Illumination unit using LED and image projecting apparatus employing the same

An image projecting apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of illumination units emitting lights of different colors;
• an optical modulation element sequentially modulating the lights of different colors emitted from the illumination units according to image data;
• and
• a projection lens unit magnifying the lights output from the optical modulation element and projecting the magnified lights,
• wherein each of the illumination units comprises:
• at least one glass rod including a parabolic reflection surface, a light incident surface facing the parabolic reflection surface, a concave portion formed inwardly in the light incident surface at a position of a focal point of the parabolic reflection surface, and a light guide portion facing the parabolic reflection surface and having a rectangular section;
• and
• at least one LED module disposed at the focal point of the parabolic reflection surface and emitting light to the parabolic reflection surface through the concave portion,
• wherein a surface of the light guide portion parallel to the light incident surface is stepped from the light incident surface in a direction in which the rectangular section of the light guide portion decreases.