COLOR SEPARATING/SYNTHESIZING ELEMENT AND PROJECTOR

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a color separating/synthesizing element which is small-sized, is easy of optical layout and can freely set separated polarized light direction and to realize a small-sized projector of light weight using the same. SOLUTION: The color separating/synthesizing element is constituted of a polarized light separating film 2a having a polarized light separating function of transmitting only light of a first polarization direction component and reflecting light of a second polarization direction component orthogonally crossing the first polarization direction and of a color selective retarder 1 converting a polarization direction in a specific wavelength region. The color selective retarder 1 is arranged in parallel to the polarized light separating film 2a on a flank of the polarized light separating film 2a or at a position adjoining the flank. After light is made incident on the color selective retarder 1, the polarized light separating film 2a separates light of the first polarization direction component from the light of the second polarization direction component respectively as transmitted light or reflected light and the reflected light is made to pass through the color selective retarder 1 again. Thereby an element which can freely set color separation direction depending on a polarization direction of incident light can be realized.