Polarization transforming optics, polarizing beam splitter and liquid crystal display

A polarizing beam splitter (PBS) having an input surface for receiving incident light flux, a first output surface for emitting a first outgoing light flux beam, and a second output surface for emitting a second outgoing light flux beam, said PBS comprising:

• a first PBS film for receiving a first portion of said incident light flux as a first split light flux beam and for separating said first split light flux beam into a first linearly polarized transmission light flux beam and a first linearly polarized reflection light flux beam, said first transmission and reflection light flux beams having polarizing directions which are orthogonal to each other;
• a second PBS film for receiving a second portion of said incident light flux as a second split light flux beam and for separating said second split light flux beam into a second linearly polarized transmission light flux beam and a second linearly polarized reflection light flux beam, said second transmission and reflection light flux beams having polarizing directions which are orthogonal to each other;
• a first mirror surface for deflecting said first transmission light flux beam in the same heading direction as that of said second reflection light flux beam, said deflected first transmission light flux beam and said second reflection light flux beam forming said first outgoing light flux beam;
• and
• a second mirror surface for deflecting said second transmission light flux beam in the same heading direction as that of said first reflection light flux beam, said deflected second transmission light flux beam and said first reflection light flux beam forming said second outgoing light flux beam;
• wherein respective heading directions of said first and second outgoing light flux beams are orthogonal to each other and to a heading direction of said incident light flux;
• and
• wherein respective polarizing directions of said first and second outgoing light flux beams are parallel to a plane containing said first and second outgoing light flux beams.

A polarizing beam splitter (PBS) for splitting incident light flux into a first split light flux beam and a second split light flux beam, comprising:

• a first PBS film for separating said first split light flux beam into a first linearly polarized transmission light flux beam and a first linearly polarized reflection light flux beam, said first transmission and reflection light flux beams having polarizing directions which are orthogonal to each other;
• a second PBS film for separating said second split light flux beam into a second linearly polarized transmission light flux beam and a second linearly polarized reflection light flux beam, said second transmission and reflection light flux beams having polarizing directions which are orthogonal to each other;
• a first mirror surface for deflecting said first transmission light flux beam in the same heading direction as that of said second reflection light flux beam;
• and
• a second mirror surface for deflecting said second transmission light flux beam in the same heading direction as that of said first reflection light flux beam;
• wherein said PBS is comprised of a quadrangular pyramidal prism, a first triangular pyramidal prism and a second triangular pyramidal prism, wherein said first PBS film is formed at a joint interface between said quadrangular pyramidal prism and first triangular pyramidal prism, said second PBS film is formed at a joint interface between said quadrangular pyramidal prism and second triangular pyramidal prism, said first mirror surface is a total reflection surface in contact with air of said first triangular pyramidal prism, and said second mirror surface is a total reflection surface in contact with air of said second triangular pyramidal prism.

A polarizing beam splitter (PBS) for splitting incident light flux into a first split light flux beam and a second split light flux beam, comprising:

• a first PBS film for separating said first split light flux beam into a first linearly polarized transmission light flux beam and a first linearly polarized reflection light flux beam, said first transmission and reflection light flux beams having polarizing directions which are orthogonal to each other;
• a second PBS film for separating said second split light flux beam into a second linearly polarized transmission light flux beam and a second linearly polarized reflection light flux beam, said second transmission and reflection light flux beams having polarizing directions which are orthogonal to each other;
• a first mirror surface for deflecting said first transmission light flux beam in the same heading direction as that of said second reflection light flux beam;
• and
• a second mirror surface for deflecting said second transmission light flux beam in the same heading direction as that of said first reflection light flux beam;
• wherein said PBS is comprised of a first quadrangular pyramidal prism, a second quadrangular pyramidal prism, a first triangular pyramidal prism and a second triangular pyramidal prism, wherein said first PBS film is formed at a joint interface between said first quadrangular pyramidal prism and first triangular pyramidal prism, said second PBS film is formed at a joint interface between said first quadrangular pyramidal prism and second triangular pyramidal prism, said first mirror surface is a third PBS film formed at a joint interface between said second quadrangular pyramidal prism and first triangular pyramidal prism, and said second mirror surface is a fourth PBS film formed at a joint interface between said second quadrangular pyramidal prism and second triangular pyramidal prism.

A liquid crystal display (LCD) comprising:

• a liquid crystal light valve;
• and
• a polarization transforming optics including:
• a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) for splitting incident light flux from a light source into a first split light flux beam and a second split light flux beam, said PBS including a first PBS film for separating said first split light flux beam into a first linearly polarized transmission light flux beam and a first linearly polarized reflection light flux beam, said first transmission and reflection light flux beams having polarizing directions which are orthogonal to each other, a second PBS film for separating said second split light flux beam into a second linearly polarized transmission light flux beam and a second linearly polarized reflection light flux beam, said second transmission and reflection light flux beams having polarizing directions which are orthogonal to each other, a first mirror surface for deflecting said first transmission light flux beam in the same heading direction as that of said second reflection light flux beam, and a second mirror surface for deflecting said second transmission light flux beam in the same heading direction as that of said first reflection light flux beam, and
• a third mirror surface for deflecting a first outgoing light flux beam in the form of synthesized light flux of said first transmission light flux beam deflected by said first mirror surface and said second reflection light flux beam in the same heading direction as that of a second outgoing light flux beam in the form of synthesized light flux of said second transmission light flux beam deflected by said second mirror and said first reflection light flux beam;
• wherein said first and second outgoing light flux beams delivered form said polarization transforming optics are both used as illumination light for said liquid crystal light valve.