a plurality of lenses makes it possible to increase the imaging range of a pattern image. Furthermore, an image of the pattern of the light-transmitting portion can be formed clearly on the object.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image projector has a spatial light modulator (SLM) adapted to modulate illumination from a laser with a spatial pattern such that the modulated illumination projects an image on a viewing screen. The image projector further has an optical diffuser located on an optical path between the laser and the SLM. The laser is adapted to illuminate the SLM through the optical diffuser to create an illuminated area at the SLM. The optical diffuser is adapted to introduce an angular spread into the light transmitted therethrough. The image projector is adapted to move the illuminated area with respect to the SLM to mitigate speckle in the projected image.

Abstract: A gear portion meshing with the first step of a pinion gear at the side of a motor, which is a driving unit of optical aperture mechanism, is designed to be a two-gears composition of a gear portion abutting on one side surface of the channel of the pinion gear, and a gear portion abutting on the other side surface of the channel of the pinion gear.

Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus and a projection type display apparatus capable of preventing an image on boundary lines of a fly-eye lens from deviating from a designed position and preventing unevenness of brightness is provided: wherein a first lens holding member holding said first fly-eye lens; a second lens holding member joined to said first lens holding member, and holding said second fly-eye lens; and a third lens holding member joined to said second lens holding member, and holding an optical lens are provided; and said first lens holding member and said second lens holding member are joined to be relatively rotatable about an optical axis.

Abstract: A method and system for combining light emitted by dispersed light sources for use in a projection display or similar system. A plurality of elongated and tapered light integrators are placed side by side forming an array, each having at their small input end a light source, such as an LED. Light collimated by each light integrator is further collimated by a convex lens disposed immediately at the output end of the light integrator. From the convex lenses, the light falls upon an array integrator, preferably a fly-eye type integrator, and passes through it to a second array integrator. Light emerging from the second array integrator is then passed through one or more relay lenses and falls upon a light modulator, such as a digital mircomirror device (DMD). The modulated light beam then passes through a projection lens and onto a visual image display screen. The display screen may, for example, be the screen of a high definition television (HDTV).

Abstract: A light source (100) includes a plurality of light emitting devices (101), each of which output light that is collimated by a first focusing structure (103). The collimated light is input to second focusing structure (104), which focuses light from the light emitting devices as a single beam that is substantially homogeneous. The light source may be used in an LCD display, a projection system, a television system, or a computer monitor, to name a few applications.

Abstract: A projection optical system includes a grating configured for splitting a light input into red, green and blue lights for generating red, green and blue lights of mutually different colors, a liquid crystal panel positioned to receive light outputs from the grating and configured for superimposing spatial information on the light outputs and emitting the light outputs comprising spatial information. The above-described projection optical system improves image contrast, and is suitable for use in adverse thermal environments. The projection optical system utilizes coupling of the grating and the liquid crystal panel to the projecting lens to achieve good image quality, without requiring costly, high index, low birefringence glass.

Abstract: A compact micro-display engine having improved efficiency for, e.g., projection displays or personal displays. It includes an emissive micro-display without the need for external illumination, a collimation optic plate on top of micro-display and a low F/# projection optics after the collimation optic plate. The collimation optical plate may be a micro-structure lenses array or a collimation prism film, and is used to collimate wide divergent light from the emissive micro-display device into a small cone angle light which will be efficiently collected by the projection optics. A reflective mirror is deposited on the top of substrate and underneath the light emitting layer for recycling the reflected back light from the collimation optic plate. The compact micro-display projection engine controls the divergence angle of the emitted light, and provides the controlled light to the objective plane of a projection optics subsystem.

Abstract: An image projection lighting device is provided which includes a variable homogenizing system. The variable homogenizing system may homogenize light projected by a lamp across a light valve. The variable homogenizing system may vary the light across the light valve from an existing state to a first state or from an existing state to a second state. The variable homogenizing system may be comprised of one or more lens arrays, which may be comprised of cylindrical or spherical lenses.

Abstract: Image display apparatus comprising a projector, at least one primary modulator (4,6,8) for modulating light, an auxiliary modulator (36) for modulating the light modulated by the primary modulator, and an optical device (32) for relaying the light modulated by the primary modulator to the auxiliary modulator (36), the optical device (32) comprising a concave mirror and at least one refractive element.

