Variable mirror-equipped display apparatus

A rear-view mirror configured to be mounted inside the passenger compartment of a vehicle and electrically switchable between a mirror state and an image display state, comprising:

• a display unit that emits an image light;
• a reflective polarizer disposed on a light emission side of the display unit;
• a liquid crystal lens disposed opposite the display unit with the reflective polarizer interposed therebetween;
• and
• a control device that controls operation of the display unit and the liquid crystal lens, thereby electrically switching between the mirror state and the image display state;
• wherein the display unit includes a backlight that emits planar light toward the light emission side, a liquid crystal panel located between the backlight and the reflective polarizer, and a first absorption-type linear polarizer located between the liquid crystal panel and the backlight,
• wherein the liquid crystal lens has a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the pair of substrates, and an alignment film provided on each of the substrates,
• wherein the liquid crystal lens is disposed so that the polarization direction of the image light passing through the reflective polarizer from the display unit and incident on the liquid crystal lens is substantially orthogonal to the alignment treatment direction of each of the alignment films,
• wherein the reflective polarizer is disposed so that its transmission axis is substantially parallel to the polarization direction of light emitted from the backlight, which passes through the first absorption-type linear polarizer and the liquid crystal panel which is in an image display state and enters the reflective polarizer,
• wherein, under the control of the control device, the liquid crystal lens can be electrically switched between a first state in which it exhibits a lens effect and a second state in which it does not exhibit the lens effect,
• wherein the image light incident on the liquid crystal lens in the first state exits the liquid crystal lens without changing its traveling direction,
• wherein, when the control device controls the liquid crystal panel to an image display state, it controls the liquid crystal lens to be in the first state, and when the control device controls the liquid crystal panel to a non-image display state, it controls the liquid crystal lens to be in the second state,
• wherein, when the liquid crystal lens is controlled to be in the first state, external light that passes through the liquid crystal lens and is reflected by the reflective polarizer is refracted at a predetermined angle by the liquid crystal lens and travels in an oblique direction, and
• wherein, with the rear-view mirror as the center, the oblique direction is an oblique angle in the direction opposite to an observer's side or an oblique angle in the upward direction.