Virtual image display device and optical unit

A virtual image display device, comprising:

• a segmented organic light emitting diode panel having a light emission region that is configured to emit a backlight and a first transparent region that is configured to transmit an external light;
• a display element having a pixel including a sub-pixel that faces the light emission region and is configured to transmit the backlight to emit a video light and a second transparent region that faces the first transparent region and is configured to transmit the external light;
• a patterned half-waveplate having a first polarization region that faces the sub-pixel and has a first polarization characteristic selectively functioning with respect to a linearly-polarized light in a polarization n direction parallel to a first axis direction and a second polarization region that faces the second transparent region and has a polarization characteristic different from that of the first polarization region;
• and
• a polarization imaging optical system that faces the display element with the patterned half-waveplate in between, is configured to image the video light from the patterned half-waveplate, and is configured to transmit the external light from the patterned half-waveplate.