Abstract: Emissive quantum photonic imagers comprised of a spatial array of digitally addressable multicolor pixels. Each pixel is a vertical stack of multiple semiconductor laser diodes, each of which can generate laser light of a different color. Within each multicolor pixel, the light generated from the stack of diodes is emitted perpendicular to the plane of the imager device via a plurality of vertical waveguides that are coupled to the optical confinement regions of each of the multiple laser diodes comprising the imager device. Each of the laser diodes comprising a single pixel is individually addressable, enabling each pixel to simultaneously emit any combination of the colors associated with the laser diodes at any required on/off duty cycle for each color. Each individual multicolor pixel can simultaneously emit the required colors and brightness values by controlling the on/off duty cycles of their respective laser diodes.

Abstract: A reflection mixing member (13) has an alignment in which light from a first light source is incident on a reflecting surface (13a) and light from a second light source is incident on a reflecting surface (13b). A relationship between a pitch Wp, which is a pitch between portions (triangular prisms) respectively formed of the reflecting surface (13a) and the reflecting surface (13b) in the reflection mixing member (13), and a lens pitch Wf is set to be (Wp/Wf?1). As a result, light fluxes of respectively different distribution are incident on each lens portion of fly's eye lens 14a, so that it is possible to prevent luminance non-uniformity in light incident on a liquid crystal display panel (5) from being generated and prevent color non-uniformity from being generated on a screen at the same time.

Abstract: A projection type image display device includes a reflector 5 having an ellipsoidal reflection surface 4 as an inner surface thereof, a light source 35 in which at least a light emitting portion 1 is substantially planar, a light distribution thereof is within ±90° with respect to a normal line perpendicular to the plane, and the light emitting portion 1 is located optically at a first focus 3 of the spheroid forming the ellipsoidal reflection surface 4 of the reflector 5, a rod integrator 8 having an entrance opening portion in which a second focus 7 of the spheroid forming the ellipsoidal reflection surface 4 of the reflector 5 is located at the entrance opening portion thereof, a light modulator 11 capable of modulating an output of transmission light in accordance with an external signal, a relay optical system 10 for transferring an image of an exit opening portion of the rod integrator 8 onto the light modulator 11, and a projection lens 15 for enlarging and projecting the image on the light modulator 1

Abstract: An exemplary MLA unit for use in a projection device is disclosed. The projection device includes an LCD panel. The LCD panel includes a number of pixels each having an opening. The MLA unit includes a first MLA, and a second MLA. The first MLA includes a number of first micro lenses each configured for focusing incident light into the opening of a respective pixel of the LCD panel. The second MLA includes a number of second micro lenses each aligned with a respective first micro lens of the first MLA so as to form a micro lens system. The second MLA is movable so as to change the effective focal length of the lens systems.

Abstract: An illumination device includes a light source part for emitting light with an intensity distribution approximately uniform in a first direction and a fly-eye lens into which the light is entered. The light source part and the fly-eye lens are arranged such that the first direction is inclined with respect to vertical and horizontal directions of arrangement of lens cells in the fly-eye lens. Since illumination light is entered into the fly-eye lens in a state of inclining with respect to the fly-eye lens, the number of superimposition patterns on the fly-eye lens is increased and illuminance non-uniformity in illumination light is suppressed.

Abstract: A projector includes: a light source which emits light; an image forming unit which forms an image having desired size by using light emitted from the light source; and a projection unit which projects the image formed by the image forming unit on a light receiving surface. The projection unit has a light diffusing member disposed at a position where an intermediate image corresponding to light released from the image forming unit is formed to diffuse the light, and a projection system which projects the light diffused by the light diffusing member on the light receiving surface. Diffusion intensity distribution of light released from a predetermined position of the light diffusing member contains at least two prominences with the center axis of the light interposed between the prominences.

Abstract: An illumination device includes a light source for emitting a light flux having a solid angle; an optical element for converging the light from the light source in at least one direction to convert the light into parallel light; and a fly-eye lens for allowing incidence of the parallel light from the optical element to guide uniform light to an area for illumination. Assuming that a certain number of lens cells in the fly-eye lens in a column direction or a row direction are defined as a lens cell unit, one of the lens cell units is relatively displaced with respect to the other one of the lens cell units in the column direction or the row direction, and the number of steps for displacement among the lens cell units in the fly-eye lens is set to 2 or more.

