Lighting apparatus with liquid crystal element tilted with respect to the optical axis of the projection lens, vehicle lamp system having the same and lighting apparatus with prisms to refract a traveling direction before and after a liquid crystal element

A lighting apparatus comprising:

• a light source;
• a condensing unit that condenses light emitted from the light source so that it forms a focal point at a predetermined position;
• a liquid crystal element arranged corresponding to the position of the focal point;
• a first polarizing element located at a light incident side of the liquid crystal element;
• a second polarizing element located at a light emitting side of the liquid crystal element;
• a projection lens that magnifies and projects images generated by the liquid crystal element, the first polarizing element, and the second polarizing element;
• a first prism array disposed between the liquid crystal element and the first polarizing element;
• and
• a second prism array disposed between the liquid crystal element and the second polarizing element;
• wherein the liquid crystal element is arranged such that the light incident surface and/or the light emitting surface are substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the projection lens, and
• wherein the first prism array refracts a traveling direction of the light heading toward the liquid crystal element and causes the light incident to the liquid crystal element, and the second prism array refracts a traveling direction of the light emitted from the liquid crystal element and causes the light incident to the second polarizing element.