An illumination device and a liquid crystal display device.

摘要

An illumination device for a direct viewing type display element (12) comprising a flat light guide (3); a light source (1) set such that light is incident on a side portion of said flat light guide (3); a polarized light separating sheet (6) set on a first side of a light emitting site of the flat light guide (3) for transmitting a p polarized light component and reflecting at least a portion of an s polarized light component with respect to a light ray substantially having a predetermined direction of incidence; and a light reflecting sheet (5) disposed on a second side opposite to said light emitting site of the flat light guide (3) in parallel with the light emitting site.