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: An illumination optical system has: a light source, a diffusion member, and a rod integrator, and illuminates an image display surface of a display element. The light source emits an illumination beam having a flat cross section. The diffusion member isotropically diffuses the illumination beam. The rod integrator uniformizes spatial energy distribution of the illumination beam put into a diffused state by the diffusion member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser projection system (1) having means for reducing the coherence of a generated laser beam (3) in order to reduce the occurrence of annoying speckle artefacts in images produced by the system. Coherence is reduced by letting the laser beam (3) pass through a transparent cell (6) comprising first (A) and second (B) immiscible fluids having different refractive indices. The fluids are displaced in the cell, preferably using an electrowetting technique. The cell (6) may thus be realised as an electrowetting lens, which is driven with a pseudo random driving signal.

Abstract: Multiple source high performance stereographic projection systems are described. One projection system described comprises a first projection channel, a first light source capable of providing light for the first projection channel, and a second light source capable of providing light for the first projection channel, wherein when the projection system is in a first presentation mode the first and second light sources are on, and wherein when the projection system is in a second presentation mode the first light source is on and the second light source is at a reduced power.

Abstract: A three-panel projection display apparatus displays a color image by separating light emitted from a light source into lights of three primaries, i.e., red, green, and blue, with dichroic mirrors, by irradiating liquid crystal light valves with the respective separated lights, by combining the lights modulated by the respective liquid crystal light valves with a cross dichroic prism, and by projecting the combined light through a single projection lens onto a screen. The lengths of the light paths for the separated blue and green lights are equal to each other. The distance between a condenser lens and the liquid crystal light valve in the blue light path is shorter than the distance between a condenser lens and the liquid crystal light valve in the green light path.

Abstract: A reduced product height/thickness projector includes an illuminator, an electro-optic modulator, a projection system, a collector lens, and associated housing. The illuminator including a light source that emits an illumination light flux, a first lens array having a plurality of first lenslets that divide the illumination light flux from the light source into a plurality of sub-light fluxes, a second lens array having a plurality of second lenslets corresponding to the plurality of first lenslets, and a superimposing lens that superimposes the sub-light fluxes from the second lens array on an illuminated area. The central axis of the image formation area of the electro-optic modulator and the lens optical axis of the superimposing lens is shifted from the light source optical axis of the light source. The lens optical axis of the collector lens is shifted opposite from the central axis of the image formation area of the electro-optic modulator.

Abstract: A projection apparatus includes a prism set, a light source, a reflective element, a light valve and a projection lens. The prism set includes a first prism having a first surface, a second surface and a third surface, and a second prism having a fourth surface opposite to the second surface, a fifth surface and a sixth surface. The reflective element, light valve and projection lens are respectively disposed adjacent to the third, fifth and sixth surfaces. The light source emits an illumination beam to the first surface. The illumination beam is reflected by the second surface and the reflective element. The illumination beam passes through the third, second, fourth and fifth surfaces in sequence. The illumination beam is converted by the light valve into an image beam which is reflected by the fourth surface and passes through the sixth surface to the projection lens in sequence.

Abstract: An illumination system and a projection system incorporating same are disclosed. The illumination system includes a two-dimensional array of independently operable light sources. Each light source illuminates substantially the entire active area of a pixelated optical light modulator. Each light source emits light in different emission directions. Each emission direction is directed to a respective location in the active area. Each pixel in the active area is illuminated by an incident cone of light from the two-dimensional array of independently operable light sources. The cone has a cone angle and includes at least one light ray from each light source. The cone angle of at least one such cone of light can be controlled by adjusting the intensity of one or more of the independently operable light sources.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a light propagation characteristic control apparatus which realizes to extend the light-intensity dynamic range and the number of levels, and is suited for enhancing image quality and reducing the size and generation time of tables. A projection display apparatus tentatively decides a transmissivity T2 of each pixel of a color-modulation light valve, decides a transmissivity T1 of each pixel of an light intensity-modulation light valve depending upon a tentatively decided transmissivity T2 and HDR display data and decides a control value of each pixel of an light intensity-modulation light valve depending upon a decided transmissivity T1. Then, depending upon a decided transmissivity T1 and HDR display data, a transmissivity T2 is decided of each pixel of the color modulation light valve. Depending upon a decided transmissivity T2, decided is a control value of each pixel of the color modulation light valve.

