Image display device and portable terminal device

An image display device, comprising:

• a light source which emits laser light;
• an optical element which is operable to switch between a first state for diffusing the laser light, and a second state for transmitting the laser light;
• a switching control circuit which controls the optical element;
• an imager which modulates the laser light transmitted through the optical element;
• and
• a modulation control circuit which controls the imager based on an image signal, wherein
• the switching control circuit
• sets the optical element to the first state when the imager displays an image in a direct viewing mode, and
• sets the optical element to the second state when the imager displays the image in a projection mode.

A portable terminal device, comprising:

• an image display device including:
• a light source which emits laser light;
• an optical element which is operable to switch between a first state for reducing a coherence of the laser light, and a second state for substantially maintaining the coherence of the laser light;
• a switching control circuit which controls the optical element;
• an imager which modulates the laser light transmitted through the optical element;
• and
• a modulation control circuit which controls the imager based on an image signal, wherein
• the modulation control circuit
• causes the imager to render an image pattern for generating an image by changing a light amount at each pixel position when the optical element is in the first state, and
• causes the imager to render a hologram pattern for generating an image by diffraction when the optical element is in the second state.