Polarization recycler

摘要

A method for recovering polarization comprises the steps of: guiding light having first and second polarizations in a forward direction; providing in that order in the path of the guided light an apertured reflective surface and a reflective polarizer (30) forming a light channel therebetween; passing the guided light having the first polarization out of the light channel at the reflective polarizer; reflecting backwardly and forwardly into the light channel the light having the second polarization; transforming that reflected light having the second polarization into light having the first polarization; and, passing the light transformed to the first polarization out of the light channel at the reflective polarizer, thereby enabling more of the light having the first polarization to be passed out of the light channel. The method can be further implemented with a light channel forming a light integrator (20) and a quarter wave plate (32) to transform the polarizations states in the light channel. The method and apparatus can be used in an illumination system for a liquid crystal display.