Abstract: A lighting unit that optimizes an oscillation frequency for oscillating a diffusion device and its amplitude amount and a projecting display using the lighting unit are provided. Driving of a light source driving unit is controlled on the basis of driving of the oscillation driving unit.

Abstract: An image projector realizing image projection with high image quality by reducing speckle noise. An image projector comprising a coherent light source, a collimation lens for transforming coherent light emitted from the coherent light source into coherent parallel light, and a projection optical system for projecting coherent parallel light is further provided with a reflection element for reflecting the coherent parallel light and capable of oscillating in parallel with the direction normal to the reflection plane, and a reflection element drive means for causing oscillatory motion of the reflection element.

Abstract: An element generating through optical effect an “intangible” form (exempli gratia a sphere) detached from any support. The element comprises three Fresnel lenses that can be integrated in a luminary or in a device presenting objects in a three-dimensional perspective.

Abstract: Not only abnormality of a light output to an exterior but also overturning, vibration, disassembly, deformation, or breakage of a display apparatus including a case and a screen are reliably and promptly detected. A projection display apparatus includes a light source (22) for generating illumination light, which is provided in a case (28) having a light-shielding function, a movable aperture (23) for adjusting the amount of illumination light from the light source (22), a light valve (9) for adjusting the amount of light based on an image signal to generate image light for forming an image from the illumination light, a projection optical system (10) for enlarging the image light from the light valve (9), and a transmission-type screen (29) for displaying the image, which is provided to a window of the case (28).

Abstract: The present invention provides a screen suitable for reducing the longitudinal dimension of a set. The present invention includes two prism sections. One is a totally reflective prism section (10) provided at the image generation source side of a Fresnel lens sheet (6). The other is a refractive prism section (11) provided at the image-watching side of the Fresnel lens sheet. The refractive prism section (11) includes a refractive face (e) for refracting incident light and making the light exit toward the image-watching side, a plane (f) approximately parallel to the principal plane of the Fresnel lens sheet, and a connection face (g) for continuously forming the face (e) and the plane (f).

Abstract: A space light modulating apparatus includes a modulating unit that modulates incident light based on an image signal including a plurality of pixels and a light-shielding part placed between the pixels, and a refracting unit that refracts modulated light including a group of prisms formed with a prism element that has at least a refracting surface. Light from the pixels is incident on at least a part of the prisms, and a direction of the refracting surface is such that a projection image of the pixels is guided onto a projection image of the light-shielding part on a projection surface at a predetermined distance. The refracting surface and a reference surface formed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis make a predetermined angle.

Abstract: A multi-reflecting Light device includes a plurality of double reflecting surfaces formed serially on the rear of a light guide plate having a taper shape. A light incident upon the light guide plate is double-reflected, and progress in a desired direction. The multi-reflecting structure is applied to a backlight unit and a display device so that the backlight unit and the display device can be slimmer economically.

Abstract: An illumination system, used for illuminating a target area, includes a plurality of light generating elements and a plurality of light collection units disposed to collect light from respective light generating elements. Imaging lens units are disposed to relay images of respective light collection units to the target area, light from different light generating elements overlapping at the target area. In some embodiments, the illumination system also includes color combining elements to combine light from differently colored light generating elements. The illumination system may be used in a projection system, with the light from the illumination system incident on an image-forming device placed at the target area.

Abstract: An image display device includes an image processing unit, a light source assembly, an optical modulator assembly, and a projection lens assembly. The image processing unit is configured to receive a video signal and generate image data and control signals. The light source assembly and optical modulator assembly are each controlled by the control signals such that the light source assembly generates illumination in a spatial distribution pattern that is coupled to optical modular assembly via a homogenizing device. The projection lens assembly is configured to project an image from the optical modulator assembly onto a viewing surface. The optical modular assembly is configured to maximize the amount of illumination coupled from the light source assembly, and includes at least one optical modulator surface configured to have a substantially 1:1 aspect ratio.

Abstract: A projector includes an illuminating device having a light source device, a first lens array having plural first small lenses, a second lens array having plural second small lenses corresponding to the plural first small lenses, and a superposing lens; an electro-optic modulator, and a projection optical system. A conjugate point of an image forming area in the electro-optic modulator is located on the light source device side or the projection optical system side from the vertex of a lens curved surface in each first small lens of the first lens array. An eccentric amount of each second small lens in the second lens array is adjusted such that each principal ray of the partial light beam passing through each first small lens in the first lens array passes an approximately central portion of the image forming area on the image forming area of the electro-optic modulator.

