A projection type image display apparatus for projecting an image onto a screen includes a light source, a beam shape converter, a beam divider, a beam superimposer, a processing unit, and a projection lens. In operation, the light source emits a light beam. The beam shape converter converts a sectional shape of the light beam into a different shape. For example, the beam shape converter can convert a circular cross section into a rectangular cross section. The beam divider then spatially divides the converted light beam into plural light beams. The beam divider can include, for example, a first prism array that divides the converted light beam horizontally and vertically into four beams. The beam superimposer superimposes the plural light beams onto a target surface, such as a liquid crystal panel. The beam superimposer can include, for example, a second prism array and a beam collimator that superimpose the plural light beams on the target surface. The processing unit supplies a signal so as to display an image on the target surface. The projection lens projects the image onto the screen by the superimposed beam. This apparatus can improve the uniformity of illuminance distribution and the light utilization efficiency, while maintaining high directivity of light.

For increasing the illumination efficiency to a liquid-crystal display element, an illuminating apparatus has a reflector for reflecting light from a light source, a negative meniscus lens, which is convex on the light source side, a first lens array unit of lens elements, a second lens array unit of lens elements, which is conjugate with the light source, and an optical polarization converting element in the stated order along a traveling direction of the light from the light source. The illuminating apparatus illuminates the liquid-crystal display element through the optical polarization converting element.

A lighting system comprises a light source and a reflector arrangement which comprises a concave first reflection mirror having an aspherical surface for reflecting and directing forward light beams emanating laterally and radially back from the light source forward along an optical axis, an annular concave second reflection mirror having an aspherical surface for reflecting and directing light beams emanating laterally and radially forward from the light source toward a specified point, and a third reflection mirror disposed near the specified point and having an aspherical surface for reflecting and directing forward the light beams reflected by the concave second reflection mirror along the optical axis.

An image display apparatus of a projection-type is provided which includes an illuminator with a light source, an optical modulator illuminated by light illuminator and which makes spatial modulation of the illumination light according to a to-be-displayed image for either transmission or reflection, and a projection lens to form an image of the optical modulator. The apparatus includes also a first reflecting element to reflect, towards the light source, the unwanted light of the light beam emitted from the illuminator and which will not illuminate the optical modulator, and a second reflecting element to guide, by reflecting, the unwanted light once reflected by the first reflecting element. In the apparatus, the combination of the light source and illuminator, which can recycle the unwanted light efficiently in the projector, makes it possible to inexpensively separate and recombine polarized components of the light beam. Use of a single-plate optical modulator formed from a color filter permits to utilize the light with an improved efficiency. Also by adopting a single-plate optical modulator of a sequential color-type, it is possible to attain an improved efficiency of light utilization. Thus, the efficiency of light utilization of an optical modulator whose numerical aperture is small can be improved and the peak brightness on a dark screen can be elevated.

A projection type liquid crystal display device, including: irradiation means having a function of irradiating light emitted from a light source upon an irradiated surface; a liquid crystal display element for modulating the light; and projection means for projecting the light emitted from said liquid crystal display element, wherein said irradiation means comprises: at least one reflection mirror; a polarization beam splitter for dividing the light from the light source into P polarization light and S polarization light; a .lambda./2 phase shifting plate for rotating a direction of polarization of either one of the P polarization and S polarization lights; polarization means being constructed with a reflection mirror for reflecting either one of the P polarization and S polarization lights; a first lens array being constructed with a plurality of condenser lenses, for collecting the light emitted from said polarization means so as to form a plurality of secondary light source images; and a second lens array being constructed with a plurality of condenser lenses and positioned in vicinity of where the plurality of secondary light source images are formed.