Abstract: A screen includes a lens array having a plurality of spherical lens elements. A first length of the spherical lens elements, along a first direction at substantially a center of each of respective spherical lens elements, and a second length of the spherical lens elements, along a second direction at substantially the center of each of the respective lens elements and substantially orthogonal to the first direction, are set such that the second length is larger than the first length. A curvature center position of any one of the plurality of spherical lens elements is arranged to be at substantially a half of the first length along the first direction, with respect to a curvature center position of another spherical lens element adjacent to the lens element in the second direction.

Abstract: A highly efficient lighting system, a scrolling unit, and a projection system adopting the highly efficient lighting system and the scrolling unit are provided. The scrolling unit has at least one lens cell. From the viewpoint of light incident upon the at least one lens cell, the rotation of the at least one lens cell is converted into a rectilinear motion of a lens array, such that incident light is scrolled. The projection system includes a light source, an optical splitter, at least one scrolling unit, and a light valve. The optical splitter splits light emitted from the light source according to wavelength. The at least one scrolling unit has at least one lens cell. The lens cell has an incident side and an emitting side and divides incident light into light beams. The rotation of the lens cell causes a rectilinear motion of the light beams, thereby scrolling incident light.

Abstract: A projector includes: a light source device that emits substantially parallel illumination light; a first lens array having a plurality of first small lenses each of which divides the illumination light coming from the light source device into a plurality of partial light fluxes; a second lens array having a plurality of second small lenses corresponding to the first small lenses; a superposing optical system that superposes the partial light fluxes coming from the second lens array on regions to be illuminated; a color-separating and guiding optical system that separates the lights coming from the second lens array into lights in a plurality of different colors and guides the separated lights to the regions to be illuminated; a plurality of electro-optical modulation devices each of which modulates the light in the corresponding color of the lights in the plural colors separated by the color-separating and guiding optical system in accordance with image information; a color synthesizing optical system that s

Abstract: Described is an optical lens having a light-receiving surface facing a light source and a first structured surface opposite a first portion of the light-receiving surface. The first structured surface includes a plurality of first reflecting surfaces and first refractive surfaces. Each of the first refractive surfaces receives light from a corresponding first reflective surface for refractive transmission therethrough. The optical system may further include a second structured surface opposite a second portion of the light-receiving surface. The second structured surface includes a plurality of second refractive surfaces. Each of the second refractive surfaces receives light directly from the light-receiving surface.

Abstract: An optical element includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a retardation plate made of an inorganic material, having refractive index anisotropy, and having a thin plate like main part to be disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, the main part being formed to be thin in comparison with a thickness of the first substrate and a thickness of the second substrate, a first adhesive layer for filling a gap between the first substrate and the retardation plate, and a second adhesive layer for filling a gap between the retardation plate and the second substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a display device using a diffractive optical modulator and having a distortion correction function. The display device includes a light source unit, a condensing unit, an illumination unit, a diffractive optical modulator, a projection unit, a filter unit, and a distortion correction means. The light source unit includes a plurality of light sources for emitting beams of light. The condensing unit causes the beams of light to have an identical light path. The illumination unit converts the beams of light into linear light. The diffractive optical modulator modulates the linear light, so that diffracted light having a plurality of diffraction orders is generated. The projection unit produces an image by projecting the diffracted light onto a screen. The filter unit passes only diffracted light having at least one desired diffraction order therethrough. The distortion correction means includes a lens array for correcting an image.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator has a modulating unit, a refracting part, and a flat part. The modulating unit includes a matrix of pixels, and a light-shielding portion between each of the pixels. The refracting part is a prism group composed of prism elements, each having at least a refracting surface. The modulated light from one of the pixels is incident on at least a portion of the prism group. The refracting surface is oriented to project an image of the pixel over an image of the light-shielding portion on a screen at a predetermined distance, making an apex with an angle with respect to a reference surface that is orthogonal to an optical axis at the apex. A distance d between the reference surface and the flat part satisfies d<0.95×?/(2×(n?1)) or d>1.05×?/(2×(n?1)), ? being a wavelength of the light, and n being a refractive index of the prism elements.

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.